I would pay 1 million US dollars to see Letterman and Leno have a conversation moderated by Conan.

@TonyVega123

Жыл бұрын

I would love that! That would be the greatest conversation and probably the most needed conversation in the world of entertainment. I can see them having a lot of fun and enjoying each others company. I just can't imagine if any of them still have bitter feelings about what happened or may have happened behind the scenes all those years ago. No one is perfect, but the thing about those three is that they're nice people. All three.

@simmonslucas

Жыл бұрын

lol

@Doohickeydongle

Жыл бұрын

The 3 of them in a cross country road trip In Conan's old Taurus SHO. That could be the biggest series.

@mattc6854

Жыл бұрын

They all put so much stock into “The Tonight Show”. But who really cares? All of them are amazing and did amazing things. Conan on the podcast is even more hilarious than anything he did on TV.

@Ksteele04

Жыл бұрын

@@mattc6854 In their heyday, late night talk shows were THE thing. There was a lot of money in it and a lot of ego to be "the king of late night."

The clip of Letterman talking about Leno asking people not to be mad at Conan is one of my favorite things on KZread.

@andrewbaskett8581

Жыл бұрын

What pisses me off more than anything about the Leno Conan thing, is that Conan took the show away from Jay. When he was negotiating his contract in the early 2000s, he said he would leave NBC if he did not get the tonight show. Leno was crushing it in the ratings, but NBC did not want to lose Conan to arrival networks, so that’s when they worked with him to set a date for the tonight show, which ended up being announced. Then the NBC executives did not wanna lose Leno to another net work, because he still crushed in the ratings. For all the love that everyone gives to letterman, Leno kicked his ass in the ratings. So NBC, not wanting to lose Leno to arrival like fox, offer Jay to do the weird show he did. Jay only did that show because it meant that his staff, who were all getting fired and replaced with Conan’s people would still have jobs. If you remember, Leno has always been a huge supporter of union workers on his shows. And during his final tonight show started crying when he mentioned that the Tonight Show under him was always a union shop. and then his private life, goes out of his way to promote and help not just entertainment unions, but auto unions as well. He’s also doing a lot of work right now for the writer strike. Leno is a damn good dude, Conan is not a bad person, but it was him who signed his own death warrant by demanding the Tonight Show from a guy who was the top ratings show and forcing the network’s hand.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

@@andrewbaskett8581 RE: "Conan is not a bad person, but it was him who signed his own death warrant by demanding the Tonight Show from a guy who was the top ratings show..." I generally agree with that assessment. In 2004, the end of Conan's contract was not that far off, and major networks were jumping through hoops to try and give him a show with an earlier start time. But he chooses *NBC's* weird 5 year plan that's effectively deciding Jay's retirement date. Jay could've told Conan that this is how *NBC* got him to stay when *CBS* was beckoning- but Conan just said "yes" and let *NBC* inform Jay. Terrible decision on Conan's part that ended up hurting both he and Jay, and their staffs, too.

@michaelweston2285

Жыл бұрын

i love the clips of Dave having to address and explain his sexual harassment and adultery scandals to his audience.

@MalnourishedGoat

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelweston2285 It was an adultery scandal but not a sexual harassment scandal. As far as I know, Letterman had sexual trysts with female staff members but has never been accused by any of them of any wrongdoing etc. and every relationship he had was consensual. Not saying that he's a great guy as he was cheating on his partner, but worth mentioning.

@gheller2261

Жыл бұрын

That's a nice, skewed version because for some reason you're a Leno sycophant. He's a selfish man and the number one reason is that, even though comics of his era all knew that making it meant getting onto The Tonight Show, Jay stopped having comics on after he took over. As for Conan, the story is simple - Conan got screwed and Leno was behind it.

I want a 2 hour roundtable with Letterman, Leno, Conan, and Craig Ferguson.

@redmint4894

Жыл бұрын

I've thought about this a lot. The Hollywood Reporter has a show where they put people around a table (Actor's Roundtable, Comedian's Roundtable, Director's Roundtable, etc.) - and the one I want to see is the Talk Show Host Roundtable. Letterman, O'Brien, Ferguson, Leno, Kimmel, Fallon, Colbert, Meyers, Corden. I'm probably missing some. Would be a fascinating roundtable. I suspect there are people in that list who would refuse to appear with others in that list. But if not - wow.

@vancouverviking4652

Жыл бұрын

Why

@4tdaz

Жыл бұрын

To be honest, Leno wouldn't join that in a million years. Conan and Craig love David and were only supported by him. Leno has a trail of skeletons.

@Rock-n-Rolla369

Жыл бұрын

Craig Ferguson is my sprit animal.

@EpocaDura

Жыл бұрын

Craig is in a whole different league 😂

Doesn't really matter who's side your on: the real villain of this story (and the Conan story) is NBC. NBC has never failed to take something good, successful and/or both, and ruin it completely.

@tjjones2907

Жыл бұрын

Nailed it.

@mikegeiler2347

Жыл бұрын

I’ll take jeopardy for $500, Alex

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

NBC should never have banked on Conan because Jay was number one and understood the business (numbers) minute by minute. He adjusted his act accordingly. Conan was more a niche personality. Hysterically funny, and talented, but appealed to a smaller audience.

