"The game has changed significantly since Leno’s (first) tenure" on The Tonight Show, says Bethy Squires. "I will agree with Leno that you can’t play it like (Johnny) Carson anymore," Squires adds. "Being apolitical is a bad look for 2019. Hosts like Stephen Colbert or Seth Meyers were explicitly hired for their political takes. Centrism is not popular right now — just ask Nancy Pelosi. Or Trevor Noah. I’m not saying Trevor Noah is a both-sides-ist, but he loves engaging in dialogue. He invited Tomi Lahren to The Daily Show, which made everyone furious (except Noah, who lapped up the ire like ice cream because he enjoys coming off as puckish). But nowadays when you piss off both sides, you get death threats from both sides."
TOPICS: Jay Leno, Late Night, Trump Presidency