Jay Leno

Infobox Comedian
name = Jay Leno


imagesize = 200px
caption = Jay Leno in 2005
pseudonym =
birth_name = James Douglas Muir Leno
birth_date = birth date and age|1950|04|28
birth_place = New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
death_date =
Medium = Television
nationality = American
active = 1973–present
genre = Observational comedy
subject = everyday life, American culture
influences = Johnny Carson, Robert Klein, Alan King, George Carlin, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart
influenced = Dennis Miller
website = [http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/bios/Jay_Leno.shtml The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]
spouse = Mavis Nicholson Leno (1980—present)
notable_work= Host of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (NBC)
emmyawards = Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
1995 "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"

James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an Emmy Award-winning American stand-up comedian and television host, who succeeded Johnny Carson as host of "The Tonight Show" in 1992. Leno will continue to host "The Tonight Show" until May 29, 2009;cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/21/tv.nbc.tonight.ap/index.html |title=Leno's last 'Tonight' announced |accessdate=2008-07-21 |author=Associated Press |authorlink=Associated Press |date=2008-07-21 |work=CNN.com |quote=Leno's last show will be Friday, May 29, and O'Brien will start the following Monday, June 1, NBC executives told a Television Critics Association meeting Monday.] "Late Night" host Conan O'Brien is his scheduled successor.

Biography

Leno was born in New Rochelle, New York on April 28, 1950. His mother, Catherine (née Muir), a filmaker, was born in Greenock, Scotland, and came to the United States at age thirty one. Her schooling was limited and as a result she prized her children's success. His father, Angelo Leno, who worked in the show business, was born in New York to immigrants from Flumeri, Italy. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/70/Jay-Leno.html|title=Jay Leno Biography (1950-)|publisher=Film Reference] Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, and although his high school guidance counselor recommended that he drop out of high school, Jay not only graduated but went on to receive a bachelor's degree in speech therapy from Emerson College, in 1987. He also attended Bentley College in Waltham, MA, but did not like it. Leno's siblings include his late brother Patrick, who was a veteran. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Obama_takes_jab_at_Clinton_on_1018.html|title=Obama on Leno: Hillary has declared 'mission accomplished' too soon|publisher=The Raw Story|date=2007-10-18|author=Aivaz, Mike]

As he was growing up he used to say that he would take over Johnny Carson's job, which he eventually did. Early in his career Leno did commercials for Doritos brand tortilla chips. In the late 1970s, he was the warm-up act for Johnny Mathis, Tom Jones and John Denver. He replaced Johnny Carson as host of "The Tonight Show" in 1992. He plans to retire from the show in 2009, to be replaced by Conan O'Brien. During an August 1, 2007 interview with CNN journalist Anderson Cooper on "The Tonight Show", Jay Leno confirmed that he is dyslexic.Fact|date=August 2008

Though married for many years, he has no children, as mentioned in his July 9, 2008, interview with Aaron Eckhart.

Acting, cameos and voice overs

Leno is not widely known as an actor, but he did have a number of small roles early in his career in mostly unsuccessful movies; an exception was a bit part in the more popular film "American Hot Wax". His most prominent role was in the 1989 film "Collision Course", a comedy about a mismatched crime fighting pair, in which he played a detective opposite Pat Morita. When Steve Martin appeared on Leno's "The Tonight Show" in December 2005, a clip from the movie appeared during Martin's game of "Name That Clip". The last clip played was from "Collision Course", which Leno immediately said was "a horrible movie."

Leno was one of the "pool guys" in the original 1977 version of "Fun with Dick and Jane". He appeared on other TV shows such as "Laverne & Shirley" and "Alice". In 1986, Leno hosted NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in its 11th season (musical guest: The Neville Brothers).

Since becoming the host of the "Tonight Show", Leno made a number of cameo appearances, usually appearing as a talk show host or making fun of his famous chin (due to mandibular prognathism). In 1993, Leno played the voice of the alien "Vorb" in the animated film "We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story". In 1994, he played "Bedrock's Most Wanted Host," along with Cynthia Clemons, in the live-action comedy film "The Flintstones". Also in 1994, he played himself in "Major League II" which starred Charlie Sheen. He also appeared as himself in an episode of "Baywatch", in which Mitch (David Hasselhoff's character) saves him from choking to death. In 1996, Leno appeared on NBC's "" as himself trying to get a drink in a Baltimore bar.

