TV

If imitation truly is the the sincerest form of flattery, the NBC paid ABC a huge compliment during its executive panel by pulling the same stunt as its rival network did a few days ago. Just as the first question for ABC's president Stephen McPherson came from Jimmy Kimmel posing as journalist, the first questions to NBC's co-chairmen, Mark Graboff and Ben Silverman were asked by a bald, bearded guy in the back, who turned out to be Jay Leno in disguise.

It made for funny impromptu theater for the NBC execs, but it also allowed them to handle The Question -- what's going on with Jay and when will Conan be taking over The Tonight Show -- in a way they could control. Thus, a ballroom full of actual journalists found out that Jay Leno's last night as Tonight Show host will be Friday, May 29 of next year and Conan O'Brien's first will the next Monday, June 1. The stunt also allowed Jay to seem in on the joke and to dampen suspicion that this transition marks a fractious break between the talk-show host and his network, a suspicion that was seemingly buttressed by Mr. Leno himself in an interview with USA Today in which he was quoted as angrily saying he was done with NBC once his reign on the Tonight Show ended.

Just a misunderstanding due to a quote being taken out of context, according to Mr. Silverman, who said that the network continues talking with Mr. Leno about what role he might play after the switch to Conan.

"He came to us and said he felt bad about how he sounded in that interview. We're still talking to Jay about staying within NBC."

Jay Leno, the bald-headed journalist, didn't stick around to provide any answers. He just asked his questions -- "You've brought back Knight Rider, any plans to bring back Manimal? "Have you offered Jay a fifth hour of the Today Show?" -- and then he was gone. He didn't sound mad, but then, this is show business.