His swift recovery is a good excuse to revisit his late-night days. Many wish he was still making us laugh five nights a week.

Leno got his feet wet by filling in for Carson on “The Tonight Show” before officially taking over in 1992. Once Leno assumed the throne, he never looked back. He kept “The Tonight Show” at the top of the ratings heap, year in, year out.

His secret? He didn’t alienate red or blue state viewers.

His monologues, delivered with a panache forged from years behind the mic, hit both sides of the aisle. He reserved the sharpest blows for the current Commander in Chief, no matter the party affiliation. The focus stayed on the comedy, not petty partisan points. …

Leno’s motto remained simple then and now. Write joke. Tell joke. Collect check. Simple. Direct. And with a hearty respect for the customer.

That, more than any other element of Leno’s legacy, is missed the most today.