@adamkane4217

Жыл бұрын

@@johnsjohnson448 Yeah--I love Conan but I don't understand why NBC didn't just let him walk in 2009. The whole thing was a debacle.

@danam0228

Жыл бұрын

I wouldn't say they ruined any of it, just really bad at managing difficult situations whether they be real or perceived

Self-awareness and perspective is one of the best things about getting older.

I understand why Dave wanted the earlier time slot, but the fact that he built the later slot out of NOTHING is a much greater achievement than just being "the next guy" who was successful at the tonight show. Not taking anything away from Jay who was great at it.

@r.edward5701

Жыл бұрын

Very good point.

@2bigbufords

Жыл бұрын

never thought leno was good at it, never thought he was funny, his stuff was dated imho

@Vic-Vega

Жыл бұрын

Jay sucks.

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

I agree with you. However, there was a Legacy factor involved with replacing the "King" and history of "Tonight" in Late Night Television. Dave did far better at CBS, but NBC is where Johnny Carson made BROADCAST Late Night Television an Institution.

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

Dave inherited Tom Snyder's timeslot who built that time period from "nothing."

Many years back late 70's my friend and I were driving my 71 MGB on the Angeles Highway when it just shut down. we were pulled over in a turnout with the hood up when a motorcycle pulled in next us. It was Jay. long story short he poked around a bit and suggested tapping on the electric fuel pump with a wrench and sure enough it started right up. He explained how the Lucas fuel pumps were notorious for that problem. He was not at his peak then though we knew who he was. Just the nicest guy

@pho3nix-

Жыл бұрын

I wish I could be the guy who knows every random little fact about old cars

@MartinHiggins1972

Жыл бұрын

@@pho3nix- Like Leno did, and many mechanics, may you some day meet the genie who bestows that knowledge.

@rcpmac

Жыл бұрын

@@MartinHiggins1972it ain’t magic it’s experience

@MartinHiggins1972

Жыл бұрын

@@rcpmacExperience, eh? Intriguing take.

@musicwelikemang

Жыл бұрын

Jay's knowledge and appreciation for automotive and motorsport history is my favorite quality he has in my eyes.

Leno doesn't strike me as mean or vengeful, and I believe he was put into a difficult position by NBC. I can understand why Letterman felt betrayed but I don't think it was Jay's fault. The situation with Conan was similar, in that NBC kept Leno on the back burner in case ratings were bad with Conan, which they were. Show-business is very cutthroat and ratings are everything. If there was a villain in all of this, it would be the executives at NBC. Leno, Letterman and Conan are all enormously talented in their own right, and all have had tremendous success. I like and admire each of them.

@fstrgray82

5 ай бұрын

It didn't help that Jay had a nice guy image but also had an extremely shrewd manager in Helen Kushnick, who did not hesitate to go scorched earth to get him "The Tonight Show". Of course after that Jay decided never to have an agent again, which hurt him in 2004 when NBC said they were giving the show to Conan. Jay no longer had anyone in his corner to do his dirty work.

@reedickyaluss

4 ай бұрын

NBC isn't a villain either. They're a business. They don't pretend not to be. Profits and ratings are all that matter. They HAVE to matter or you don't exist. Letterman, Conan, Leno, and NBC all know this. They all made millions. It's a business.

"Fortunes have been lost underestimating Jay Leno." - Lorne Michaels

Dave told Oprah that he had two conversations with *NBC* about taking over "The Tonight Show" which made him think he had the edge in that competition. But what he didn't know back then was *NBC* was telling Jay the same thing. Making them both think they had the inside track on being Carson's successor is how *NBC* kept both guys on the payroll.

@oldjarhead386

Жыл бұрын

Every promotion I failed to get, I was gaslighted into believing I was getting the job. I’m not a bitter, vindictive person at all. But I never forgot when that happened. Competition is one thing. But being lied to is another.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

@@oldjarhead386 Yes, *NBC* manipulated them both.

@nolongerblocked6210

Жыл бұрын

NBC was the root of the problem, no doubt

Some of my favorite comic performances is when Leno was on Letterman in the early years. Leno was at his best and Letterman got it !!👍❤️

@user-et6pj4db9s

5 ай бұрын

That's effectively what he was saying, as far as his own career his best work was playing nut job as a guest on Letterman, being host of his own show meant he had to play straight man and that wasn't as interesting.

@frankpavan7865

5 ай бұрын

​@user-et6pj4db9s Yes very true. Jay needs free reigns to be at his best 👍

Holy crap that was a funny line! "People like to see rich people set on fire", spoken with such nonchalance!

@long-time-first-time

Жыл бұрын

That's the funniest thing Jay has ever said. I literally LOLed.

@flowerlandfilms

Жыл бұрын

I don't like Jay Leno and I literally couldn't stop laughing at that line.

@romulus_

Жыл бұрын

self-awareness is key to comedy. I don't think he's the funniest guy around but he understands his lane. I respect that.

