Booking War Brewing Between Letterman and Leno

By Rob Shuter Posted Jan 25th 2010 08:00PM

Now that David Letterman and Jay Leno will be going head-to-head once again, the bad blood between the late-night enemies will carry onto the guest couch. Word is Letterman won't play ball with anyone who goes on Leno's 'Tonight Show' first, setting up some serious celeb-snagging competition. More on that, plus Mariah's bubbly stash and Sarandon's bouncy night out with her rumored boy toy after the jump!

Dave and Jay: Now It's War

If you think the attacks from David Letterman and Jay Leno about chins and personal scandals were bad, you haven't seen anything yet, a source close to both late-night hosts tells me. As Jay is preparing to return to 'The Tonight Show' job he held for many years, Letterman is determined to hold onto his new ratings crown by playing some late-night hardball.

"Jay's image has taken a huge bashing during the whole Conan disaster. It was Leno who came off as the bad guy and this is something Dave and his team are going to exploit, especially when it comes to booking celebrity guests," a network source told me. Letterman's 'Late Show' staff is turning up the heat, already making it very clear to celebrities that Dave will not follow Jay with guest booking.

So, if you want to sit on Leno's couch, don't expect to be sitting next to Dave anytime soon.

Oh boys, can't we all just get along and play nice? There is always room for an extra bottom on my Pottery Barn sofa.

Does Mariah Travel With Her Own Champagne?

Remember Mariah Carey's nutty acceptance speech a few weeks ago? You know, the one she blamed on a few too many glasses of champagne ... How could you forget? Well, sources tell me no one was more surprised by the bubbly confession than the other guests at the Palm Springs Film Festival, who were offered only wine and cocktails!

"We had no idea you could order bubbly," a guest told me. "Mariah must have been the only one in the entire place that got any. They must have gotten it just for her."

Which is entirely possible when you are as fabulous as Miss Mariah -- or maybe the divine singer travels with a stash of her own Angel brand of champagne? Sneaky ... and smart! Cheers to you, Mariah.

Susan Sarandon Plays Ping-Pong With Rumored New Boyfriend

Susan Sarandon, who recently announced her split from long-time partner Tim Robbins (goodness, I love 'Shawshank Redemption'), spent an evening looking very cozy with new rumored boyfriend Jonathan Bricklin last week.

I saw them at ping-pong club SPiN (don't ask ... Sarandon co-owns the club with Bricklin) in NYC at an event that raised nearly $20,000 for Haiti. Watching larger-than-life movie executive Harvey Weinstein trying with everything he's got to hit that little ball is still making me giggle, but all for a great cause.

The event was hosted by Modelinia, your guide to supermodel beauty and style. Because who doesn't want to look fabulous?

Remembering a Friend
One of the most wonderful ladies I ever knew passed yesterday morning, her name is Mera Lome. She might think that I didn't know how she lit up the newsroom at 'Extra TV' doing her best Rob Shuter impersonation ... but I did, and was honored. I love you very much and will miss you every day "my little frosty."

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Tags: Dave Letterman, david letterman, jay leno, mariah carey, MariahCarey, Susan Sarandon

Comments

(127)

Tuesday 26 January

By JAG

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Letterman was with his wife for many years before marrying her and had a child. He DID have many affairs while he was with her and also was a dad. He is a disgusting pig who is using all this bad mouthing to Leno just to cover up the gigantic idiot he is. I don't believe Leno stooped as low as Dave after all the Letterman scandal and Leno did not go after him prsonally until Dave was relentless with Leno. Leno is a decent human being with great morals and Dave is a jack ass!

By georgechevy2

Letterman is a creep!

By Jay Tway

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I look at it like politics both partys are corrupt so why not open up a new party and get fox tv to put toghether a kick ass late night host I will certainly give fox a chance and who knows maybe this new party will take over just as it should in politics

By Ron

Why do people still blame Leno for the NBC debacle? It is so obvious that NBC executives are to blame. The fact that the pathetic and immature Letterman exploits this for his own gain is reprehensible.