In 1998, Leno made a series of appearances in conjunction with World Championship Wrestling as part of the nWo storyline. WCW executive (and nWo-executive in storylines) Eric Bischoff began a version of "The Tonight Show" on WCW Monday Nitro that he called "Nightcap", which featured much-maligned segments often including jokes at Leno's expense. Leno would respond with segments at the end of his monologue involving a short, old midget version of Hogan, whom he would make fun of. The storyline came to a head on "The Tonight Show," where Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Bischoff appeared and attempted to "take over" the show after the last of the "old midget Hogan" segments, kicking Leno and Eubanks offstage prior to a commercial break. Diamond Dallas Page came to Leno's aid following the commercial break, and recruited Leno for a tag team match. The stipulations of the match were that if Leno wins, Bischoff ends Nightcap, but if Leno loses, he hands over "The Tonight Show" to Bischoff. At WCW Road Wild 1998, Leno and Page defeated Hogan and Bischoff with the help of Kevin Eubanks.

Also in 1998, he made a voice appearance as himself on an episode of "The Simpsons" titled "The Last Temptation of Krust". On "The Simpsons" Season 9 Boxset, he also is on the commentary for that episode. Leno also had a cameo in "Family Guy" in the episode "Patriot Games", trying to kill Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. Leno has made several cameos in the animated series "South Park", once as a cat and twice as himself, making fun of his chin. He also made appearances on the sitcoms "The Drew Carey Show", "Friends", "The Nanny", "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", "Titus", "Joey", and he plays the "Crimson Chin" on "The Fairly OddParents". In 2005, he lent his voice to a talking fire hydrant in the computer animated movie, "Robots". He also appeared in the animated series "American Dad", where he was killed by main character Stan Smith.He also made a cameo appearance for "Fox NFL Sunday" in a fictitious interview with prognosticator Frank Caliendo's impression of Terry Bradshaw. In 2006, he provided the voice of an armadillo named "Fast Tony" in "", and in the Pixar/Disney film "Cars" he voiced "Jay Limo". He made a cameo appearance in an episode of TV sitcom "Just Shoot Me!", in a fictitious interview with David Spade's character, Dennis Finch. He appeared on NBC's "The West Wing" playing himself at a California fundraiser. He has also appeared on "Home Improvement" as a mechanic in a wealthy car collector's garage (in reality his own collection).

He has also appeared as himself doing "Tonight Show" monologues regarding the main characters in the films "Mr. 3000", "Ed TV", "Contact", "Juwanna Mann", "First Daughter", "Dave", "John Q", "In & Out", "Mad City", "The Birdcage", "The Astronaut Farmer", "Underdog" and "Cars". In the movie "Space Cowboys", he hosted a fictional "Tonight Show" segment featuring four astronauts played by Clint Eastwood, James Garner, Tommy Lee Jones, and Donald Sutherland, who then also appeared together in real life on "The Tonight Show" to promote the film. He also appears in "Wayne's World 2" interviewing Cassandra Wong (Tia Carrere). Leno appeared in the television series "Scrubs" as himself in one of main character J.D.'s daydreams. He also did several car commercials in the 1980s.

Leno will appear as the voice of titular Hare in The Jim Henson Company's, "", planned for release in Fall 2008. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.muppetnewsflash.com/2008/03/tortoise-vs-hare-coming-this-fall.html|title="Tortoise vs. Hare" Coming This Fall |publisher=The Muppet News Flash|date=2008-03-06]

Comedic/broadcasting style

Leno's comedic style is chiefly observational, with storytelling and topical humor often mixed into his routine. Leno's comedic delivery is usually straightforward and that of a folksy, "everyman" personality.

An audience favorite since Leno's hosting of "The Tonight Show" is his weekly installment "Headlines", in which he features unintentionally humorous newspaper articles, advertisements and other printed media that viewers mail into the show, especially crime reports, nuptial announcements and menus. Leno has a penchant for media items involving "stupid criminals", bad foreign language to English translations for household or food items, and he especially finds amusement from unhappy looking animals in silly costumes. Leno has highlighted his cat "Cheeses" dressed up with a limousine driver's cap in past installments. Leno also has written a series of book collections taken from "Headlines", published by Grand Central Publishing.

