Kevin Eubanks Splitting From Jay Leno !! "WTF"

Kevin Eubanks plans to part ways from Jay Leno. But why does he want to part ways now? Is it because of the rating struggle that left Conan O'Brian out of a job and killed Leno's image. Eubanks has been with Leno since 1992 and has led the band - first "The Tonight Show" band and then the "Primetime Band when Jay moved to the short-lived 10 PM show - since 1995.Although the jazz guitaeist plans to return with Leno to The Tonight Show on March 1, he ultimately wants to leave the series. Kevin has expressed interest in pursuing personal touring and recording opportunities , an inside source told "INSIDE TV. We don't really believe this, in his wishes , Eubanks sounds like a politcian - he needs a change, so he's moving on. But like a politican, in most matters, Eubanks must have an ulterior motive.
When Conan O'Brian took over the Tonight Show in 2009, Jay Leno moved to primetime with the "The Jay Leno Show." But bad rating from both O'Brian and Leno lead NBC to cancel Jay's show and announce they were moving Leno back to 11:35 pm, pushing Conan's "Tonight" to 12:05 am. Unhappy with the turn of events , O'Brian negotiated a deal to exit the network , lambasting Leno along the way. Conan said during one of his last monologues: I just want to say to kids out there watching - you can do anything you want in life, unless Jay Leno wants to do it too. Everyone turned on Leno - from critics to his peers alike, blaming the funnyman for ousting O'Brian , even though NBC pulled the strings. Perhaps Eubanks doesn't want to be associated with Jay now that he's a teveision pariah.
Kevin may want to stay away from Leno, since he looks like the bad guy who left poor, defenseless Coco out of a job.Perhaps the bandleader fears waning audience and ultimate cancellation, leaving him looking for work. This way , he goes out on his own terms.Max Weinberg, O'Brian's bandleader, often tours with Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band and has arranged to work both jobs. Even when Weinberg uprooted to the West Coast, his schedule was organized so that he could make as many dates as possible - With his son taking over on drums for Springsteen when he couldn't.If Eubank's only goal was to tour and record, couldn't a similar arrangerment be made if he wanted to stick with Jay? In a word ? Yes.
Futhermore the musician has put out 12 albms since 1992, all while presunmably being employed with Jeno. Eubanks has also appeared on other TV shows and gone on tour during his "Tonight Show" tenure. Therefore, we must assume he wants out because he no longer wants to be the side-kick to the "evil" Leno - not simply to puesue other opportunities. Eubanks probably no longer wants to be known as "the guy with the guitar who laughs at everything ," as he was dubbed by David Letterman during the recent late night struggle. Maybe he's just sick of being lumped in with Leno.
What will Jay do next? It seems that no one would want to be associated with Leno's bad Karma, which would leave him without a bandleader. Stay tuned: The saga continues.
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My spin on this late night crap: If Kevin Eubanks leave that would leave Leno without anyone to laugh at his stale monologues - as Kevin could always be counted on to do. Of course Leno could always steal "The Roots from Jimmy Fallon. Problem solved.
Kicking back and keeping it real....having fun of course.

Leno & Letterman Get Nasty Again

The long-simmering feud between late night kings david Letterman and Jay leno has exploded into a vicious all out war!
After NBC dumped Conan O'Brian from his Tonight Show job and gave it back to Jay, Leno and Letterman traded on air potshots. Insiders say their war of words are even nastier in private.
Dave will never forgive Jay for elbowing him aside to take over for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show in 1992. Letterman says thats what happen to Conan too, says a close source.
Jay will never forgive Dave for not conceding defeat with class. The funnymen have been using their respective programs, The Jay Leno Show and Late Night with david Letterman, to launch withering attacks against each other.
Letterman, 62, cracked that NBC was promoting a new show starring 46-year-old O'Brian - "Law & Order: Leno Victim's Unit. There are two types of talk show hosts. "Jay Leno and those who have been victimized by Jay Leno."
And Leno, 59, delivered his own low blow over Letterman's recent confession that he'd cheated on wife Regina Lasko with a stable of females staffers. Letterman has been hammering at me every night, Leno said on his now cancelled prime-time chat fest. "You know the best way to make Dave ignore you? Marry him!"
But their public digs are kind and gentle compared with the seething hatred they have for each other, says a source.
Dave privately says Jay's a glad-hander who'd push his grandmother under a train if it would benefit him, says a source. "Jay meanwhile , calls Dave a lightweight who never payed his dues in the comedy clubs like he did. Their loathing for each other has only intensified. Stay Tuned: the saga continues.
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My spin on the old men: Their attacks on each other are not entertaining to their viewers. Most tune in to their shows, only to be bored to sleep, They both need to grow up.....Out of the two and their favorite toys, who comes out on top. Leno restoring old cars or Letterman boinking all his young staffers? Duh..I go with the first(Leno). Take a look at the photo above, don't it look like Letterman is puckering up to kiss Leno's backside and tell him he concedes the battle?
Kicking back and keeping it real:

