Old White Celebrity Guys in Distress: Jay Leno vs. Kelsey Grammer

A Canadian Comedy Award winner, Michael Balazo has over a decade of stand up and sketch comedy experience. TV writing credits include This Hour Has 22...

Like most people of my generation, I love to laugh my head off at funny comedians. That’s why it pains me to see this week’s Culture War contenders—Jay Leno and Kelsey Grammer—in such distress. As you know, poor Jay is once again fighting to keep his job as host of The Tonight Show. He’s reportedly so stressed that he yelled at his antique car collection. Things are even worse for Kelsey Grammer, who’s feuding with one of his many ex-wives over who gets to keep their bed. How are these two men supposed to make us laugh when they’re so busy crying?

Jay Leno
I never thought I’d say this, but I’d hate to be Jay Leno right now. Despite his hunky good looks and powerful sense of humour, he’s in danger of losing the Tonight Show for the second time in less than five years—and all because NBC executives can’t take a joke! Yes, he made fun of the network’s bad ratings and called his bosses “snakes,” but what do you expect from America’s top comedy bad boy? If you want nice, get Ellen. Relations are now so bad between Jay and NBC that the network is openly talking about replacing him with Jimmy Fallon, moving the show to New York and destroying The Tonight Show’s Burbank studio in a televised drone strike.

So, is this the end of Jay Leno again? I doubt it. Like the Terminator, Jay is extremely difficult to kill, and if he wants to host The Tonight Show he’s going to host the motherfucking Tonight Show. Just ask Conan. Sure, Jay may disappear for a little while, but before you know it, he’ll pop up again, snap Jimmy Fallon’s neck and get back to doing what he does best: hosting The Tonight Show and making young people everywhere squeal with pleasure.

Kelsey Grammer
Imagine for a moment that you are the great American actor Kelsey Grammer (go ahead, don’t be afraid). There you are, relaxing with wife number four in your Hollywood mansion, possibly snorting a cocaine panino, when you get a knock at the door. Is it Niles? Daphne? No. Instead, it’s a team of movers sent by your ex-wife (and former Playboy model) Camille to take away your king-sized bed. What the hell? I mean, sure, she won it in the messy divorce settlement, but come on! And you, Kelsey Grammer, become so furious that you flip out and make international headlines. Scary as it sounds, all this actually happened to the beloved Frasier star last week.

Now, I understand why Camille wanted the bed back. Who wouldn’t want to sleep in the bed where Kelsey Grammer dreams? I know I would. Heck, if I had my way, I’d eat Kelsey Grammer’s food, wear Kelsey Grammer’s clothes and touch Kelsey Grammer’s face. But Camille could have at least warned Kelsey Grammer she was coming for the bed. I mean, where’s Kelsey Grammer supposed to sleep now—on a brick of cocaine? Inside a whiskey bottle? Behind the toilet? Disgraceful.

The Winner
This week’s winner is… Kelsey Grammer! Why? Because I know that Jay Leno always lands on his feet. Kelsey Grammer, on the other hand, is a vulnerable, scared young man who needs protection from a world teeming with scheming, evil-hearted women like Camille. So, don’t worry, Kelsey, I’ve got your back. And if I ever marry and (heaven forbid) divorce Kelsey Grammer, all I want in the settlement is his collection of Down Periscope memorabilia and a couple tons of primo cocaine. I’m not greedy.

A Canadian Comedy Award winner, Michael Balazo has over a decade of stand up and sketch comedy experience. TV writing credits include This Hour Has 22 Minutes (CBC/DHX Media), Scare Tactics (Syfy), Hot Snack Radio (Showcase), and popcultured (Comedy Network). Michael is a regular on-air contributor to Day 6 (CBC Radio/PRI) and has written sketches for BBC Radio 4's Recorded For Training Purposes. His blog Toronto Sun Cover Reviews was so popular that it inspired a cease and desist letter.