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Home » Blogs » Heather Hogan's blog » Liz Feldman goes to work for Jay Leno

Liz Feldman goes to work for Jay Leno

by
Heather Hogan

This just out: Super Gay Comedic Genius (and AfterEllen.com favorite) Liz Feldman is going to work for Jay Leno.

During a press conference yesterday, Leno told reporters that he wants to use his new talk show to highlight young comics. Feldman is one of the chosen few. In fact, she has already taped a segment in which she tries to teach elderly people how to use Twitter.

"I hope we can make some stars in this," Leno said. "I hope people become famous and get offered shows. If they replaced me with a guy we discovered, I mean, that would be great."

(Or a gal you discovered, right Jay? That would be great too.)

Feldman Tweeted the news last night: "I'm a very lucky girl. Jay Leno is my new boss. He's an incredibly kind and generous fella."

When The Jay Leno Show premieres next month, Leno will continue to do his monologue and other Tonight Show staples, like Jay Walking and Weird Headlines, but the taped segments with Feldman (and other young comics) will take the place of the interviews that occupied the greatest chunk of time on his late night show.

"This is a way to use young comics in a new way," Leno said. "They essentially go out and they shoot the stand-up piece they're talking about."

Feldman is a four-time Emmy-winning writer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, but in an interview with AfterEllen.com last summer, she said she's always been more interested in performing: "Writing was something I would do because it came to me. It was always way more fun to perform. Writing can be really torturous, but I loved performing and coming up with crazy characters and wearing my wigs."

Now Feldman is getting the chance to take those crazy characters to primetime.

The Jay Leno Show will air nightly on NBC at 10 p.m., which means it is going up against a whole host CSIs, NCIS' and Law and Orders, something Leno mentioned at the TCA press tour a few weeks ago: "Do I expect to beat CSI: Miami? No. Do I expect to catch them in the reruns and stuff? Yeah. You know, we might not catch them on the straights, but hopefully, we can catch them in the corners."

That whole "straights and corners" stuff is all race car talk, but let me just run it through my Lezbo Translator: Can you expect to beat CSI: Miami in the straights? Maybe not. But with Feldman on board, you'll certainly catch them with the gays.

How excited are you that Liz Feldman is coming to primetime?

  • Heather Hogan's blog
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    • Submitted by
    Heather Hogan
    on August 20, 2009 - 4:00pm.
    TAGS :: 
    Taylor's picture

    Yay!!!

    Submitted by
    Taylor (60 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 3:58pm.
    I  <3 Liz!!!
    Ines's picture

    I'm so happy for her

    Submitted by
    Ines (370 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 4:09pm.

    She totally deserves to be famous. She's funnier than a lot of the comedians out now.

    www.myspace.com/guitarrachica

     

    wyle e coyote's picture

    okay, ya got me

    Submitted by
    wyle e coyote (97 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 4:12pm.

    I really wasn't planning on watching his show, because I'm totally not a fan of Leno.  But this changes everything.  I miss This Just Out, but this will be great.  Liz makes me laugh till I cry.  With this news and Wanda Sykes and Ellen, it looks like talk shows are going to be a large portion of my tv viewing this fall.  

     

    "Every time two lesbians kiss, an angel gets its wings." --Roseanne

    DaChickenLady's picture

    Woot!

    Submitted by
    DaChickenLady (32 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 4:32pm.
    Best of luck to Liz.  She's wicked funny.
    H's picture

    YAY!!!

    Submitted by
    H (40 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 4:37pm.

    MORE LIZ!!!!!!

    Annie's picture

    Wow that's great! i bet

    Submitted by
    Annie (51 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 4:38pm.

    Wow that's great! i bet she's over the moon, as am i!!!!

    She's hilarious, love you Liz! 

    Lucy 12/21's picture

    sooo f***ing happy 4 her

    Submitted by
    Lucy 12/21 (47 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 4:53pm.

    omg thats awsome seriously i'm so happy 4 her but i'm gonna miss soooo much THIS JUST OUT  =(     but  i love her so wish her the best xD 

    ciao

    mind_changer's picture

    'I'm Liz Feldman and you're so gay'

    Submitted by
    mind_changer (6 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 4:53pm.
    I'm not just gay, I'm ecstatic! This is great news. Kudos for Liz! She's one of the funniest people alive. I miss TJO.
    fallon ash's picture

    So awesome!

    Submitted by
    fallon ash (386 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 5:01pm.
    Congratulations, Liz!!
    JennyK's picture

    I predict that she will have

    Submitted by
    JennyK (16 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 5:02pm.
    I predict that she will have her own late night talk show on a major network sometime in the future.  I wish they'd give her Conan's old time slot now.
    chicker's picture

    Yay, Liz!

