I was in college in the 80's when this first aired and I used to record Letterman on my VHS. I saved this show and must have watched it 30 or 40 times. Leno was hilariously funny. And this was Letterman in his prime....amazing times.
Many people don't realize that Leno's stand-up, espeially in the '70s and '80s, is VASTLY different from his Tonight Show material. He became corny deliberately, to reach a wider audience. Despite their differences, Letterman has said many times that Leno is the best stand-up he ever saw. This apperance had some good stuff, in my opinion.
Christian Finkbeiner Guy is referring to Rambo II, a tremendously popular right-wing fantasy movie where Rambo symbolically "wins" the Vietnam war, as GENOCIDE. That is way more cutting than anything he's said post-1992 or 93.
Yes, Leno deliberately became a different person to host the Tonight Show. Something Letterman would NEVER do. It was easier for NBC to make Leno do what they wanted.
Are you fucking kidding? He literally started with "have you heard this, have your heard about this?". He hasn't evolved his comedy in 40 years. What a fucking hack. Oh a riff on headline news, don't cut yourself on the edge...
I hate when comics do it. I remember first watching some Louis C.K. shows and then I see he's on Letterman. So I'm like "Oh cool, I wonder what this guy's like in real conversation". Then I see him only doing bits of his shows that I've already seen and I'm like "Dude, seriously?".
i also like both. they were close friends for along time. it is old school standup and Jay is absolutely killing. i've never seen him on this kind of a roll. Brilliant!
Never seen Letterman so happy or laugh so genuinely as he does with Leno here. You can see they are really close here. It's a shame what the media did to them.
I'm 51 years old, I saw these Leno appearances on Late Night when they were first aired. I still believe this is some of the best entertainment ever aired, so you can imagine my disappointment when Leno was hosting the Tonight Show. Letterman and Leno should have forgotten about someting as lame as hosting a talk show, and become the greatest movie comedy team of all time, just. playing. themselves!
humor is never timeless, but this guy was funny back then. I was never a leno fan, but I believe the story that he was the best standup ever back in the day. he kicked jokes ones after the other.
When I was a kid I recorded this and other times Leno was on Letterman. He was really funny back then and always cracked up Dave. I miss that Jay. "Hermaphrodite clowns throwing anthrax spores at the children".
I did this, too, Stace -- was wondering if I was the only one! I just listened to Leno-on-Letterman spot that I'd re-listened to 100x or more over a two-year span (because I used comedy recordings to help me fall asleep every night). Hadn't heard it in about 40 yrs., yet I knew every word, audience reaction, misspeak, etc. (It was kind of like hearing the Pledge of Allegiance -- not surprising to me that it was so indelibly ingrained in my memory.) Here it is, fwiw: ua-cam.com/video/lZZ3DY3x1pE/v-deo.html
assmane999 I didn't think it was possible for him to actually be funnier on the tonight show given how inconsistent his show was, but this interview is not funny at all.
...it's been so long, I had forgotten what Jay was like as a stand-up. I find it interesting how Jay was "on" from the moment he sat down, and the whole segment was just Jay doing his material. Looking back at this clip now, I think Jay was essentially Bill Hicks lite..."angry" and "edgy" (for the 80's) but palatable for the mainstream. I can kinda see what comedians like Seinfeld saw in him. I do know that Jay kept his edge in later years. I was a guest on the Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, and he came to the Green Room to say hi before the show started. We were joking back & forth, and Jay had one of the funniest, NSFW comebacks I've heard to this day, and he did it off the top of his head. That's when I gained mad respect for Jay as a comedian.
Bill Hicks lite? Leno's material here is nothing like Bill Hicks' nor was his delivery or even his overall attitude. Leno here is upbeat, personable and lighthearted. The most serious material he does here is a playful tongue in check poke at corporate negligence. Bill Hicks' material is almost completely existential, the complete opposite of Leno.
Leno is just such a beautiful, admirably blunt and articulate man. His wit is just on another level. This man has such a perfect way of saying things that make it so right. Seeing his rants and remarks makes me smile in awe. I'm so glad I've found him today. I'm 20 years old and recently been trying to find the video gem archives from the charming oldies. This has made a good morning
assmane999 Exactly. But he had ratings that beat everyone else. Dave got screwed with that whole thing. And I think J. Fallon is the new Jay Leno. Both are unfunny, softball asking hacks.
