LOS ANGELES — Jay Leno turned serious on his show Monday to discuss the late-night chaos at NBC, telling viewers that he had been doubtful about launching a prime-time show but was prevented by NBC from going to another network instead.
Leno also said he told NBC he would return to the “Tonight” slot only after Conan O’Brien rejected the network’s plan to put both men on in late night. When NBC told him they wanted to end his new show, Leno told viewers Monday, he asked to be released from his contract.
” ‘No, you’re still a valuable asset to this company,’ ” he said the network told him. His reply: “How valuable can I be? You fired me twice.”
He and O’Brien have traded edgy monologue jokes as NBC tries to extricate itself from its scheduling mess, but Leno said his attitude toward his colleague is unchanged: “Through all of this, Conan O’Brien has been a gentleman. He’s a good guy, I have no animosity toward him.”
