Jay Leno talks cars, his return to Detroit

DETROIT – Jay Leno may be on a hiatus from your TV set, but you can see him in person this weekend in Detroit.

Local 4's Evrod Cassimy spoke with him by phone about what's he's been working on since leaving "The Tonight Show."

From late night to the Motor City, Leno is heading to Detroit to take the stage for a night of laughs at Motor City Casino Sound Board. It's a return to "The D" for the former "Tonight" host since his free shows back in 2009. He told Cassimy he's ready to take in all the city has to offer.

"When I go to Detroit, I like going to the King Bookstore," said Leno. "I like going around town you know? Things are, the economy is still at a point where they don't throw everything away and start all over again. I like going to see where stuff used to be and I can still see where stuff used to be."

Life after doing 22 years of late night TV allows Leno to get back to his first love: stand-up comedy. This time, when he's on the road, he gets to spend more time in the city.

"I was in Atlantic City on Saturday and I have to be in Pennsylvania Sunday, so I came off stage and went over to the local comedy club down in Atlantic City and met a bunch of new comics and we all went out to dinner and it was just fun. It was fun hanging out with comics again," Leno said.

Another thing he gets to spend more time doing is working on, and driving, his many cars. When it comes to the Big Three, he has his favorites.

"Oh, my favorite car out of the Big Three ... that's easy. That would probably be Corvette," he said. "Corvette has done a great job. Cadillac has done a great job and then of course the Ford Mustang is another great one too."

As for "The Tonight Show," Leno's happy to hang up his hat. Even though he's shied away from a lot of TV since he left the show, don't count out a return to the small screen just yet.

"I'm off TV for a little while, but it's not to say I wouldn't come back and do some little things," Leno said.

Leno is in Detroit for two shows at the Sound Board theater on Saturday. The shows are at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Click here for ticket information.