Jay Leno to mentor contestants on 'Last Comic Standing'

NEW YORK, July 29 (UPI) -- Jay Leno will return to NBC this week to mentor contestants on Last Comic Standing.

The 64-year-old former Tonight Show host will help prepare the show's five finalists -- Nikki Carr, Rocky LaPorte, Joe Machi, Rod Man and Lachlan Patterson -- for their next round of competition. In the episode, the contestants are flown to Las Vegas, where Leno answers questions and shares his personal stories and advice.

This week our comics are whisked away to Las Vegas for a chat with none other than @jayleno! #LastComic pic.twitter.com/yJue2Jt92x

— Last Comic Standing (@nbclastcomic) July 28, 2014

Last Comic Standing is reality talent show for stand-up comedians that debuted in 2003. As of season seven, the television audience is responsible for voting for contestants each week. The winner receives a cash prize, a talent deal with NBC and a half-hour scripted project developed by Universal Television. Past participants include Inside Amy Schumer star Amy Schumer, who placed fourth on the show's fifth season.

Leno has kept busy since he passed The Tonight Show reins to Jimmy Fallon in February. His web series, Jay Leno's Garage, was nominated for an Emmy this year, and he was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in March. His episode of Last Comic Standing airs Thursday at 10 p.m. on NBC.