Tim Young Say what you will about Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon, they have both been ratings gold for NBC. Yes, they play it safer than guys like David Letterman and Conan O'Brien, but NBC is (quite understandably) only concerned with how many people tune in. It's not their job to care about the quality of their programming; it's their job to care about the profitability of their programming. The audiences for Letterman and Conan were always more niche audiences; Leno and Fallon are more mainstream with broader appeal. I'm saying that as a big Conan fan.
Daniel Dougan I agree 100%. I wonder sometimes if people just put on NBC while they fall asleep and Jay or Jimmy happen to come on. Neither never make me actually laugh, Dave and Conan and Craig in the past did.
Jay Leno is a classic Italian talker - big body language, loud, cannot stop himself from jumping on the littlest cues and out-talk everyone else with amazing amounts of creativities. Count how many times Jay sticked his arm out, and how many times David did.
Jay's comedy is hilarious when he is doing his own material. The writers on the Tonight Show didn't do him any justice. Dave's show was always the best when Leno was on. Their banter was so funny.
It's a shame they've got a strained relationship. Imagine them both leaving their networks and started their own comedy network, just them two every night in this format. Dave's a damn funny interviewer and Jay can just let his motormouth rip. They'd clean up prime time every evening.
@@MidnightsLive Always found it funny that NBC initially offered Letterman a primetime show in an effort to keep him on NBC, years before The Jay Leno Show came on in 2009. Would’ve been interesting to see how that might’ve worked out, although it probably would’ve been a similar situation.
I have to say Jay Leno's actually pretty good here. Full of energy and vibe. I guess I can sort of understand why he got the Tonight Show over David Letterman back in the 90s better now.
sethosayher >>> I don’t understand why they had to mask the name of the airline. Who the hell cares what airline someone does or doesn’t like? People’s opinions shouldn’t be censored.
I was in an airplane like dad that Jay Leno describes, the pilot landed in the middle of the Venezuelan plains under a Huge Tree, got off went and had lunch in a little hut near the tree , came back an hour later, and we continued
Jay was at a totally different level back then. I couldn't believe the lame-o Leno that showed up on the Tonight Show. I had been hoping for a lot more. This stuff is great, and love the `80's jacket and shirt, too.
I remember seeing this when it first aired, Leno was on fire and Dave just kept throwing alley-oops for slam dunks! Bill Burr definitely took a page out of Letterman’s and Leno’s book with what I call “Venting Rant Interviews”!
I never saw JAY this funny! I never watched the TONIGHT SHOW when he took over because he was so irritating to watch but here he's really making me laugh!
James Douglas Muir Leno (New Rochelle, 28 de abril de 1950), conocido como Jay Leno, es un presentador de televisión y humorista satírico estadounidense. Fue el presentador del histórico programa The Tonight Show de la cadena NBC, entre 1992 y 2014, sucediendo en el puesto a Johnny Carson y entregándole el puesto a Jimmy Fallon. Tiene en su haber un Premio Emmy.
assmane999 I forgot why there was a time I didn't hate his schtick. He's really on fire here, he's, the ultimate Letterman guest. Do you think he struck the deal with Satan before or after this appearance?
Jay is on fire in this video. This is proof that Letterman should've been given the tonight show. Leno would've been America's great comic if he didn't have to water it down to become corporate. Letterman is great when he's interviewing someone, Leno's talent was being the subject of an interview not the interviewer.
@@assmane999 But Jerry sucked as an actor, too. Didn’t stop his show, he just played an exaggerated version of himself. He was surrounded by better actors, though, and it was a big hit.
No. This episode is from 1985, and he's referring to the movie called "Rambo: First Blood Part II", which was a new movie and a big hit at the time. "Rambo" has been in the title of all three sequels to "First Blood" (1982): Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) Rambo III (1988) Rambo (2008)
Letterman has said repeatedly that Leno is the funniest guy he's ever known. If you think Letterman is not laughing genuinely here, then you don't know much about Letterman.
Leno = GTA Vice City
I was in college in the 80's when this first aired and I used to record Letterman on my VHS. I saved this show and must have watched it 30 or 40 times. Leno was hilariously funny. And this was Letterman in his prime....amazing times.
