You can’t keep a funnyman down.
Jay Leno returned to the stage after suffering third-degree burns to his face and hands that left him in the hospital for 10 days.
He was greeted by a sold-out crowd at Comedy Magic Club in California’s Hermosa Beach Sunday night, where he received a standing ovation, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Leno, 72, has been taking the stage almost every week at the club since he began the “Tonight Show” hosting gig in 1992.
An eyewitness told the outlet the comedian appeared to be in “high spirits” and was greeted by a “Welcome Back Jay” sign, which also read “We Love You.”
Leno was joined by his wife, Mavis Leno, at the club along with the venue owner.
He read a few new jokes off his phone, and even poked fun at the accident, before launching into his regular set.
“Jay is an amazing guy,” Arsenio Hall, who opened for Leno, told ET after the set.
“No comic would leave the Grossman burn center, and do standup Sunday in Hermosa,” he continued. “I lost my big toe nail after someone stepped on my foot at the Super Bowl last year. I canceled three standup dates after that.”
Leno, who quickly got back behind the wheel after his car fire, previously confirmed he’d also be back on stage in no time.
“[I’m] hanging in there. Everything’s fine,” he told a paparazzo last week while driving into the same garage where the Nov. 13 explosion occurred.
He was discharged from the hospital last Monday after sustaining injuries when a fuel leak and a simultaneous spark in one of his prized cars ignited a blaze.
He underwent several forms of treatment, including two grafting procedures to remove unhealthy tissue and promote healing, and several hyperbaric chamber sessions to decrease swelling, increase blood flow and kill bacteria.
A doctor at LA’s Grossman Burn Center, Dr. Peter Grossman, said he expects the former late-night host to recover.
“As I’m getting to know Jay, I don’t think it’s going to be months,” he explained.
“I think he’s the kind of guy who’s gonna move forward.”
