Stimulate US: Jay Leno shows Detroit some love with free comedy show
Filed under: Fantastic Freebies, Stimulate US, Celebs & Money
With 11.6% unemployment, Michigan is currently number one for unemployment across the country. Mostly to blame is the car industry, as GM, Ford and Chrysler continue to add to their tidal wave of job cuts. Enter Jay Leno, who announced on his TV show last night that he'll be coming to Detroit to offer a free night of comedy for the city's unemployed, April 7 at the Palace of Auburn Hills. It's all part of "Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan."Leno, an avid car collector, proclaimed Metro Detroit "one of my favorite places." You might be asking, when's the last time Leno was actually there? As it turns out, New Years Eve, when he performed at Caesar's Windsor. Amid the daily bad news of home foreclosures and unemployment, people tend to forget that Detroit is really an amazing city. If you need a reminder, just check out the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Motown Historical Museum, or the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History just to name a few. The Diego Rivera Detroit Industry mural courtyard at the DIA remains one of my favorite places to be in the entire country.Leno is setting the bar high for his fellow comedians to show their support for our country's unemployed. As Leno is no stranger to performing pro bono (he's performed for military troops around the world) it remains to be seen if performing for the unemployed will be the next big statement of national service. But I for one would love to see our top comedians fill his shoes. I'm talking to you Stephen Colbert, Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart, Sarah Silverman, and Tina Fey. I bet the Flight of the Conchords could definitely make us forget about our economic woes for an hour. A special Will Ferrell "A Final Night With George W. Bush" Show for the unemployed would be highly appropriate.
Tickets to Leno's April 7th event will be dolled out based on the honor system. Just show up to the Palace box office starting Monday, and say you're unemployed. There's a limit of four tickets per person.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-11-2009 @ 10:42AM
allen hott said...
nice gesture.
What would be an even better gesture if every American who showed an income of over a million dollars on his latest tax return would donate 10 percent of whatever that total net income was.
The "donations" would have no strings attached and would be placed into one "pot". Then on a specified date all of the donations would be divided "equally" to all those on the unemployment roles of each state.
NO GOVERNMENT involvment except for providing the wherewithal of dispensing the money.
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3-11-2009 @ 10:52AM
WTH? said...
Allen, are you calling for redistribution of wealth? Let me tell you something as someone who has seen first hand how that does not work I will just say that you must me naive.
We need the President and the media to stop being so negative and for government to give small business owners tax cuts they can feel. The big companies need to restructure the union deals that go far beyond what the average worker in the US gets in compensation and benefits. these unions have fleeced our major industry for years and are a major reason we are not able to compete with Japan, even if their cars are being built here. Now I don't blame the workers for this, but the union heads have known better for a long time.
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3-11-2009 @ 2:45PM
Jeanne said...
You are a good man, Jay, you are not only the funniest late night host , but you also have the biggist heart. Your words and actions have demonstrated that many times over the years.
Good luck and good health.
A nightly viewer
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3-21-2009 @ 12:07PM
Ben said...
You're right about the many great things in Detroit, Ariston. This city gets dumped on so much (and most of it, sadly, is warranted) that people don't see the opportunities within the city. We have an incredible art museum. Our symphony is top-notch, too. For the sports lovers, we have 3 major pro teams that play in the city and one that's not far outside the city.
Kudos to Jay for doing this. I hope he's able to bring some joy and fun to those in this area who're going through tough times right now.
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3-30-2009 @ 6:44PM
Pat George said...
Why not do a show at the Vanandel Arena? I would have loved to see you at the Palace, but I couldn't get a ride there to get the tickets. You should have made it more easier for people to be able to get your tickets.Like have the option to get them in the mail. Pat
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4-06-2009 @ 10:57PM
edward dyson said...
If by any chance anyone is able to get to Mr. Leno, please tell him to look out of his window when he flies over the Fermi Plant just before he lands at Metro. My sea-wall will have a message expressing my graditude to him. What a gesture he is making! Thank you Jay! From all of us "Blue Collar Factory Rats"
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4-06-2009 @ 10:57PM
edward dyson said...
What a class act! If anyone has Jays' ear please ask him to look out of his window as he flies over the Fermi Plant just before he lands in Detroit. I'll have a message on my sea-wall for him. Thank you for remembering us" Blue Collar Factory Rats"
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4-13-2009 @ 5:57AM
Johnny said...
Fuck Obama .....first and Jay Leno was scared to actually come to DETROIT which is why he went to the suburbs.He said for the DETROIT auto workers yet he goes to the SUBURBS.
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