Many people don't realize that Leno's stand-up, espeially in the '70s and '80s, is VASTLY different from his Tonight Show material. He became corny deliberately, to reach a wider audience. Despite their differences, Letterman has said many times that Leno is the best stand-up he ever saw. This apperance had some good stuff, in my opinion.
Christian Finkbeiner Guy is referring to Rambo II, a tremendously popular right-wing fantasy movie where Rambo symbolically "wins" the Vietnam war, as GENOCIDE. That is way more cutting than anything he's said post-1992 or 93.
Yes, Leno deliberately became a different person to host the Tonight Show.
Something Letterman would NEVER do. It was easier for NBC to make Leno do what they wanted.
Are you fucking kidding? He literally started with "have you heard this, have your heard about this?". He hasn't evolved his comedy in 40 years. What a fucking hack. Oh a riff on headline news, don't cut yourself on the edge...
@@michaelkeller5927
…no, he literally didn’t start with that. What are you talking about?
You should see him with Norm McDonald. I read that his top three stand-ups were Norm, Al Franken, and Jim Downey.
he was basicaly doing his stand-up, sitting down.
Actually, a lot of comics on talk shows will do bits of their routine in the interview.
You have obviously never seen a comic on a talkshow before. This is how they do it. Except for Norm of course. Norm actually tells good jokes.
I hate when comics do it. I remember first watching some Louis C.K. shows and then I see he's on Letterman. So I'm like "Oh cool, I wonder what this guy's like in real conversation". Then I see him only doing bits of his shows that I've already seen and I'm like "Dude, seriously?".
well, it's still a tv show, if you want to talk to Louis, give him a call... don't be surprised if he jacks off during the conversation tho
What do you want him to do? talk about his family trip to Italy? WTF.
i also like both. they were close friends for along time. it is old school standup and Jay is absolutely killing. i've never seen him on this kind of a roll. Brilliant!
Like a freight train.
If only I had a Cristal ball. God bless you Mr Letterman and Mr Leno.
Never seen Letterman so happy or laugh so genuinely as he does with Leno here. You can see they are really close here. It's a shame what the media did to them.
I'm 51 years old, I saw these Leno appearances on Late Night when they were first aired. I still believe this is some of the best entertainment ever aired, so you can imagine my disappointment when Leno was hosting the Tonight Show. Letterman and Leno should have forgotten about someting as lame as hosting a talk show, and become the greatest movie comedy team of all time, just. playing. themselves!
If leno was green he would be the real Frankenstein
humor is never timeless, but this guy was funny back then. I was never a leno fan, but I believe the story that he was the best standup ever back in the day. he kicked jokes ones after the other.
Yes because the humor today is so good. Falon and his cheezy home games with celebrities? hahahhaha
They're both so young here. Neither knew what would transpire between them
Jay 35 and Dave 38 with 7 years until The Tonight Show debacle #1.
@@markpugner9165 oh that explains a lot wow didn’t know that tbh Jay is clearly better
Jay’s tonight show was more mainstream but Letterman was way funnier to a smarter audience.
When I was a kid I recorded this and other times Leno was on Letterman. He was really funny back then and always cracked up Dave. I miss that Jay. "Hermaphrodite clowns throwing anthrax spores at the children".
I did this, too, Stace -- was wondering if I was the only one!
I just listened to Leno-on-Letterman spot that I'd re-listened to 100x or more over a two-year span (because I used comedy recordings to help me fall asleep every night). Hadn't heard it in about 40 yrs., yet I knew every word, audience reaction, misspeak, etc. (It was kind of like hearing the Pledge of Allegiance -- not surprising to me that it was so indelibly ingrained in my memory.)
Here it is, fwiw: ua-cam.com/video/lZZ3DY3x1pE/v-deo.html
Dave kept circling back to it. I take it that he was tickled with the outrageous originality that Jay could bring. And the energy!
never saw much of leno on TV here in Australia, but love his youtube channel jay lenos garage
Leno basically interviews himself. I didn't know Red Bull was sponsoring comics back then.
