Jay Leno gives his controversial take on the state of late night

Leno began his career as a standup comic who became a staple on "The Tonight Show" when it was hosted by Johnny Carson. He was then able to finagle his way into being selected to replace Carson as the host of "The Tonight Show," which annoyed many fans of a certain type of comedy who supported David Letterman. Leno's tenure as a talk show host was often criticized as boring and lacking imagination, but he milked an infamous interview with Hugh Grant and an untold number of O.J. Simpson trial jokes into long-term ratings success.

Leno's insistence on sticking around on television torpedoed Conan O'Brien's tenure as host of "The Tonight Show," which once again made Leno an enemy of the more hip comedy crowd. Leno has been easier to avoid for fans of this type of comedy, but he popped back up with a recent interview that, while evidently recorded before Colbert's show was axed, feels relevant to the situation. 

In terms of the modern status of late night, Leno said, "It’s just what happens when people wind up cozying too much to one side or the other." He also added, "Why shoot for just half an audience all the time? You know, why not try to get the whole?" and also, " Now you have to be content with half the audience because you have to give your opinion."

Leno is asserting that political comedy is too one-sided on late night, and that hosts are "lecturing" the audience. Of course, Leno's "cozying up to one side of the political aisle" assertions came in an interview for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. Oh, and the interview was done by a guy who used to work for Fox News.

In a world where even Jimmy Fallon is able to take a side and be critical, Jay Leno still criticizing his late-night brethren for making strong choices and having substantive material is a headscratcher. Maybe we should be grateful for the fact he's been off mainstream TV for years and his most famous TV work has had minimal lasting cultural legacy.

(h/t Variety)