Leno's Oprah Interview: What Jay's Body Language Reveals

By Jo Piazza Posted Jan 29th 2010 07:18AM

Actions always speak louder than words. Which is why we asked the experts to take apart Jay Leno's Oprah sit-down with a fine tooth comb to find out what is really going on behind the chin. Yes, maybe we have seen too much Leno over the past month, but his interview with Oprah seemed different since something about Ms. O makes people tell their truth (much to their chagrin) and show off some raw emotions. We were not disappointed. But because Jay is such a consummate performer, questions remain. Was he earnest? Uncomfortable? Cocky? Why did he keep crossing and uncrossing his legs? See what our experts have to say after the jump.

Jay walked onto the Burbank set with his hands in his pockets, which according to body language expert Patti Wood, is a signal that you are preparing to hide your emotional state. When he sat opposite Oprah (the interviewee seat is an uncomfortable place for Jay) he did an "arm-leg lock", which is a male leg cross with a hand wrapped around the leg.

"That leg lock is a fascinating signal of protection," explained body language expert Patti Wood. "It was saying I am powerful but I feel the need to protect myself. He isn't used to being in the left-hand chair."

Which is totally fair since Oprah came out guns slinging. Instead of her typical celebrity soft-ball questions where everyone feels happy and at ease until she throws in a little zinger before returning to happy Oprah-land, O went at Jay with everything she had.

"Jay started gripping the arms of his chair early on in between folding them over his legs. He didn't like her taking him to that dark emotional place," Wood said. "And when Oprah asked whether the experience has changed him, his non-verbal response was to take his right hand and scratch down his cheek in sign of self-beating, demonstrating just how injured he feels."

Some of the strongest non-verbal cues that Jay was giving off came at the beginning of the interview when he told Oprah that leaving 'The Tonight Show' the first time around broke his heart. He meant it!!!

"Jay flashed what was known as a micro-expression; a facial expression that is very fleeting, but that reveals the emotion being felt at that moment. These are very hard to conceal. This micro-expression was one of sincere sadness. With this expression, the inner corners of the eyebrows are pulled up and in simultaneously, with the corners of the mouth being pulled down. If you watch closely, you can also see that his eyes became 'misty' momentarily," said body language expert Vincent Harris, author of 'The Productivity Epiphany.'

When talking about Jimmy Kimmel mocking him on his own show, Jay said "I got sucker punched. " Oprah naturally pushed and asked him how he felt about said sucker-punch.

"He extended both hands and arms as though he was pushing something away. This was indicative of being very uncomfortable with Kimmel's comments from before and wanting Oprah to move on with her questioning," Harris said.

When Oprah asked Jay if he had any hard feelings towards Conan he may have tried to sound upbeat and positive, but his body language betrayed him.

"His response was that he had no hard feelings at all. But as soon as he said that he moved an arm across his body to protect himself and rubbed his ear which is an indication of insincerity," Wood said. "It really stood out because I believe he was being honest and straightforward throughout most of the piece, but not here."

Tags: conan obrien, jay leno, oprah winfrey, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show, TheTonightShow

Comments

(293)

Friday 29 January

By leroy

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Body language like his chin would grow when he lied..UH UH UH FIRST AGAIN ??? YEAHHHHHH DOGG..WHAT ?? WHAT ??

By valeskas

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Leroy, dumb, dumb.

By C-Bar

Douche

By waagtod

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Hey leroy, If I was unemployed I could waste my day trying to be first too!! Loser!!

YEAHHH !!! ALL RIGHT !! ALL THE HATERS ARE OUT TODAY..BUT THAT DOES`NT GET LEROY DOWN CUZ AS ALWAYS..LEROYS FIRST AND YOU`RE ALL BENEATH ME..JEALOUSY JUST EATS AWAY AT THE HATERS..SO SAD..TOO BAD...UH UH UH YEAHHHH DOGG ..LOEROY IS # 1..NUMERO UNO..TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

By Wish Belkin

Leroy rocks!
Body language experts are full of it.

Saturday 30 January

By ron

way to go leroy

By ray

I gotta say I'm a leroy fan even if he does sit around all day on taxpayer's money waiting to be first.

By stan

Leroy, You the man (a_ _ hole)!!! Leno Is the greatest.

By jevillega

This body language user should be putting her talents to better use. Like how about on Obama's lies?

Sunday 31 January

By guy

Leroy is like a Rhodes Scholar, except he spelled his own name wrong in item #5.
Instead of bragging about being on top, why not work on your grammar and spelling? What a shame............

By Conrad Shagwell

Leroy is brilliant. Leroy is wonderful. I want to be like Leroy.

By dvdfnrzwbr

Sorry Conan, but Jay would whoop yo azz if he went to Fox. Now he will still whoop yo azz that your going to Fox.

By Alice

It is so funny to think Jay would enjoy talking to someone like that. Jay is a normal person who enjoys things such as car racing and other manly things. I had a chance to talk to Jay since my husband collects antique cars and Jay was at a show we attended. If Jay had his way, there would be no Obama since America is being ruined by him. I can only think what Jay was thinking when forced to talk to her for business reasons. Everytime I see Oprah, I see how much she looks like that Michele, Obama's old lady.

Yeah, of course he talks to people about his cars, they are his babies. But what the heck has Obama to do with this. And no Oprah does not look like Michelle, how stupid can someone be."Alice" should read newspapers, maybe that would help her mind a little.

By lisa

Alice.....careful there! Your racism and ignorance are showing.

By Kplan

I'm not a Conan fan -- I think he's awkward, a terrible interviewer, and far too self-aware (not to mention, more interested in being cute than listening to his guest). However, Jay should've shown some class, taken his forced retirement like a man, and stepped aside.
To say it was "an affiliate decision" is either remarkable denial or just proof that he's a jerk. The only "decision" the affiliates made was that his 10pm show was killing their local news (a HUGE money-maker for affiliate stations). The rest, based on everything Jay himself as said, and on what Zucker has said, was Jay and NBC -- namely, NBC said to Jay "What do you want?" and Jay wanted Tonight back.
Oprah was CLEARLY not buying his b.s., it's shocking so many others do.

By Marshall Lewis

Alice,
Have you ever heard the term "projection". How can you attribute your crazy thoughts to Jay Leno because he appeared on Oprah.? Both Michelle and Oprah have dark skin, not even the same shade........how does that make you know that Jay thinks Obama is not on the right track?

By Observer

Just like a RACIST to insert the issue of their bigotry at any chance they get. This obviously is a topic on the "late night wars" on TV, but like a bigot, Alice makes this all about our president and even the first lady. Hey, if you really love America, you will love every American....no matter the color of their skin!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just because Oprah is a billionaire, who made it all on her own, doesn't mean you can also hate on her. Jealous much?

By billy

alice, President Obama is not ruining the usa, the republicans you voted for in 2000/2004 did that and today President Obama is being blame for their mess as he try to clean up their mess. god fools like you are going to destory this country when you go to vote based on info from the right wing terrorist fox news.. btw i love how fox news cut him short when he was doing so good at showing the real blame is with the republicans who rather see this country go down in flames to try to save or get votes.. fools like you and republicans are going to make this once great country a third world coutry. you better wise up fool

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