Whenever I’ve interviewed Jay Leno over the years, stories about the old days — what made growing up in New England “just so New England, so funny” — tend to flow rapidly, one after the other.
You learn that sometimes answers don’t relate to the question. Often there’s minimal segue between tales. And it doesn’t really matter. It’s just the fun ride you take when you talk to the Andover native — and not unlike a stand-up set or “Tonight Show” couch interview.
Here’s a prime example. When I called Leno last week, a question about his May 30 Chevalier show leads to a story about hanging with his old “idiot high school friends” and calling Barack Obama to prove he had Obama’s digits. (Obama picked up: “Lose the number, Jay.”)
“I don’t know why I had to call the president of the United States. Because when you’re [with] the same idiot friends you had since eighth grade — it’s just so stupid,” he says in a phone interview from his LA home.
A question about Andover High leads to him recalling meeting a former girlfriend years later. “I asked why she wouldn’t go out to California with me. Her mother was afraid I’d turn her Catholic. ‘I’m not Catholic!’ ‘Yes, but your name’s Italian.’ Just that New England, weird: Really, that’s your fear? I’m gonna turn her Catholic. Not even convert. I’m gonna turn her Catholic.”
Many yarns involve his parents, the late Angelo and Catherine, who sound like Frank and Estelle Costanza, or Archie and Edith Bunker.
A few center on his struggles with dyslexia. A guidance counselor once advised him to stick with his job at McDonald’s: “They have an excellent program there. They teach you how to make change.”
Despite that advice, in his 1968 Andover High yearbook, James Leno named his possible future career: “Retired Millionaire.”
The kid was only half right. At 75, Leno performs some 200 dates a year.
I called the comedian — who has homes in Andover and Newport, R.I., and a YouTube show on Newport cars — at his LA home for a wide-ranging interview. We talked about caring for his wife of some 45 years, Mavis, since her dementia diagnosis; his relationship with David Letterman; a disastrous Andover dinner; and something Leno knows a thing or two about: headlines.
You mentioned taking care of your wife, Mavis, even when you’re touring 200 dates a year.
I try to go home every night or every second night.
How is she doing?
You know, you have to find the humor. Because of the [dementia] we don’t watch any shows where you have [to remember the previous episode]. We just watch old shows. My wife was very much a feminist. So we’re watching “Hawaii Five-0” from the ‘60s. Every woman is “Sweetie, honey.” This particular episode, McGarrett [asks a woman]: “What kind of genetic engineering does your father do?” She says, “Well, I’m a woman. I don’t know much about these kinds of things.” I see my wife [go] “Rrrr,” just gritting her teeth. She’s still pissed off. Good, good!
That is a good sign.
So it hasn’t totally taken over. That’s kind of where it is. You have to try and have a good time. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking.
I can imagine.
But [pause] … She needs me. The most independent woman in the world. So I actually enjoy it. I don’t mind. She still recognizes me. You see it go in and out. The first 40 years have been great, the last five or six, little tricky. But there’s no place I’d rather be.
I bet. Going back a bit to your New England roots: You graduated from Emerson. You had some gritty first gigs in Boston’s old Combat Zone.
Here’s how naive I was: This girl comes off stage completely naked, sits on the chair next to me, puts her foot up on the table and says, “I do a private show in the back.” What am I missing? Are you going to show me X-rays? “Here’s my pancreas.” I said, “You’re completely naked.”
Did your parents think you’d make it as a comedian?
I once heard my mother talking to her sister: “Well, he has a little skit that he puts on from town to town.” Like I stand in a town square and dance.
I remember when I made it, I was on the cover of Time magazine. I said, “Mom, I’m on the cover of Time. Tell your cousins in Connecticut.” “Oh, I don’t think you’re on the cover there. I think they put you on the cover in the Andover area because they know you’re from here.” I go, “Ma, I’m on the cover all over the country.” “I don’t think so.”
Your dad sold insurance for Prudential. Were your parents funny?
Hilarious. My dad very loud, my mother timid. My dad became manager of the insurance office in Andover. Once a month, he’d bring home the top salesman for a home-cooked meal. He goes, “Bruce Brown is coming over. He’s got a wooden leg from the knee down. When he comes here, you don’t look at his leg. Don’t think about his leg. Don’t talk about his leg.” My mother can’t sleep. [In high-pitched warbling voice] “Oooooh! Don’t think about the leg. Don’t talk about the leg.”
Right.
So they come in the door. My mother’s looking at the ceiling. The guy sits down. Now his leg is under the table. My mother can relax. My mother’s a good cook. He says, “This food’s delicious, Mrs. Leno.” She says, “Well, you eat like a man with a hollow leg!” My father: “OhforChrissakes!” My mother runs to the bathroom, locks the door, she’s crying. My dad is screaming. The guy is laughing.
I love that. You just made headlines after discussing Jimmy Kimmel on a podcast. You said you could’ve edited out a bit [where he embarrassed you] on your show, but you let it air.
You just can’t win. I don’t really talk about — I never talked about Conan and Letterman.
When Kimmel came on [my show in 2010], he kind of trashed me, and I said, “You know, I walked into it. Keep it in.” Years later, people bring it up like it happened yesterday.
Are you friends with Letterman?
The best time of my life was doing the Letterman show. I could trash Letterman to his face, because he was an equal. That was a favorite time in my career. I was amazed at Dave’s ability as a wordsmith. He liked that I could be loud.
Then, of course, the press has to make you enemies. You don’t answer a question, you “break your silence.” Leno breaks his silence. “What happened with Kimmel? “Here’s what happened.” Then it’s: Leno lashes out. No, I didn’t lash out. When you look at the headlines, those are things they always use. I mean, it’s the cliche aspect of it.
JAY LENO
7 p.m., Friday, May 30, Chevalier, 30 Forest St., Medford. $59+, ticketmaster.com
Interview was edited and condensed. Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurendaley1 and Instagram at @laurendaley1.
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