John Oliver Shades Jay Leno’s ‘Late Show’ Cancellation Comments
John Oliver and Jay Leno have differing opinions when it comes to political comedy on late-night TV.
In a recent interview with David Trulio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, Leno criticized late-night hosts for alienating “half the audience” with their personal political opinions. “It’s funny when … you make fun of their side and they laugh at it. I don’t think anybody wants to hear a lecture,” he said, adding, “I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group … just do what’s funny.”
Oliver, however, told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Tuesday, August 5, that he will “take a hard pass on taking comedic advice from Jay Leno.”
When asked if late-night shows should appeal more to both sides of the political spectrum, Oliver stated, “Who thinks that way? Executives? Comedy can’t be for everyone. It’s inherently subjective. So, yeah, when you do stand-up, some people try to play to a broader audience, which is completely legitimate. Others decide not to, which is equally legitimate. I guess I don’t think it’s a question of what you should do because I don’t think comedy is prescriptive in that way. It’s just what people want.”
Referring to his own series, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, he said, “I think our show clearly comes from a point of view, but most of those long stories we do are not party political. They’re about systemic issues. Our last few shows were about gang databases, AI slop, juvenile justice, med spas, air traffic control. I’m not saying that these don’t have a point of view in them. Of course they do. But I hope a lot of them actually reach across people’s political persuasions. You want people to at least be able to agree on the problem, even if you disagree on what the solution to it is.”
HBO
Oliver and Leno’s interviews come on the heels of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert‘s cancellation at CBS. The network claimed last month that the decision was purely financial, though some have speculated it was politically motivated. The cancellation occurred shortly after Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit with President Donald Trump over his claims that 60 Minutes deceptively edited a 2024 interview featuring former Vice President Kamala Harris.
“What’s happened to The Late Show is incredibly sad for comedy and, obviously, for the staff in that building, Oliver told THR of the cancellation. “It really resonated with me when Stephen said he was hoping to hand this show over to someone else. You hope that the franchise lives on partly because there are generations of teenagers watching those shows and deciding, ‘Maybe I’d like to be a comedy writer,’ and then maybe writing on that show.”
He added, “Just as there are Colbert writers that watched Letterman, there will be future writers that watched Colbert, and you want that to continue. I’m sure it’ll find a way to exist in some form, we just don’t yet know exactly what that’s going to look like for network television.”
Oliver was one of several TV hosts — including Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart — to show their support for Stephen Colbert by making cameos on The Late Show‘s July 21 episode. In a parody of the Coldplay kiss-cam scandal, Oliver and his fellow stars each had their own hilarious reactions to being caught on camera in the show’s audience.
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"Comedy can't be for everyone. It's inherently subjective." Yeah, I'm not an Anderw Dice Clay fan but I'm sure he has his supporters even now.
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Wait, Jay Leno is "president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation"?? Is it just me or does that seem surprising??
Also, just want to say that throughout history the role of humor has been important in society. And the freedom to make fun of government figures is a healthy sign of a free and democratic society. (And I mean democratic not in the sense of the political party, but in the sense of being related to democracy.)
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I actually agree with you to a point. But excessive usually turns out bad. These shows go Far beyond “ a little political humor and fun” No they demonstrate a full on and excessive Hate for the current President.Which in turn only serves to erase any connection they might try to ( not that they are trying they very much seem to Only want to appeal to the left) have with people of a different political view. What Jay is saying is sage advice. Just like if you strike up a conversation with a total stranger it’s been said for years and years avoid politics and religion. I’m Not saying TV hosts should totally avoid political humor, and Even humor at the President’s personal and political expense. But No these shows lay it on Very thick. Then wonder why very few of the well over 77 million people that voted for Trump don’t watch their show. If they would pull the reigns in a good bit they might actually land some of those conservative viewers. But I don’t see that happening because it’s not Only the host it’s their writers as well.
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Good morning JAG. I appreciate the tone of your reply, however I feel that you may be ignoring the larger issue. It's not the comedians who took us where we are as a country, it is the politicians (of both sides), but specifically the one you are trying to play apologist for.
