. >> comedy impresario bud friedman knows leno from the early '70s., then a student in boston with dreams of breaking into comedy, drives down to new york city, over and over. so a young man comes up to me at the club. and he says, excuse me, mr. friedman. but i've been waiting three nights in a row where i have come down here from boston where i go to school to get on. i never get on. what do i have to do to get on? i said, wait, you come down to boston from new york and then go home and you don't get on? he said, right. i said, you're on next. >> jay is an instant success. >> he did great. he became a regular like that. he was special. >> you ever notice how all news use the same metaphors? >> the comics that have worked hard and honed their craft, and they're great. >> another senseless killing earlier today. >> and there are comics that are just born hilarious, and jay was born hilarious. >> who knew? >> 1973, jay graduates from emerson college and moves to los angeles. he performs anywhere and everywhere he can. ultimately, he finds a home, once

once again at bud friedman's improv, on stage in shows like this one.ddie prince and friends. >> always nice to stand here and watch people try to drink $5 worth of nine. you've had nine glasses, bud. how much is that? $1.07. >> oh, sure, it was pretty funny. >> such a tacky club, the improv. thank you very much. >> with the improv on his resume, he gets booked into another prestigious venue, l.a.'s comedy store. >> he had a night, it was jay and robin and pryor and elaine and billy crystal, all in the same show. it was unbelievable. >> it's 1977. jay's career is booming. then he gets the call. "the tonight show" with johnny carson wants him. >> young man's name is jay leno. this is his first appearance on "the tonight show." >> that performance in front of johnny is life changing. >> i'm originally from the united states. any people from the united states here tonight? >> big screen rolls follow like 1978's "american hot wax." comedy career on track, off stage leno finds love with a brunette named mavis nicholson. >> she's an amazingly bright and wonde