Rosie O'Donnell Snaps: Jay Leno is a "Bully" Who Can't "Let Go"

Celebrity News January 20, 2010 AT 4:34PM
Rosie O'Donnell Snaps: Jay Leno is a "Bully" Who Can't "Let Go" Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Rosie O'Donnell is definitely not on Team Leno -- and she has elaborate comparisons to explain why.

At Tuesday's Manhattan screening of A Family is a Family is a Family: A Rosie O'Donnell Celebration, O'Donnell tore into Jay Leno, whose low-rated prime time show is poised to take over Conan O'Brien's 11:35 a.m. time slot (thus leading to O'Brien's departure).

"It was a really crappy move on Leno's part," O'Donnell told UsMagazine.com. "It was kind of career defining."

Remember these star feuds and freakouts?

O'Donnell, once a talk-show host herself, continued, "he tried to 'Nancy Kerrigan.' He tried to take a bat," she said, referring to infamous 1994 incident in which Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan was bashed in the knees with a lead pipe in an attack orchestrated by her rival Tonya Harding and Harding's husband, Jeff Gillooly. "At least Jeff Gillooly took a pipe and [admitted] he did it."

"He didn't do it and go (imitating Jay Leno's voice) 'I don't know who hit her.' Gee, it was you, you're the one who hit her right in the knee, you know?"

See a photo of Rosie and her new girlfriend!

O'Donnell contends that Leno should claim responsibility for pushing O'Brien from his new Tonight Show post. "I think in the old days of show biz you can claim ignorance," she says. "But today with the internet, no way. There"s no way people are going to buy the crap anymore."

Hear the harsh words these TV stars had to say to one another

"Conan moved his family across the country and his entire staff to get a shot at what he worked 17 years for only to get it taken away by the bully on the playground who doesn't want to let go."

Added the comic: "I'm glad that I'm not on late night. They throw everyone to the wolves, including their own."

Tell Us What You Think

195
Comment by signing in with or creating your Facebook account by clicking below.
  • January 30, 2010 - 8:36am Lenny

    The problem you have with Rosie is she's just plain nasty and unhappy. She like Elton John, there mad because people won't call gay lifestyle normal and the hate builts inside. It's not about Jay or Conan with Rosie it's about society and why people don't like her and her ways.

  • January 27, 2010 - 6:21pm Boo

    Rosie is a bully who won't shut up. If all the fans who are screaming "foul" in defense of multimillionaire "underdog" Conan had watched his show, his ratings would have kept him at 11:35 on NBC. Those who want to blame a weak lead-in from Leno should remember that Conan was on the air for months before Leno's show started up. What was Conan's excuse then?

  • January 27, 2010 - 3:37pm Picwis

    Why does Rosie put her two cents into everything? She always has to run the show, no matter what. She should tend to her own garden, that being her family & own emotional state.

  • January 27, 2010 - 8:32am sumairaishia

    rosie odonnell is gross. she needs to keep her ugly piehole shut. what is she famous for anymore anyways? her big fat ugly buttwipe piehole of a mouth? she never was funny or entertaining. it's a mystery how she ever became famous. she's just jealous of jay cause he has the equipment she's always wished she had but, alas, will only be able to dream of and buy fake ones at the adult sex stores.

  • January 25, 2010 - 11:10am d

    politics on tv can't stand bs of barbara walters, leno is a jerk like letterman, trump likes fighting the vulnerable he is disgusting & i love rosie. she is real loving & generous person ganged up on by wolves

  • January 24, 2010 - 4:51am Clark

    HAHAHA DEAR JUDY how old are you? to call conans skits dumb is an insult to every writer he has on his staff and every person in the 18-45 age range. just cuz u arent in that age range doesnt mean ur opinion reigns supreme. O and leno has not always pulled in the numbers as u said, his tonight show took years to start competing with letterman...so thanks for playing, that was a really valiant effort to try and stand up for leno. maybe do some research so you can actually make a point and not just be as bitter as u say letterman is. GO MASTURBATING BEAR!!!!!!

  • January 24, 2010 - 12:24am JS

    It's not fair to Jay or Conan. Conan was the victim and Jay was made out to be the villian. I like both of them, but I'm truly disappointed that Conan didn't thank Jay for his help. When Conan's ratings were suffering, Conan asked Jay for help on how to improve his show to increase his ratings. Jay, without hesitation, helped him. That's team work! Plus, Jay never had anything bad to say about Conan...he always wished him the best. All the media hype may have pitted these 2 against each other.

  • January 23, 2010 - 11:57pm birdy

    how is that you supposed leno fans don't remember that his ratings were absolutely abysmal when he took over the tonight show from carson? it took YEARS to get up to speed. and you're also forgetting that it's jay leno's show at 10pm that is currently getting abysmal ratings as well. so, because he $ucked at 10pm, they're gonna go and push everyone else back including conan, jimmy fallon, and carson daly? that would definitely mean ruining those shows and hundreds of people being laid off. jay leno is old and should retire. conan is the most popular host of the 18-45 demographic and that's all that counts to advertisers. you could have a billion old bitties watchng jay leno but it won't make a difference to advertisers because old bitties don't shop like younger people so they're not their target market. commercials are how networks make money.