@browngaymethodistjesuschri1361

Жыл бұрын

man you must laugh at airline food jokes

It was great when Jay would be on Letterman. It was always one of the highlights of Dave's show. They seemed to have such similar sensibilities & could make each other laugh. It was fun to watch. It was really sad when they had a falling out. Mostly sad for the fans more than anything else. You watched those shows & they were two guys who obviously had a lot of love & affection for each other.

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

Jay was a schemer and Dave knew it. LOL.

@kanelitwiniec

Жыл бұрын

I recall Leno eating a NY city sandwich on Letterman ❤️❤️

@robhigh5991

Жыл бұрын

Remember the "what's my beef" skit Leno would do when he'd show up on the early days of Late Night= great stuff

@josabudsf

6 ай бұрын

If you think Leno was a highlight of the Letterman Show then you just don't get it.

5:55 "people love seeing rich people set on fire" lmao Leno keeps it real. respect.

@Vic-Vega

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, real dumb.

@browngaymethodistjesuschri1361

Жыл бұрын

oh dear god you’re making me lose faith in humanity

@nolongerblocked6210

Жыл бұрын

Considering his accident, that's a hilariously snarky, yet sneaky joke

Neal you're a legend! I LOVE hearing about the backstories to my favorite comedians. You're such a good producer in that you can bring the good stories out from anyone. This is funny that two comedy ICONS fighting about being #1 and #2 in late night. LITERALLY the top of the comedy stratosphere, you're both multi-millionaires, still beef. Love to hear about it.

I always enjoyed seeing Jay on Letterman's show during the 80s.

This is the most candid I’ve ever seen Jay. I love them both.

I always liked watching Jay go on Dave's show. It actually hurt when that whole conflict started between them. I would love to see them get together and talk about the whole thing and get back to being real friends.

@samanthab1923

Жыл бұрын

That’s when Jay was the funniest

@gymshoe8862

Жыл бұрын

Why? Dave has no room for friendship with Jay. His first love is his hate for Jay.

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

In the End, it was about Money, Power, and not having any. But enough about me.

Was a Letterman guy from the beginning. That's how I knew Jay and Seinfeld. They were both good on Late Night.

Dave didn’t get the tonight show, but always had the best Late show.

@TheBasher-_-

Жыл бұрын

Opinions. Imo Dave was a weirdo, Jat was the funnier of the two and the more relatable.

@deecondon2816

Жыл бұрын

I never missed a show.

@johnsjohnson448

11 ай бұрын

For me, Dave and Tom Snyder were the two best hours in Late Night Television in the mid-1990's.

@KnickKnack07

11 ай бұрын

He had the best show in Late Night. The Late Show was AWFUL. "Ha ha ha! Look..he is wondering if something will float! And then I bet some really butt ugly model will come out wearing sheet metal and will make sparks fly with an angle grinder. Whoo boy..that is comedy!"

@johnsjohnson448

11 ай бұрын

@@KnickKnack07One either liked Dave or Jay. It was sort of political in a sense. Or, Pepsi versus Coke.

Jay has a unique ability to make me respect him and despise him at the same time. That's a rare quality.

@roberturibe3150

Жыл бұрын

I can think of other things to spend my energy despising

@jonpoon3896

Жыл бұрын

Yep. As a comedy fan, I can only admire that

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

I feel the same way about Letterman. As a comedian and a broadcaster he was often brilliant. But his bitterness, hypocrisy and just the bad example it set for those who grew up admiring him: this really left me feeling profoundly disappointed in him.

@Notimp0rtant523

Жыл бұрын

Maybe he was raised a wise ass or something but it seems like he’s genuinely trying to be a decent person

@wendalwarren6131

Жыл бұрын

Despise?! Really? No one serious despises Leno.

This is a testament to the fact that most disagreements come down to simple miscommunication or lack of empathy in the moment

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

And, LOTS of money!

Leno completely blowing off the wealth comment and Neal just going along with it because he doesn't want to admit how much money he has, either, is pretty hilarious.

@wintercame

5 ай бұрын

That Leno never spent any of his salary and lived on the money from his stand up shows? That's a lot of zeroes.

That heart attack story sums it up perfectly. Too many people wanted drama, some of those people were powerful, whole mess was inevitable. Jay could have done everything right being respectful and it wouldnt have mattered. If he jokes about the heart attack hes insensitive, if he doesnt hes "the only one who never talked about it".

@johnsjohnson448

11 ай бұрын

We do not fully know the "back-story" behind all of the Jay hate from fellow comedians and hosts.

Neil, please have Conan on, and do this! I’d love to see his view on how 2009-2011 went and his reflections on it!

@SamuelDuplessis12

Жыл бұрын

Same, he rarely talks about that time on his own podcast. I feel like Neil's podcast is the perfect platform for him let that out of his system. Jay and Dave have both come on to talk about their perspectives on that era and I think that it's Conan's turn to talk about it.

@mikestevenson576

10 ай бұрын

Conan won't do it, imo. Unlike Jay and Dave he is bitter, but he is smart enough to know people don't want to hear that from a zillionaire.