***** It was called "cocaine" back then.
***** I honestly don't think Jay did drugs. He was one of the few sober 80's comics.
assmane999 I didn't think it was possible for him to actually be funnier on the tonight show given how inconsistent his show was, but this interview is not funny at all.
***** Tomato, tomato.
***** That's why he appeared on Letterman so often. Easy work for Dave. You just ask him a question, sit back and let him roll.
...it's been so long, I had forgotten what Jay was like as a stand-up. I find it interesting how Jay was "on" from the moment he sat down, and the whole segment was just Jay doing his material. Looking back at this clip now, I think Jay was essentially Bill Hicks lite..."angry" and "edgy" (for the 80's) but palatable for the mainstream. I can kinda see what comedians like Seinfeld saw in him. I do know that Jay kept his edge in later years. I was a guest on the Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, and he came to the Green Room to say hi before the show started. We were joking back & forth, and Jay had one of the funniest, NSFW comebacks I've heard to this day, and he did it off the top of his head. That's when I gained mad respect for Jay as a comedian.
Bill Hicks lite? Leno's material here is nothing like Bill Hicks' nor was his delivery or even his overall attitude. Leno here is upbeat, personable and lighthearted. The most serious material he does here is a playful tongue in check poke at corporate negligence. Bill Hicks' material is almost completely existential, the complete opposite of Leno.
He strangely reminds me of Chandler from "Friends"
CommunityServesUs hahaha
BING!! THE CHAN CHAN MAN!!
+318ironhide More like the CHIN CHIN MAN
Exactly what I was thinking
please refrain from insulting Chandler
To be fair to Jay, the "flying slave ship" bit was funny.
I’m 24 and Just saw this video from watching his channel Called jay lenos garage. Man this man is hilarious and I love his jokes
Leno rules!
These guys had really funny chemistry in the '80s. I love how Letterman undercuts Jay at 2:20.
Show the plane to his friends...funny line.
this was enjoyable on way too many levels!
Hey Jay, how’s it going?
Jay: So I was at this nightclub last week, and blah blah blah blah blah
"Did u see the papuh's?"
"Did u see this? U hear about this?"
Leno is just such a beautiful, admirably blunt and articulate man. His wit is just on another level. This man has such a perfect way of saying things that make it so right. Seeing his rants and remarks makes me smile in awe. I'm so glad I've found him today. I'm 20 years old and recently been trying to find the video gem archives from the charming oldies. This has made a good morning
Wow, back when Jay Leno was kind of edgy and really funny. Dave has always said that Jay was the comic that all the other comics wanted to see.
Daniel Dougan Yeah, he really was the king: wtf happened to him? He was so unfunny as a talk show host.
assmane999 Exactly. But he had ratings that beat everyone else. Dave got screwed with that whole thing. And I think J. Fallon is the new Jay Leno. Both are unfunny, softball asking hacks.
Tim Young Say what you will about Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon, they have both been ratings gold for NBC. Yes, they play it safer than guys like David Letterman and Conan O'Brien, but NBC is (quite understandably) only concerned with how many people tune in. It's not their job to care about the quality of their programming; it's their job to care about the profitability of their programming. The audiences for Letterman and Conan were always more niche audiences; Leno and Fallon are more mainstream with broader appeal. I'm saying that as a big Conan fan.
Daniel Dougan I agree 100%. I wonder sometimes if people just put on NBC while they fall asleep and Jay or Jimmy happen to come on. Neither never make me actually laugh, Dave and Conan and Craig in the past did.
+Daniel Dougan Edgy? Barely. Funny? Hardly. Ever. Sorry.
Jay Leno is a classic Italian talker - big body language, loud, cannot stop himself from jumping on the littlest cues and out-talk everyone else with amazing amounts of creativities. Count how many times Jay sticked his arm out, and how many times David did.
huh?
Leno's mom was born in Scotland. Jay Leno, like Craig Ferguson, has the gift of the gab of the Scots.
Jay really embraced that 80s style.
Very Miami Vice
Jay's comedy is hilarious when he is doing his own material. The writers on the Tonight Show didn't do him any justice. Dave's show was always the best when Leno was on. Their banter was so funny.
It's a shame they've got a strained relationship. Imagine them both leaving their networks and started their own comedy network, just them two every night in this format. Dave's a damn funny interviewer and Jay can just let his motormouth rip. They'd clean up prime time every evening.
