Chris Elliott Is Jay Leno | Letterman

[@lorip.1110]

Chris Elliott committed to his Leno impersonation so much that he hid in a storage closet earlier that afternoon and eavesdropped on the rehearsal.

[@trekkiejunk]

That's a deep cut.

[@pconrz]

He had surveillance equipment set up in Leno’s house, office, and garage three years in preparation for this skit alone. The dedication to his craft is unsurpassed. 🏆

[@CaptainCologne]

And we mustn’t let anyone know about this, not even the second lieutenant.

[@LuckyCharms777]

Ouch! I don’t even know the context for that, but it sounds bad. Was Leno a joke thief back in the day?

[@CaptainCologne]

@@LuckyCharms777 The context is that Leno claimed he wanted to know what the executives were saying about who they wanted as Carson’s replacement so he hid in a closet and eavesdropped. No he wasn’t a joke thief.

[@Cotygeek]

Chris Elliott has never been appreciated enough.

[@monoped8437]

nonsense

[@Secular_Monk]

How do you know?

[@boot_leg_ramen_noodle]

FACTS !!!

[@MidnightV6]

I see why

[@Barnaclebeard]

I haaaaaaaated him as a kid. So much. I really only came around watching Schitt's Creek 30-odd years later. He's okay.

[@HowardDaduk]

Chris made this skit funny on so many levels. You can tell that Dave was always very amused by him.

[@chrism8860]

I think they are friends, it's why Dave ended up in Cabin Boy

[@tommyhaupfear9320]

@@chrism8860 you wanna buy a monkey

[@_PrimetimePranks]

His side profile still reminds me of the Mac Tonight guy on the McDonald’s commercials.

[@bigpicturethinking5620]

Absolutely.

[@deandeck]

He was the moon wasn't he? Lol

[@bricaaron3978]

"Come on make it Mac tonight...."

[@RAFAKAUST]

Mac Moon. 😎

[@Mr.Shadow090]

It’s just Leno with sunglasses 😆

[@mr.pavone9719]

I love how uneven the prosthetic is and that he even covered his mustache.

[@dongiller]

Fun fact: Twelve days later, Jay guested on the show, accompanied by a severely beaten-up and contrite Chris. I’ve been told there’s a compilation video somewhere on the KZbins.

[@davidsecord6412]

That was simply hilarious. Having Elliott show up submissive to Leno after being beaten for his impression was just great.

[@onyoutuberightnow]

These bits show the commitment that the Late Night show had to the Letterman/Leno association.

[@rosemc2]

I just got what you mean, your channel is wonderful it’s like the archive for this show 💫

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

I wonder what channel we might find _that_ on???

[@tastyjay]

Funny that you just happen to know about that compilation video. Huh. That "Chris beaten by Jay" bit was pretty good.

[@TTony-tu6dm]

Captures Leno’s hard hitting comedy perfectly

[@grither]

Chris Elliot is an absolute legend

[@jeffhulrich]

I totally agree. I always loved his segments, and this one I never forgot. Epic impersonation and timing.

[@alitlweird]

He kinda is. Always liked him.

[@robinblackmoor8732]

Chris Elliot is a comedy genius. Always made me laugh, no matter what the bit was.

[@wyskass861]

Pleas stop abusing "genius". He's funny and you like him, Just leave it at that, because we're running out of words.

[@ShotOfSelf]

⁠@@wyskass861He said “comedy genius”. If only genius was used your concern would make sense. Would you have been happy if “comedy giant” was used instead? That’s another overused phrase. Maybe he could have said “extremely funny” but that’s what “comedy genius” means.

[@AlbertoVO5]

Never really matters what the bit is cause it’s always the same joke. Underneath it all, it’s the same joke: disgruntled.

[@profile2047]

@@wyskass861It’s a KZbin video. It can’t exist without someone in the comments throwing genius around. The word has lost its meaning (the one from the past 100-ish years).

