Jay Leno is sharing his thoughts on the state of late night TV.
The 75-year-old comedian and TV host says that other late night hosts are losing half of their potential audiences by making too many political jokes.
Jay‘s comments come after Stephen Colbert‘s show was canceled by CBS, leading to an outpouring of support from his fellow late night hosts.
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The former host of The Tonight Show spoke to The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and shared his experience as a talk show host.
“I got hate letters saying, ‘You and your Republican friends,’ and another saying, ‘I hope you and your Democratic buddies are happy,’ over the same joke,” Jay said, explaining that a host sharing their own opinion will remove half of their potential audience.
Jay continued, “I like to think that people come to a comedy show to get away from the pressures of life. I love political humor, don’t get me wrong, but people wind up cozying too much to one side or the other.”
According to Jay, current late night hosts are only reaching “half an audience” by leaning into politics and only making jokes directed at one specific side of the political spectrum.
“I don’t think anybody wants to hear a lecture. Why shoot for just half an audience? Why not try to get the whole? I like to bring people into the big picture. I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group. Or just don’t do it at all. I’m not saying you have to throw your support [on one side]. But just do what’s funny,” Jay said.
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