By jjlovebus

I'd love to see"Leno" make A special guest appearance on the "Letterman" show,I think they should hash it out i n person & it would make the raitings skyrocket,,
Ohh yahh give me A peace of that pie if it Happens
Cheers JimJim

By berklybums

Letterman should have Conan on the first night Leno is back BWAAAAAAAAAA

By aerofanz

Letterman is just pissed because he will lose his ratings once Leno is back on at 11:30. He could beat Conan but not Leno. And whose washed up? Letterman is sure older than Jay!! If he isn't then he's been riden hard and put away wet one too many times.

By Bev

Letterman is such a liberal loser. If he didn't have Palin to degrade every chance and now Leno, he would have no material. He fathered a child and it took him 5 years to make him ligit and slept with half his staff now he really has room to knock others. Jay has always been a gentleman and was forced out but now he can reclaim the #1 spot that will prove just how low Letterman can get. I watch him just to see how rotten he is to Palin and then spread the word to all who don't on just what a low life he really is.

By mmagiemay

Dave has shown his true colors as mean-spirited and petty. If I were a celebrity, I wouldn't want to be on his show. I never watched him when Jay was at 11:30 and watched him the past few months. He is not funny to me and I will not watch him ever again.!

Grow Up Dave!!!

By bandit

Leno has never slept with his staff. he keeps his noise clean.
Leno is only staying as he reports because he doesn't want his staff of 175 to be out of work.

Sounds like lettermen is just a poor sport.

By parrothead

David Letterman is acting like a woman! He should never have gotten into this battle and now he's cutting off his nose to spite his face! Instead of wasting so much energy being petty, he should work to make sure the viewers would rather watch his show--personally, I'll be watching Jay Leno--he is much funnier and better natured!

By marc

That's Letterman's nature. He's a big liberal so that explains the affairs. He's like Jonny Carson in a way but all he can do is the same pathetic jokes about GWB every night when he was in office. Unless you're a liberal too he's impossible to watch, though now since he can't joke about George anymore he's a little beter. But he was still doing those like eight months after George left the white house. Jay is way funnier though I'd wish he would make some jokes about this administration. But like Hollywood they gotta prop up their idiot.

MARC

By king07global

I appropiate (plead) The Blood of Jesus Christ over Jay Leno and his family. May God rebuke all of Jay Leno's enemies.Amen.

By mom

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Leno sucks ass.

By Uncledickierc

Being in my mid-seventies, I can now lay claim to the use of the old saying, "age has its' benefits". When these two over-the-hill clowns do thier after 11 head butting like a pair of old goats...I'll be in bed sound asleep dreaming dreams of yesteryear.

By Jim

I have pulled the plug on all late night programming. After NBC's BULLS**T with Conan, I'm HISTORY AS*WIPES!!!!!!!

By Gloria

Letterman and Leno take great joy at bashing anyone they can. Now Leno is getting his just due, Letterman will get his. Joy, what's her name, on the View, is also a basher, espeially against Sarah Palin. How do they justify this behavior of picking on a person endlessly. They say they are against war, yet they are warring constantly. I love Craig Fergerson.

By Caroline

Letterman is done! Jay is going to squash him like a bug. Jay is a gentleman and Letterman is a dirty old man with no class. When has he ever done anything for anyone? He is done!

By jim

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JAY MAY ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO LEGALLY GO AFTER LETTERMAN FOR WHAT IS, AT LAW, CALLED TORTUOUS INTERFERENCE WITH CONTRACT. IF LETTERMAN PREVENTS LENO FROM CONTRACTING WITH A STAR WHO WOULD ORDINARILY APPEAR ON THE TONITE SHOW BUT FOR THE LETTERMAN INTERFARENCE IT MAY JUST BE LITAGABLE BY BOTH NBC AND LENNO JOINTLY AGAINST BOTH CBS AND LETTERMAN.

By sue

Never liked Letterman and have no use for Leno anymore. Won't be watching either of them.

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