Jay Leno on His Feud with Jimmy Kimmel

A can’t miss conversation with the great Jay Leno, where Bill Maher and Jay share hilarious stories like Jay’s true feelings about his beef with Jimmy Kimmel, the time Jay took toilet paper as payment for a stand-up gig, why Jay hid in the closet and eavesdropped on NBC execs during the Tonight Show drama, what NBC told Jay when they fired him, what made the blind guy who climbed Mount Everest furious, and Jay’s dinner with Gorbachev.

All Social here

[EvanFowler]

Finally, one of these guys gives Ferguson the credit he deserves. He was the true inheritor to Letterman, in terms of creativity, uniqueness, and risk-taking. To this day, he's the only other one of them who even tried to do something truly different. I still miss watching Craig and Geoff every night.

[thethe-nttb]

I liked Craig, because he came off as actually trying to talk to the guest, rather than just ask the same questions. I loved that he just ripped up the blue card full of notes.

[psychochicken]

Ferguson reinvented what it meant to be a late night host. I'm glad Jay said what he said because he did not get the recognition he deserved. A truly phenomenal show.

[milltonfreedman]

I watched them all, Jay, Dave, Conan, Craig. I took them for granted. I didn't realize how lucky we were to have them.

[makatron]

Craig Ferguson was the one host that made me laugh, and by far the only one that didn't feel stale. He engaged with the guest and you could see him making them either weird them out or almost pass out by laughter.

[TheRealJakeRyanMusic]

They dropped the ball on Craig. Criminally underrated.

[praneetsinghbutran]

Still perhaps the only one constantly giving credit to Ferguson and recognising that he actually had become a real threat to the other hosts becuz he was simply so damn goood!!

[BT-xvxh]

Craig Ferguson was the best late night host...his show made me laugh way harder than any other show

[raiderjohnthemadbomber]

Ferguson was a BEAST. Incredibly funny, innovative and had the power to show the network execs his collection of avians.

[DavidDiMuzio]

It's actually quite interesting to hear Jay's perspective on this whole thing. I've only ever heard Letterman's.

[baitse]

Craig Ferguson is my favorite all time late night host

[indieshack]

Very good discussion - very relaxed. Great to get Jay's take on this.

[NekoBoyOfficial]

Craig was the only host I watched as a teen. Easily the funniest and most outrageous.

[TIOLIOfficial]

Holy f, this is first time IN MY LIFE I've seen someone actually acknowledge Craig. That dude is seriously the greatest talk show host there ever was and in my opinion, probably will be. So natural, smooth and funny.

[Jamietheroadrunner]

The NBC executives hated Letterman because since he started at NBC in the 1970s, he relentlessly made fun of them, live on air 😆

[benicio]

I did infrequently watch the tonight show years ago but I was never a devoted fan. Having said that, I’ve always believed that Leno, at his very core, is a very good guy. I’m glad he addressed this because people have been making public statements and have shared their perspective on the shake up and Jay has never spoken about how things unfolded from his side; at least he hasn’t, to my knowledge. I sincerely wish him well. I think he’s one of the good ones and he’s lasted because he does his own thing and keeps to himself and leaves the chatter and the back biting to those who want to participate in it.

[karencooper]

Craig Ferguson was absolutely, hands down the funniest of them all.

[johnnykarate_SweepLeg]

5:38 Answer: The Tonight Show has a legacy, has a huge audience and is considered the top spot. That's why he didn't go to Fox or anywhere else. It definitely wasn't loyalty.

[conor]

Craig Ferguson to James Corden has to be the biggest downgrade in the history of mankind 😂

[sunsetcliffs]

Need to get Kimmel, Conan, Jay, Dave along with some old TV Execs to hash this out on live TV. Ratings would be bonkers.