India, July 27 -- Jay Leno, former host of NBC's The Tonight Show, is speaking out about what he sees as a concerning shift in late-night comedy: one where partisanship has replaced universal humor, and political alignment threatens to divide audiences, according to Variety.

In a recent interview with David Trulio, president of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Jay Leno lamented how modern late-night comedians 'cozy up to one side' and alienate half their viewership. He emphasized the importance of comedy as a unifying escape.

He was quoted in the Variety report saying, "People come to a comedy show to get away from things. Why shoot for just half an audience all the time?"

Leno, who hosted The Tonight Show from ...