Jay Leno Performing at Free Show in Michigan

Jay Leno is going to be putting on a free show at the Palace at Auburn Hills in Detroit, Michigan on the evening of Tuesday, April 7. The show is free to anyone who claims to be unemployed and there is a limit of four tickets per person. The show is being billed as "Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan" and it is likely no coincidence that the show is being held in Detroit. The Detroit area has been one of the hardest hit areas of the country by the recession and the continued collapse of the U.S. auto industry, which calls Detroit home.

With unemployment skyrocketing and very little hope of short-term relief, Leno may be starting a much-needed trend of entertainers getting involved to try to lighten the mood and possibly turn things around. With such high concentration of wealth and influence in Hollywood, you would think that more entertainers would be in line with Leno, trying to make something happen, even if it's just a diversion.

In addition to free admission, parking and refreshments will also be free for the show. And at that point, you have to wonder, who's really paying for all of this? Could it be Leno himself? Possibly NBC? It's rare that you see this type of charity, so it will be interesting to see if there are any strings attached to the "free show" or if it is really, in fact, free. But for now, you have to like the concept and the willingness of a big-time star to step down among the people and try to do something - anything - to help.