Leno or Letterman?

[ChileMass]

With all due repsect to Jimmy Kimmel and the rest, Jay Leno and David Letterman are the two heavyweights of late-night TV. So who do you watch? If you don't watch them regularly, who do you prefer or which do you think is funnier?

Me, I'm a Letterman guy. Always have been. I think he's still hilarious and as edgy as you can be on network TV, even after all these years.

I always thought Johnny Carson and the old Tonight Show was great, but Jay just doesn't measure up - too LA.

 

[bvibert]

You left out an option:

• I don't care because my lazy ass is in bed by the time they come on...

 

[Marc]

Leno. Letterman annoys the crap out of me.

Neither are as good as Carson, but he's the gold standard, no one compares and never will.


Leno has cool cars, is a cool guy, and has no insanely annoying mannerisms.

 

[skibum1321]

You left out an option:

• I don't care because my lazy ass is in bed by the time they come on...

I'm with you on this one. I'm up at 6 every morning so I'm usually sound asleep by 11:30. When I used to watch them occasionally, it would be Leno.

 

[andyzee]

I also choose bed.

 

[ctenidae]

bvibert hit the nail on the head. I've probably watched more Letterman than Leno, but that's probably just a function of his being around longer. I couldn't say with any confidence that I've ever watched either one of them from start to finish.

 

[Marc]

bvibert hit the nail on the head. I've probably watched more Letterman than Leno, but that's probably just a function of his being around longer. I couldn't say with any confidence that I've ever watched either one of them from start to finish.

I concur, I've usually fallen asleep (or passed out) by that time. I watch no late night shows habitually.

 

[BeanoNYC]

I have a feeling that I know which way this poll is going to go.

Letterman here.

 

[pizza]

I can honestly say I've never laughed at a Jay Leno joke.
Letterman isn't that great, but he's better than Leno.

For the life of me I can't figure out why they can't get a real comedian on those shows..

 

[BeanoNYC]

I like Letterman's New York style humor. I prefer Conan over both of them.

 

[hammer]

I prefer Conan over both of them.

Agree...

 

[Greg]

I too vote for the "sleep" option...

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm often asleep at that time. I will confess that I switch between the two when I am up....Letterman is a bit more conservative while Leno is a bit more edgy....Letterman is the "Coke" and Leno the "Pepsi" I guess....

 

[ChileMass]

I like Letterman's New York style humor. I prefer Conan over both of them.

I agree on both points........

 

[YardSaleDad]

Charlie Rose

 

[BeanoNYC]

Charlie Rose

Do you supplement that with "Inside the Actor's Studio" sometimes?

 

[andyzee]

Girlfriends on UPN

 

[YardSaleDad]

Do you supplement that with "Inside the Actor's Studio" sometimes?

Nope, I just have the broadcast channels.

 

[skibum9995]

Leno for me. I love Headlines on Mondays.

 

[riverc0il]

I used to be really into the Late Shows and Late Late Shows when I was a yonger (Middle School, High School, and some of College). I remember watching Letterman when he was in the Late Late Show slot and remember his first episode when he switched over (Bill Murray spray painting his desk, classic!). I can honestly say that Letterman started going down hill circa 96, if I remember correctly. I lost all interest around then. Letterman seemed to get comfortable and fall into the routine of the whole thing. I can't stand Leno for some reason. In either case, I stopped watching the Late Shows over half a dozen years ago.