TV

Jay Leno Returns to 'The Tonight Show,' Slams Billy Bush

By Raphael Chestang
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Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno is the latest celebrity to weigh in on the Donald Trump/Billy Bush leaked tape scandal, skewering the former Today show co-host for his involvement in the controversial 2005 recording.

Leno threw uncharacteristically caustic barbs at Bush during a special appearance on Monday's The Tonight Show, in which he "tagged in" for Jimmy Fallon during his monologue.

While it's been nearly two years now since Fallon officially took over the reins of NBC's late night talk show, Leno, who has guested since his departure, comfortably slipped back into his old rhythm with a couple of good-humored topical jokes.

"Hillary Clinton got quite a scare tonight. I guess a trick-or-treater came to the door dressed as a lie detector," he joked. "And I tell you, that Donald Trump, he is a smart businessman. When kids rang his bell and yelled, 'Trick-or-treat,' Trump yelled, 'Trick!' and before the kids could grab any candy, he declared bankruptcy."

READ: Jay Leno Returns to 'Tonight Show' to Tag in for Jimmy Fallon During Monologue

But things took a prickly turn when the Jay Leno's Garage host mentioned his former NBC cohort.

"I had a great costume this year," Leno said. "Earlier tonight, I put a douchebag on my head and I was Billy Bush. As you know, Billy Bush got fired for the outrageous things he and Donald Trump said about women. I think Trump should hire Billy, this way he could grab Bush whenever he wanted."

Two days after The Washington Post leaked the video of a vulgar conversation between Trump and Bush, who was then co-host of Access Hollywood, Bush was suspended from his post on the Today show. He had appeared on the third hour of the morning show since August.

WATCH: What's Next for Billy Bush and the 'Today' Show?

On Oct. 17, NBC announced that Bush was officially dismissed from the show.

Marshall Grossman, the Los Angeles litigator hired by Bush, had been negotiating terms of his exit with NBC before the announcement. Details regarding the settlement remain undisclosed.