Does he try to keep his comments and replies from going "too far?"
Nope.
Does he care what he is doing to our country?
Nope.
But do I blame him?
Nope.
I blame those 77 million people you reference who thought a 34-time convicted felon, a man found liable for sexual assault (after all he bragged about doing just that on a recording we all heard), and a man who tried to stop the peaceful transition of power after he lost the prior election, was a good choice for a second term.
Trump may be the symptom, but that's the virus.
And you think the issue we should be discussing is if comedians ought to reconsider being so "mean" to him?
Good grief.
With all the things going on in our country, and the democratic principles this country was founded upon being eroded daily (just wait until the SC basically finishes destroying our Democracy by gutting the Voting Rights Act), do you really feel the issue we should be discussing is your and Trump's feelings about late night hosts telling jokes about him?
And you call other people snowflakes? Wow.
Nero may have fiddled while Rome burned but it seems we're going to spend that time arguing about jokes.
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No they demonstrate a full on and excessive Hate for the current President.
And that right there is a reflection of the real problem. Not Colbert's position on the president ... but that you (and Trump) think it's personal "hate." That's easy, dismissive, and (IMO) wrong. Trump is an incompetent, dangerous, autocratic idiot. He is an unparalleled threat to the rule of law and is inflicting real bodily harm on millions of people. These are provable facts. Using comedy to illustrate the threat isn't "hate." It's important not to trivialize what Colbert and others like him do as mere comedy. A few of Trump's supporters appear to be persuadable. It will be far easy to depose Trump's ideology, and that of the people who support him, by activating the actual American majority who hold diametrically different views.
I don't "hate" Trump. He's not worth that kind of emotional investment. His behavior as our chief executive is worth every kind of opposition we have available, and that includes biting comedy.
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I don't "hate" Trump. He's not worth that kind of emotional investment.
Well said.
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Yet you and your cohorts make hate filled comments about him all the time. Seems pretty invested to me. He lived in your head rent free !! 🤣
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I hate trump.
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“Trump is an incompetent, dangerous, autocratic idiot. He is an unparalleled threat to the rule of law and is inflicting real bodily harm on millions of people.” Nah it’s really easy to see that You and Colbert don’t hate Trump I bet you’ve never told a lie either. And trust me your opposition is fully opposed by millions to. And many used to be Democrats have seen the Light and jumped that Anti-American sinking ship that is the Democrat Party. So it’s all good. 😀
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It’s always about owning the liberals. This country is going down and you still defend this nonsense of a president. See the light?? Really
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No, David Trulio, who was conducting the interview with Leno, is "president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation." Leno is a Reagan guy, though, and given who he was talking to and his own comedic history, his comments on Colbert aren't a shock.
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Thanks for clarifying about the Reagan Presidential Foundation. I think this was a case of both confusing writing and my 'reading it wrong.' 🤓
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Sure thing. That sort of vaguely messy writing seems like the sort of thing an editor would catch, but ha ha let's be real.
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I love comedy! I can't see a comedian speaking about things that aren't funny. The president is a funny and scary man. He tells jokes, lies and usees offensive language against his people. He has no sense of pride. He bashes any and all democrats regardless if he knows them. He is a joke. The countries are laughing at us and tried of Trump's indecisive behaviors. Comedians work is to make you laugh and today Trump is the funniest of any individuals. Seventy million as previouslystated were unaware that our country would be completely torn apart and divided. They didn't think he would be so lawless and go after his enemies which mean all democrats. His leaders are unqualified and doesn't go after truth. I wonder who will give them a job after this. This is a bunch of professionals to include DOJ & FBI that lie at a drop of a hat. Comedians do what you do best. Make me laugh🤣�
😂😆!
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All that but President Trump is a gazillion times better than Biden or Obama. And he’s better on his worse day than either of those 🤡🤡 And at least we Know that Trump IS the President. With Biden it was a group of people with the autopen !! You stated your Opinions cause that’s All they are, so I stated mine.
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Jay Leno I’ve heard of and watched. John Oliver ??
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