Despite earlier online reports that Jay Leno was leaving NBC due to the reshuffling of late night TV, Gossip Cop clears the air dismissing the rumors that Jay plans to leave the network.

An story posted this morning on Popeater.com claimed the TV host, who recently lost his 10pm time slot, is angry over the tension NBC created between him and Conan O’Brien, and upset he has been made out to be the bad guy.

However, a source close to Jay told Gossip Cop he’s not leaving NBC.

“He has a contract with NBC,” and is going to honor it.

Jay’s contract specifically guarantees his 10:00 p.m. time period, so NBC has to negotiate a new deal with him before he moves back to 11:35 p.m. time slot.

However, TMZ reported earlier today that Conan’s contract never specified a solid time slot for his program.

Since Conan’s contract did not define a guaranteed time period, NBC has the right to air The Tonight Show at any hour they choose.

In the contract, NBC did guarantee that Conan would host The Tonight Show, and the network is willing to hold true to its promise.

Conan’s main argument is that the The Tonight Show is an institution and airing it a different time than its 11:35 time slot, which was started by the great Johnny Carson — would do a disservice to the established program. He released a statement yesterday addressing the importance and meaning his program holds for him.

Source, Fame Pictures

Sources close to former ‘Tonight Show’ host Jay Leno tell me he is furious with the way NBC has treated him and Conan O’Brien and is considering walking away from the entire mess with his head held high. “Now that Conan has made it clear he is leaving the troubled network, Jay is considering doing the same. They have put Jay in a terrible position. It looks like he is the reason that Conan is now without a job. Jay is a great guy and it’s not fair that due to NBC’s stupidity he looks like the bad guy,” a TV insider tells me.

“Plus, what happens when Jay does return to the 11:35 slot if his audience doesn’t immediately follow? How can he possibly trust the same network that canceled Conan after only seven months?”

Pop Eater

NBC – you SUCK. This is just a crappy move, if you ask me. NBC is giving Jay Leno his 11:30 time slot back, since he failed so miserably in the 10:00 slot. They’ve told Conan “take it or leave it” basically. See below, from TMZ:

NBC has given Conan O’Brien the option to either do his show from midnight to 1 or leave the network, sources tell TMZ.

As TMZ first reported, after the Olympics, Jay Leno will get his 11:30 PM time period back. We’re told network execs have told Conan they will let him decide if he wants the midnight to 1:00 AM time slot. If he does, Leno’s show will only be a half hour. If Conan walks, Leno will get a full hour, informed sources tell TMZ.

Our sources say Conan has not decided what he wants. We do know he’s pissed, because he was given no advanced warning this was coming. Conan’s people told NBC they are considering the offer. Translation: Mr. O’Brien — I have Rupert Murdoch on line one, Stephen McPherson on line two, John Landgraf on line three, Jeff Wachtel on line four …

We’re told if Conan gets another offer, even though NBC could block the move, they will let him go and give Leno the full hour.

Jay Leno is going back to his 11:30 PM time slot, and it’s looking like Conan O’Brien is the odd man out … sources tell TMZ.

We’ve learned Jay’s 10:00 PM show will go on hiatus February 1. After the Olympics, Jay will take back his 11:30 PM time slot. What has not been decided — whether Jay’s show will be a half hour, followed by Conan, or whether Jay’s show will be an hour and NBC says sayonara to Mr. O’Brien.

We’re told Jay and Conan have both been told of the changes. As for Jay, interestingly, he’ll get what he always wanted — his 11:30 PM time slot.

Source, Bauer-Griffin

Even in the hospital Jay Leno hasn’t lost his sense of humor.

The Tonight Show host, 58, canceled the taping of his talk show and checked into Providence Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Burbank on Thursday. No information has been released on the nature of the funnyman’s ailment, but a rep for the show says he’s “doing just fine.”

“He was kidding around with the hospital staff and running his monologue jokes by the doctors and the nurses,” says NBC’s Tracy St. Pierre. “He’s expected back to work on Monday.”

According to sources, Leno, who rarely calls in sick and is famous for his strong work ethic, “was just not feeling well. Somebody from the show drove him over to the hospital.”

Actor Ryan Reynolds – as well as an animal handler and several reptiles – had been scheduled to appear on the show.

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