Chris Rock was pretty hilarious last night giving Jay Leno a hard time about all the changes at "The Tonight Show," starting with the question of "the redhead guy" who was there last time Rock was a guest. Leno kept trying to change the subject, but Rock was driving that train.

At one point Rock asked Leno, "Did the redhead guy take Kevin?" Leno told him no, Kevin Eubanks was somewhere "working with kids." Rock: "Kids?! Stop it! Y'all done fired Kevin and got a cheaper brother to take his place!"

Is anyone funnier than Chris Rock? Watch the video below:

Today's chat between two TV titans, Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno, was a bit of a meeting of the minds.

It seemed that Jay believed talking to Oprah would be a good move because Oprah would be at least somewhat sympathetic because she gets the workings of TV. And since Jay wasn't there to take any part of the blame, he needed some one to help explain to those on Team CoCo.

The closest Jay came to an illumination of his action was basically 'I did it for my staff.' An interesting approach that Oprah didn't seem to totally buy.

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.

You know I couldn't go a day without posting something about Jay Leno or Conan O'Brien.

Here's a good one. Yesterday in Burbank, hundreds of Conan fans held a support rally (in the rain) outside of Conan's "Tonight Show" studios. Two guys dressed up like Leno and Conan staged a fake street fight. At the end of the video, you'll hear Andy Richter address the fans from the roof of the building, and Conan comes out to wave (there are also reports that Conan had pizzas delivered to the supporters).  The fight is funny (and weird). 

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.

TMZ is reporting that NBC is giving "The Tonight Show" back to Jay Leno. And geezers 'round the world lift their canes and cheer! (Sorry, that was too easy).

NBC is denying the TMZ report, but TMZ has been right about everything else (on this story) so far. NBC also denied last week that they were taking Leno out of primetime right before they announced they were taking him out of primetime.  UPDATE: And right on schedule, NBC admits that yes, Leno is planning to return to "The Tonight Show." (Can't. Believe. Anything. They. Say.)

Meanwhile, People Magazine has a source who says that Conan O'Brien will leave the dysfunctional network next week. Conan's last show could be on Friday, January 22, just before a scheduled hiatus. "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" would return to NBC after the Winter Olympics.

North Carolina homeboy (and movie star) Zach Galifianakis appeared on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" last night. Our favorite disheveled comedian was hilarious, as usual.

Zach, a Wilkesboro native who attended NC State, is now starring in "The Hangover," which is the top grossing one of the most successful R-rated comedy movies of all time. That R-rating is for real, too. Zach says his mom called him when she was on the way to see the movie with his dad, cheerfully announcing that she'd call when it was over. Three hours later his father called and soberly
announced, "Your mother has some issues with the film."

Watch video of the interview below.

Oscar- and Emmy-winning actor Karl Malden died today at age 97.

Malden won an Oscar for his role in "Streetcar Named Desire" in 1952, but is also known for starring in the popular 1970s television show, "Streets of San Francisco." Malden played the wiser, older mentor to Michael Douglas's younger, rookie cop. 

I have never seen a full episode of "Streets of San Francisco," but I do remember him well from "Streetcar" and other movie roles. Mostly, I remember his American Express commercials.

In fact, one of my strongest Karl Malden memories doesn't even really feature Malden at all. It's Johnny Carson doing a spoof of Malden's AMEX commercials (below). 

Ed McMahon died just after midnight last night, after a battle with bone cancer.

When I think of Ed McMahon, I think of the perpetually jolly "Tonight Show" sidekick who always had to laugh at Johnny Carson's jokes (even when those jokes were lame or about Ed's drinking or marital problems). I think of Ed bellowing "Heeeeere's Johnny!" or "Hey-oh!" or being the foil to Carson's Carnac. In my weaker moments, I might even think of him delivering a Publisher's Clearinghouse check, or hosting "Star Search."

But because McMahon had fallen on hard times . . .

[Watch Carson video after the jump]

Conan O'Brien got a pretty major endorsement on his second night in the driver's seat of "The Tonight Show."

Conan played a clip last night "excerpted" from the NBC special "Inside the Obama White House" in which anchor Brian Williams asks President Obama if he considered rescheduling his trip to the Middle East this week because of O'Brien's "Tonight Show" debut.

Obama praised O'Brien, who is originally from Brookline, Mass., but had a harsh warning for him:

[UPDATE: Video added below]