The host of The Tonight Show, Jay Leno, will perform at 8
Comedian and talk show host Jay Leno will return to Miami University's Family Weekend for a performance Oct. 4.
Leno last performed at Miami for Parent's Weekend in 2004, selling out Millett's 10,000 seats according to Patti Hannan Liberatore, the director of the Performing Arts Series.
Liberatore said the university felt as if enough time had elapsed since Leno's last performance to bring him to campus again.
She said one of the reasons Miami contacted his agency was the universality of his appeal.
"He's one of the few entertainers, comedians especially, who provide clean comedy that's universal," Liberatore said.
She said the board believed Leno would also be a familiar face for students and their families.
"With Family Weekend, we're always looking for entertainers that will be appealing to both parents and students," Liberatore said. "(Jay Leno is) very universal that way."
Junior Sam Kurachek, co-chair of Concert Board, said the comedian who came for Family Weekend in 2007 turned out one of the most profitable shows.
Kurachek said the board thought there would be more interest in a comedian instead of a musician because of the upcoming presidential election.
He said Leno's visit will be especially unique since he's beginning his final season as host of the The Tonight Show.
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According to Liberatore and Kurachek, initial efforts to get comedian and Daily Show host Jon Stewart didn't work.
Kurachek said Stewart liked the idea, but denied the offer because of the performance location in Millett. According to Liberatore, Stewart did not want to perform in an arena. She said it is tough for a comedian to be the only person on stage in a non-intimate setting like Millett.
Liberatore added that Stewart does not do as many live performances as Leno and focuses more on his television show.
"Going along that same realm of a talk show host and comedian, we thought Jay Leno would suit the bill," Kurachek said.
Kurachek said he hopes Leno will talk about the election at least a little bit, but he doesn't think the debate will get too tense.
"I don't think he would necessarily get too heated for one side or the other," Kurachek.
But above all, Kurachek said he hopes Leno's performance will bring families together, bringing about a feeling of closeness and camaraderie for the university as a whole.
Leno will perform at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 4 in Millett Hall. Tickets are $40 and are available at the Shriver Center box office.
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