Jay Leno Responds To Howard Stern: I’m Not A Comic Thief

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by Matt Schneider | 3:07 pm, February 24th, 2011

» 13 comments

The Tonight Show host Jay Leno spoke out on a range of topics from David Letterman to retirement, but most interesting may have been his response to recent accusations from radio host Howard Stern that Leno is a “crook” who steals tons of material. In defending himself from the charge, Leno surprisingly brought up another nemesis, Conan O’Brien, and defended O’Brien from a somewhat similar attack.

Leno’s response:

I’ve never had a reputation for taking other peoples material. But that’s Howard’s thing, if he can get any traction with it – good luck. Let me know if any other comics agree with him, and then we’ll deal with it. But Howard is Howard, that’s what he does, the idea is you try to pick a fight with somebody and then they fight with you back in the media. And I don’t do that, I just ignore him, and it’s fine, he can do whatever he wants.

Instead, Leno argues that if two shows happen to have the same idea, like when Conan and Jimmy Kimmel both did a Sarah Palin killing reindeer skit, then it doesn’t mean anyone necessarily stole it. Leno then dismissed rumors that Letterman might retire soon, and suggested Letterman is like him in that he doesn’t know when he’ll actually retire. Leno says, “you do it until you don’t do it anymore, I guess.”

Listen to the clip below from City Pages:

Conan O'Brien, Howard Stern, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live

TerryDo

Jay, you should not even give Stern the time of day, he is not worth your spit.

He has a tendency to protect all of his home boys, from Letterman to Larry King et al.
Dem4Ever

Jay, thank you for being a classy guy! You’re #1 for a reason.
http://www.snowspot.net Snowspot

Dem4Ever said:
Jay, thank you for being a classy guy! You’re #1 for a reason.

he’s not number 1… re-runs of family guy at the same time get double the ratings of him and letterman combined.
njoy-d-ride

Hummm. I haven’t heard Leno doing any bathroom humor jokes lately, I don’t see what Stern is complaining about.
burritto

“Let me know if any other comics agree with (Stern), and then we’ll deal with it.”

Why would Howard Stern need other comics (as if Howard is a “comic” anyway) to agree with him that Jay Leno stole Howard Stern’s bits? Howard has listed IN DETAIL what Leno has stolen from him. Respond to him directly, Jay.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-Feldman/1158574704 Josh Feldman

“Let me know if any other comics agree with him, and then we’ll deal with it.”

They do. They actually do.
Dave Richards

Snowspot said:
he’s not number 1… re-runs of family guy at the same time get double the ratings of him and letterman combined.

You’re comparing leno to The Family Guy? Apples and oranges.
http://www.snowspot.net Snowspot

Dave Richards said:
You’re comparing leno to The Family Guy? Apples and oranges.

Leno is the bottom of the barrel, but then again, all the late night shows are beginning to show their age.
Wallycrawler

So “Jay Walking” is your original Idea? So was the chicken that bet football games? and of course Small Town News”! Whoops I mean “Headlines”. those are your bits right Jay. How about Suturing John? Whoops again! I mean John Melendez…. It goes on fraud…. Your an unrepentant thief. Done & Done F’U.
http://www.snowspot.net Snowspot

@wallycrawler

I remember hearing all this on his show, Jay Leno is such an ass… but the whole backlash against him I felt was really unwarranted. He did steal Conan’s show though….

This idea that howard is some filthy-mouthed woman-chaser, is so stupid, he’s a quiet jewish guy that is really witty and funny, he just happens to interview porn stars sometimes because it was his shtick back in the day. His interviews with actual people are always fascinating. Go listen to his Rosie interview, even if you hate her, it’s really interesting to see how messed-up some stars lives were.
http://www.libertarianism.com/ Jack Burns

LOL. I love it when a rat turd crawls out of the sewer and starts bagging on another rat turd. Cause when it comes down to it, they both stink…
zumpano

I like how Jay just keeps it safe and always just goes for the easy joke. That way I’m never offended by anything, and I can understand all the references and everything. Interesting story!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Smail-Buzzby/100001224409264 Smail Buzzby

If Jay stole material then shouldn’t he be funny? Where is he stealing such boring stuff from?

I like Howard and usually think he is insightful, but he might be wrong on this one.