Jay Leno ’73 to receive Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Award

Emerson College alumnus Jay Leno ’73, host of his own comedy show for nearly two decades, was named the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 2011 Man of the Year, according to The Harvard Crimson.

The Crimson reported that Leno will receive the Pudding Pot award in Cambridge on February 4.

Hasty Pudding spokesperson Learah T. Lockhart said Leno was being recognized not only for his show, but for his continued stage performing. Leno visited Emerson College and performed at the Cutler Majestic in August 2009.

Despite Leno’s commitment as host of the National Broadcasting Company’s (NBC) The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he performs more than 150 shows a year—including weekly shows in Las Vegas—according to the Pudding’s press release.

In 1977, Leno first appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, whose host at the time was the Pudding’s 1977 Man of the Year. Fifteen years later, Leno took over as a full-time host of the show, which was renamed to recognize its new host.

Leno’s roast will occur one week after the parade and roast in honor of the Hasty Pudding’s 2011 Woman of the Year, Julianne Moore, who was named last week.

The Woman of the Year award, which has been bestowed upon actresses such as Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, has been given annually since 1951.

The Man of the Year Award, whose recipients include Clint Eastwood and Robert De Niro, began in 1963.