@turningmememachine7256

7 ай бұрын

@@mikestevenson576 Boomer take

@Lucifronz

6 ай бұрын

@@mikestevenson576 Conan O'Brien Can't Stop literally invalidates your comment. Yes, he is bitter, but he has no problem with people knowing it, nor should he. NBC and Leno fucked over not just Conan, but every person who trusted them and moved their lives to situate for the Tonight Show slot. Leno may not have been the executive hack who said "let's give the time slot back to Leno", but Leno certainly didn't fight back against it and most likely made the request himself. They both screwed over Conan and his employees and he has every right to be pissed off about that. I'm sure he's probably moved well past it by now, but fuck making peace with that piece of shit who literally, IN THIS VIDEO, states he would do it all again and that he "doesn't see what [he] did wrong". He finds no fault in his actions. _Fuck Leno._

It would be beautiful if Letterman did a video at Leno’s garage. One of their cars. Any car, it doesn’t matter. That’s the only thing left for them to do. The world needs it.

Jay should be on the Barbara Gaines show wit Dave.

Great talk. Jay doing Late Night with a TV Guide in hand, what's my beef was so good.

@prmaninla

Жыл бұрын

And of course "Big fan of the news.." Still makes me laugh

My dad met Leno in Rhode Island decades ago and said he was one of the nicest guys, he asked him about his car (a nova) and they talked for 10 minutes about it and it seemed Leno wanted to talk more about it but pops had to go..

@mussman717word

Жыл бұрын

"Tho-ehhh... ya got a fiftytheven Thevy, eah? Ther'th a pretty good engine on that thucker, ithn't there?

Interesting conversation - I almost didn't watch because of Leno but came out with a lot more respect for him

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

Dave and Jay's "war" made for great Late Night Television. Both shows were highly successful and competitive.

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

Jay is a great guest no matter whose show he appears on.

@ronblack7870

11 ай бұрын

conan actually shafted leno more than anybody. he stole his job . then failed at it and blamed jay. yet he had months on the tonight show where jay had no show , yet his ratings tanked and never got better. and before jay took the 10 pm show he asked and was assured by nbc that conan was good with jay taking 10 pm. that was a lie by nbc.

@livewire2759

6 ай бұрын

@@ronblack7870 That's right. Both Dave and Conan are always angry and bitter about their stories, always blaming Jay, calling him childish... but whenever Jay talks about either situation, he's humble, apologetic and polite. I think when Conan got the show, he showed us what would have happened if Letterman had gotten it in the 90s...

I have the Leno on Letterman episodes bookmarked and I probably watch them once a week. Seeing David crack up to Leno’s jokes is awesome.

I like how Neil actually replays clips of what others have said live to his guest and lets them comment. This is something you rarely see nowadays, despite such easy access. Even Rogan doesn't do this which is why his podcast just doesn't have the legitimacy it should have. He just lets his guests spew off whatever they want, even blatant lies, lack of facts etc. And this interview is just with a comedic legend...Well done!

@Etrius0023

Жыл бұрын

It's good but it's goofy as hell that he just holds up his phone, lol. He should have a laptop that's hooked up to a big screen TV and speakers.

@MondoMiami

Жыл бұрын

With such insightful and probing follow-up questions as “Thoughts?” 😂🤣

I always loved when Chris Elliott did his Jay impression with the prosthetic chin. 😂

@musicwelikemang

Жыл бұрын

Chris Elliot is brilliant. His walker texas ranger spoof show was an underrated classic.

The old clips of them together are incredible

Better late than never! Great to see you here Neal!

I'm happy that Jay is happy doing his own thing with his real passion: His cars. I don't care about cars much at all, but I still watch his youtube show simply because his passion is infectious.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

Good comment. 👍

Leno and Letterman are legends. I feel like it was the public that made their rivalry bigger than it had to be.

@MDavidG1

Жыл бұрын

The public and the MEDIA.

@ceftx2375

Жыл бұрын

@@MDavidG1 YES! It's the media's job to stir things up. Even when there is nothing to stir, create something to stir.

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

It was about Ego and who had the bigger...."Truck."

@nolongerblocked6210

Жыл бұрын

I sort of agree, I think it was the public... but the public were being force fed by the media

@Manchupacabra

Жыл бұрын

Letterman gleefully had Conan on his show to fan the flames. He's a childish pot-stirrer who never mentally moved on from NBC snubbing him for Carson's spot. Conan is 10 times funnier than either Leno or Letterman.

They need to have a sit down together and talk for like 3 hours …. It would be epic

@Attmay

11 ай бұрын

At this point in time, it would seem like a gentile version of *The Sunshine Boys.*

I enjoyed both of those guys!

Let's talk about who really lost in the late night wars, Craig Ferguson. He should of been the successor to Letterman but wasn't. He wasn't burned, he was cremated.

@cwillism

Жыл бұрын

I agree but Ferguson left The Late Late Show before Letterman retired.

@gilgarza2903

Жыл бұрын

@@cwillism Probably because he knew he was going to be cremated. Late night talk shows are just horrendous now. I haven't watched in over 6 years. I'd rather just watch old re-runs of any show.

@DM0407

Жыл бұрын

Ferguson was great but not conventional at all. I don't know if it would have worked out. The 11:30 hour was for boomers.

