Jay Leno Jokes After Severe Gasoline Fire Burns: 'I Never Thought of Myself as a Roast Comic'

Jay Leno is back in business. 

After suffering second and third-degree burns caused by a gasoline fire just two weeks ago, Leno has returned to the stage with some new material. Just six days after being released from Grossman Burn Center, the former Tonight Show host appeared at the Comedy Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, California. 

"National Enquirer got the story all wrong, they said I was in the hospital because Nancy Pelosi hit me in the head with the hammer, that's not what happened," he joked ahead of the show. "We got two shows tonight, regular and extra crispy... I never thought of myself as a roast comic."

Leno has been doing a set at the club almost weekly since 1992, but Sunday marked one of the only standing ovations he'd ever received at the venue. 

"What gave me the strength?" Leno jested as he left the venue. "I’m a comedian, there’s no strength. You just tell stupid jokes."

Leno also added that he was interested in doing a "benefit for that hospital to help people who are burned and can’t afford it". 

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines and harboring dad-aged celebrity crushes. She was previously a reporter/producer at Decider and is a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.