International Law

The war of words between NBC?s two late-night stars cooled a bit Friday night, but both Jay Leno and Conan O?Brien offered a few jokes about their status at NBC and in recent press reports.

Mr. Leno took note of how badly he is being beaten up in some news accounts, and even struck back at one old rival who has been slamming away at him on his own show:

?Sunday night on Fox is the premiere of a new show called ?Human Target.? I thought it was about me.?

?I?m getting beat up in the press. You know it?s bad when Tiger Woods calls to offer you PR advice.?

?Even David Letterman is taking shots at me. Which surprised me. Usually he?s just taking shots at the interns. I was stunned by that. It was a shock.?

Meanwhile Mr. O?Brien offered a few comments about his tenuous future at the network:

?Hi, I?m Conan O?Brien ? future answer to a $200 ?Jeopardy? question.?

?Welcome to tonight?s show. By the time you see this, I?ll be halfway to Rio in a stolen NBC traffic copter.?

?In the press this week, NBC has been calling me every name in the book. In fact, they think I?m such an idiot they now want me to run the network.?