Art News

When I Met Jay Leno at Caroline's

By Renée Phillips, The Artrepreneur Coach

Renee Phillips and Jay Leno at Caroline's

Jay Leno Keeps ‘em Laughing at Caroline’s
By Renée Phillips

If you want to read an exciting story about the struggle and success of a popular and ambitious comedian, then stop right here.

But, if you want to learn about the transformation of a young man who went from being a mechanic in Massachusetts to a fast-rising comedian who appears regularly on the Johnny Carson television show and the David Letterman late-night program, then meet Jay Leno, who is probably one of the most humble, down-to-earth individuals in show business.

Jay feels more comfortable talking about his love for the country side, the natural beauty of forests, or simply meandering through book stores and antique shops with his wife, Mavis, who is an astrologer and a writer for TV shows.

Since he was a mechanic before he became a comic, Jay loves to rebuild classic cars and motorcycles, a talent that seems incongruous with his other life on the stage.

Despite his rising fame and fortune, you won’t find Jay frequenting the glamorous nightspots around New York. The only sun he likes to bask in is the California sun, back home, which we speaks of with great affection. In fact, he gave me an impression that he really dislikes New York and would never, ever live here, which didn't score very well with me, an avid New York lover!

That topic and many others were shared during a recent interview with him at Caroline’s, a popular nightclub on Eighth Ave. and 27th Street in Chelsea. (Caroline’s by the way, will soon go completely “comedy” which is bad news for so many young aspiring singers and entertainers who are looking for a new nightclub to showcase their talents.)

Jay, who is 32, and has beautiful blue eyes, enjoys performing in the Big Apple, because he said there is something special about a New York audience. “If they like your act here, their response is immediate, and you know where you stand,” he said. “It’s an excellent testing ground for all kinds of materials.”

His advice to up-and-coming comedians is to constantly polish up their acts by performing at improvisation showcases. “Eventually, if you are good, they will discover you,” Jay says. That’s the way it happened for him. Talent scouts who are always looking for comedians for Johnny Carson Show and the David Letterman Show carefully watched him over a period of time before they asked him to appear as a guest comedian.

Jay said his good friend and fellow comic, Steve Martin, has been an inspiration for him. In fact, Steve was responsible for recommending him to talent scouts. And, Robert Klein is another “conceptual humanist” comedian with whom he finds a common creative link.

Apparently, not much has changed for Jay since the days he worked as a mechanic before he became a popular comedian except of course the four-figure paycheck he received for his nine-hour work week at Caroline’s.

Off stage, Jay is quite friendly and almost shy, with an irresistible country boy charm, in sharp contrast to the arrogance of many top comedians who use their macho bravado to mask an inferiority complex. I’m certain that is the reason that Jay has attracted so many fans and friends in and out of the business.

Renée Phillips is an author, writer and career consultant. She was the founder and publisher of Manhattan Arts International magazine from 1983-2000. Read her bio.

Read more articles by Renée Phillips.