Jay Leno May Walk Out of NBC, Too

By Rob Shuter Posted Jan 13th 2010 07:05AM

EXCLUSIVE: First Conan O'Brien says goodbye to NBC, and now Jay Leno might have one foot out the door as well. Oh, what a mess! Word is Jay is furious with the Peacock network for 'Tonight'-gate (trademark!) and may soon walk. More Jay details after the jump, plus Ryan's teary-eyed Simon emotions and why Brangelina won't be at the Globes after the jump!

First Conan O'Brien Leaves, Now Jay Leno?

Sources close to former 'Tonight Show' host Jay Leno tell me he is furious with the way NBC has treated him and Conan O'Brien and is considering walking away from the entire mess with his head held high. "Now that Conan has made it clear he is leaving the troubled network, Jay is considering doing the same. They have put Jay in a terrible position. It looks like he is the reason that Conan is now without a job. Jay is a great guy and it's not fair that due to NBC's stupidity he looks like the bad guy," a TV insider tells me.

"Plus, what happens when Jay does return to the 11:35 slot if his audience doesn't immediately follow? How can he possibly trust the same network that canceled Conan after only seven months?"

Check out the morals on Jay! Good for him for sticking up for the guy he essentially got shoved out. And remember, if this mess continues and Jerry Seinfeld winds up on NBC, you heard it here first.

Ryan in Tears Over Split From Simon

Just before Simon Cowell announced he was quitting 'Idol,' he called the one person in the world that he just can't quit. No, not Paula Abdul -- Simon called Ryan Seacrest. "It was a very emotional conversation with lots of tears and laughter." Stop the presses! Simon cries? "Yes he does." a source tells me. And despite the fact that Simon swears Ryan was "popping Champagne bottles" to celebrate his departure (via Extra), I'm hearing otherwise.

When I met Ryan a few years ago, he told me how much Simon meant to him and I would often see them out together. "Ryan is devastated by the news. Taking it much harder than anyone else. It's not just that he will no longer be working with his best friend, he also knows 'Idol' is the center of what has made him so successful. Without 'Idol,' Ryan wouldn't have E!, wouldn't have his current radio gig and wouldn't have made it onto People's 'Most Sexy' list," which apparently is a big deal to little Ryan.

But fear not, Seacrest! Look at how well Jessica is doing without Nick. Oh, wait a minute.

And not to play "I told you so," (I'm too classy!) but remember last week when I said Simon was on his way out and 'Idol' would be minimizing his role this year? Well ...

Angie Ditches the Globes Without Telling Brad!

Everyone was surprised yesterday when Angelina Jolie's stylist announced the couple wouldn't be attending Sunday's Golden Globe Awards in Hollywood, but no one was more surprised than Brad himself. "He thought he was going to support his nominated film 'Inglourious Basterds.' He's very close friends with director Quentin Tarantino and very proud of his work in this film," an astonished friend revealed to me.

Put away the tux, Brad -- Angie has spoken and you will be watching it on the TV like the rest of us.

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Tags: jay leno, jay leno show

Comments

(130)

Wednesday 13 January

By Jm

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I for one think Jay and Conan should depart!!!! Look jay went into a lot of homes brought a lot of laughs to us for quite awhile and he doesnt need the fame or the money so he should just retire with Mavis and enjoy his life and just take on small stuff if he wants,love him and yes will miss him but its time and like he says he goes out with his head up high. Conan well,I would of said to stay but you see what could happen,so if you dont pull it off you will be a goner! Collect whats due you and move on to another night show station.

By ray

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I have no dog in this fight. I don't watch NBC anymore, too liberal for my likes. Hope they go under. Any one who would hire Conan, Maddow, or Oberdumb are not in their right minds. NBC has no good programing, and any programs that they have is all left wing. The "Tonight Show" ended when Carson retired. Well that's my two cents for what it's worth

By randy

Jay it's just time 2 call it a day everyone else left while they were on top Please do the same even if youve waited too late ...it's time for the setting of the moon....go into the light ....

By sarah

LOL. This "insider" is probably Jay touting himself as a good guy.

