Jay Leno | Club Random with Bill Maher 

In the 80's when Jay was filling in for Carson on The Tonight Show, I helped write his monologue, he had other writers too...I was told the magic # of jokes he needed was 26 jokes and I actually got 3 jokes ON in the monologue. One had to do with Reagan's age...one had to do with Leona Helmsley and one other I can't recall. It was so long ago that we faxed in our jokes. It was exciting to watch the show hoping to hear one of my jokes! Great times! - Joe Johnson

Jay Leno is part of America. He is as great now on the internet as he ever was on a network show. Incredible Guy.

You know, this is heaven for me. I adore both these guys, I have my beer and potato chips, it's Sunday night, and I'm just enjoying my life.

Jay is a humble guy. Every time Bill wanted to give him a compliment or praise, Jay would cut him off and tell a story. Respect.

I swear Leno looks like an older Buzz Lightyear. 😆 Great little chat. Maher needs to breathe and Let Leno finish some sentences. lol.

Jay is such a class act. Effortlessly hilarious and always in command

Jay Leno is a rock in a turbulent world.

How nice of him to mention Craig Ferguson. I hope that one day we will hear the full story about Letterman, Craig and the Late Night succession wars. I miss Craig‘s show so much.

Jay is a class act and an amazing car and motorcycle collector. In one instance a lady called him and asked if he wanted to buy her late husbands Ferrari 275. Her husband paid $5800 for it and had told her that it was worth $350,000. Jay responded that he could give her the $350,000 for it but that it was worth closer to $4 million. Jay put her in touch with a friend of his with an auction company and told her that if she got over $3.5 million for it she would have to bake him some chocolate chip cookies. The car sold for $3.75 million.

Jay Leno one of the best comedians

I went to high school with Jay Leno. You know how people change? Not Jay. He is exactly the same person now as he was then, smart, authentic, and funny. My favorite story he told here was about him hiding in the closet, more than once, to overhear who was taking over the Tonight Show and then playing mind games with the top executive over what he said. Priceless. Jay always took big risks, they always paid off.

I can listen to this for hours and hours :)

The more I look at old Jay Leno clips, the more he stands out as the lowkey GOAT. He was just so damn comfortable on stage. Eons ahead of anyone else. He definitely makes these new guys look like rejects at a sideshow circus 🎪 😂

Jay Leno is a complete class act,met him once at a hospital benefit he was so personable and open a very nice person.Loved the Tonight show.

Leno is outstanding... smart kind fair legitimate. And modest ! Wish he would run for president.

Marr cannot get Leno to talk smack about anyone. He just refuses to gossip. You have to love him for that.

Over the years I've seen Jay show up at a motorcycle hangout here in Southern California. He comes alone..no "Crew". He is in one of his vintage cars or motorcycles and is totally approachable and will chat up anyone who wants to speak with him. A rarity in the Hollywood culture.

Jay Leno is a pure delight. Leno is a fantastic story teller and I could watch him for hours. Hands down, this was the best guest till date.

I loved this episode!!! Jay is such a sweetheart.

Jay is an absolute Legend, class act

Witnessing Jay get tripped up at the beginning not realizing the show had already started just goes to show how different this honest and casual media is than the traditional we are so use to

Jay Leno is a rare honest and moral guy in showbusiness. The more interviews I see with him, I appreciate him that much more. He was an easy punching bag for his middle of the road humor, but that's what was needed. He actually started out very edgy and made a commercial decision to moderate himself, where Pryor started out like Bill Cosby style without the roofies, not edgy at all and made a commercial decision to be controversial.

Jay is a class act. And, I was a Letterman watcher. Really enjoying this conversation.

Decades ago Jay did a private corporate event I was lucky enough to attend in Chicago. Love his comedy, and his humanity. Thx for having him on, Bill.

Jay has enough class for both of them. He's a gem.

You don’t have to personally know Jay Leno to understand that he is a good person! Great podcast!

Jay never fell. I flew him a lot in Lear Jets to get him to his gigs. Class Act!

I saw Jay’s stand-up in Houston years before he did the Tonight show and he just killed it. I laughed so hard the full hour and half it was physically painful I was laughing so hard. He is one of the best in the business.

Norm Macdonald always said Jay was the best source for showbiz knowledge; and it shows hearing him talk about affiliates and advertisers and reviews. 👌🏽

I wish Leno would Live forever.. I met him in Rhode Island back in 2019 with his wife. He honestly is the nicest most down to earth person ever.

Leno is a legend, mind like a steel trap. Great discussion!