Yeah but who’s show would go on first?
@@MidnightsLive
I’d like to hear your answer.
@@MidnightsLive Always found it funny that NBC initially offered Letterman a primetime show in an effort to keep him on NBC, years before The Jay Leno Show came on in 2009. Would’ve been interesting to see how that might’ve worked out, although it probably would’ve been a similar situation.
@@trevgreg2 Primetime is a death wish for this medium. He would have hung himself in 2 months.
I believe this episode was during the week of August 19, 1985.
Which explains his, now cringe worthy, ersatz Miami Vice look.
I have to say Jay Leno's actually pretty good here. Full of energy and vibe. I guess I can sort of understand why he got the Tonight Show over David Letterman back in the 90s better now.
Who goes on Letterman with a rehearsed monologue? He planned to take over the conversation and promote himself
Daniel Morris ... well, it worked
Oh man, I have seen so many comedians do this. This is hardly new.
Everybody does that. You just hate the guy
letterman knew this.
What comedian goes on a talk without rehearsed bits? clueless.
Wow. Weird seeing this. I didn't know this existed.
Watching Leno attempt comedy is like watching a musician play whilst reading sheet music
leno....one of the best
Airline is definitely TWA
sethosayher >>> I don’t understand why they had to mask the name of the airline. Who the hell cares what airline someone does or doesn’t like?
People’s opinions shouldn’t be censored.
Leno did it all without drugs! no alcohol, no uppers nothing,
the king of comics!
Bruh he's literally wearing a shirt with martinis on it in this very video
@@user-wk4np7fh2v - Jay doesn't drink of do drugs.
Jay Leno another national treasure.
Most humble and kind person you could ever hope to meet.
They seemed like different people back then. I guess that's what we slowly differently different versions of ourselves. Jay Leno is almost cute here.
"Some day I am going to have the job you think you are going to get" Seriously, the second half, after commercials, is where Leno is really funny.
Leno looks and sounds like Link from Rhett & Link; Good Mythical Morning
hardest working man in television... he deserves everything he has..
omg jokes about flying are soooooo great!
humor came a long way.. when i see this i am kinda glad that i am born in this day n age..
Yeah, Seth Rogen is so high brow compared to this.
I was in an airplane like dad that Jay Leno describes, the pilot landed in the middle of the Venezuelan plains under a Huge Tree, got off went and had lunch in a little hut near the tree , came back an hour later, and we continued
Leno's awesome in this
He was 35 here.
The good ol days.
Jay Leno reminds me of Great Khali from the WWE.
Leno looks like he was auditioning for an episode of Miami Vice.
It would be cool for Letterman to have Leno on his show today. I heard they kinda sorta buried the hatchet.
Jay was at a totally different level back then. I couldn't believe the lame-o Leno that showed up on the Tonight Show. I had been hoping for a lot more. This stuff is great, and love the `80's jacket and shirt, too.
now i have all 4 talk-show hosts of the apocalypse
david, jay, stephen, and conan
exactly your right!
Jay dressed like a Miami Vice character. XD
Jay was a really good comic back in the day. He toned it down for the Tonight show.
ha ha ha ha... a chilling premonition of things to come!
I concur!
2:24 Leno giving Dave a hint of things to come..... ^_^
I remember seeing this when it first aired, Leno was on fire and Dave just kept throwing alley-oops for slam dunks!
Bill Burr definitely took a page out of Letterman’s and Leno’s book with what I call “Venting Rant Interviews”!
I wanna see Leno go back on Letterman after he leaves NBC, having everything go full-circle.
Omg this is the funniest thing I've seen during covid
Woah, "celestial funeral pyre," I'm impressed with that imagery.
So when people make fun of old style stand up, this is what they're referencing.
Yes because watching celebrities on Falon play cheezy home games is so entertaining ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
@toscodav I love that you picked the worst example of skit comedians to support your argument.
Who makes fun of old style stand up?
I totally agree. Most here aren't enjoying it. I'm loving it. But I grew up on it, so...
The in-flight movie was Eraserhead!
mmmm soft cookies
tv was so much better back then
I never saw JAY this funny! I never watched the TONIGHT SHOW when he took over because he was so irritating to watch but here he's really making me laugh!
