15,000 attend free Leno show in Michigan

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 8 (UPI) -- About 15,000 people hard hit by the economy attended Jay Leno's free show Tuesday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan.

"God bless, Detroit," the Detroit News quoted Leno as telling the crowd, which consisted of unemployed, underemployed or retired people and their families, during his 80-minute act, "You guys created the middle class. Because of your unions, you could buy the products you made."

The show was the first of Leno's two-night "Comedy Stimulus Plan" gig at The Palace and featured an appearance by Detroit musician Kid Rock.

Leno, the host of "The Tonight Show," is also scheduled to perform Wednesday night.

"I am so glad he's doing this," audience member Elaine Stephens told the newspaper. "We get a chance to go out and do something and everybody is in good spirits even though we're broke!"

"This is one of the great industrial cities," Leno said, prompting enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. "This is a city that actually makes a product! During World War II, your fathers and grandfathers made a bomber an hour at Willow Run, faster than the Germans or Japanese could shoot them down."