    Submitted by
    chicker (52 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 5:05pm.
    Like a lot of women in their 20s, I was underwhelmed about the Leno show, because I am definitely not his target demographic. But I might check the show out if the awesomeness that is Liz Feldman will be featured every now and then. I'm always so sad whenever she tweets about a show in L.A. that I can't see. At least I can see her in primetime sometimes!
    Anonymous's picture

    Wow! That's Great News! Liz Working For Jay Leno

    Submitted by
    Anonymous
    on August 20, 2009 - 5:06pm.

    Congrats, Liz.  Let the best person be the winner: you!

    I can't wait to see her new gig.  

    Dr. LADY-CROFT's picture

    Congrads Liz.. Well

    Submitted by
    Dr. LADY-CROFT (38 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 5:07pm.
    Congrads Liz.. Well deserved!!!
    monica_ca's picture

    Not gonna lie...

    Submitted by
    monica_ca (751 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 5:26pm.

    I literally lol'd at this:

    Quote:
    That whole "straights and corners" stuff is all race car talk, but let me just run it through my Lezbo Translator: Can you expect to beat CSI: Miami in the straights? Maybe not. But with Feldman on board, you'll certainly catch them with the gays. 

    Anonymous's picture

    blue blazer on tv!

    Submitted by
    Anonymous
    on August 20, 2009 - 6:08pm.

    congratulations liz feldman! i hope we can catch the show over here on some cable channel or t'other.

    good luck!

    the real gay gals on tv visibility scale moves up another point :o) 

     

    s a r a h's picture

    hells yes!!!! i love liz and

    Submitted by
    s a r a h (228 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 6:30pm.

    hells yes!!!! i love liz and her humour and her blazer. cant wait her to get more viz from this :)

    To every feminist action, there is an equal and opposite beauty reaction- Naomi Wolf

    Anonymous's picture

    this is great news! so happy

    Submitted by
    Anonymous
    on August 20, 2009 - 6:51pm.
    this is great news! so happy for her! she deserves it. and omg, i love jay leno!
    Anonymous's picture

    lizzy

    Submitted by
    Anonymous
    on August 20, 2009 - 7:05pm.

    wow! i have to admit i was never really a fan of leno but i definately will be watching him now. liz is my ultimate fav.

    onemorehour's picture

    i mean...

    Submitted by
    onemorehour (201 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 7:34pm.
    i'm happy she got a cool job and will get a lot of exposure, but jay leno is kind of a turd.
    DerangedBeanie's picture

    Yay, yay, yay!

    Submitted by
    DerangedBeanie (103 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 8:08pm.

    This is such wonderful news! I miss Liz. Will she still film in her hot kitchen? Will the gay sword visit? And Raimy, will she be there?

    Congrats, Liz!

    D's picture

    'I Have The Best Bosses' contest

    Submitted by
    D (19 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 8:59pm.

    Liz wins.

    5on_KinseyScale's picture

    WOOT!!!!

    Submitted by
    5on_KinseyScale (12 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 9:21pm.
    LIZ LIZ LIZ. YAY~
    Lawinengefahr's picture

    Yay!

    Submitted by
    Lawinengefahr (19 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 9:24pm.
    Liz is the best!  I love her so much!  I don't usually watch that much TV, but I will definitely be making time to watch this show.  Liz, you rock!
    nicole's picture

    Congratulations, Liz! Guess

    Submitted by
    nicole (3 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 9:46pm.
    Congratulations, Liz! Guess I'll be watching more television now.
    Audrey's picture

    Liz is so awesome!

    Submitted by
    Audrey (34 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 10:03pm.
    I'm so happy for her :) She definitely deserves it - she's hilarious!!
    pecola's picture

    Congratulations Liz!

    Submitted by
    pecola (1550 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 10:26pm.

    Leno will definitely have me as a viewer when she's on.  

    ---

    Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong. - Theodore Roosevelt

    Erika's picture

    Congrats

    Submitted by
    Erika (275 posts)
    on August 20, 2009 - 10:34pm.

    Go Liz!  :)

    --------

    "Great.  Not only do I feel creepy but now I look like I'm 1,000 and that I've been smoking meth all my life." -Sara Quin

    assaultedpeanut's picture

    Hooray Liz!

    Submitted by
    assaultedpeanut (2 posts)
    on August 21, 2009 - 1:08am.
    I am so excited! Seriously, Go Liz!
    Mags's picture

    That's so awesome!

