Jay Leno Opens Up About His Relationship With David Letterman And Conan O'Brien

Ever wondered if Jay Leno and David Letterman still have that late-night rivalry? Well, buckle up because Jay recently spilled the tea in an interview. The legendary comedian revealed that he's actually a massive fan of David, but when it comes to Conan O'Brien, things aren't exactly rainbows and butterflies. Let's dive into this juicy story and find out what Jay really thinks about his fellow late-night legends.

Jay Leno and David Letterman: Friends or Frenemies?

Back in 1992, the TV world was buzzing when Jay Leno, then 68, took over "The Tonight Show" after Johnny Carson decided to hang up his hosting hat. At the time, everyone assumed David Letterman, who was 71 at the time, would be the one to step into Johnny's big shoes. But guess what? That didn’t happen! And ever since, there have been whispers of tension between the two. However, Jay wants to set the record straight. “We don’t hate each other,” he assured during a recent appearance on "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen." Jay went on to say, “The media likes to make a big deal about it, but the truth is, I’m a huge fan of David.”

Here’s the thing: Jay explained that he and David actually had a mutual respect for each other’s talents. Jay described David as a wordsmith who could craft sentences like nobody's business, but admitted that David was a bit hesitant on stage. Meanwhile, Jay saw himself as a loud and confident performer, but he wasn’t always the best writer. “So I’d watch him and think, ‘Man, how does he put those sentences together so well?’ And he’d watch me and wonder, ‘How can you be so confident up there?’” Jay said. It seems like they both learned from each other over the years.

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Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien: A Bumpy Ride

But David isn’t the only late-night rival Jay has had some drama with. Back in 2009, NBC decided to name Conan O’Brien, then 55, as the new host of "The Tonight Show." However, things didn’t stay that way for long. NBC later asked Conan to move back in the time slots to accommodate Jay Leno’s "Jay Leno’s Garage." Now, that didn’t sit well with Conan, who politely declined the request. Jay, reflecting on this decision during his chat with Andy Cohen, said that if he could go back, he “can’t think of anything” he’d do differently.

Here’s Jay