Have you ever noticed that even though Jay Leno's

I think it's a natural high derived from free tickets and a general proximity to being on the tee-vee. And they might get liquored up first.

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Maybe they're being tickled! Tickling makes the world go round! Yay!

ALL live-audience shows have people who come out and 'warm-up' the audience. They infuse the audience with energy and teach them how to applaud 'quickly', so as to make the applause sound louder and more enthusiastic. They say 'funny thing's to get everyone laughing, and encourage everyone to laugh loudly and often.

By the time the show starts the excitement of being in the studio, the warm-up activities and the energy of seeing a tv show (which is thrilling to those who get tickets) has people ready to laugh and participate with enthusiasm.

During the show there are applause lights which prompt the audience, as well as the 'warm-up guy' running around in front of the audience encouraging louder applause and more laughter.

It really doesn't matter what is said in the monologue. People will laugh and participate, and think they're having a good time.

Every television show with a live audience has the same formula.

It works.

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Well, I know all about the warm-ups and applause signs and stuff (I'm 53 years old),I've been to a few tapings; but, no amount of warm-ups and applause signs is going to make me laugh at something that isn't remotely amusing. Besides, my initial post was more a commentary on how unfunny that show is, than a serious question.

I'm with Johnboy. Leno is never, EVER funny. I can watch the whole show, and you would think by my reactions that I was watching c-span. don't know why his show is the top rated. especially when his network is down in the ratings, so he doesn't have a good lead-in.

Letterman, on the other hand is just wonderful. he knows how to host a show, and is actually funny, not to mention the writing is a lot better. what a concept. I have always been a Letterman fan. Leno has turned me off since day 1.

wake up, people.

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When I lived in Atlantic City, I got a free ticket to a Jay Leno show at one of the casinos. I didn't laugh once. He actually had a section in which he talked about how difficult it was to use a VCR. Not even program a VCR. Just use a VCR, as in, rent a copy of "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead" from your local Blockbuster. And this was in 2005.

Nancy comics are more relevant that he is.

mmmmmmmmm conan......*drools*

I actually remember when he used to be funny. He would appear on Letterman and The Tonight Show, and be funny. What happened to that guy? Yes, he's laughing all the way to the bank; as are thousands of others, who have no decernible talent; and, succeed on the sheer lack of discrimination of the American public. I suppose that's their talent.