Another recurring sketch on Leno's "Tonight Show" is "Jaywalking", where Leno asks people off the street some questions regarding current or historical events. Leno frequents the areas just outside the NBC studios such as down Melrose avenue or within Universal Studios Hollywood's City Walk. Radio host Howard Stern has argued that Leno stole the idea of "Jaywalking" from his program. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,112306,00.html FOXNews.com - Stern Rails Against Leno for Lifting 'Stuttering John' - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment ] ]

Michael Jackson trial

In the 2005 trial of Michael Jackson over allegations of child molestation, Leno appeared as a defense witness (many celebrity defense witnesses had been expected, but Leno was one of the few who actually testified). Thus Leno was initially not allowed to continue telling jokes about Jackson or the case, which had been a fixture of "The Tonight Show"'s opening monologue in particular. But he and his show's writers used a legal loophole by having Leno briefly step aside while stand-in comedians took the stage and told jokes about the trial. Stand-ins included Roseanne Barr, Drew Carey, Brad Garrett, and Dennis Miller, among others. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0503/08/sbt.01.html|title=Showbiz Tonight|publisher=CNN|date=2005-03-08]

After NBC challenged the gag order, the judge permitted Leno to make jokes, as long as they were not related to his testimony. After the gag order was lifted, the next show featured a monologue entirely of Michael Jackson jokes.

In his testimony, he was expected to say he called police to say the accuser was coached by his mother to ask for money. Instead, Leno testified he never called the police, no money was asked for, and there was no coaching but that the calls seemed unusual and scripted. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.courttv.com/trials/jackson/052405_ctv.html|title=Comedians Jay Leno and Chris Tucker testify for Michael Jackson |publisher=Court TV|date=2005-05-24|author=Sweetingham, Lisa]

Vehicle collection

In automobile collecting circles, Jay Leno is known as an avid student, collector and restorer of cars and motorcycles. He has a large antique car and motorcycle collection of various international marques. The collection spans from the early 1900s to the late 1960s. He constantly works on his collection in his spare time. The collection includes an original 1912 Stanley Steamer and a very rare 1964 Studebaker Avanti, as well as classic sports cars like Bugattis. He is also a promoter of the mechanical crafts through a column in "Popular Mechanics" and his educational activities.

Along with his collection of classic cars he has several high performance cars. These include a 1994 McLaren F1, Porsche Carrera GT, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Ariel Atom, Ford GT and a custom Corvette C6RS (a modified Z06 built by Pratt & Miller). This Corvette can run on either E-85 Ethanol or gasoline. His EcoJet car runs on bio-diesel fuel. Its engine is a convert|650|hp Honeywell LT-101 turbine. The shell is carbon fiber over Kevlar.

The Blastolene Special is a convert|21|ft|m|sing=on-long aluminum-bodied roadster powered by a V12 engine from an M47 Patton tank Leno bought from Blastolene Brothers. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.blastolene.com/jay_leno/index.htm|title=The Blastolene Special|publisher=Blastolene] It was featured in the 2005 racing game "Gran Turismo 4", and "Monster Garage".

Leno's column in the American magazine "Popular Mechanics" showcases his extensive car collection. Additionally, Leno uses his column as a platform to give advice about various automotive topics, including restoration and unique models, such as his jet powered motorcycle and solar powered hybrid.

Leno also writes occasional "Motormouth" articles for "The Sunday Times" [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article1746609.ece|title=Jay Leno's million dollar garage |publisher=The Times|date=2007-05-09 ] (London), reviewing high end sports cars and giving his humorous take on automotive matters.

Leno's passion for classic cars led him to an affiliation with the Automobile Restoration Department at McPherson College. Today he serves on the National Advisory Board for the college's automotive restoration program and helps fund the Fred Duesenberg Memorial Scholarship.

Leno also has an Internet site called, "Jay Leno's Garage," that lets the public have a look at his private car collection. There is even streaming video and audio on the site where Leno personally profiles one of his cars and all of its features every week, from the engine to, maybe, an odd mirror the car might have. [www.jaylenosgarage.com, www.nbc.com: "Jay Leno's Garage"]

Leno sometimes takes pieces from his collection on joyrides through parts of the San Fernando Valley surrounding the NBC studios. One stop includes the Burbank Bob's Big Boy restaurant which holds a small gathering of classic/exotic car owners every Friday evening.

