Jay Leno Told 4,607 Jokes About Bill Clinton

This Nov. 5, 2012 photo released by NBC shows Jay Leno, host of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," on the set in Burbank, Calif. As Jay Leno lobs potshots at ratings-challenged NBC in his "Tonight Show" monologues, sp... This Nov. 5, 2012 photo released by NBC shows Jay Leno, host of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," on the set in Burbank, Calif. As Jay Leno lobs potshots at ratings-challenged NBC in his "Tonight Show" monologues, speculation is swirling the network is taking steps to replace the host with Jimmy Fallon next year and move the show from Burbank to New York. NBC confirmed Wednesday, March 20, it's creating a new studio for Fallon in New York, where he hosts "Late Night." But the network did not comment on a report that the digs at its Rockefeller Plaza headquarters may become home to a transplanted, Fallon-hosted "Tonight Show." (AP Photo/NBC, Paul Drinkwater) MORE LESS
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Jay Leno’s late night reign began in the 1990s, a time when his favorite target still resided in the White House.

The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University evaluated more than 44,000 of Leno’s jokes since he began hosting “The Tonight Show” in 1992 and found the comedian ribbed Bill Clinton more than any other political figure.

According to the study, Leno told 4,607 jokes directed at Clinton — far more than the 3,239 jokes he told at the expense of George W. Bush.

The Monica Lewinsky scandal played a role in driving up Clinton’s joke count, with Leno telling 454 jokes about the former White House intern.

Al Gore has been the subject of 1,026 jokes, while Leno has taken aim at Barack Obama 1,011 times.

Leno will host “The Tonight Show” for the final time on Thursday. After initially trailing David Letterman in the ratings war, Leno moved past his rival and began his dominance following his much-hyped interview with Hugh Grant in 1995.

Here’s the full list from the study, via US News:

1. Bill Clinton 4607

2. George W. Bush 3239

3. Al Gore 1026

4. Barack Obama 1011

5. Hillary Clinton 939

6. Dick Cheney 673

7. Monica Lewinsky 454

8. Bob Dole 452

9. John McCain 426

10. Mitt Romney 361

11. John Kerry 357

12. George H.W. Bush 343

13. Newt Gingrich 328

14. Sarah Palin 300

15. Ross Perot 288

15. Arnold Schwarzenegger 288

17. Joe Biden 274

18. Dan Quayle 260

19. John Edwards 229

20. Osama Bin Laden 216

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