7:33am PT by Ashley Lee
Jay Leno Returns to NBC on 'Last Comic Standing'

Leno on what he will miss the most: "I like coming to work every day. I like the people I work with. I think our writing staff is probably the highest paid because they’ve been here the longest. Most of the writers have been here 20 years; producers have been here all 22 years. Everybody’s been here since the beginning. People say it’s a family, which is a little hokey, but it is. Mr. Fezziwig from [Charles] Dickens' A Christmas Carol was always my role model."
Jay Leno returns to NBC on Thursday as the final mentor of its comedy talent show, Last Comic Standing.
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The former Tonight Show host appears in the competition's "Title Round," during which the five remaining comics are surprised by host J.B. Smoove with a trip to Las Vegas to work with "one of the funniest comedians in the world." Leno is introduced by Wanda Sykes and is candidly asked questions about stand-up comedy. NBC notes that he answers them all, sharing personal stories and anecdotes about his experience as a comedian while also giving career advice.
Afterward, the finalists perform sets for judges Roseanne Barr, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Russell Peters, who will determine which four will advance to the next round and which comic is headed home.
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The season eight finale of Last Comic Standing airs Aug. 14. The show's winner will receive a prize package worth $250,000, including a cash prize, a talent deal and a development deal for a television show.
This week our comics are whisked away to Las Vegas for a chat with none other than @jayleno! #LastComic pic.twitter.com/yJue2Jt92x
— Last Comic Standing (@nbclastcomic) July 28, 2014
Email: Ashley.Lee@THR.com
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