Leno also rides motorcycles in his spare time, including an MTT Turbine SUPERBIKE powered by a helicopter turbine and Harley Davidsons. Jay Leno also has an extensive collection of Brough Superior motorcycles which he also rides. Other motorcycles he has been seen riding include a 1970s era Ducati Super Sport motorcycle.

In 2001, he auctioned off a Harley-Davidson motorcycle signed by his celebrity guests in an effort to help victims of the September 11 attacks. The bike sold for about $360,000. In 2005, he repeated the gesture twice: early in the year to aid victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake — the bike sold for $810,000; and later to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. That bike sold for $1,550,100.

Since 2006 Leno has had his garage work on a biodiesel, turbine powered car in collaboration with GM, the EcoJet concept car.

Criticism

Howard Stern accused Leno of stealing material from him, and for being such a "safe" interviewer. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2096493/|title=The shock jock in winter.|publisher=Slate|date=2004-03-02|author=Curtis, Bryan] Most notably, Stern says Leno stole the idea of the 'Jaywalking' segment, where Leno asks people on the street basic intelligence/current event questions. Stern has been upset with Leno since hiring announcer "Stuttering" John Melendez from his staff without clearing it with him first; though he gave Melendez his blessing before leaving.

Talk show host David Letterman has called Leno a "hump" and a "pinhead" on the "Late Show". [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/blogs/wolcott/2004/09/geeky_vs_grumpy.html|title=Geeky vs. Grumpy|publisher=Vanity Fair|author=Wolcott, James]

Late comedian Bill Hicks criticized Leno heavily in his own stand up shows. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.fadetoblack.com/interviews/billhicks/14.html|title=Interviews - Bill Hicks|publisher=Fade to Black] Hicks often impersonated Leno, opening his skit with the words, "Hey folks, I'm Jay Leno. Remember when I used to be funny?" He was also intensely critical of Leno's endorsement and promotion of various consumer products, and would often mimic Leno eating Doritos tortilla chips on a television advertisement by saying "Mmmm-mmm, these are so good, I feel fulfilled, fulfilled spiritually as a human being." However, the posthumously released book "Love All The People" (a compilation of articles, routines and letters written about and by Hicks) includes a letter written to Leno, who was instrumental in his being booked on David Letterman's show, stating that he still considered Leno a friend and that he should not take the criticisms too seriously.Fact|date=October 2008 According to the biography "American Scream", Leno also offered Hicks the opportunity to perform his routine that was axed by the Letterman show, though Hicks declined when Leno asked him to run it by their censors first.Fact|date=October 2008

During the 2007-2008 WGA Writers strike, Leno was accused of violating WGA guidelines by writing his own monologue for "The Tonight Show". While NBC and Leno claim there were private meetings with the WGA where there was a secret agreement allowing this, the WGA denies such a meeting. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/lenowga-whats-the-real-story-nbc-claims-jay-asked-for-received-wga-permission-to-write-monologue-at-monday-meeting-with-verrone-et-al/|title=LENO/WGA: WHAT'S THE REAL STORY? NBC Claims Jay Asked For & Received WGA Permission To Write Monologue At Secret Monday Meeting With Verrone|publisher=Deadline Hollywood Daily]

References

External links

* [http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/ Official "Tonight Show" Web Site]
* [http://www.jaylenosgarage.com Jay Leno's Car Collection]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/automobiles/collectibles/11SCHOOL.html?ex=1307678400en=5a61033048e04523ei=5088partner=rssnytemc=rss&pagewanted=print New York Times on Leno's affiliation with McPherson College]
* [http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/Toyota_Concert_Series/bands/index.shtml Live Performance Videos from the Tonight Show]
* [http://www.keepjayleno.com/ On-line petition to keep Jay Leno as host of the Tonight Show]
*imdb name|0005143|Jay Leno

Persondata
NAME=Leno, Jay
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Leno-Muir, James Douglas
SHORT DESCRIPTION=TV Personality
DATE OF BIRTH=Birth date and age|1950|4|28|mf=y
PLACE OF BIRTH=New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=