The Life and Times of Jay Leno

Friendly Rivals
Early in Leno's career, he met another rising star at the Comedy Store: David Letterman. Leno helped the still green Letterman land a gig writing gags for comedian Jimmie Walker for a whopping $100 a week. "After I saw Jay work for the first time, in 1975, I said, 'Oh, that's the way it's supposed to be done,' " Letterman said. "What I was then was Jay Leno on a very bad night." Letterman went on to host his own TV show on NBC, Late Night, and helped Leno gain national exposure.

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