jay leno (113 posts)

What's one worse than a sucker punch? Oh, yeah. Good TV.

(Fair warning: Anyone tired of hearing about the awesome sauce that is Team CoCo should go away now. Jimmy Kimmel and David Letterman, stay where you are. You, too, random guy.)

"I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your participation in the Jay Leno scandal," the Late Show host told his guest and fellow Leno-basher last night. "I've known Jay a long, long time and it just got to be fun. I mean, it just really got to be a lot of fun."

"It did," Kimmel agreed. "I would like to keep it going, but you…we had him, we were drowning him, and you threw a lifesaver out to him during the Super Bowl."

"No, I think we can still fire it up," Letterman replied. And then went on to do just that.

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The prodigal sidekick has returned. And how.

For the first time since Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show departure, Andy Richter appeared on TV this morning, filling in for a vacationing Regis Philbin and breaking all manner of land-speed records in getting a few things off his chest.

"I actually can be on TV," he told Kelly Ripa right off the bat. "Conan can't—in fact, I'm not even sure I can say his name. I may be getting him in trouble for even saying his name."

If he can get in trouble for that, we hate to think what the fallout may be for the rest of his NBC and Jay Leno-bashing stint.

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Nice move, Jay Leno.

Apparently the Tonight Show host thinks as highly of Chelsea Handler as we do. He's taking her up in a helicopter on the show tonight.

Most guests just get a goodie bag.

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Watch her Big Interview Special and don't miss Chelsea Lately weeknights at 11 p.m.

NBC

Just because he pitches for the losing team doesn't mean Lorne Michaels doesn't cheer for his former players.

The Saturday Night Live creator and executive producer may work for NBC, but he feels his past employee, Conan O'Brien, is "just brilliant" and has an "amazing character," he told the Hollywood Reporter.

In other words, while he didn't say anything about Jay Leno inducing nausea, he agrees with the outspoken Howard Stern on at least one issue.

After early struggles, Conan prevailed, "and I'm sure he will again," Michaels said.

He also agrees with Howard that Conan did "not necessarily" have the best of lead-ins following Leno's 10 p.m. spot, but thinks some of the issue may stem from promising the red-head the gig so far in advance.

"You can't tells someone that you want to stay married for five years" and then get a divorce, he said.

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Howard Stern's been doing a ton of talking lately. Keep up with what he's been saying right here.

Sarah Palin—or any politician, for that matter—would have a hard time of it if she couldn't laugh at herself.

"Hey Jay, we're going old school tonight," the former governor of Alaska told Jay Leno in The Tonight Show's opening bit Tuesday, pointing to the words "Good evening and welcome to the tonight show" printed on her hand.

Aka, "the poor boy's version of the teleprompter," which is what she called it during her interview when Leno asked about being caught with a list of talking points inked on her hand during a recent speech.

"I took notes [when I was a kid], I take notes today, even on the palm of my hand, and just to get the left all whee-whee'd up and get their heads spinning, I'm going to promise to keep doing it!" declared the perennially perky hockey mom.

Palin also sort of addressed that whole Family Guy thing while chatting with Jay tonight...

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Don't mention Jay Leno to Howard Stern unless you have a paper bag handy.

"Just the mere mention of Jay Leno's name makes me want to vomit," the shock jock told Harry Smith on CBS' Early Show this morning. "I don't like this guy. I don't disguise it. Probably what irritates me the most is people in show business are afraid to say how much they dislike the guy, but I am not."

Clearly, the Sirus XM radio king remains on Team Coco, supporting Conan O'Brien even after NBC's dirty dealing was done.

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ABC/MARK BRENDEL

How much did you love The Bachelor finale? How much did you love Jay Leno's Tonight Show return? How much did you love the Winter Olympics?

The surprising answers in the latest TV ratings quiz:

1. When was the last time you felt this deeply about The Bachelor? More than six years ago. The franchise's just-concluded 14th season was its most watched since the days of Bachelor Bob Guiney, ABC said.

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There's no place like home.

Such was the sentiment Jay Leno voiced in a sepia-tinted sketch heralding his return Monday as host of The Tonight Show after a whopping nine-month...hiatus.

"Some of it wasn't so nice," a worried-sounding Leno said as Kevin Eubanks, Ross the Intern and John Melendez crowded around him. They even threw in Betty White, "checking in on little Leno," for good measure.

"Look at this ratty ass barn! I can't believe you're doing your show from here!" the resurgent Golden Girl exclaimed.

Ha, don't worry Betty...

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Paul Drinkwater/NBC

It doesn't matter which team you're on when you've got a movie to promote. Or an Olympic medal (or seven) to show off. Or when you've fallen behind on your monthly quota for publicly dissing your clothes-eschewing almost-son-in-law (what, like she was gonna turn to Letterman?).

NBC has unveiled the initial guest list for Kevin Eubanks and Jay Leno's return to The Tonight Show next week, and while it boasts its fair share of big names—and more than its fair share of podium-standers—the star power isn't exactly blinding…unless, of course, you're particularly smitten with the network's own talent pool, reality guidettes, Simon Cowell, and, um, E! talent. OK, we take it all back.

Now grab a Sharpie and jot this list down on your palm:

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NBC Photo: Paul Drinkwater

If this isn't an indication that Jay Leno's bandleader was a closet Team CoCo supporter, we don't know what is. Except maybe our wishful thinking.

Amid rumors that canned-laughter king Kevin Eubanks will be leaving Leno's side when Jay reclaims the Tonight Show franchise next month, the guitarist has taken to—where else?—Twitter to clear up the claims.

"I'll still be around on the show, but less as of now," he wrote. "I'll tweet when a definite plan is set. Thanks again guys."

There's no word yet on who will replace Eubanks or—depending on how that definite plan shakes out—possibly split duties with him. And far be it from us to put a candidate forward, but Conan O'Brien did prove on his last show that he can play a mean guitar. And he is currently looking for work...just sayin'.

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Maybe Kev was just bitter about not getting invited to the Super Bowl party?