Jay Leno, the affable everyman of late-night television, just threw a well-aimed dart at today’s polarized comedy scene. For 22 years, he helmed "The Tonight Show," dishing out jokes that skewered both Republicans and Democrats with equal zest. His secret? Keeping politics at arm’s length while keeping viewers in stitches, according to Fox News.
Leno’s balanced humor, as revealed in a recent interview, kept audiences united during his long tenure. He discussed his approach with David Trulio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, reflecting on a time when comedy didn’t demand picking a side.
Today’s late-night hosts, he suggests, sacrifice half their viewers for partisan applause. “It was fun to me when I got hate letters” from both Republicans and Democrats over the same joke, Leno quipped.
That’s the mark of true comedy—hitting everyone equally, no favorites. Unlike modern hosts, he didn’t cozy up to one political camp, a tactic he sees as divisive.
An analysis of Leno’s "Tonight Show" jokes showed a near-perfect balance between jabs at Republicans and Democrats.
He took pride in this, noting it brought the whole audience into the big picture. Why alienate half the country when you can make everyone laugh?
“That’s how you get a whole audience,” Leno said, reflecting on his strategy. Today’s late-night landscape, he argues, thrives on preaching to the choir, leaving little room for universal appeal. It’s a sharp contrast to his era, where funny trumped ideology.
Leno’s friendship with comedian Rodney Dangerfield, spanning 40 years, never once touched on politics. “I have no idea if he was Democrat or Republican,” Leno noted. That focus on jokes over agendas is a lost art in today’s hyper-political comedy world.
CBS dropped a bombshell on July 17, 2025, announcing the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," set to end in May 2026.
The network claimed it was a financial move, citing a tough late-night market, not the show’s content. Yet, whispers of political motives quickly filled the air.
“It is not related in any way to the show’s performance,” CBS insisted. But conservatives, skeptical of corporate spin, see a pattern of networks bowing to pressure. The timing, tied to recent political controversies, fuels suspicion of deeper motives.
Colbert’s supporters, including prominent politicians, cried foul, labeling the cancellation politically driven. They point to CBS’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a doctored Kamala Harris interview as evidence of external influence. It’s hard to ignore the stench of politics in that payout.
President Trump didn’t hold back, celebrating Colbert’s cancellation on Truth Social with characteristic glee. Colbert fired back in his Monday monologue, calling the settlement a “big fat bribe” and tossing a crude “Go f--- yourself” at Trump. Classy? Hardly, but it’s par for the partisan course.
Fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart rallied at Colbert’s Monday taping to show solidarity.
Stewart and Oliver, former "Daily Show" colleagues, joined the chorus decrying CBS’s decision. It’s a cozy club, but their support reeks of ideological groupthink.
David Letterman, who created "The Late Show," didn’t mince words, slamming CBS’s move as “pure cowardice.”
He accused the network of mistreating Colbert, who took the helm in 2015. Letterman’s outrage, while heartfelt, glosses over the broader issue: late-night’s alienating tilt.
“Funny is funny,” Leno emphasized, arguing comedy should transcend political divides. When you make someone laugh on their side, that’s the real win. Today’s hosts, he suggests, lecture instead of entertaining, turning off viewers who just want a break.
“Why shoot for just half an audience?” Leno asked, puzzled by the modern approach. His era proved you could roast everyone without burning bridges. It’s a lesson lost on hosts who’d rather preach than punch up.