Jay is awesome
I couldn't even remember Leno being funny and not just annoying until I saw this.
6:20 The first comedian to approach the subject of "ultra processed foods", well done Jay.
I miss Late Night with David Letterman.
Leno has the profile of a crescent moon 🌙
Wow, Jay's comedy was a lot more anti-corporate back then. Very neat. What happened?
3 LETTERS
N
B
C
He was the spokesman for Doritos back then.
Like most anti establishment people, they want to slow down and have an easier life, so they take the corporate jobs
Money
He got rich!
"A live klingon prisoner on display".
Absolute gold!
Definitely an 80s' wardrobe on Leno. He's wearing like a lab coat over a Hawaiian shirt.
Miami Vice-esque
Yeah, SHAMElessly Miami Vice-esque. Jay musta thought he was the shit.
Letterman:Obi Wan
Leno: Anakin Skywalker
James Douglas Muir Leno (New Rochelle, 28 de abril de 1950), conocido como Jay Leno, es un presentador de televisión y humorista satírico estadounidense. Fue el presentador del histórico programa The Tonight Show de la cadena NBC, entre 1992 y 2014, sucediendo en el puesto a Johnny Carson y entregándole el puesto a Jimmy Fallon. Tiene en su haber un Premio Emmy.
Why is Leno dressed like Chunk from The Goonies?
It's the Miami Vice era.
Good to see two great friends together
who are these people, they looked so freaking YOUNG!
Thats amazing - Ive never seen a young Jay before
Alfa Won You know whats amazing to me? I've never seen a funny Jay before.
assmane999 I forgot why there was a time I didn't hate his schtick. He's really on fire here, he's, the ultimate Letterman guest.
Do you think he struck the deal with Satan before or after this appearance?
emerpus01 Maybe...he does seem like a completely different person like his soul was long gone by the 90's.
Spot on impression of Chris Elliott's Jay Leno!
Letterman’s Midwest was showing when he said Governor’s Island.
Jay Leno probably spends more on car insurance in one month than I will in my entire life.
There was no one funnier than Leno in the mid 80s.
Jay is on fire in this video. This is proof that Letterman should've been given the tonight show. Leno would've been America's great comic if he didn't have to water it down to become corporate. Letterman is great when he's interviewing someone, Leno's talent was being the subject of an interview not the interviewer.
Benjamin Walker Totally agree. He sucked as host.
Jays standup career could've been Jerry Seinfeld before Jerry even existed
Benjamin Walker I can't imagine Jay being the star of his own sitcom like Jerry. He sucks as an actor.
@@assmane999 But Jerry sucked as an actor, too. Didn’t stop his show, he just played an exaggerated version of himself. He was surrounded by better actors, though, and it was a big hit.
This is pretty good for 80's comedy
No. This episode is from 1985, and he's referring to the movie called "Rambo: First Blood Part II", which was a new movie and a big hit at the time. "Rambo" has been in the title of all three sequels to "First Blood" (1982):
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Rambo III (1988)
Rambo (2008)
Nice smock Jay! Just come from your job at Almacs?
Letterman has said repeatedly that Leno is the funniest guy he's ever known. If you think Letterman is not laughing genuinely here, then you don't know much about Letterman.
DAVID MICHAEL LETTERMAN
12 DE ABRIL DE 1947
75 AÑOS (76)
Joe Rogan brought me here, was lookin for copper but this is some god damned gold
this feels strange. this feels like the time I seen my grade 5 teacher in my high school walking down the hall talking to my grade 12 teacher
If you ever wondered if the eighties existed,,,, here you go. Nice jacket
Back in the day, when Jay cared.....
Dave is still butthurt about Jay and ALWAYS has to talk about him. Even with all the punches, Dave throws, Jay still keeps it classy.
buellerferris
Jay doesn't always keep it classy. He threw some shots at Dave.
buellerferris
creepy=/=classy
buellerferris It's late night comedy. Taking shots at each other is expected. Class has nothing to do with it.
Taking shots is one thing, obsessing over it is another thing.
I can relate to the frozen pizza lol
Blood in the stool Dan! Blood in the stool 😂😂🤣😭
ok, this makes me respect leno a little more.
Comedy is so much better today .