"It Doesn’t Work That Way": Jay Leno Speaks Up on Decade-Old 'Tonight Show' Controversy with Conan O’Brien

In the realm of late-night talk shows, few controversies have caused quite the stir as the dramatic 'Tonight Show' host switcheroo between Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien. Over a decade later, Leno has once again revisited the saga and made it clear he didn't deliberately torpedo O'Brien's stint on the iconic show.

"It Doesn’t Work That Way": Leno Breaks His Silence on 'Tonight Show' Controversy

As he recently revealed on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, Leno fervently dismissed the notion that he intentionally derailed the NBC late-night talk show after O'Brien stepped in to fill the shoes he'd left in 2009.

"That doesn’t work," Leno stated flatly, squashing any theories of premeditated plans to undermine O’Brien. "It doesn’t work that way. You try and do the best you can and it didn’t work."

In an industry filled with power moves and high stakes, Leno’s decision to remain at NBC, despite the public outcry, was an intriguing choice. As he candidly explained, "Sometimes the czar you have is better than the one you’re going to."

"I Wouldn’t Have Done That": Conan Reflects on 'Tonight Show' Power Struggle

The echoes of the hosting drama still reverberate to this day. O'Brien, reflecting on the situation in a 2010 interview with "60 Minutes," proclaimed that he wouldn't have acted as Leno did.

"He went and took that show back and I think in a similar situation, if roles had been reversed, I know — I know me, I wouldn’t have done that," O'Brien asserted.

Instead, he took his comedy chops elsewhere, as he did with his show "Conan" at TBS.

Decades later, the 'Tonight Show' debacle remains an indelible part of late-night TV lore, highlighting the high-stakes drama behind the laughter, and the personal toll it can take on those at its center.

Disclaimer:Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.