  • January 23, 2010 - 9:43pm L.S.

    I think nbc made major mistake.Conan is much more funnier than Leno and given more time would have been done better in the ratings. He reminds me so much of Johnny Carson. What a shame ! Oh well, nbc's loss. Hoping to see Coco in September !

  • January 23, 2010 - 9:43pm L.S.

    I think nbc made major mistake.Conan is much more funnier than Leno and given more time would have been done better in the ratings. He reminds me so much of Johnny Carson. What a shame ! Oh well, nbc's loss. Hoping to see Coco in September !

  • January 23, 2010 - 9:43pm L.S.

    I think nbc made major mistake.Conan is much more funnier than Leno and given more time would have been done better in the ratings. He reminds me so much of Johnny Carson. What a shame ! Oh well, nbc's loss. Hoping to see Coco in September !

  • January 23, 2010 - 9:43pm L.S.

    I think nbc made major mistake.Conan is much more funnier than Leno and given more time would have been done better in the ratings. He reminds me so much of Johnny Carson. What a shame ! Oh well, nbc's loss. Hoping to see Coco in September !

  • January 23, 2010 - 7:30pm CO CO

    CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO.

  • January 23, 2010 - 6:15pm Judy

    Rosie is more than an idiot. She has her own problems and should not throw stones at ANYONE. I can not stand Conan, he is immature and always trying to be funny with some of the dumbest skits I have ever seen. Yes, we did try to watch him. It is simple folks, Conan did not pull in the numbers and Leno always has. I pray he can get his audience back and beat Lettermen, the most bitter man I have ever seen. Nope we turned him off as he needs to keep his mouth shut about politics. I don't care what his left wing views are.............

  • January 23, 2010 - 3:19pm Delana

    rosie you are an idiot.and conan needs to stop putting the blame on jay and look at him self.so rosie how much did conan pay you to say what you did to oprah. rosie/conan two peas in a pod....

  • January 23, 2010 - 2:13pm jjj

    I hate to tell the media but no one cares about what Rosie says or doesn't say. No one cares about who her new girlfriend is or what she has to say. How many times does a celebrity need to put their foot in their mouth? Who is she to give any opinions about anything? Rosie ~ Please go away.....

  • January 23, 2010 - 1:31am Pat

    Rosie is an idiot. Who's at fault in all this are the NBC execs. Conan had offers elsewhere NBC told Leno they did not want to lose Conan or Leno. Told Leno they'd move him to halfhour show & give Conan Tonight Show at 12:05. Conan refused, after Leno (thinking of his staff agreed) He wasn't retiring. The guy was #1 in ratings. He didn't want to leave something he loved doing. I mean Rosie what would you have done in the same situation???? Oh yeah, for you I guess you'd walk off, (forget about the poeple you would put out of work) go home & blog your miserable crazy thoughts to everyone.(I guess there is an audience out there for anyone). I feel for both Jay & Conan. It all should have stayed the way it was. When Conan had other offers maybe he should have jumped on them. NBC started the fire. Not Jay! Or Conan. The NBC idea just didn't work. Anyway Rosie I will not be tuning in to the Rosie/Oprah interview & I hope every fan of Jays & those with knowledgeable sense will follow suit. Rosie you are crazy. After all wasn't it you that said our government started 9/11??? You just never know what will come out of that nutty angry mouth of yours! bye..I've had my say.

  • January 23, 2010 - 1:08am Pat

    Rosie is an idiot. Jay did not stand up one one day and say "I'm retiring" He was told Conan had other offers & Jay had to take a halfhour time slot & give the show to Conan. Jay felt an obligation to his staff & did the right thing by agreeing to this. Then Conan refused a later time slot-threatening to leave. Leno did not orchestrate this whole thing...NBC execs did. Come on Rosie would you have really walked if you were in Leno's shoes. Oh well..I know I am not tuning into the Rosie/Oprah interview & I hope all Leno fans follow suit. Rosie we know is a basket case & shouldn't even be getting an audience. Even if the Leno/Conan situation didn't exist. Go back to your blog Rosie & keep your nutty fans entertained. I remember when you said our government caused 9/11. Give me a break!

  • January 22, 2010 - 4:16pm Kp1981

    Rosie is bitter because Leno would not let her host The Tonight Show on Fridays way back in the day. And why would he? It was his show, why would he willfully give it up to someone lse and lose 1 day a week. She is a big mouth moron.

  • January 22, 2010 - 12:06pm ShutupRosie

    Rosie, you are a leaking dyke that needs her big, fat hole plugged up! Go shopping at Walmart and shut your trap, you publicity-hungry has-been! I hear that Tila Tequila needs a new girlfriend...

ADVERTISEMENT