Utahns recall their encounters with Jay Leno


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SALT LAKE CITY — Jay Leno is saying goodbye tonight after hosting the “Tonight Show” for 22 years, and some Utahns reminisced by recalling their close encounters with Leno.

The consensus: Jay's a nice guy.

KSL Producer Kristian Odland was an NBC page from 2006-2007 and worked closely with Leno, including tending to the needs of “Tonight Show” guests.

“Knowing this is the last day, it strikes a nerve for me. It's more personal for me than for most people,” Odland said. “Of all the celebrities I worked with throughout my career at NBC, Jay stood out as a very generous person. In fact, all the pages nicknamed him Uncle Jay.”

Rich Piatt, KSL’s political specialist, unexpectedly met Jay years ago after a taping of the show in Burbank, Calif. Piatt and a friend were walking past the NBC parking lot when they saw a big, classic car roll up.

“And the horn goes ‘da-da-da-da,’ and Jay Leno leans out and says, ‘Hi guys, how are you doing?’ and he shakes our hands,” Piatt said.

Leno’s comedy bits have become legend, including Headlines and Jaywalking. For a time, he had a segment called Teenage Wasteland where young people did weird things, including a Utah State University student.

In 2005, Leno heard about USU student Nick Creamer who could take a Starburst candy wrapper and fold it into a tiny paper airplane with his tongue. Leno had Creamer flown to Burbank to be on the show.

Leno is well known for his antique car collection, and one day, back when he was a page, Odland recalled driving to NBC in heavy traffic.

There was this little old car in front of me going at least 20 under the speed limit, driving me up the wall," Odland said. "I finally got the moment to get around and pass it. And I look over, and there's Jay driving. And I was like...(I) couldn't get mad at him.”

Odland said Leno drove a different car to work each day, and Odland never saw the same car twice.

Leno's finale is Thursday at 10:35 p.m.

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