Though I’m an adamant fan of both Howard Stern and Jimmy Kimmel, I’m officially putting a public stop to their Leno bashing. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Kimmel put a predictable hit out on Leno, saying, “As a comedian, you can’t not have disdain for what he’s done. He totally sold out. He was a master chef who opened a Burger King.”
I certainly take shots at celebrities I dislike, but that’s mostly driven by my inside knowledge about how they treat their staff. And my inside sources tell me Leno treats his staff with the utmost respect. Additionally, if it’s true that the guy sold out, then I’d like to scream “SO WHAT” from the rooftops. He’s employed a plethora of people, and if selling his soul includes telling schmaltzy jokes publicly while maintaining his comedic integrity during his stand-up gigs, then so be it. Lastly, I will once again reiterate that I do not hold Leno accountable during the NBC/Conan debacle. Conan pushed Leno out, and Leno fought to maintain his gig. Anyone in their right mind would do the same — including Kimmel. Have some tact.