Leno Depended on Nobody Watching His Show

Thanks to POLITICO for cutting together Jay Leno reusing, recycling and reducing lukewarm jokes at the White House Correspondent’s dinner.

We have personally been in the audience when Leno back in Tonight Show 1.0 days, when after the show was done taping he used the studio audience to rehearse all new material to do in front of then President Bush.

Most comics who still care about their work – retire jokes after they’re on television. It’s a thing of pride. And that’s for comics who write all their own material. This is bad.

Leno used to be the hardest working man in show business. The Tonight Show was five nights a week. He was at the Comedy and Magic Club on Sundays. On Saturdays he would fly around the country doing high paying corporate gigs. He’s been working like this since the early ’80s with very few pauses. This set at the WCD was laziness. Apathy.

This video is retiring without retiring. Don’t go out with a bang, don’t go out with a whimper – just don’t go out and suck the last bit of joy out of telling limp already televised jokes.

He’s a shell of his former self.

Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews.