NBC Jay Lenobelieves the late-night television landscape could use more nonpartisan humor. The formerThe Tonight Showhost had a nonpartisan approach to his humor and has some thoughts about the politicization of late-night television, he said in an interviewThe Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. "I got hate letters saying, 'You and your Republican friends,' and another saying, 'I hope you and your Democratic buddies are happy,' over the same joke," Leno said when the foundation's president and CEO, David Trulio, made note of his "balanced" approach. "That's how you get a whole audience. Now, you have to be content with half the audience, because you have to give your opinion." Take, for example, his friendship with late comedian and actorRodney Dangerfield. "I knew Rodney 40 years, and I have no idea if he was a Democrat or Republican," Leno said. "We never discussed politics; we just discussed jokes. I like to think that people come to a comedy show to get away from the pressures of life. I love political humor, don't get me wrong, but people wind up cozying too much to one side or the other." He said comedy could be used to establish common ground. "I don't think anybody wants to hear a lecture," Leno said, adding, "Why shoot for just half an audience? Why not try to get the whole? I like to bring people into the big picture. I don't understand why you would alienate one particular group. Or just don't do it at all. I'm not saying you have to throw your support [on one side]. But just do what's funny." Wendy Perl/NBCU Photo Bank Sign up forEntertainment Weekly'sfree daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Leno hosted NBC'sThe Tonight Showfrom 1992 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2014, the latter period afterConan O'Brien's unceremonious ouster.Jimmy Fallontook over as host in 2014 and has been in the post since. CBS announced earlier this month the shock cancellationofThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, revealing that the network would not replace Colbert, but retireThe Late Showafter over three decades on air. The network cited financial reasons, but the timing has come under scrutiny given host Colbert's sharp criticism of PresidentDonald Trumpand his settlement reached with CBS parent company, Paramount, over a lawsuit involvingKamala Harris' "60 Minutes" segment. Colbert's fellow late-night hosts, such asJon Stewart,Seth Meyers,John Oliver,andJimmy Kimmel, all rallied to voice support for him. Those hosts, too, are known to be critical of Trump and his administration on their own shows. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly