As the fallout from CBS’s cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert continues, one of late night’s longest-reigning hosts have some thoughts about the role of politics in comedy. Jay Leno, in an interview with Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation president/CEO David Trulio, said that while hosting The Tonight Show, he was happy to aim for a balance of jokes about Democrats and Republicans. In today’s climate, though, he added, “Now you have to be content with half the audience because you have [to] give your opinion… Why shoot for just half an audience all the time? You know, why not try to get the whole [audience]?”
The veteran comedian went on to say that “I mean, I like to bring people into the big picture. I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group… I’m not saying you have to throw your support or whatever, but just do what’s funny.”
Leno also commented that “I don’t think anybody wants to hear a lecture,” instead urging comedians to focus on their jokes. He noted that he was never sure if legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield was a Republican or Democrat, because “We never discussed [it], we just discussed jokes… When I was with Rodney, it was always in the economy of words — get to the joke as quickly as possible.”
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While Leno didn’t directly address Colbert’s show ending, his one-time rival David Letterman did speak out on July 25th, calling CBS’s decision to end the show “pure cowardice.” Jon Stewart also used his time on last week’s The Daily Show to speak against the decision.
