Arguably one of the greatest Latino stand-up comedy performers of all time, Willie Barcena sits down with friends and fellow comedy legends as part of his podcast titled Willie Barcena’s Drop In.
Willie Barcena: Raucous, irreverent, and never politically correct, Willie Barcena is one of the sharpest minds in comedy. His universal material spans family, religion, race, sex, politics, and whatever else you aren’t supposed to talk about. His twelve Tonight Show appearances are among the most frequent for any comedian and by far the most for any Latino comedian.
A 20-year comedy veteran and road warrior, Willie brings laughs and insights all over the world, including many shows for the troops stationed abroad. He has appeared on many TV shows, including: “Moesha” and The Wayans Brothers,” and he was chosen to be the host of the popular TV production “Latino Laugh Festival – The Show.”
His one-hour Comedy Central special received rave reviews, and he followed that up with a showtime special. His latest special, now on Netflix, shows Willie is just getting better. Look out for Willie’s next special, coming soon, and check him out on Facebook and Instagram to see new material and stay up on all things Willie.
In this week’s, Willie is joined by stand-up comedian and legendary late-night talk show host Jay Leno as they discuss what it takes to be a comedian and his days as a talk show host.
Leno was raised in Andover, Massachusetts. While attending Emerson College in Boston, where he graduated (1972) with a degree in speech therapy, he worked as a stand-up comic in nightclubs. After moving to Los Angeles, he served as the opening act for such entertainers as Johnny Mathis and Tom Jones. Leno debuted on NBC’s The Tonight Show in 1977 and became Johnny Carson’s permanent guest host 10 years later. In 1992 NBC chose Leno over David Letterman to replace the retiring Carson. The selection spawned a rivalry between The Tonight Show and CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman, which competed in the same time slot.
Despite the controversy, Leno soon earned a reputation for his cordial, easygoing manner, strong work ethic, and knack for connecting with his audience. He gave The Tonight Show a trendy, casual image, with edgier musical acts and new comedy segments, including “Jaywalking,” in which people on the street were asked basic questions that they often answered incorrectly, and “Headlines,” which showcased funny newspaper headlines from around the country. Under Leno’s leadership, the program garnered four Emmy Awards (1995–97; 1999), and Leno was awarded numerous accolades, including a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2000. By 2008 the show was attracting more than five million nightly viewers, nearly one and a half times as many as its nearest rival, the Late Show.