[@rockturtleneck]

Pure comedic genius. Please post the one where Chris plays Paul Shaffer, that one might be even funnier.

[@jjryan1352]

👍🏻👌🏻

[@allendracabal0819]

I love that one.

[@5454randy]

Please air the segment where Chris Elliot perfectly imitates Paul Schaffer (March 25, 1987) - it’s hilarious!!

[@monkeyb1820]

Don Giller has it

[@KittensgiveMorbogas]

You got your wish, they just posted it on this channel!

[@mannybravo237]

Thanks, Dave! Enjoyed joining in w/the laughter😅 Busted o'guts!

[@petecampbell6117]

Chris Elliot was a mad genius! Letterman's show was so offbeat and weird during the first few years. A true heir apparent to the first couple seasons of SNL - So hip that it would not fit in the current late night media landscape at all.

[@TheFaustianMan]

Late Night TV was never "hip" you sound like a babyboomer who thinks SNL was the craziest thing ever on TV.

[@glennhankins6927]

@@TheFaustianMan You sound like a young dude with no sense of humour and zero personality. You must be fun at parties, Tyler. ( If your name isn't Tyler, it's either Taylor, Jordan or Connor. Non-Boomer Moms always give their kids last names as their first names for some reason. $50 says your name is either Spencer, Jackson or Brady, if it isn't listed above )

[@toddhanley6982]

​@@TheFaustianManAnd you sound like some post net millineal or worst Z - who has nO concept of t.v. before and after Letterman or ANYthing else before you happened to have come along. The first comment wAs on point about Letterman's initial impact

[@danjwalker]

He has a "gaming channel" so I think you hit the nail on the head. I can't wait for this generation to grow up and then get slammed on by the next. Everyone gets old and that's the best equalizer. @@toddhanley6982

[@robertknight3354]

​@@TheFaustianManI hope you understand that while baby boomers are the generation regarded as "the worst generation " they are really the FIRST worst generation because each subsequent one came from IT. Including displaced, lost lumps of wasted manpower like you. I also concur with the other guy. You clearly have no concept of what T.V. was at all. Your generation is what happens when God shows an entire country its condemned and imploding. He uses things like you to bring it about. Mounds of instant gratification without a conscience.

[@progmot]

The additional payoff to this bit is when Leno comes back as a guest a few weeks later and mentions his displeasure with it.

[@thewkovacs316]

chris elliot is a comedic genius

[@uneedtherapy42]

He’s unstoppable he killed as Roland Schitt too

[@mikewill7010]

They way dave said "los angeles " lol

[@jimmyjames2022]

Glad to finally see this famous Chris Elliot Jay Leno clip on Dave's channel where it belongs. But now you know you have to post the follow up with Leno.

[@robclarkson5356]

Every 'David' Chris says is pure Jay!

[@UberNeuman]

It is the funniest thing Jay Leno has ever done.

[@davidtsmith33]

The face cracking me up. LOL.

[@jameshenderson9830]

I love Chris Elliot. Never saw this skit before.

[@quarantinebored1427]

What an underrated comedian

[@benrichards399]

The walk on is the funniest part 😂

[@brettayres5704]

The thumbnail for this video made me LOL!

[@howardsung108]

I think Chris is probably my most favorite funny person. Miss seeing that guy on TV

[@tibsno]

He was in Schitt's Creek more recently.

[@JrunkJesus]

Cabin Boy rules Jay Leno drools!!!

[@anonymouscrank]

The NBC show was unlike anything else on television. The bigger budget of the CBS show was the death of that quirky charm.

[@jakespivey3716]

This always makes me laugh even though I've seen it a million times.

[@phosgene2]

"how many men did it take to put it in place?" love dave's follow up

[@billsmith5166]

I would love to have had Thanksgiving dinner every year at the Elliott household in the 70's. Can you imagine the conversations with young Chizz and Bob at the table?