Jay is a great guy. He didn't fail. He went out of "main stream" on top and is STILL riding high. I hope to meet Jay at a car show one of these days.

met Leno in front of his show at the Mirage like 2006-2010... didn't realize i was standing next to him. He asked me to take a photo of him w some tourists. Then we talked like 15 seconds and he said enjoy the show. Real cool dude. I was dead center in the 3rd row... my mother pulls out a camcorder and got busted by security.... lmao so embarrassing.... then my parents left when he said goodnight and i stayed he did an encore for like 20 minutes

Jay is such a good story teller. Always enjoy listening to him and have a laugh.

How could u not like Jay Leno. Seems like a genuine cool chill dude

I met Mr. Jay Leno when I worked at the Handy Market in Burbank, California, in 2006. While my co-worker worked on his request I mentioned meeting his welder that would sometimes do the bit where they zoomed in on him while Jay says 'then we will send this guy to you!' Jay says oh yeah, says his name, then proceeded to tell me a joke about a boy on the side of the road with a welding helmet...he then stopped suddenly and said, 'you'll have to excuse me there's children around and it's inappropriate.'

This is so cool to see people have real conversations and it feels so authentic.

I love Jay ! Really enjoyed this!

Jay has several hundred million dollars in his bank account. In his 60's we just call that retirement. And he still does standup at clubs to keep boredom away. Jay has a situation I'd kill for. I personally saw Jay do club stand-up the first Saturday of June 2022 Burbank. He still always draws a crowd and goes home after a full audience clapping whenever he wants.

Bill Maher’s podcast is the better 2022 version of Getting Doug with High.

Jay’s low-key but sporadic trolling of his celebrity/political connections over Bill’s is the funniest part of this episode.

Hands down my favorite Club Random Podcast to date. The discussion was interesting from start to finish. Jay was a great guest who was able to keep Bill on topic more than any other guest I've seen on here previously.

Jay Leno is a 10/10 genius! Funny without vulgarity! His bits are endless like Seinfeld! Very intimidating! Easy to see he gets his sense of humor from outer space 👽

Love the Rodney dangerfield story. Rodney was my favorite comedian

Used to work at a Citroën Garage in LA. Worked on Jay’s Citroën SM many times and got to meet him. Very humble and kind guy.

The Rodney story is perfect Jay..👏👏 enjoyed the whole interview thanks Bill

Jay, I always loved your show. Now I have tremendous respect for you as a very decent human being. Thanks for letting us get to know you.

this is one the better exchanges with Maher's friends

The episodes are never long enough.. I always want more.

Great conversation between friends....I really love the way Bill respects and appreciates Jay. Jay will always be #1 in my book. 👏👏👏👍😊🥂🇨🇦

Wow; what a guy! Jay Leno, that is.

One of the greatest stand up comedian of all time!…..he is 1000x better when just winging it on stage as opposed to reading what other writers wrote for him on The Tonight Show!…I met him several of times and he was and still is, quick as a bolt of lightning ⚡️,with his jokes!…….extremely generous and gracious!……zero ego! ZERO! 😮…🙏🏼…..I told him back in ‘99 at the Burbank studios, as I was auditioning for a small part, he came up to us and said “ sorry boys the part is taken by me! You can go home now! Nothing to see here!” 🤣…..we all laughed and he walked towards us and said “Scram! Go on!” 😂 He started to break character and joined us and invited us to craft service !…he was extremely approachable and was so comfortable and at “home” just making people laugh!……I told him that as a kid, I was really happy that he got the Tonight Show instead of Joan Rivers or Letterman!….he shook my hand and I told him that he reminded me of my uncle who looked like Elvis when he was younger and Jay told me that he used to get that when he was younger too! He was so cool man……we walked to the shitty craft service and he looked at the food and I said ….” So Jay………what’s your beef with this craft service food?” He said……”what’s my beef? I’ll tell ya what’s my beef!”….😂😂😊……he always had 10,000 jokes that he was ready for at a drop of a dime if needed! Jay “ The Legend” Leno!…….🫡📺🏆………………………..the hell with Howard Stern and his diarrhea mouth!🫵🏻👎🏻…..he was a hater and now he has become exactly what he hated!……..hypocrite! Thank you Jay! For all the laughs and warmth! 🤘🏻

It's great from Jay to tell his side of the story, amidst the criticism he received.

The legendary Jay Leno this should be good one. 👌

Jay Leno has a fantastic memory for detail. Partly why he is a success!

Thank You Jay! 😘

This was the first time I watched the entire show only because Jay Leno is a natural funny common person which I’ve always appreciated that about him. Thanks for having Jay on.

Leno is an amazing guest for this format. He is an entertaining person.

I met Jay Lenon in Norway. Such a nice guy.

Love Jay Leno.

When I lived in Cedar Rapids back in 2008, there was a terrible flood that devastated the city. Several months later I read a small article that said Jay donated a weekend's worth of standup revenue to one of the cities recovery funds. I respect what he did and the fact that he didn't promote his good deed for his own publicity. Good guy.

