The legendary rivalry between Jay Leno and David Letterman stands as one of the most captivating narratives in the history of entertainment. For those who may not remember all the details (and considering Leno’s controversial actions towards Conan O’Brien, it’s easy to forget), here’s a quick recap: As Johnny Carson was preparing to retire from The Tonight Show, Letterman was expected to inherit the iconic late-night hosting role. However, Leno ended up securing the position instead, which prompted Letterman to make the switch to CBS. This led to a fierce rivalry that lasted over 15 years as the two competed directly against each other. Now, as we reflect on their contentious past, we must ask ourselves: has the tension truly subsided? It appears not; the likelihood of them reconciling seems slim, and it’s unlikely we’ll see them making headlines by publicly mending fences.
Recently, Jay Leno made an appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger (as reported by Deadline), where he discussed his experiences on The Tonight Show as well as his complicated relationship with David Letterman. Leno expressed a willingness to meet with Letterman, yet he expressed skepticism about the chances of that actually taking place. “Oh, yeah. I would like to do that. I think I have no problem with it…I think Dave might be awkward.” This statement reveals Leno’s complex feelings towards a potential reunion, highlighting the lingering unease that has characterized their interactions over the years.
Leno took a moment to reminisce about a particularly awkward visit he made to Letterman’s home, accompanied by a friend. “It was the most awkward. Dave’s like, ‘Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. Uh, come on in.’ And we’re like, ‘Oh, this is a mistake…It was just so awkward…‘So, uh, you want a glass of orange juice?’ ‘No, I’m OK. Yeah. We gotta get going.’ It was just so awkward…because you really, you have nothing else in common other than comedy really. Dave’s a sports guy. I’m not a sports guy…But I mean, believe me, if they want to do something, I would do it. But I’m not gonna…I tend to get my hand bitten when I instigate those kind of things.” This amusing anecdote underscores the fundamental differences between the two personalities, with their only shared ground being their craft in comedy.
In a fascinating twist, Jay Leno and David Letterman did collaborate for a Super Bowl commercial back in 2010, which was reportedly a concept initiated by Letterman himself. However, aside from this brief collaboration, there seems to be little impetus for the two comedy giants to reconcile their differences. Additionally, Conan O’Brien, who experienced his own fallout when Leno took over The Tonight Show from him, has also expressed disinterest in ever reconciling with Leno.
What are your thoughts on this long-standing rivalry? Do you believe a reunion between Leno and Letterman would be beneficial or worthwhile?
