American Idol (8pm, Fox) - The auditions are over and the real show finally begins. The lucky contestants arrive in Hollywood to begin grueling rehearsals, and Ellen Degeneres joins the team as the fourth judge. There have already been rumors that she and Simon Cowell are clashing. Boy, I hope that probably-totally-true-rumor doesn't hurt the show's ratings (eye roll). 

Lost (9pm, ABC) - Kate is on the run and Jack must do something that will jeopardize a friend.

Past Life (9pm, Fox) - A new series in which people who are haunted by "past-life" events are helped by a psychologist and an ex-police detective played by Nicholas Bishop (right). The first episode involves a teenager who is troubled by memories of an abduction and murder which took place before his birth. To solve the case, the detective must first figure out who the teen was in his past life. Hey, anyone remember "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud?"

The Good Wife (10pm, CBS) - Alicia must defend a man accused of murdering a babysitter while she and the family await the results of Peter's appeals hearing.

The Jay Leno Show (10pm, NBC) - The good news is this is the last episode of NBC's awful primetime Jay Leno experiment. The bad news is, well, we all know what that is. 

Jimmy Kimmel responded to Jay Leno's accusation on yesterday's "Oprah Winfrey Show" that Kimmel "sucker-punched" him when Kimmel appeared on Jay's show a few weeks ago.

On his own show last night, Kimmel pointed out that he didn't believe going on a comedy show and making jokes qualifies as a "sucker-punch." But he joked that having a comedian on your show and then running to Oprah to rat them out did feel a little like a sucker-punch. Kimmel was funny about it, not whiney and victimized (like Jay). Kimmel did what comedians do: he turned the dispute something funny, he didn't run to Oprah for therapy and damage control.

Kimmel said if he made a mistake when he went on Jay's show earlier this month, it was in thinking Jay would stray from his cue cards (which he did not). "He just stood there, kind of reading through the questions like a robot." Kimmel said he expected to make some jokes about the late night mess and then they'd "mix it up" a bit because, as Kimmel said, "you know, at one time he was a comedian." OUCH. And also, BULLSEYE.

The video is below. I also love the part where Kimmel asks everyone to keep Jay in their prayers.

Perhaps I am too easily amused, but this is so hilarious to me. Last night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" presented a short Ken Burns-style documentary on NBC's Late Night Wars of 2009-2010. We even get General Jebediah Jay Leno reading aloud letters to his wife Mavis. The old guy they interview (the "TV watcher") eating the donut really cracked me up.

NBC lawyers worked all weekend finalizing the termination deal for Conan O'Brien.

It's not official yet, but early word is that Conan will receive about $40 million to vacate "The Tonight Show," but when he does take another hosting job, whatever he is paid for that job will be subtracted from the amount NBC owes him. The New York Times is also reporting that Conan will not get all of that $40m, some of it will go to staffers with contracts. The deal is also expected to allow Conan to take a new hosting job right away, or by fall at the latest.

NBC has announced the shows which will fill the network's 10pm timeslot once they yank "The Jay Leno" show out of primetime (and after the Winter Olympics end):

The late night world is in turmoil while NBC stews in their own ineptitude, but the beneficiaries (for now, at least) are the viewers. The current late night shows are on fire poking fun at Jay Leno and the Peacock, making it harder than ever to decide who to watch each night before bed.

Perhaps the funniest late night skewering last night came from David Letterman, who knows a little something about getting screwed by NBC. Letterman repeatedly referred to Leno as Jay 'Big Jaw' Leno, and did a pretty hilarious immitation of Leno's high-pitched voice. Jimmy Kimmel was also hilarious, doing his entire show impersonating Leno, and his guest, Chevy Chase, wore a Conan O'Brien wig. Conan's monologue was also funny, telling his audience he would soon be available for childrens parties.

In case you missed the fun, we've pulled together all the good clips from the shows. Just click below to begin watching and laughing.

Conan O'Brien outclassed NBC today when he released a statement saying he will not follow Jay Leno with a 12:05am "Tonight Show" because he believes such a move will "seriously damage" what he believes to be "the greatest television franchise in the history of broadcasting," and because it would not be fair to fellow late night host Jimmy Fallon.

Leno clearly wants to move back into his old 11:35pm slot, but O'Brien is refusing to go along with NBC's plan, opening up the possibility that he may jump to another network. (There is already one unconfirmed report that O'Brien is indeed going to Fox.)

Good for him for standing up to NBC!

His full statement is both funny and sad:

TMZ is reporting that the boneheads over at NBC are going to screw over Conan O'Brien by returning Jay Leno to his original 11:30pm timeslot.

So Leno crashes and burns in primetime and is rewarded with his old slot back? Sure, Conan's ratings at 11:30 haven't been on fire, but they have been respectable -- often beating David Letterman. And after Conan uproots his entire life and moves his family from New York to LA? Way to go, peacock.

TMZ's report comes after a day of blogosphere rumors about NBC dumping Leno's disastrous 10pm experiment, "The Jay Leno Show," and a non-denial denial from NBC.

UPDATE: The New York Times is confirming that NBC held discussions today with both Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien, and the network is not denying . . .

House (8pm, Fox) - House regains his license to practice medicine and begins forming his "dream team" at the same time he's helping a porn star suffering from eye pain. 

The Prisoner (8pm, AMC) - The third and fourth installments of AMC's retelling of the 1960s cult TV hit. 

Gossip Girl (9pm, CW) - Blair impresses her classmates by getting Lady Gaga (right) to sing at a private concert. Gaga (I call her Gaga) performs her new single, "Bad Romance" dressed in red sequined gown with a 35-foot chiffon train. 

Big Bang Theory (9:30pm, CBS) - All the guys go camping except for Sheldon, so when Penny injures her arm, Sheldon has to take care of her.

Jay Leno Show (10pm, NBC) - Tonight Jay has the lycanthropic half of Tay-Squared on.