Veteran comedian Jay Leno has offered his perspective on the evolving landscape of late-night television, suggesting that podcasts have taken over the role once held by traditional talk shows.

In a recent interview, Leno declared Joe Rogan to be the "new Johnny Carson," pointing to Rogan's ability to host interviews that feature meaningful and unfiltered conversations.

Leno believes that modern-day television shows often lack this depth, attributing Rogan's success to the absence of FCC regulations on his platform.

This allows for a more open dialogue, which Leno sees as a significant change in the late-night format.

This shift matters to audiences because it suggests a move away from structured, network-controlled content towards more spontaneous and less regulated discussions.

## The Changing Face of Late-Night

Leno, who departed "The Tonight Show" in 2014, also shared his thoughts on why traditional late-night television has seen a decline in popularity.

He specifically cited the increase in commercial breaks as a major factor.

According to Leno, rules passed before his tenure allowed for more commercial time after 11:30 p.m., reducing the actual show content from 48 minutes to about 42 minutes, with more frequent interruptions.

Despite his observations on the industry, Jay Leno remains active in entertainment.

He continues to perform live, doing approximately 200 dates annually, and hosts his YouTube show, "Jay Leno's Garage." He emphasized that he is not retired and enjoys his current work, which includes various projects outside of traditional late-night television.

Leno also touched upon the public's reaction to political commentary in comedy, noting that while he and Johnny Carson aimed to make fun of both sides equally, this approach seems less effective today.

He acknowledged that audiences are more polarized but maintains that "funny is funny," regardless of political leanings.