Jay Leno, once the undisputed king of late-night television, has broken his silence on a troubling trend in modern comedy: the rise of one-sided, politically charged humor. In a recent interview with Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation CEO David Trulio, Leno criticized today’s late-night hosts for isolating half of their audience with constant partisan jabs, particularly at conservatives. According to Leno, this approach is not only detrimental to the comedians themselves but also to the industry as a whole.

Leno’s comments came at a time when the late-night comedy landscape was shaken by CBS’s unexpected decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The abrupt removal of Colbert, a comedian known for his satirical portrayal of conservatives, has led some to speculate about political motivations behind the decision. But for Leno, the issue lies in a much deeper trend—the shift towards one-sided, partisan comedy that he believes is harming the art form.

“Why Shoot for Just Half an Audience?”

Leno, now 75, has always prided himself on maintaining a balanced, nonpartisan approach to comedy. During his 22 years hosting The Tonight Show, he became known for his ability to make fun of both sides of the political spectrum. He would regularly mock Republicans and Democrats alike, creating an atmosphere where audiences could laugh without feeling alienated.

In contrast, many of today’s late-night hosts, including Colbert, have adopted a more overtly partisan style of comedy. Leno believes this approach is not only divisive but also ultimately damaging to the hosts’ careers.

“Why shoot for just half an audience all the time?” Leno said during the interview. “You know, why not try to get the whole?”

For Leno, it’s simple: by focusing exclusively on one side of the political spectrum, today’s late-night hosts are cutting themselves off from half of their potential audience. Instead of entertaining a broad demographic, they are opting for humor that caters only to a select group, alienating a significant portion of their viewers in the process.

“I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group, you know, or just don’t do it at all,” Leno added. He wasn’t advocating for a lack of political humor, but rather for a more balanced approach that doesn’t shy away from poking fun at both sides of the aisle.

The Financial and Political Fallout: Colbert’s Sudden Cancellation

Leno’s comments come at a critical juncture for late-night television. Earlier in July 2025, CBS made the shocking announcement that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would be canceled, with the final episode scheduled for May 2026. While CBS officially claimed the decision was made for financial reasons, with the network citing the challenging financial backdrop for late-night programming, many speculated that Colbert’s increasingly partisan comedy may have played a role in the network’s decision.

Colbert, who made his name lampooning conservative figures, had recently made headlines for calling CBS’s $16 million settlement with Donald Trump “a big fat bribe.” The settlement came after Trump accused CBS’s 60 Minutes of editing an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris to make her appear more favorable. Colbert’s public remarks likely didn’t sit well with CBS executives, particularly given the political and legal challenges facing CBS’s parent company, Paramount.

But Leno sees the issue differently. He argues that Colbert’s cancellation—whether politically motivated or not—was a result of the network’s broader failure to understand the value of balanced humor. Instead of making strategic cuts or finding ways to adjust the show’s format, CBS pulled the plug entirely, and Leno believes that decision speaks to a larger problem within the industry.

The Demise of Colbert and the Decline of Late-Night TV

Leno’s commentary on the Colbert cancellation comes on the heels of what many see as the slow decline of late-night television. Once an essential platform for cultural and political discourse, late-night comedy has increasingly become an echo chamber for one political ideology. For Leno, this is a fatal mistake.

“You have to be content with half the audience because you have to give your opinion,” Leno explained. “But it’s just what happens when people wind up cozying too much to one side or the other.” His belief is that the best late-night comedy doesn’t just reflect one side’s views; it gives everyone a chance to laugh, regardless of their political affiliation. When late-night shows skew too far left or right, they lose the magic of universal humor and become just another platform for political commentary.

This “one-sided” approach, Leno argues, is precisely why Colbert’s cancellation was inevitable. By targeting only one side of the political spectrum, Colbert alienated viewers who didn’t share his views, and in the process, damaged his show’s appeal. As Leno pointed out, it’s not that political humor is bad, but when a comedian’s entire identity is built around attacking one side, it’s no longer about making people laugh—it’s about making a political statement.

A Lesson for Today’s Late-Night Hosts

Leno’s criticism is not just aimed at Colbert but at the entire landscape of late-night television. Today’s late-night hosts, from Jimmy Fallon to Seth Meyers, have all adopted a more partisan style of comedy, often focusing on mocking conservatives or the Republican Party. While this has earned them praise from their liberal-leaning audiences, it has also created a divide between them and conservative viewers, who often feel alienated by the jokes.

Leno’s career was marked by his ability to make fun of both sides, which allowed him to maintain a broad, diverse fanbase. His humor was never about making a political statement; it was about making people laugh, regardless of their political views. It’s this lesson that Leno believes today’s late-night hosts need to learn.

“If you make fun of both sides,” Leno said, “people laugh. When you start cozying up to one side, you’re going to alienate people.”

Leno’s message is clear: Late-night comedy should be about entertainment, not politics. Comedians should strive to make people laugh, regardless of their political affiliations, and avoid turning their shows into platforms for partisan jabs. In a divided country, humor can be a unifying force—but only if it’s inclusive and doesn’t cater to just one side of the aisle.

The Future of Late-Night TV: What Comes Next?

The cancellation of Colbert’s show marks the end of an era for CBS and the late-night comedy landscape. While the network insists that the decision was purely financial, Leno’s comments suggest that something deeper is at play. By turning its back on Colbert—one of the most successful late-night hosts in recent memory—CBS is signaling a shift away from the traditional late-night format.

As the late-night landscape continues to evolve, Leno’s warning is clear: the future of late-night television depends on its ability to balance humor with inclusivity. If today’s hosts continue to alienate half their audience with partisan jokes, they risk losing the very thing that made late-night TV a staple of American entertainment—its ability to unite people through laughter.

Leno’s message may not be the last word on the matter, but it’s certainly a powerful reminder of what late-night comedy used to be—and what it can still be, if the industry is willing to listen.