By Diane

I watch Letterman, so I can't say I'm too concerned about NBC's lineup. He's hipper and much funnier than either Jay or Conan.

By Carrie

Jay just needs to go. He had planned on retiring anyway, but then for some reason he felt that he sould take over an earlier slot. I'm not a Conan fan, but I hate seeing the guy get screwed. Jay needs to do the right thing and walk away, he's not that good anyway.

By Jim Lewis

You have had the same program format since Steve Allen show. Isn't it about time you changed the whole idea of a late night show. Let Leno and O'Brien both go and good riddance.

By mary

Well I didn't see anywhere that Conan has officially left the show.

By mommiejeannie

I love Jay!! I hope he stays?? Late night or at 10:00pm? I don't care? I just want him to stay on NBC!!!!

By JoyousOne

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I've said it before when this whole fiasco started -- both Jay and Conan don't deserve how they've been bounced around by NBC. Leave this network and don't look back - hold your heads up high - you guys have done nothing wrong. I'm a Jay Leno fan but see the unfairness dealt these two shows. They don't need it, their families don't need it and their true fans don't want it. Conan would be a good fit for FOX or cable and Jay would probably entertain the idea of maybe ABC. They'd have to move Kimmel to 12:30 or so but - Jay would draw in late night again where he is king. Just beat Letterman again - don't like him or his sarcastic style. Anyway - good luck to Jay & Conan.

By great granny

it is time to put up or shut up! Conan, leave and find something else, maybe a gig in Vegas. We the people are tired of the drama. i dont watch your show. tried it, didnt like it. like about half of Jays show. we are tired of the fat azz jokes, they must go. forgive my stong language, just had enough. life is too short. be happy if you can. nite ya'll

By Barry

BOTH ARE GARBAGE AT BEST!!!

By hotrodqd

how about a celebrity boxing match winner gets the tonight show and the loser replaces the hacks on the morning show ! or they both can take on matt laurer lol 3 way wheres vince ? set it up on wwe pay per view !!!

By peggy

NBC bungled this one big time. Jay was winning in his time slot when they forced his retirement. Conan is very talented and did well with late night. It was win/win for the network until the nitwits made their flawed decision about Jay's retirement. Having said that, Conan should have been given a chance to suceed on The Tonight Show, an opportunity never given to him. Conan's decision to not take the the 12:05 slot was a good one. I think Jay is right to also threatened to leave NBC, if he goes back to The Tonight Show , he will always been seen as the bad guy.

Saturday 16 January

By Marie

I thought Leno left initially because he was going to retire. He was paid millions for the Tonight Show so he should have tons of money stuffed in the bank. I say let NBC let Leno go, it is not their business he has bills to pay and was a spend freak on all those fancy cars. Start withdrawing money Jay, just like the rest of us... I heard the dollar store is still hiring ... there is no shame in trying to earn an honest living!

By anna

Hi All, Please Brad GO to the Golden Globes what a slap in the face of your and Director Quinton. You need to man up to Angie she needs to remember how the bills get paid. Why is she being such a buzz kill. Is she afraid of seeing the Georgous Sexy Aniston. Or maybe you really just don't care to support your children s father. BRAD PITT YOU SHOULD DEFIANTLY BE AT THE GLOBES, AFTER ALL THE HARD WORK AND ALL YOUR FANS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED YOU THIS IS THE THANKS WE GET.

I think both should leave because of the way Zucker has managed their future. NBC is going down the drain anyway, they both will be just fine but do not deserve to be treated as the laughing stock of TV

By Ruth

What the devil does NBC think they are doing?

What a horrible mess.

Although I don't like Conan, I think he has been treated shabbily.
Now Jay is the bad guy which isn't fair either.

I hope they both get better offers, and leaves NBC just like
David Letterman did. Stupid NBC!!!!!!!

By Steve

If Jay would leave and start a new show on a new network and get rid of that 'yeh, man', stupid Kevin Eubanks and his congo band, he could probably be a success again.

By Jack

How about I do it for half their salary?

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