This was the best episode yet and will be very hard to top. I didn't want it to end.

Amazing how Jay makes everyone around him feel so comfortable.

Long live Jay.

Leno is one of the coolest, kindest, yet most driven BEAST I've ever since in Show Business 🎬

Thanks Bill didn't know Jay was such a great human being .

This is my new favorite podcast, such smooth, wonderful conversation.

Just Jay. That's what I thought of watching his terrific standup show from the fourth row recently at, as Bill put it, one of those upstate New York casinos, lol. No band, no Johnny Carson theatre, no trappings of any kind - just a stool with a bottle of water, a microphone... and, just Jay. That's when you see what a true comic star is all about! A night chock full of jokes, and every one a home run! Amazing writing, Jay's delightfully unique delivery and voice, and incredible comedic timing. My sides were splitting lol. But more than that, you could just tell what a humble and genuine and caring human being he is. He made just a couple brief non-comedic references to his life and projected such kindness and authenticity. I had to relisten to this podcast, and was so very gratified that Bill praised Jay repeatedly for the wonderful man that he obviously is and has always been. Great episode! Enjoyed them both!

I remember watching Jay doing live comedy at MGM in vegas, he absolutely killed it. Had me laughing the whole time. Even his late night show the opening monologue was his best part. He is one of the funniest stand up comedians to watch.

I did not want this conversation to end. If there is anyone funnier than Jay Leno, I'd like to see.

"Let's not go there"! Best line about covid ever.

Jay Leno gets Bill Maher to laugh out from his stomach, as i do. What an amazing person Jay is!. Bill Maher will not get Jay to laugh like that, but i love them both. GEms these new generation will never understand until the circle goes around again..

Jay is not just a comedian and a car guy but an excellent story teller!!!

This is a great podcast episode, with two comedians who generally respect and like one another.

Jay Leno is a really good guy

Sometimes Bill is a bit dim, par example he doesn't seem to understand that if they want you out there are two ways. 1. Get out your fired! 2. They slowly start burning you in every way thinkable until you go! Leno's 1000 cuts are true! 😎

Bill, this is your best one yet. Leno is amazing.

Bill Maher's podcasts are so entertaining. I've enjoyed them all. Side Note: Jay Leno is a class act. I remember meeting him at the Long Beach Grand Prix and how he interacted with me, asking about me and just made me feel special.

I remember being prego in 2001 watching Jay and Conan… it was good times! Wish we can go back to those days

Say what you will about Jay Leno but he is really good at what he does. Very fun and enlightening conversation

I love these conversations. Unscripted. Genuine.

Mr. Leno is comedy royalty with a lot of cool cars. Great show!

This was highly enjoyable to watch, Bill, Jay has good social skills! I enjoy those the most🤩!

So I didn’t think Jay was able to not come back after a while! I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HIM DOING A CAR SHOW! It’s just as good and I don’t care for cars but I love old timey historical cars! Jays garage is in my top ten fav shows of past 10 years! KEEP GOING JAY! Even if u hv to buy a tank!!!!!

Got to say I love this new format of podcasting. It seems personal and relatable and the guest are so at ease. Love the look and tone also- the pink/blue neon lights, dim lighting....these things add to the atmosphere. Thanks Bill Maher.

Leno doesn't even have to tell jokes - just tell his true stories.

Bill: "I know how to drive, Jay!" 😂

I enjoyed seeing Bill disarmed into laughter by the humble Jay Leno, a man for all seasons.

Brilliant episode. Really enjoyed it, and a great follow up to Kimmel. Amazing story about Rodney. Thanks to Jay for sharing that.

one of the best interviews ever of Jay Leno. Jay usually doesn't reveal much about his personal life or experiences but he felt relaxed and it showed. Well done Bill ! Jay is a class act in a very seedy industry. Makes the Letterman's and Howard Sterns look so petty for the years they just railed against Jay in the media.

Great interview. I love Jay too Bill. Soooo funny ❤

Who doesn't like Jay? He's awesome!

Even being serious Leno is hilarious.

Best guest. Love Jay Leno and you - so enjoyed your conversation, very entertaining!

I've never seen Bill laugh that hard. Love it!!

I'm not the biggest Jay Leno fan, but I am very impressed with Bill Maher's admiration for Jay as a comedian and a person.

Jay Leno is the MAN. 🔥

Jay is such a pro, one of the best crowd work comedians I’ve ever seen. Love this interview Bill, I met Jay when he filmed his first special American Dream, we were next to each other in the bathroom and Jay was just riffing off comments I was making. Great podcast! 👍❤️

Jay is sooo great. Uber class act

Good show Bill Thanks Jay Look forward to shaking your hand Appreciate everything