Jay Leno to Entertain the Troops

By Elizabeth Darst

Friday November 16, 2001 03:37 PM EST

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America's big-jawed TV host will travel to Afghanistan to brighten the spirits of the U.S. military, according to Reuters. NBC's "Tonight Show" star will leave next month for a three- to four-day tour of the war-torn nation, where American-led forces are combating the Taliban in an effort to rout out Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. The 51-year-old comedian performed for troops during the Persian Gulf War, as well as at an airbase in Italy in 1995 and calls U.S. servicemen and women "the best audience in the world." Leno said of his previous experiences: "You stand on a tank, and 30 or 40 guys would sit in the sand, and there's no microphone, and you just kind of yell jokes, and they laughed like they were the funniest jokes in the world I wish Vegas was this easy." Stateside audiences can see highlights from the show on the "Tonight Show" on December 26-28. NBC will also air a special Thanksgiving Day presentation hosted by Leno that will be beamed live via Armed Forces Radio and Television Services to troops stationed all over the world.