'We get paid in drink tickets': Jimmy Failla criticizes Jay Leno's decision to drop political comedy

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Comedian Jimmy Failla shared his take on former 'Tonight Show' host Jay Leno's decision to give up political comedy with the co-hosts on the January 28 episode of 'Fox & Friends.'

The discussion took place in light of Leno's recent interview with Piers Morgan, where he said, "I just stopped doing politics in my act altogether because when I did the 'Tonight Show,' the idea was to make fun of both sides equally. Now, you've got a take a side and I find when I start to do a political joke, they want to know the punchline before - if it's pro or against. So I just stopped, I want people to come in and have a good time."

Jimmy Failla's disagreement with Jay Leno

The 'Fox News Saturday Night' host began by acknowledging the fact that Leno was far more celebrated than himself.

However, he said that he resented Leno's position on the topic because he believed that "as comics who have made it, we have an obligation to the guys on the way up to protect the rules of engagement."

"What I mean by that is weaponized censorship and outrage culture got a foothold in comedy because a lot of big-name comics were like, I don't want the trouble. I won't do the political jokes, I won't do the college gig because there will be blowback. I will just walk away from it," he launched into an explanation.

"But that lane of growth is now eliminated for the young guy and that lane of speech is now controlled and speared by the people who might push back against the comedian. So I feel we have an obligation to fly headlong into the storm."

Every subject can be dealt with by a comedian in good faith

The only obligation of comedy is to be funny, shared Failla.

"Comedy doesn't have a political party, comedy is a party. That's the whole hook, (that) you can hit anything you want if you're bargaining in good faith."

"(Those seeking boycott) repurposed our jokes as like a cult of violence, and that's never been the case," he continued.

"Our words aren't supposed to carry that much significance. We are at a profession where we get paid in drink tickets and chicken fingers for the first five years. We should be held to the same speech standard as elected officials," he jokingly concluded.