Leno anticipates return to 11:30, lauds O'Brien

Jay Leno turned serious on his show on Monday to discuss the late-night chaos at NBC, explaining events from his standpoint and telling viewers he considered Conan O'Brien a "great guy."

Jay Leno

Jay Leno turned serious on his show on Monday to discuss the late-night chaos at NBC, explaining events from his standpoint and telling viewers he considered Conan O'Brien a "great guy."

In remarks after his monologue, Leno said he'd tried to avoid doing a show in prime time but was convinced by NBC that it could work.

It didn't, with NBC pulling the plug on The Jay Leno Show after four months and devising a plan to put Leno back on at 11:30 pm and push O'Brien and Tonight to midnight. With O'Brien's rejection of the plan, NBC is now trying to negotiate his exit and return Leno to the late-night spot.

Leno said it looks like he might be back at 11:30 and that the situation could be resolved.