Jay Leno rose from a hardworking, but largely unknown, stand-up comedian to become one of America’s most successful talk-show hosts.
Along the way, he broke into TV and movies with early roles in various television sitcoms and small parts in films like Almost Heaven, then in Silver Bullet with Michael Caine and Sybill Shepherd and also American Hot Wax with Fran Drescher and Laraine Newman.
But it was his stand-up comedy work, and a relentless work-ethic, doing around 300 shows a year, that caught the attention of bigtime TV producers who offered him the chance to fill in for the great Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show.
Jay eventually took over when Johnny retired and, as they say, the rest is history.
But before all that, Jay did the 1987 comedy-thriller Collision Course with Pat Morita, best known for playing Mr Miyagi in the Karate Kid, and filmed on locations in Wilmington, North Carolina.
That’s where I caught up with Jay, on a very windy morning, next to a railway line, and heard all about his very early
days in stand-up comedy and the challenges he faced.
When Jay stepped away from the Tonight Show, he went on to host several TV shows of his own, including a couple that showcased his knowledge and passion for motor cars.
These days Jay is 74 and, it appears, unlikely to ever fully retire.
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7 окт 2024
