Joe Medeiros has been writing jokes for Jay Leno since 1988 when at that time Jay was guest hosting The Tonight Show. In December 1988, Jay hired Joe as an NBC staff writer and Joe was able to quit his day job in advertising and began working fulltime for Jay and NBC. When Jay Leno became host of The Tonight Show after Johnny Carson retired in 1992, Joe and his family moved to California. In 1993, Joe became head writer for the show, a position he still holds today. Joe and his wife Justine are members of the Board of Visitors for the School of Communications and Theater serving on the Media Literacy and Awards Ceremony Committees.
2002 Alumni Hall of Fame Honoree
Radio, Television, and Film, 1973
Head Writer, The Tonight Show