@gilgarza2903

Жыл бұрын

@@DM0407 Yeah, WAS for boomers. All late night demographics have changed. And that's why it SUCKS now. It's all one dimensional. Craig would of KILLED it! Miss that show.

@gymshoe8862

Жыл бұрын

I got a belly full of the skeleton and the horse costume bit. Craig himself was a bit monotonous.Ya know who REALLY stunk? Arsineo Hall.

Dave, I know you're watching! Get Jay on My Next Guest is, please. I'm absolutely positive that itd be fantastic to hear both of you talking the old days...

@nolongerblocked6210

Жыл бұрын

They've done this, I'm trying to remember where I saw it 🤔🤔 I can't remember but I saw a short interview(yrs ago) with Jay and Dave talking about the situation but it was short(like 10mins) and they didn't go really in depth on it

@HarloffGoes2GalaxysEdge

5 ай бұрын

Hahahahahahhahahqhahwhwhww

The fact remains, Dave was the spiritual successor to Carson. Carson said as much and even wrote jokes for Letterman to tell on his show which Dave always agreed to do, to Johnny's delight. That being said, I'd love for Jay to appear on Dave's new show on Netflix and they could hash out any potential differences they may have and bury the hatchet. Life is too damn short for feuds born of silliness.

@mattm7798

Жыл бұрын

But he really wasn't. Dave's style was more abrasive than Johnny. Johnny may have wanted Dave, but their styles were different. Jay however was similar to Johnny in that Johnny could appeal to everyone from kids to grandparents. Jay the same. Dave was witty-er but also more abrasive. More people felt comfortable inviting Jay into their homes than Letterman, as evidenced by Jay's higher ratings.

@Eremon1

Жыл бұрын

@@mattm7798 Agree to disagree.

@ASimoneau

Жыл бұрын

Whether or not Dave was the spiritual successor to Carson, it's not Leno's fault that NBC selected Jay to replace Johnny. And it was always bizarre to me that the popular interpretation of that decision is something like that Jay screwed Dave out of the job.

@Eremon1

Жыл бұрын

@@ASimoneau I never said that. If Jay screwed anyone over it was Conan and not Dave.

@ASimoneau

Жыл бұрын

@@Eremon1 He didn't screw either guy over, IMO.

It’s interesting how many KZread channels would prefer to focus on the beef and them “hating each other” instead of focusing on how they’ve both moved on

I love all of them. Any business has an ugly side, we should all wait in a few years until we hear about the podcast wars.

Two of my favorite people ❤Neal and Jay

It's hard for younger people to understand just how important The Tonight Show/Johnny Carson(or Ed Sullivan for that matter) was for an entertainers career back in the day. I always loved Letterman & Leno both, they both had qualities that the other person didn't & could always make me lol. But as great as Jay & Dave were/are they never held a candle to Johnny... he _was_ late night tv for about 25yrs

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

Mr. Carson came up through the ranks of Radio, Television, and Comedy. He put his time in unlike many today.

@johnsjohnson448

11 ай бұрын

Network Television was BIG time. There were fewer choices and powerful shows.

I know a lot of comedians, and not every comedian is instantly friends with another comedian. Doesn't mean they hate each other, they just don't pal around together. I don't think people get that, so to an outsider, it means there's a rivalry.

you did it. THANK YOU. also apples and jacks were involved.

2:54 Jay wouldn’t mind if he got the critics and Dave got the ratings. 10:05 Leno would be there for Letterman. Eternally grateful. Sorry it got ugly.

I absolutely love his character on Last Man Standing. Leno can act, and was funny as hell.... no surprise there.

I would always record Letterman when Leno was on. They had good banter. The "What's my beef" segment, Letterman would egg him on without actually saying it. I'll never forget when Leno brought pizza on the set and had pizza grease on the side of his mouth. He kept wiping his lips and not reaching the grease on the side.

“People want to see rich people set on fire“ is the funniest thing I’ve heard in weeks.

Jay and Dave should have a show where they just do normal things and riff.

From the second I heard Jay's bassist I always knew there'dbe a good show. Also deep respect for him as a boss.

With all respect to Letterman, Jay was always my favorite.

Love Jay!

Neal, this is a terrific interview! I really appreciate Jay's take. Times were different. Television was BIG. Both shows were great and competitive because of their personal rivalry.

@gymshoe8862

Жыл бұрын

Boy, Dave has really toned down and revised his side of the story! He has been burning with hate for Jay for many years--now he makes it sound so philosophical, as if it's just an incident in his past, and never bothered him. He wore his hate on his sleeve for years--its all here on YT.

@Vic-Vega

Жыл бұрын

​@@gymshoe8862Nah -- it was all part of the act, my dude. They are *entertainers,* after all...

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

@@gymshoe8862 Jay's story too, has changed. Never mind the "closet." EPIC!

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

@@gymshoe8862 I never felt that Dave "hated" Jay, but he had his "number," that is for sure.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

@@johnsjohnson448 And Jay was aware of Dave's own failings, but he chose not to clap back when his old rival was going after him at 11:35. At least, not until the night Letterman was using Jay's wife's name. Then Jay reminded him how people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Jay’s honesty, humility and self awareness is so refreshing.

