Jay Leno Talks About Why He Wouldn’t Let Joan Rivers on His Tonight Show
Now that Joan Rivers has passed away, Jay Leno is talking about how his decision to maintain Johnny Carson’s decision to ban Joan from the Tonight Show. Prior to 1986, Johnny and Joan had been great friends with Joan making multiple appearances on the Tonight Show and guest hosting. Then in 1986, after Joan was offered (and accepted) her own show on another network, that friendship ended.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Leno said never invited Joan back on the Tonight Show out of respect to Carson. “I didn’t want to do it while Johnny was alive, out of respect for Johnny — I don’t think he wanted to see her on the show”. But Leno admits that it was never anything that he and Johnny discussed. “No, no, it never came up. nothing was ever said, we just didn’t do it.”
After Johnny died, Leno said there were too many uncomfortable feelings between him and Joan. “It got a little awkward — by that point, Joan was going on and on about me”.
Joan did make it back on the Tonight Show when Jimmy Fallon took over. For the first time in 25 years.
