Jay Leno in 5 Minutes

The legendary comedian, former Tonight Show host, and current host of Jay Leno’s Garage talks success on stage and, of course, cars, with The Y Report.

By Tristan Diehl

Jay Leno keeps it simple. He’s entertained audiences for nearly four decades and has it down to a science. However, like most people, he’s passionate about more than his job. The magic for Jay Leno has been the opportunity to combine both things: the love of being on stage and his love of cars - both of which involve a bit of storytelling.

What is your favorite memory on stage?

Really just being on stage. The 90 minutes on stage is really a lot of fun. I like people! When I was working with Jerry Seinfeld, we’d say, “What if we went on vacation and we liked it?” Then we’d be really screwed.

There’s something about telling a joke and getting something from that, and it’s really the audience you get that’s the fun part – that’s what you remember.

Do you have a standout moment? 

You do that every day. You come up with a new line and see the reaction that it gets. Sometimes I’ll do an hour set to try out one joke, put it in the middle, and see if it works.

It’s the ability to say something funny in the shortest amount of time. When I talk to people that aren’t comedians, the longer it takes to tell something, the funnier it better be. You want a laugh or reaction every six to nine seconds.

Would you say, really understanding the audience and people makes for a successful career in comedy? 

The audience is like an orchestra, and comedy doesn’t really change that much. Funny is funny. Romance and sex change over time. Whatever was sexy in the 20s isn’t sexy now, but comedy doesn’t change. The trouble with a lot of comedy now is that it only reaches half the show. When Johnny did the show, when I did the show… they never really knew our politics. Nobody really knew.

The idea is to try to bring everyone into the fold.

We have a history of giving away some nice cars, like Maserati, Aston Martin, Porche, Tesla, and the Rolls-Royce will go to one lucky winner next month. Do any of those pique your interest?

All of those pique my interest! I like Aston Martin. I like the Rolls-Royce. I like Corvettes. You know, the Rolls-Royce isn’t something you dream of buying.

Why is the Rolls-Royce the wedding car? because it’s the only time you’re going to ride in one. It’s the fantasy aspect that people want. Winning something like that means more than money. It isn’t something you’d buy even if you had the money. You’d put it toward the mortgage or your kids’ college, but you secretly want to do it.

When you’re thinking about the Rolls-Royce Ghost, are there certain perks that people should know about?

There’s a level of luxury. There’s no plastic. It’s the difference between a designer dress and something off the rack. The car has the finest leather and the finest wood. The thing about the Rolls-Royce is it’s like an expensive watch. When you turn that crown wheel, you hear that little tick signifying there’s a certain handmade quality, and people appreciate that. Some people just like having a car, but some people like cars that are beautifully made, and that’s why people like the Rolls-Royce. It’s hard to beat a Sara Lee strawberry shortcake, but if you’re mom made it, it tastes better. It’s homemade.

Typically, we wrap up these interviews with your favorite word that starts with ‘Y’, but we’re going to switch it up for this one: what is your favorite car or bike that starts with letter ‘Y’?

I don’t really have a favorite. Different cars do different things. Can it go to Home Depot? I buy the story as much as I buy the car. There are such terrific cars with such terrific stories.

I have a ‘51 Hudson. A 94-year-old woman called me one day, “My husband and I bought this ‘51 Hudson when we moved to California.” It was the only car they had their whole lives. It hadn’t been driven in 25 years. She showed me the car. I bought the car. It took me a year and half to fix it all up, and I drove it back over to her house. Her kids were 74 and 76. They’ve got her blindfolded in the driveway – and she starts crying when she sees the car. So, I take them for a ride. She puts the kids in the back. She’s telling a story and the kids start poking each other in the back and she starts slapping them. The kids are just giggling. They told me that when they were in high school, they’d have their dad drop them off three blocks away because at that time they were embarrassed because it was an old car. Knowing their story makes the car fun. Every time I walk by it, I think of the old lady. She died at 106.

It’s the story as much as the car.