[@billslocum9819]

According to Chris's 1989 memoir "Daddy's Boy," they were strained affairs where he was forced to wear a jacket, tie and bald cap in homage to his famous Dad. Also, Bob was obsessed with gold-toe socks, which became one of Chris's many silent burdens.

[@matthunt3499]

Daddy's Boy was fantastic. The photos and the rebuttal chapters from his dad were hilarious.@@billslocum9819

[@billsmith5166]

@@billslocum9819 It's been years since I read it. I'd bet the portrayal of his father in both "Get a Life" and "Cabin Boy" was pretty much spot on though I thought the elderly actors that were cast in the roles weren't handsome enough to play Chiss' father. It just wasn't believable.

[@billslocum9819]

@@billsmith5166 I think we have to chalk that up to Chris's jealousy of his father's strapping physique. I'm sure Bob must have been furious when he saw Chris call that old coot "Dad" on screen.

[@billsmith5166]

@@billslocum9819 He always sounded strapping on the radio. I'd bet there was a lot of shirtlessness and flexing of biceps that the boy had to suffer through.

[@agomodern]

Loved the Miami Vice reference in there.

[@billy1673]

His impression was pretty damn good!🤣

[@KungEMuller]

Chris Elliott needs some more respect. He's very funny.

[@OldSkoolUncleChris]

He does, even the eye movements are spot on😂

[@KungEMuller]

@@OldSkoolUncleChris I know!

[@ACDZ123]

What nearly 40 yrs later lol 😅

[@KungEMuller]

@@ACDZ123 I know. It has been a long time.

[@airtow6766]

Get A Life was the funniest TV show of all time, and almost no one I know has even heard of it!

[@danpantzig7266]

Dave and Chris were an unbeatable team, they shoulda made a buddy road trip movie together.

[@allendracabal0819]

"You wanna buy a monkey?"

[@evanmurphey]

He nailed the impression so hard

[@CruceEntertainment]

That “here’s something” at 2:00 was absolutely perfect

[@brycemcneil4404]

From 1:55 to 2:05 is such a good job at the subtle parts of the impression.

[@thecastiel69]

Crimson Chin

[@Hawkrvo]

I love how Chris plays the hurt guy.

[@PatriotsVideos]

I have a 7-disc set (burned myself) that I believe has every Chris Elliot appearance on Late Night in chronological order. Got it from a private torrent site. Quite a score. Brando might have been my favorite. But I'm sorry The Christ Elliot Show or whatever it was, show within a show, never caught on.

[@leonabarad6972]

The guy under the seats is still my favorite! :)

[@jjryan1352]

Marv Albert... NBC SPORTS!

[@_PrimetimePranks]

@@jjryan1352loved him doing the Marv Albert bits! The brushing off cookie / biscuit crumbs from his lap is hilarious.

[@robertludwig1278]

this never gets old

[@cesarjom]

Chris Elliott was always a super talent on the Letterman Show. Every bit of every character he did was hilariously funny! How this guy never went further in his career, I'll never figure out. Still miss his appearances with Dave especially as Marlon Brando.

[@DannyD714]

i always wait for that line "it's highly unorthodox". chris delivered is perfectly.

[@marklechman2225]

Love this. Absolutely love this.

[@dumbguydepot304]

This was one of Chris' best impression skits. This, Marv Albert and when he was Paul!

[@KtotheL]

The night he came from under the stairs I never turned off late night TV since. I was high as a kite and vcrs weren't a thing yet lol. You definitely didn't want to miss a frame 😊

[@edasm4113]

One of the funniest bits ever.

[@andjkh]

When Letterman was on NBC after Carson and CBS was running shows like Night Heat and Adderly from Canada.

[@humblebugg5270]

Reminds me of quentin tarantino as well

[@michaelburick8345]

Chris Elliot AND Brian Stack are geniuses

[@Itelkner]

Brian McCann as well.

