Jay Leno performs for Michigan's unemployed

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Jay Leno performs for Michigan's unemployed

Photos of Jay Leno giving a free performance in Michigan to those suffering from 12 percent unemployment rate, the highest in the nation.

Hundreds of people lined up outside the The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan on April 7, 2009 for a Jay Leno performance. Leno was in town for shows billed as "Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan."

First, Jay Leno gave an interview to third grader Jack Morad, who appreciated the comedian's sense of humor.

The two men hugged before Leno began his set.

Leno failed on several occasions to get his set started, because the roar of the crowd and a chant of "Thank you, Jay!" drowned out his words.

"These are the hardest-working people in the world, and I think they're getting screwed," Leno told reporters before the show. "And it doesn't seem fair."

The NBC late-night star, an avid car collector whose love of autos has brought him to Detroit from time to time, said he wanted to do some good for an area struggling with a high jobless rate and imploding auto industry. Michigan's unemployment rate was at 12 percent in February, the highest in the nation.

He initially only planned a single show, but heavy demand prompted organizers to add a Wednesday night performance of what was being billed as "Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan." In all, there will be 30,000 tickets distributed.

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Hundreds of people lined up outside the The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan on April 7, 2009 for a Jay Leno performance. Leno was in town for shows billed as "Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan."

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Jay Leno performs for Michigan's unemployed

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