    Submitted by
    Mags (610 posts)
    on August 21, 2009 - 1:52am.

    SO EXCITED! I can't wait to see her on the show! 

     

    Very occasionally, if you pay attention, life doesn't suck.
    -Joss Whedon

    jeepdawg_34's picture

    Congrats Liz!!

    Submitted by
    jeepdawg_34 (197 posts)
    on August 21, 2009 - 8:53am.

    Liz, your so gay.

    We love you that way.

    Now you work for Jay.

    This news made my day.

    HOORAY!!

    StuntDouble loved your "straights and corners" bit!! I totally agre! 8)

    music.is.everything.'s picture

    i don't usually watch late night television,

    Submitted by
    music.is.everything. (194 posts)
    on August 21, 2009 - 9:32am.

    but if Liz is on i'm gonna have to start! i love her. glad that even though TJO is over, we can still get our Liz Feldman fix.

    congrats!

     

     

    and in our honesty, together we will rise. out of our nightminds and into the light at the end of the fight...

    Bridget's picture

    Congrats Liz!

    Submitted by
    Bridget (144 posts)
    on August 21, 2009 - 11:15pm.
    I'm so excited for her! Will we miss TJO? you bet, but she deserves this. Only great things can come from this, we love you Liz!
    Valkyrie's picture

    coolness

    Submitted by
    Valkyrie (316 posts)
    on August 22, 2009 - 2:22am.

    I like a lot Liz.. and I like Leno, so good for her, can't wait to watch it. Didn't know Feldman was a writer for the Ellen Show...

     

     

    "It is easier to disintegrate an atom than human stupidity"-A. Einstein

    the.rural.juror's picture

    Woot! Primetime Lez..err, Liz! :D

    Submitted by
    the.rural.juror (46 posts)
    on August 22, 2009 - 4:07pm.

    When I found out that TJO was ending, I thought to myself that Liz should better have a decent (heh) explanation for leaving. Whaddyaknow, we'll get a daily dose of her..and on primetime tv.

    Is it weird for me to think that it's like one of your friends makes it big, and you can't help but feel "I knew her way back when...." Haha. Oh well.

    Congrats to Liz! Well deserved indeed.

    P.S.

    Please let there be TJO cameos...LOL.

    Clara's picture

    Well done Liz!! I had never

    Submitted by
    Clara (919 posts)
    on August 23, 2009 - 12:33pm.

    Well done Liz!! I had never watched Leno artly because I can't do in the UK, I still can't find the interview he did with Rachel Maddow, it got taken of youtube before I could view it.

    Liz you are amazing (hope she reads this, well I know she reads the comments on TJO so fair chance she will.) You're soo funny. I'm always quoting the Emily Deschanel episode, even my brother quotes it now. So awesome that you get the primetime, you will go far! We knew you first! Sad that this ight have hastened the end of TJO but it's worth it for you.

    I think working for Ellen as a person would be better than Leno but overall I see why you'd want to stop the writing and persue the performing. Watching interview Ellen did the other day and I realised you do have slight similarities, I know you mentioned that in an interview but I'd never really seen it before. Anyways, specific episodes of TJO are the funniest things I saw all year, you are one of the funniest people imo :)

    ________________________________

    My AfterEllen/Bridget Video Game

    "there's always time for a burrow..."

    "We're getting fired, fired, fired, fi..

     

    7Up's picture

    Liz Rocks!

    Submitted by
    7Up (729 posts)
    on August 23, 2009 - 5:27pm.

    Extra huge congratulations to Liz!!!  :-)

    Still I love your vlog here, is it totally over? That would be too sad... :-(

    Michie87's picture

    YUS!!!

    Submitted by
    Michie87 (654 posts)
    on August 23, 2009 - 11:01pm.

    I bet that Liz Fieldman being there will earn Leno a HUGE increase on the popularity charts and a few gay customers eh?. Great, smart way to put it!, we all miss Liz so we all will tune it! you see my drift?. Any way im sooo happy for liz! is about time she came back!. I know I am not gonna miss it :D.

    -----------------------------------

     

    Let it Rock,Let it roll

    Dorky77's picture

    whouhouuuuu!!

    Submitted by
    Dorky77 (39 posts)
    on August 24, 2009 - 9:27am.

    I'm so so happy for her, she deserves it, and hopefully she will get her own show someday!! go Liz!

     

    http://www.youtube.com/odeth68

    dfemme's picture

    Finally!

    Submitted by
    dfemme (58 posts)
    on August 30, 2009 - 2:31pm.

    Congratulations on this new job.

    Finally someone who is actually funny in primetime!

    I hope you get your own show one day.


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