LOS ANGELES - At least one of Conan O'Brien's friends isn't disappointed that the host is on the verge of losing "The Tonight Show."
"When I was growing up, 'The Tonight Show' was what old people watched," said Louis C.K., the standup comic who worked on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" in its inaugural year and will star in his own FX sitcom, "Louie," this April. "Let Jay have it."
C.K, who addressed TV critics in Los Angeles on Sunday, was referring to Jay Leno, and speculation that he will return to his old haunt following his prime-time bust. "I know Conan is hurting inside because he wants to be host of 'The Tonight Show.' It's presumptuous of me to tell Conan that his goals are misguided, but they are."
NBC and O'Brien are still hammering out details on how and when the comedian will leave. C.K. predicted that O'Brien is heading for greener pastures. "He'll be fine."
In other FX news, the network's president, John Landgraf, suggested that there may only be 19 more episodes of "Rescue Me," which returns in June.
"I think there's a good chance this will be the final season, but we haven't decided that yet," he said.
Others addressing critics Sunday included new "Damages" cast member Martin Short, "Justified" star Timothy Olyphant and pulp-fiction auteur Elmore Leonard.
NEAL JUSTIN
