“Leading With My Chin” Best In Leno’s Voice

Jay Leno is a rarity.

Unlike many celebrities today, he grew up with love and support from his family. Leno is truly a nice guy, as evidenced in his autobiography, “Leading With My Chin.”

First, let me say that reading Leno’s book without the audiotape version is not nearly as much fun as reading the book and listening to the tape. On the audio version, Leno reads selections from the book and inserts his own thoughts, jokes, impressions and zany impersonations of his friends and family.

Leno’s impersonation of his Uncle Mike is to die for. This guy would be the perfect companion on a long road trip.

In “Leading With My Chin,” Leno basically tells about his life. He describes his career in comedy, with anecdotes ranging from the time he told a joke to his fourth-grade class and made his teacher laugh, to his struggles as an adult comedian. He writes about being a guest on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson, and then becoming the host of “The Tonight Show.” And he recalls run-ins with other celebrities including Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman and even David Letterman.

Leno also writes about meeting his wife, Mavis, outside a ladies’ restroom. Leno says that even though he and Mavis are “opposites in almost every way,” they are still deeply in love. Leno loves his wife so much that one time he returned to an old house they’d owned to dig up Mavis’ dead cat, which they had buried in the backyard. Leno took the cat to their new backyard and buried it there!

If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

But the most hilarious and touching memories in “Leading With My Chin” revolved around Leno’s family, especially his Scottish mother Catherine and his Italian father Angelo. Leno’s best anecdote about his parents is his Cadillac story.

After Leno began guest-hosting “The Tonight Show,” he bought his father a Cadillac.

His mother hated the car. “We’re not Cadillac people!” she said. When they rode in the new car, Leno’s mother slumped below window level so she wouldn’t be seen.

His father, meanwhile, honked and waved at people on the street, shouting, “My boy bought me this Cadillac!”

Leno’s imitations of his parents are priceless on the audiotape.

“Leading With My Chin” is an enjoyable read.

But you should also look for the book-on-tape.

That way, Leno can be the perfect companion for a quiet evening with a nice cup of Italian cappuccino.