@juffurey

Жыл бұрын

Being self-aware is the first step but it doesn't make any difference if he doesn't make any effort to change.

@juffurey

Жыл бұрын

I mean really, this has been Jay's shtick the entire time. He tries to act like big bro.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

@@juffurey What changes would you have him make?

@DrVenture42

Жыл бұрын

“When Dave stuck me” Jay’s humility never seems to include what harm HE caused.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

@@DrVenture42 I have heard what his own colleagues have said, but someday I would like to hear Dave himself address why he thinks *NBC* chose Jay over him.

This dude knew this clip would get a trillion views bc it’s such an untouched topic from this side

Big Dave there , still wearing his favourite coloured cream socks .... Youre the finest of modern times big man ! No one comes remotely close .

Great convo. It seems like the friendship isn't necessarily scarred per se....feels like if they were in proximity things would be alright. They just don't call each other on the holidays.

@CharlieTWilbury

Жыл бұрын

I agree, I always felt it was played up - particularly by Letterman - because he understood the historical value of a feud. That's not to say there wasn't real stuff going on, but I never actually believed they disliked or hated each other. Perhaps like frenemies.

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

@@CharlieTWilbury In the End, Dave and Jay shows were both hugely successful, beloved by their audiences, and made each millionaires many many times over.

Jay is such a good guy, and I think Dave is too. it's nice to see them being so gracious to each other. I would LOVE for Jay to be on Dave's show and just have them talk for hours... Maybe just watch some old clips from the NBC show and laugh again. That was such an incredible time. It was amazing TV and a true part of people's life for those years.

@ronblack7870

11 ай бұрын

what would they talk about? when jay was on dave's show it was comedy . they didn't get into personal shit.

What a terrific talk

On HOWIE MANDEL, Jay said that Letterman wasn’t a team player and an NBC executive wanted some tickets for their kids to see Letterman and he refused. It pissed off the NBC executive and they didn’t really want to deal with him anymore. Dave did make fun of the NBC executives.

Leno was always the right fit for The Tonight Show. Letterman and O'Brien were edgier comedians, but TTS is supposed to a comfortable setting for celebrities.

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

Dave would have been terrific on the "Tonight" show. The CBS show was a better deal for him in the long run as because he owned both shows in their respective time slots.

Leno and Letterman got to see each other again.They rocked when Jay showed up on letterman in the 80s and the chemistry was unmatched.I bet they hang out in secret like best buddys.

@kb5509

Жыл бұрын

I bet they absolutely do not.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

And they'd be laughing over the way they made us all think the feud was real, that *would* be cool. 👍

@DM0407

Жыл бұрын

@@gallery7596 WWF kayfabe style.

In 2006, I went with two friends to watch a taping of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The guest was Jessica Alba. During the commercial break, my friends and I yelled to Jay (we were only a couple rows up from the stage, maybe 30 feet from Jay) and he looked up at us. We hand gestured a signing motion to indicate an autograph. He knew what we were asking, and he immediately leaned over to Jessica Alba and asked her to sign something for us, and one of the interns brought it over to us. We looked at Jay, and he was looking at us, and I held up two fingers to ask for two more. He had her sign two more items, and the intern brought them over to us so that all three of us received our own autographed item. I was floored that Jay would risk inconveniencing a celebrity guest for the sake of making three 18-year-olds' days. I still have my Rolling Stones magazine with Jessica Alba on the cover and her autograph right across the middle of it. Jay was a class act, and he caught a lot of heat over the years; in my opinion, heat that was not warranted. I was fortunate to cross paths with him on that day in 2006, and I'm grateful for his generosity toward three strangers.

Neal Brennan...instantly subscribed. I think you're brilliant.

Leno is the better stand-up comic, Letterman is the better talk show host.

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

They are both great in their own Right.

@Sammo212

Жыл бұрын

I think they are both great at late night, they just have different styles.

@browngaymethodistjesuschri1361

Жыл бұрын

If you’re 60 maybe?

@Tavat

Жыл бұрын

@@browngaymethodistjesuschri1361 People who like Leno are mentally geriatric regardless of their age.

@sevensecondreviews

Жыл бұрын

Most viewers seemed to disagree.

I love Jay, he did great for himself and put on an awesome show

@Simonchez

Жыл бұрын

You're misremembering. His show sucked.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

@@Simonchez People are entitled to their opinions.

I liked both those guys. The whole situation was unfortunate. It’s a tough business

Loved when Jay was a guest on letterman

It is true that Jay guest hosted for 5 years. There were a couple of key things to make that happen. 1. Dave, who had been guest hosting The Tonight Show along with Shandling, on occasion, got the morning show and then Late Night necessitating the procurement of a new guest host 2. Johnny asked Dave who he thought would be a good replacement. Dave suggested Jay, who Johnny never much cared for. After convincing from Dave and agreement from NBC, The Tonight Show went with Jay. If Dave hadn't gone to bat for him, he very likely wouldn't have hosted at all.