[@user-ph9wt3ue7c]

I like when Jay comes on the show and confronts Chris. Funny stuff!

[@markreynolds3788]

Dave taking a drag off cigarette while Chris walks out in front of no smoking sign!!!

[@CruceEntertainment]

The lisp at 1:37 is perfect

[@CitizenKang]

Haha I can't believe he brought up Shanghai McNuggets. I talk about those all the time.

[@julla1416]

"Dave, I'm not doing Jay Leno." hahaha

[@Hansprivate]

His Leno voice was spot on!

[@DonBecker-h7l]

I don't know how to put this....the Letterman - Elliott combination is pure comedy genius. There, I said it.

[@FlowJunkie65]

Chris was freaking out of control! LOL!!!!!!

[@dmac3551]

His “man under the stairs” routine was gold.. 😅

[@jakespivey3716]

I thought was guy under the seats? the same, different?

[@TheTarrMan]

This was great.

[@lancerooke]

Chris Elliot is a comedy LEGEND!

[@chfrankc]

I took an edible about an hour ago and this is kinda freaking me out a little bit.

[@DarthChikiN]

lmfao same

[@danminutsich7509]

It's funny watching this skit knowing that some years later, these two would become late night enemies. And yes, I think enemies is an appropriate word.

[@jnnx]

Chris Elliott was never enemies with Dave.

[@vx4982]

Jay Leno’s face is actually the same size.

[@Anderson_Se7en]

I had to be the biggest 8 year old Chris Elliott fan.

[@IanPeon]

Kinda wonder exactly what Dave was puffing on @ 0:24

[@Lesbihonest-h4t]

David had no idea what Chris was going for here. It went over that fools head 😂😂😂

[@krisscanlon4051]

Very good vocal impression 😂

[@317russ]

I didnt realize Dave smoked on the show back then... Pretty funny when they cut to a no smoking sign 😂

[@calguy3838]

I think he smoked cigars, but I didn't recall him doing it on the show.

[@MrAitraining]

He smoked cigars on the breaks then. Johnny Carson smoked cigs on breaks too.

[@PatrickKeating]

He was kind of known as the cigar king for awhile. Was part of his brand

[@franticflintstone7999]

I remember Chicken McNuggets Shanghai! And I used to record Letterman on my VCR every day in the 80's and watch it when I got home from school. Well, first on my Betamax which had a corded remote control, then in later years on a VCR. lol I looked forward to that so much, making a snack and watching Letterman in his prime before I had to do my homework. And it was extra cool if Chris Elliot was on. (I taped Carson every day, too.)

[@davidtorres1696]

Wow the dude looks like Rocky Dennis 🤣🤣🤣 LOL

[@wk4240]

Always FANTASTIC! 👍

[@BarbaPamino]

Was he under contract at NBC? I often wondered why he never came on the Late Show.

[@thefarsidefanthefarsidefan7374]

Chris Elliott has been on The Late Show many times. His first guest appearance on LS was on Nov 1993.

[@BarbaPamino]

@@thefarsidefanthefarsidefan7374 I had forgotten about the early appearances. Touche

[@BenjaminFields]

Nightmare fuel, Chris.

[@NoellaScott]

Exasperated Chris is the best Chris

[@donniegrande9186]

Love the classics back then you can smoke no one cares 😎😎

[@nitad001]

The best part of this is you know Leno watched this and hated it 😂

[@keefriff99]

Lantern-jawed freak, YESSIR!😊

[@colinwhiteneck7463]

I love when you find out who he really is at the end of something about Mary. His hives come back cuz he all obsessed with her and wants her shoes😂😂😂

[@SegaGenesis92]

I dont remember leno ever being this funny...

[@massapower]

That's what's missing in today's comedy... Variety Elliott is pure Genius here 😁👍🏻

[@Dakotako]

Haven’t you heard the one about how things are bad, people with different beliefs than me are stupid, and I hate myself?

