Liberty's Blog: Leno calls in surrogate to handle Jackson jokes

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Leno calls in surrogate to handle Jackson jokes

Jay Leno has been subpoenaed in the Michael Jackson case not because he has some inside information on the case itself, but because he has been aproached by an accuser. Because a gag order has been placed on him, he can not tell jokes on what might be one the silliest court cases of his career. Jay has found a way of express his humor, and the silliness of his predictament. MSNBC - Leno calls in a surrogate to handle Jackson jokes

Jay Leno says he can still write the Michael Jackson jokes, he just can’t tell them.

So while the “Tonight Show” host waits to hear whether he is exempt from a gag order barring potential witnesses from discussing Jackson’s child molestation trial, Leno called on actor Brad Garrett to act as his Jackson joke-telling surrogate.

“As I’m sure you know, I was called as a witness in the Michael Jackson trial,” Leno told his audience Friday night. “I’m going to tell the jury the same thing I’m telling you right now. I only rode that llama once. I didn’t know it was underage.

“I’m not allowed to tell any Michael Jackson jokes. I can still write them,” Leno added before handing the reins to Garrett. The co-star of “Everybody Loves Raymond” then reeled off several one liners, including this one:

“They said this trial will probably last six months, although Michael Jackson asked for some time off to entertain the troops. OK, they’re Cub Scout troops, but they’re still troops.”

Leno, who has been subpoenaed to testify at Jackson’s trial, is seeking an exemption to Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville’s gag order, citing his right to free speech.

Way to go Jay!