Jay Leno: Jimmy Kimmel Sucker Punched Me
Posted on Jan 28, 2010 @ 02:42PM
In a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey airing on Thursday, Jay Leno opened up about the NBC shakeup regarding The Tonight Show, saying he felt "sucker-punched" by his recent guest Jimmy Kimmel, felt "devastated" when the network asked him six years ago to stand aside for Conan O'Brien and admitted to his current up-hill battle to become the good guy again.
NBC Exec: Conan, Letterman "Chicken-Hearted," "Gutless" In Attacks On Leno
"A lot of damage control" has to take place Leno said. He has been blamed for NBC's decision to reinstate him in his former 11:35 pm late-night slot. O'Brien refused to push back the air time for The Tonight Show, fueling the fire between the late-night hosts. "I'm going to work hard to rehabilitate [the bad guy] image."
VIDEO: Conan O'Brien - "If NBC Doesn't Want People To See Me, Just Leave Me On NBC"
Leno also addressed Kimmel's appearance during a Leno show a few weeks back during which Kimmel slammed him during their interview. "I got sucker-punched," Leno said, revealing that he opted against editing the portion out.
"You get right up again [after getting hit]. You don't whine and complain."
VIDEO: Jimmy Kimmel's Hilarious Impression Of Jay Leno!
Addressing NBC's decision to give O'Brien The Tonight Show to keep him at the network six years ago- despite the fact that Leno was still topping the ratings- the host admitted he had never planned to retire, despite saying so on-air. "I told a little white lie," he said. "It made it easier that way."
"It broke my heart, it really did...I was devastated."
As for the future, he hopes that O'Brien will return to late-night television soon, allowing a fair competition between Leno, nemesis David Letterman and O'Brien.
"I hope Conan gets a job somewhere else and we all compete together. And the best man wins."
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It was the network that made all the decisions, though they were foolish to move Jay when the ratings were still number one. Karma bit NBC in the a## and now they want things back to what they were. Hopefully they learned a lesson.
Posted Fri, 01/29/2010 - 10:43am
Jay is the best. Period.
Posted Thu, 01/28/2010 - 11:22pm
I am glad Jay is back!!
Posted Thu, 01/28/2010 - 9:38pm
I love you Jay Leno! Conan ain't funny! I'm glad you're back!
Posted Thu, 01/28/2010 - 8:36pm
What a HUGE crybaby Leno is. Waaaaaaah. He has nothin' to say. O'Brien got screwed (although his lawyers are complete morons). I'm objective....don't watch any of these shows.
Posted Thu, 01/28/2010 - 8:06pm
Jay minding his business when NBC kicked him to the curb...but NBC insisted he stay so he wouldn't be competition and put him at the new time. That bombed & O'brien's ratings were low so Jay is back. I'm trying to see what Jay did wrong.
Posted Thu, 01/28/2010 - 5:39pm
You pretended to be a good guy. jerk
Posted Thu, 01/28/2010 - 5:03pm
all just a bunch of boring fat cat whiners. Wish they'd all be fired.
Posted Thu, 01/28/2010 - 4:12pm
Hey Jay! Quit lying and whining! Oprah, quit letting narcissists like Aniston and Jay cry and whine on your show, promote their delusions further. Oh wait, got a few yourself. Boycott NBC. Fire Zucker~
Posted Thu, 01/28/2010 - 4:08pm
With all the whining going on..this should be called The Real Desperate Late Night Talk Show Hosts of Hollywood.
Posted Thu, 01/28/2010 - 3:53pm