Everyone Hates Jay Leno? Kimmel Mocks With Scathing Impersonation

video

by Colby Hall | 7:44 am, January 13th, 2010

» 6 comments

As we pointed out yesterday, Jay Leno would like you to know that this is not his fault. But judging by the reactions of his fellow comedians, there is no love lost between Leno and his late-night peers. Given the histories between Leno, David Letterman and of course, Conan O’Brien, it makes sense that there would be some tension in the evening monologues. But when innocent bystander Jimmy Kimmel gets in the act, and goes out of his way to crap on Leno? It might signal that, in fact, Leno doesn’t really have many pals in Hollywood.

The fraternity of comedians is a pretty tight lot. Many of the most successful stand-ups (and late night hosts) know one another from their earliest days of coming up, poor, hungry and sleeping on each others couches in hopes of one day hitting it big. The comedian’s code seems to include a pledge never to call out another performer for not being funny (though stealing material is the worst of all crimes.) No, comedians typically look out for each other, in large part because no one else does.

So this makes recent reactions to reports of Leno’s going back to the 11:30 time slot even more curiouser. Judging by comments by nearly everyone in the biz (not named Jerry Seinfeld) the comedy world is on Team Conan, or more to the point, can’t believe that Leno can’t see the red light that’s on, telling him that his time is up.

The latest is Jimmy Kimmel, who’s comedy attack on Leno last night got personal — with prosthetic jaw, grey wig and Leno-esque lisp. Over the line? Judge for yourself after watching the following video of his intro last night:

Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Kimmel, Kimmel, Kimmel As, Late Show, Late-Night Wars, Tonight Show

personwhomakescomments

That was funny, but I’m a little disappointed in Kimmel….thought he had a bit more class than that.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

Kimmel has been and would be a competitor to 11:35 Jay, so that has to be considered.

As for Chevy, Howie and “nearly everyone in the biz”… One would think that respect for the Tonight Show as an institution and promises made to performer may have as much to do with it, as any love lost toward Jay.

For instance, Howie was a frequent contributer to 11:35 Jay, so much so,I believe he got a pilot or syndicated hidden camera show out of the gig and I actually thought that Jay had EPed Howie’s afternoon talk show because it was filmed in the same complex, Jay promoted it fairly heavily and prior to 9/11, Howie’s afternoon show was one of the only outlets to give Mavis an anti-Taliban platform.

IOW: Though being topical and working may have factored into the Howie and Chevy’s thinking, I’d say that love for the Tonight Show may have been what carried the day.
BJL411

Good for Jimmy. Jay slimball Leno left the Tonight Show and said he was retiring from it. He just shows more of his arrogance and lack of ethics by going back to it after it’s been handed over to someone else. NBC is just as much at fault. Hopefully they’ll both go down in a ball of fire over this. Just Desserts.
Jelperman

Leno has always been a passive-aggressive douchetard. I remember back when he and his producer used to blackball guests for appearing on other shows (Arsenio Hall, Dennis Miller), telling them that if they go on other shows, they won’t be invited on the Tonight Show.

Screw Jay Leno.
Pat Doherty

I’ve never been a huge fan of Leno, but I still fail to see how this is his fault. Leno had the #1 show for 15 years, Jeff Zucker comes along and decides they need more young people watching, forces Leno out and puts in Conan (who I love but who took 10 years to gather ratings good enough for a long-term contract). Jay decides he doesn’t want to retire just yet, Zucker doesn’t want to start getting his ass handed to him in case Leno jumps to ABC, and they compromise with this disastrous 10 pm show. Kimmel’s animus may be inspired by the long-held rumor hanging over his head of being replaced by Leno as well as his friendship with Howard Stern, who nurses a neurotic, pathological, rather inexplicable hatred of Leno.
LMG

It is Jay’s fault because he could have always said “no” to NBC and moved on to another network like he threatened or retire as he originally agreed.