[@dondee5439]

At the 2:33 mark, the real Jay Leno is shown for comparison. Chris Eliott does a great impression here with his $800 prosthetic chin.

[@tubor70]

Good times. Jay used to come on just kill and make Dave laugh so hard. Chris’ take on those segments was dead on. I loved his Marlon Brando too. Complete with Paul and the band playing a song with one lyric “Bananas “

[@plaws0]

Oh, man. I remember the 80s ... when Jay was still funny!

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

Jay was great back then. So great, I paid to go see him in concert at a fairly large venue (2500). It was pretty disappointing, a complete rehash of every single bit he had done on Letterman, word for word (which I'd seen on tape many times). At the end of his routine, he took questions from the audience that was completely ad libbed, and that part was actually impressive, he was quick and funny.

[@plaws0]

@@OMGWTFLOLSMH I saw him live, c.1987, at the "South Shore Music Circus" near Boston. Won tickets on the radio (back when you could win tickets on the radio). Actually thought it was pretty good. Don't really remember him being on repeat from LN, but ... something-something 35 years ago ... 🙂

[@JS-qw4ln]

ive never thought of Chris Elliot as “Mr. Comedy” 😂

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

The subtitle A.I. generator made a grammatical error at :46 "Is this Oriental FAIR..no A.I.subtitle computer genius you meant Oriental FARE. 😃

[@joescambait]

I was 20 at the time boy do I miss those days

[@scottzema3103]

Excellent.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

James Douglas Muir Leno (New Rochelle, 28 de abril de 1950), conocido como Jay Leno, es un presentador de televisión y humorista satírico estadounidense. Fue el presentador del histórico programa The Tonight Show de la cadena NBC, entre 1992 y 2014, sucediendo en el puesto a Johnny Carson y entregándole el puesto a Jimmy Fallon. Tiene en su haber un Premio Emmy.

[@markbirchette8740]

Chris was always talented and fun! To play The Chin is an accomplishment!😂

[@YahWay.]

You blew it. You should have thrown in the follow-up where both Leno and Chris Elliott are on together And Chrissy Elliott comes on extremely apologetic like he's been beaten. Yes Mr Leno

[@edwarde5452]

He looks like if Stan Smith from American Dad had a flashback scene set in the 80s

[@MisterMidgar]

I guess this is why I never saw Chris Elliot on The Tonight Show in the 90s.

[@razielkayn3885]

Always thought that thing was a tumour 😂

[@kenmcbreairty7878]

The phone company? Wow. Those were the days, huh?

[@OldBanjer]

Cabin Boy!

[@boot_leg_ramen_noodle]

LEGENDARY !!!

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Christopher Nash "Chris" Elliott (Nueva York; 31 de mayo de 1960) es un actor, comediante, y escritor estadounidense. Con una profusa carrera tanto en televisión como en cine, iniciando su trayectoria como escritor y actor con su presencia en Late Night with David Letterman, de 1982 a 1988, por cuyos guiones ganó cuatro veces consecutivas el Premio Emmy. Posteriormente, fue el creador y protagonista de la serie Get a Life. A lo largo de las siguientes décadas, tuvo destacados papeles en series muy exitosas, como su papel como Peter MacDougall en Everybody Loves Raymond (2003-2005), como Mickey, el padre de Lily Aldrin en How I Met Your Mother (2009-2014), como Chris Monsanto en Eagleheart (2011-2014), llegando a alcanzar un gran éxito en la última década a través de su personaje en la multipremiada serie Schitt's Creek (2015-2020), que le procuró sus únicos dos premios en interpretación.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

En ole varma kenelle teit näitä, mutta okei, Wikipedian tietosanakirjamies.

[@quinnrollen]

This is better than the actual Leno..

[@jugghead82]

Man Chris Elliott is a LEGEND LOVED HIM IN GET A LIFE AN SCARY MOVIE 2