Smallscreen News

Jay Leno writers borrowing from ‘Red Eye?’

By April MacIntyre May 31, 2011, 19:39 GMT

Jay Leno - Hollywood Blvd - Hollywood, CA. USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

On Saturday’s “Red Eye,” that aired on the Fox News Channel (FNC) at 3 a.m. ET, during the “Halftime Report,” Andy Levy aired a clip from a recent “Tonight Show” monologue by Jay Leno.

DailyCaller.com reports that Jay Leno's monologue writers may be lifting Red Eye material.

From their transcript:

“The Tonight Show,” May 26:

LENO: Bad news for the state of California. The Supreme Court will force the state to release something like 46,000 convicts because of prison overcrowding. But the good news – it looks like the Oakland Raiders will have more season ticket holders. Yeah, so the stadium will be packed.

Levy pointed out that the joke was remarkably similar to one he had told two nights

“Red Eye,” taped May 24:

LEVY: Supreme Court orders tens of thousands of California prisoners released. This actually might help the Raiders start selling out their home games again.

“RED EYE” HOST GREG GUTFELD: Oh nicely done. You can see, their fans are criminals.

“Red Eye” co-host Bill Schultz called foul on his writers. “Jay didn’t steal anything except another Dorito,” Schultz said. “His writer stole the joke. Let’s be honest here guys.”