Jay Leno Critiques Partisan Politics Impacting Late-Night TV

Jay Leno has criticized the increasing partisanship in late-night comedy, emphasizing that comedians who focus heavily on political opinions risk alienating half of their audience. In interviews, Leno stated that his approach during his tenure on The Tonight Show was to appeal to a broad audience by avoiding explicit political alignment, believing that people seek comedy as an escape from life's pressures rather than a political lecture. He pointed out that many current late-night hosts have embraced explicit political views, which forces them to accept a divided audience. Leno highlighted his friendship with Rodney Dangerfield as an example of apolitical comedy, where politics were never discussed, only jokes. His remarks come amid significant changes in late-night television, including the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's Late Show and speculation about the future of other programs like Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Leno advocates for comedy that unites rather than divides, focusing on humor that appeals to the whole audience rather than just one side.