David Letterman Talks Jay Leno on Oprah: "The Most Insecure Person I Have Ever Known"

Late-night rival opens up about his competitor, denying that the Tonight Show torch-passing is the reason for their detente

By Gina Serpe Dec 27, 2012 4:09 PMTags
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It may be the season for goodwill toward men, but not necessarily these two men in particular.

David Letterman and Jay Leno's mutual admiration and condemnation societies are, it's safe to say, as robust as ever, as evidenced by another sneak preview of the CBS' Late Show host's Oprah: The Next Chapter interview with longtime frenemy Oprah Winfrey.

In the latest clip to roll out, Letterman talks about his rocky and lasting relationship with Leno, and while he definitely has some, unsurprisingly, less than flattering things to say about his competition, he also gives his late-night rival some high praise indeed.

 

"We were always friends before all of this happened," Letterman told Oprah, denying her assertion that their supposed rivalry was the result of Letterman being passed over for the Tonight Show gig.

"He has a way...he's an unusual fellow. I've never met anyone quite like Jay. And I will say—and I'm happy to say—that I think he is the funniest guy I've ever known. Just flat out, if you go to see him do his nightclub act, just the funniest, the smartest, a wonderful observationist and very appealing as a comic."

And here comes the "but"...

"Therefore, the fact that he is also maybe the most insecure person I have ever known...I could never reconcile that."

Nice to know in these uncertain times that some things will never change. The interview airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network Jan. 6.