Jay Loves Cars

With comedian Jay Leno planning his last Tonight Show for Feb. 6, the question has been raised about what he is going to do in the future.

On one of my two visits to Leno’s collection back in the late 1990s, I asked him if he would ever consider coming to the Iola Old Car Show. He said something like “If I ever stopped doing the show and had the time” so who knows?

I’m going to write and ask him about this old idea. In the meantime, many people like Bob Greenblatt of NBC are putting some opinions about Leno’s future on the Web.

Could Leno do a television show about collector cars next? Greenblatt recently made some remarks acknowledging Leno’s successful stint on The Tonight Show and noted, “I’m hoping we will enter into a new relationship with him and keep his home on NBC.”

Greenblatt later said that he would “Love him to do specials with us, and other shows he could host.” Greenblatt told reporters, “His Jay Leno’s Garage is very popular online (and) it may be a series franchise.” The executive also mentioned “Jay loves cars,” but then he refused to get into any specifics.

Leno obviously is a big car enthusiast and a past winner of the Meguiar’s Award that honored the person of the year in the old-car hobby. Greenblatt also said that Leno is focused on The Tonight Show and not entertaining any future opportunity until he signs off from the show.

Asked about possible regrets about sending Leno off while the show was still No.1, Greenblatt said, “Jay always said he wanted to turn the show over at No.1.”