Jimmy Kimmel Slams Leno -- on Leno's Show
Credit: NBC
Things got awkward on Thursday's Jay Leno Show when Leno welcomed Jimmy Kimmel.
Kimmel participated in Leno's "10 @ 10" segment, which involves a celeb answering 10 questions via satellite.
Leno asked Kimmel to relate his best prank ever.
Kimmel said that he told a guy five years ago that he'd give him his show, and "then I took it back." (In 2004, Leno agreed to surrender The Tonight Show to O'Brien in 2009, after 17 years as host. NBC is now deciding whether Leno will resume his 11:30 p.m. slot; O'Brien recently said he would not accept NBC’s request to move his show to 12:05 a.m.)
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At that point, Leno asked Kimmel. "Ever order anything off the TV?"
"You mean the way NBC ordered your show off the TV?" Kimmel replied. During a discussion on strippers, Kimmel said, "I don't like strippers because you have a phony relationship with them for money. Sort of like the way you and Conan were on The Tonight Show together passing the torch? You know what I'm saying."
He also told Leno: "Listen, Jay, Conan and I have children, all you have to take care of is cars. I mean, who have lives to lead here. You've got $800 million, for God's sakes... leave our shows alone." (Kimmel made fun of Leno on Tuesday's Jimmy Kimmel Live. Wearing an exaggerated fake chin to play Leno, he joked that he was taking over all late-night shows, including Kimmel's, and announced that ABC stands for "Always Bump Conan.")
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Meanwhile, Leno and O'Brien are continuing to rip each other.
"Hi, I'm Conan O'Brien, NBC's 'Employee of the Month,'" he said in his monologue Thursday. "There's a rumor that NBC is so upset with me, they want to keep me off the air for 3 years. My response to that is, if NBC doesn't want people to see me, just leave me on NBC."
Leno fired off jokes on his show as well: "In other TV news, Sarah Palin has signed with Fox News to be a correspondent. Fox says, if she does a good job, they'll sign her to a long-term contract. And if it doesn't work out, they'll just blame Leno.
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"With all the controversy going on here at NBC, actually," he continued, The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien's ratings have gone up. "So, you're welcome!"
Tell Us What You Think
27I like Conan and think Leno should stay in his slot since it was his mistake to agree to it. Leno wasn't honest when he was trying to take it away from Carson(my fav) then and now he is backstabbing Conan--too greedy and seedy
KFCanada - Get your facts straight. What started this whole thing was that Leno's primetime show at 10PM drew in SO LITTLE RATINGS that the NBC affiliates couldn't sell commercial time (how the networks make money) and DEMANDED that Leno go bye-bye. Conan's current ratings on The Tonight Show are about 5 TIMES what Jay's were in his prime time show at 10PM. The point is that very very few followed Jay to his prime-time 10PM show -- he has a small fan base... it's the TONIGHT SHOW and Conan that has a fan base -- many many followed Conan to an hour earlier (and in droves in the most important Tonight Show advertiser demographic -- 18-49). Very FEW followed Jay to his new time slot. Jay is a noted workaholic - he should see what it's like to get to know his wife and spend some time with her. Instead he likes being 'the MAN' at his job and having many cater to his every whim and kiss his tuchus!
You know it is NBC's fault. Its like saying come have this great job, then after about 7 months stabbing their employee in the back. I would love it if my employer did the same. Oh and I bet all the people posting that Leno is funny are at least 50 I guess his jokes were funny back in 1970 when you were all young
I am really disappointed in Jimmy Kimmel. I've always admired him...till now.To insult a colleague on his own show is like a 'low blow'in a boxing match...ignorant and inappropriate. It doesn't matter how much money Leno has or what his personal interests are. Perhaps, Kimmel should reveal his wealth as should Conan. All three should level the field by disclosing their own income so fans can judge whether or not 'income' is at the root of this hateful dissention among the three 'comedians'. As it is, all three are denigrating their own images and all three may pay the ultimate price in future show ratings. IMHO,NBC should exhibit a 'class act' and make a public admission that they, themselves, made wrong decisions before they witness the complete fiasco of seeing all their late night personages losing their respective fan followings.
I'M WITH COCO!
FYI, Leno has more than double Conan's ratings in his current timeslot. He didn't get that by badmouthing the competition; he got the high ratings because his former viewers of the late night show followed him to his current timeslot. Is it possible Conan's former fans didn't? NBC's in control in this predicament...they determine which comedian gets which show. Leno probably had no choice in the matter of who would take over his former show. Hating on Leno is absurb! It's childish! Send the hate mail to NBC who really deserve it.
since when do you fail at your new job and get to go back to your old job and mess everyone else's gigs up. He's boring. I'm a Letteman girl myself , but the whole principle is ridiculous.. go away JAY!
TEAM COCO
I'm pro-Conan in a big way but I can go along with his humor being more late-late night than late night. If only he'd bring back The Gaseous Weiner and produce an Artie Kendall movie!
After seeing what Kimmel said to Leno I have a new respect for him...Kimmel nailed it. Leno, how many times must it be said....go away! You retired. Why did you start all this if you we're going to come back and do a show at the 10:00pm time slot that was pretty much the samething you we're doing before???? Conan is super funny....it takes time to switch an audience from one late night host to another. I've always watched Letterman but I would watch Conan. Have some grace Leno and move on with your life...
yeah, jay leno doesnt do it for me. conan is hilarious. his facial expressions & the way he jumps around. he's sooooo much funnier than leno. jay, let go!! your time is up. you had a good run, now move along.
Team coco all the way. Jeff Zucker and Leno are complete dbags. Let go Leno you sad little man.
I don't think Jay Leno is funny at all, I never have. He doesn't have the comedic timing or interview skills of Letterman or O'Brien for that matter. This putting him back at his old time just reeks of good ol' boy networking.
TEAM COCO! Leno needs to go already, he's not even funny! I hate the way he repeats his joke over again after the punchline, it's not funny the second time either buddy. I'm so over him, I think NBC really screwed up! Btw, the Kimmel thing? Funniest (most honest) thing I've seen about this fiasco to date! Go Conan...
ok angela - what about all the people who retire and then go back to work? maybe angelina has done enough movies since she started as a child and should stop now. Love Leno!!!!!!!!
umm how many times has people in sports & hollywood say there retiring & when it comes time they dont!!! Leno is a million times better!! Conans ratongs sucked anyway....blame nbc not leno
Leno made the deal in 2004. He said he'd had enough and wanted to retire to spend time with his wife and do other things. It was all set up purposely by NBC so that they'd avoid another debacle like the one when Carson retired and the Leno/Letterman feud erupted. So, NBC took explicit steps to avoid this very situation. Then Leno decided he didn't want to go home and instead wanted to stay in the limelight. TOUGH. He made a deal. Conan stuck to his end of the bargain. Leno didn't. Now, both NBC AND Leno are at fault -- NBC for being greedy and not wanting Leno to go to another network, and Leno for being his typical backstabbing, two-faced self. Conan is right.
CONAN O'BRIEN'S SHOW IS WAY BETTER THAN JAY LENO'S SHOW! CONAN IS ACTUALLY FUNNY!
TEAM CONAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring the bickering to the Golden Globes have Conan and Jay come out and present an award.. Yeah since we are going way too long on this ...publicists it is getting old.. grow up and just say from the beginning we do not need a publicity stunt like THE BACHELOR...FAKE PUBLICITY AGAIN TO GAIN RATINGS...