@roywhiteo5

Жыл бұрын

I remember hearing someone who was involved with the process saying that David Lettermans demands for taking over the tonight show were so much more than they were willing to give that they went with Jay because his offer was reasonable. CBS was going to grab whoever lost so it wasnt going to be bad for either one. Conans management shafted Leno during contract negotiations in the mid 2000's and Jay returned the favor in 2009. I loved conans late night show but his tonight show was not particularly good. Now the tonight show is practically a joke and nobody cares about it

@shawnuel

Жыл бұрын

@@roywhiteo5 Fallon has turned The Tonight Show into the “Barney” of late night.

@TheLocalLt

Жыл бұрын

@@shawnuelfallon’s tonight show is irrelevant but is still better than all the other networks who basically just turned late night into political activism. People like Jay and Dave (and Johnny before them) hit everyone regardless of party and never talked about their politics. This is particularly true of Jay who talked politics a lot in his monologues but never took sides

@gymshoe8862

Жыл бұрын

@@TheLocalLt Letterman went full-bore political in 2000. He became a full-time opponent of GWB--he did at least 10 minutes smearing GWB EVERY NIGHT--there was no humor in it--the motive was HATE. That's not funny.

@TheLocalLt

Жыл бұрын

@@gymshoe8862 ah okay tbh I never really watched Dave, I was always a Leno guy (as unpopular as that position seemed to be at times - though Jay’s ratings said otherwise)

The thing that never gets brought up to Leno is how his agent Helen Kushnick used tactics that may have forced Carson's hand in announcing his retirement. She planted stories of Carson retiring.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

It's true that Helen Kushnick planted those stories and it put Jay in a horrible situation because he was eventually forced to decide between her psycho ass and his career.

Someone needs to get them in the same room again.

I like both of them equally.

I get the feeling that Jay would agree to meet and talk with Dave, but Dave would not agree to talk with Jay

@Vic-Vega

Жыл бұрын

You shouldn't trust your "feelings" in matters of any importance.

I can't believe that I picked a side (Conan / Dave) in a 'fight' I had literally nothing to do with. I never had any time for Leno's shows, but I've since learned how funny he actually is when he's not putting himself in a particular box. I've watched more of him since he left than I ever did when he was on late night. Letterman is still doing pretty well on the Barbara Gaines show too.

@scottcampbell96

Жыл бұрын

Same here. I never watched Leno on the Tonight Show because it seemed too scripted and I didn’t like Leno as an interviewer. He can be hilarious in almost any other venue. I blame NBC for insisting on a formulaic late night show and not letting performers just be performers in the 11:30 time slot .

@LinkRocks

Жыл бұрын

I liked all three so the whole fighting made me uncomfortable. Conan is my favorite but I watched Leno almost every night and watched Letterman when I wasn't watching Leno, some night I'd flip around to both.

@johnsjohnson448

11 ай бұрын

Jay was the better businessperson and a shark. Conan tried to take Jay on his own turf. He should have considered remaining in New York because he way too intelligent to play well from Los Angeles.

Great insights,

i wish you could have gotten a couple questions in for Conan? Neal, really enjoyed your funny or die vids, thank you for this channel,

Wish you guys got into the brouhaha with Conan & the tonight show, which seemed a bit more contentious than his drama with Letterman in the 90s.

@Betty-Boop809

Жыл бұрын

Me TOO!

@markstevens1729

Жыл бұрын

Again, NBC is just a pathological corporation seeking financial success for shareholders. The decision makers behind that see money, not personalities or feelings. If there’s a knock on Jay it is that he happily goes along with those moves. But he’s the talent, not the hatchet.

@TonyVega123

Жыл бұрын

Yeah that situation was super childish. I always blamed NBC for how that was handled, but of course Jay was the one everyone blamed lol

@ultraguy14

Жыл бұрын

​@@TonyVega123well, he did still choose to take the job. Not like he was obligated, or needed the money, or was looking at a genuine big break. He could have said no.

@TonyVega123

Жыл бұрын

@@ultraguy14 Why on earth would he say no? The man was literally number 1 when NBC decided to give it to Conan. Jay doesn't owe Conan anything. These men are employees. They are not owners.

As usual Dylan wrote a lyric that pretty well sums up the Letterman Leno saga; Strange how people who suffer together have stronger connections than people who are most content. That's a line from Brownsville Girl.

@billhair9552

Жыл бұрын

Written with Sam Shepard.

@leatherchopper

7 ай бұрын

Justified’s “We dug coal together”.

Neal, thank you. I always knew i didnt care, but now i know.

Nothing sums up Jay Leno better than the Bill Hicks bit on Jay blowing his brains out on air, leaving a blood splatter on the wall in the shape of a peacock - a company man to the end.

Jay was and is a very relatable person.

Ferguson was and IsThe Funniest. Everybody knows that. Letterman just is unaware.

5:16 Nothing in common, except for the one thing Jay has a an absolute obsession with. 🚗

Lets be real here. Both Jay and Dave owe ALL of their success to Mr Carson!! There is no debating it.

@gallery7596

Жыл бұрын

Carson owed something to Steve Allen, too.

@Vic-Vega

Жыл бұрын

Both correct comments.

