Jay Leno Reveals Why He Never Allowed Joan Rivers on ‘The Tonight Show’

On the cusp of receiving The Mark Twain Prize for comedy, Jay Leno sat down with Access Hollywood for an interview. During the interview, he answered a very intruguing question about Joan Rivers.

While Jay Leno was host of The Tonight Show, Joan Rivers never appeared on the program.

Once upon a time, Rivers was actually Johnny Carson’s fill-in host on The Tonight Show. Between 1983 and 1986, Joan took over when Carson was sick, on vacation, or needed some time off. It was an indicator of just how highly Johnny thought of Joan Rivers. However, in 1986, Joan got an opportunity to host her own show on FOX that would officially be at odds with The Tonight Show, and Johnny never forgave her. Joan Rivers confirmed that to CNN after Carson’s death in 2005.

“…when I left the show to do my own show on FOX, he never forgave me, and that made me terribly sad. We never spoke again.”

After that, Joan Rivers was banned from The Tonight Show by Johnny Carson.

When Jay Leno took over The Tonight Show in 1992, he was well aware of the ban on Joan.

“I didn’t want to do it [have Joan Rivers on the show] while Johnny was alive, out of respect for Johnny. I don’t think he wanted to see her on the show. And that’s why we didn’t do it.”

When asked why Joan Rivers wasn’t on The Tonight Show after Johnny Carson had passed away, Leno admitted it had gotten “a little awkward.”

“By that point, Joan was sort of going on and on about me. And I thought, let’s let the ground lie fallow for a while and see what happens… but she always kind of kept it going. And I liked Joan. I mean, that was the first autograph I ever got, was from Joan Rivers.”

Jay was then asked if he regretted never having Joan on the show.

“No. I never have any regrets about anything. Except this interview.”

When asked about the recent passing of Robin Williams, Leno recalled him fondly.

“It would be great fun to be 85 years-old, and sit with Jerry [Seinfeld] and Robin, and… you know, that’s not going to happen now. I always liked Robin. I loved Robin. He was a good comic. Never trashed other comedians. Never got involved in any trash-talk, or that kind of nonsense. He was very supportive. Always helped out young performers, and homeless people. And he was really a decent, decent guy who obviously had a lot of demons.”

Watch the full video courtesy of Access Hollywood.

Jay leno will receive the 17th annual Mark Twain Prize on Sunday, October 19th.

[Images via Parade KTLA]