" Jay's A Lean Mean Talk Machine"

Just call him "Jay Leano"!

Former "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno is working toward a new slimmer physique for his new prime-time talk show. Gone is his beloved thick -crust pizza,gone is his Philly Cheese steak sandwiches.Gone is the pasta and thick, creamy sauces. Gone are all the barbeque ribs and hot dogs. In their place are salads, fish and healthy skinless chicken- and a whole lot of exercise,say sources.

Jay , 59, was determined to get healthy after a scary wake up call in April when he was hosipatized after complaining of vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps, which caused him to become dehydrated and dizzy. Although he says he was suffering from exhaustion, sources say , he'd been bingering on junk food and stressing over the new show. At the time the 6-foot star weighed about 230 pounds.

He had high cholesterol and was an accident waiting to happen, indulged an insider. Jay's idea of exercise was working on his cars! Now he's finally watching what he eats. Jay was quick to show off his progress at a recent TV critics event, opening his jacket to reveal his slimmed down stomach and saying: I want to drop a few more pounds. So far Jay has dropped about 12 pounds, said the insider. His goal is to lose another 15-20 pounds and get under 200 pounds.

There is a lot riding on Jay's new project for "NBC". He'll be airing 5 nights a week at the earlier 10:pm time slot. Added a close source: Jay doesn't want to be fat and lazy. He wants a healthier look to go along with his new show.

http://mglynn@nationalenquirer.com/

"Jay Leno's Health Crisis"

Instead of taking it easy after his long-time gig on the "Tonight Show" ended recently, Jay Leno is working overtime to make his new prime-time show a hit--and his friends are worried that it's taking a serious toll on his health. In recent weeks he has looked bloated and disheveled, said an insider, he has a terrible diet and doesn't get much exerise.

Jay, 59, was admitted to the hosiptal on April 23, where he was treated and kept over-night for observation. The normally robust comedian had been complaing of vomitimg, diarrhea and stomach cramps,which caused him to become dehydrated and dizzy. The health scare caused a tremendous amount of stress for "NBC" honchos, who are banking on his prime-time show being a big hit after 17-years of the popular Leno at the helm of the "TONIGHT SHOW". Jay is unhappy and has the weight of the world, or at least "NBC" on his shoulders, continued the insider. He's a nervous wreck--and seems headed for a health disaster.

Jay is not sleeping much,but what concerns his wife Mavis and his friends the most is his poor diet. For all of 2008, he routinely had lunch from Philly's Best, A Philly Cheesesteak joint in Burbank owned by his stage manager,revealed a pal. This year he's had lunch almost daily from Taste Chicago, actor Joe Mantegna's restaurant in Burbank. It's extremely fatty, heart-attack-on-a plate kind of food--deep dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, barbeque ribs and hot dogs. And Jay knows he shouldn't be eating it all the time. Jay's a walking time-bomb.

My take on this: Some people use food as a comfort and a crutch . They know it's not good for them, but the pressure of succeeding is so great and the "NBC" big wigs are pushing so hard. So Jay let's hope this too will pass...you have enough money to retire and not push yourself into an early grave. Stay tuned: updates as they become available.
http://mglynn@nationalenquirer.com/