OK but what about Conan? Leno and Dave I think are fine with each other. Conan, I don't think he wants anything to do with Jay, but he won't outright tell him to F#%$ off either if he saw him in person. I think Jay and Conan's fallout is much more recent and the feelings are a little more raw than what happened with Jay getting the Tonight Show and Dave going to CBS.

@ryanjacobson2508

Жыл бұрын

Conan was never going to be a good fit for the Tonight Show. And I'm really tired of Conan's petty whining and his fanboys feeling sorry for him.

@Writebrain82

Жыл бұрын

@@ryanjacobson2508 I don't feel sorry for him, he's had a great career since leaving the Tonight Show. But, that doesn't mean I don't think that what Jay did was wrong. It was. They're grown adults and they've moved on, but, I still do think that if you're bringing up Letterman in an interview it makes sense to also bring up Conan.

@Writebrain82

Жыл бұрын

@@jdnguyen1983 NBC is absolutely to blame. Conan wasn't the right fit for the show. But, he was promised it, and he made the best of it as much as he could. I don't think that's his fault. He was too edgy for that time spot. But, it all worked out for him in the end.

I'd pay a large premium to watch Leno on 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction' and / or Letterman on 'Jay Lenos Garage'

comedians never retire they just yammer on and on

Nice interview

Ok but he did screw Conan big time.

@gamernorcal

Жыл бұрын

he screwed Letterman too a decade before - hiding in the closet.

@Vic-Vega

Жыл бұрын

​@@jdnguyen1983Funny how you're leaving out the parts of that book (which I agree that people interested in this topic should read) that paint Jay as an insecure neurotic, and his agent as a hot-headed psychopath. To paraphrase another comedian (in-character): "how convenient!"

@danam0228

Жыл бұрын

NBC were the desicion makers of who hosted what. Not anyone else. Not even Johnny Carson

@Vic-Vega

Жыл бұрын

@@danam0228Jay knows what he did. Stop making excuses for the pathetic "closet-hider!!"

@bluealvey

Жыл бұрын

Jay is a crook. Plain and simple.

I could watch Dave talk about Jay or Jay talk about Dave for hours. Its a shame Dave is so weird and won't just let it go. I feel like he feels shame about it, and won't just get together with Jay...They're not getting any younger. Come on Dave! Do a show together, either you on Jay's car show or your interview show...both would be amazing

@danam0228

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, Jay is the type of guy who doesn't like to admit he's wrong and holds grudges, which is probably why he got along with Johnny so well, because Johnny was the same kind of guy. Bottom line with Dave, he's pissed off at everyone at NBC and the Tonight Show, except for Johnny about not getting that gig

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

@@danam0228 Jay and Johnny were never "close."

@ronblack7870

11 ай бұрын

@@danam0228 i don't see that at all. jay doesn't hold grudges. neither does dave. now, conan the ahole - he holds grudges

I want a Tough Crowd Reboot and an episode with Dave, Jay, Conan, and Katt Williams.

AW. my dream birthday gift. I remember now Neil. I said it.

I wish I had taken the time to appreciate Leno more when he was on TV. I always gravitated towards Letterman because he was the edgier, weirder of the two, but Leno is a genuinely hilarious guy who's as smart as anyone else.

@mikewhite4560

Жыл бұрын

Jay=Vanilla Dave=Rocky Road

@mattm7798

Жыл бұрын

Yeah the people that are on now can't hold a candle to Carson, Leno and Letterman. It doesn't help that they insert politics into half their show.

@mikewhite4560

Жыл бұрын

@@mattm7798 Seriously POLITICS is the GREATEST JOKE Going. For God's sake, America elected a CELEBRITY APPRENTICE Host to the most Powerful Position on EARTH...Now that's H Y S T E R I C A L...

@petesmitt

Жыл бұрын

@@mikewhite4560 and then they followed up by voting in a senile old man.. that's pathetic.

@mattm7798

Жыл бұрын

@@mikewhite4560 Hmmm, yes, must be why late show hosts are bringing in those huge ratings of old now...oh wait

I always felt like Jay at least "came across" as the "every man". I loved Conan more than any of them because he was way more out of the box and had Triumph and "In The Year 2,000" and "If They Mated" and all that just ridiculously funny stuff. I personally always felt like Letterman came across as somewhat smarmy but I'm sure that's just me.

@ronblack7870

11 ай бұрын

i felt the same but since i found out the truth conan was actually an ahole to jay. he forced nbc to fire jay. and i loved craig ferguson when he came on. liked him better than anyone.

@robertwiles8106

11 ай бұрын

Don't leave out the Pimpbot 5000!!!!

@SimpleManGuitars1973

11 ай бұрын

@@robertwiles8106 Oh yeah! I forgot about that! Lol!!!!

@johnmadison3472

11 ай бұрын

Different styles and approaches to comedy but they all had their niche.

It seems like the greatest tragedy of the Tonight Show debacle was that it ended the friendship of two guys who still clearly miss each other

@johnsjohnson448

Жыл бұрын

Dave and Jay were never "friends." Merely, colleagues or contemporaries.

They were rivals and did what rivals do: take shots at each other on their respective shows and in their career moves.