Being funny is what drives him: Jay Leno takes the stage at The Palace Theatre
Jay Leno has been referred to as one of the hardest working men in show business for a reason. Many know him as a stand-up comic and a late-night television host, but he’s also an in-demand corporate speaker, an actor, a television and movie voice-over artist, a car builder and collector, and a mechanic and philanthropist.
Audiences can look forward to learning more about what drives Leno at an upcoming show at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Becoming Leno
Leno credits his family for tickling his funny bone early on.
“My father was Italian, and my mother was Scottish, and it’s the funniest combination,” said Leno explaining meals in the respective households.
“On one side of the family would serve you warm Coke and a wet cookie, and on the other side you’d have to loosen your belt after dinner. ‘You will not get me belt,’ my dad would say to the in-laws,” said Leno, adding that as a 9-year-old it was great.
“Later on in life I took my uncle to the Magic Castle, and he insisted on leaving the tip; I see him over there counting out quarters,” Leno said.
It’s stories like these that focus on family observations and give rise to Leno’s humor.
As a young man, Leno enrolled in Emerson College to study speech therapy.
“The problem was that I had no interest in the subject,” Leno said, adding that comedy appealed to him as a fun way to make a living, so he started doing stand-up in Boston at Lenny’s on the Turnpike, a popular 1970’s night club.
“I got $25 a show,” said Leno, who later moved to Los Angeles and appeared on shows like “Merv Griffin,” “Mike Douglas” and later “The Tonight Show,” which he ended up hosting from 1992-2009.
Leno describes his career growth as cumulative. “I made some good connections in LA and would work the Improv and The Comedy Store — I’d do about two-three clubs a night,” he said.
As word spread, so did his popularity, and soon Leno landed a job as host of “The Tonight Show,” replacing Johnny Carson.
Leno recalls a memorable episode from his “Tonight Show” days.
“We had Charlie Sheen booked on the show and I received a call. ‘My limo just got t-boned and it’s on fire,’ Sheen said.”
Leno, concerned, made some calls, and learned to his surprise that everything was fine.
“I don’t know; I think he was drunk or something and I called him up and said, ‘What are we, 7 years old’?”
When it comes to his comedy and the ability to make a living at it, Leno said, “I am lucky that it’s been sustainable for me,” adding that the genre really hasn’t changed much over the years. “If you watch old movies with stars like Valentino, it seems corny today, but if you watch Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton movies, they are still funny.”
Leno’s Car Passion
Gearheads, in particular, may be interested in knowing more about Leno’s passion for cars.
“I grew up in New England where there were broken snowmobiles around and so forth and we were expected to know that stuff,” he said.
In 2014, Leno parlayed that passion into a YouTube series called “Jay Leno’s Garage,” which showcased various vehicles and celebrity appearances. It has garnered 3 million subscribers to date. (Leno must have forgiven Sheen, who appears in Season 5, Episode 2 of the series where Sheen rolls up in a 1986 Cult Classic Dodge Wraith M4S.)
In 2015, CNBC launched a primetime series of the same name. It is now in its seventh season.
Leno said that he’s enjoyed collecting cars. “I have about 208 that are currently on the road. It’s cheaper than cocaine and women,” he quipped.
Leno continues to stay busy and is currently hosting “You Bet Your Life,” a reboot of Groucho Marx’s timeless classic and a movie called “Midas Man” is currently in the works.
“It’s about the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein,” explained Leno.
When he’s not appearing on television, Leno performs more than 100 stand-up shows annually, both across the country and internationally.
The comedian said he’s looking forward to returning to Western Pennsylvania.
“I’ve been to Primantis and used to work the strip clubs before the girls came out. It was better than the jobs my buddies had working at Wendy’s,” he said.
Working constantly may take its toll on some, but you could say that it “fuels” Leno.
“During my downtime, I work on cars and motorcycles. When you work with your hands, it’s easy to take your mind off other things,” he said.
Leno said that he learned that, in the end, showbiz isn’t all that difficult.
“When you make this kind of money, it’s easy, it’s fun, so I never complain,” he said.
To purchase tickets for the show, visit: https://www.thepalacetheatre.org/events/jay-leno-2024/