ABC's Nightline Takes Late Night Crown; Bests Letterman & Leno!

Shocking isn't it? ABC's Nightline has consistently beaten both David Letterman and Jay Leno for 18 straight weeks in the ratings. The folks at Nightline like Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Martin Bashir are probably tickled pink by this news, but it doesn't bode well for Leno as he just took over for Conan O'Brien ("It was voluntary... I swear") after his disaster in the ratings at 10pm. O'Brien would have been fine if the network had just given him time, but it was not to be and Jay ended up back in the big chair for The Tonight Show.

Letterman's Late Show with David Letterman on CBS is the same as always, consistently funny, but Dave is getting up there in age and maybe the younger crowd isn't watching like it once did. Many prefer Stephen Colbert and Jon Daily to Letterman and they younger viewers really just won't watch Leno unless there's a great guest. Most stay away in droves.

But how does Nightline stack up? They've been using hard hitting journalism with features like "The Kardashians: Reality Show Darlings" and "Are Kim And Reggie Really Over?!" Total snorefest, but it does bring in the eyeballs. What must Ted Koppel be thinking?

Jay Leno Is Okay! Released From Hospital

The Tonight Show's retiring (well, not entirely retiring) host, Jay Leno has been released from hospital after checking himself in after experiencing some symptoms of illness last Thursday. Before missing the two shows the 58 year old comedian hadn't missed a single day of work since taking the reins way back in 1992, but better safe than sorry. Big Jay had felt a degree of sickness that made him seek medical help. The details about Leno's apparent illness were kept tightly under wraps, but you can expect to see Leno behind the desk come Monday night's Tonight Show telecast.

Conan O'Brien is slated to take over The Tonight Show on June 1st when Leno steps down after 17 years as host. "Jay Leno is anxious to return to work on Monday" according to Leno's spokesman. He was kept overnight more as "a precautionary measure", and the Internet speculation that Leno had suffered a heart attack was also dismissed as untrue. Another report of possible food poisoning was also shot down. Leno is also scheduled to start working on his new show, which will air at 10pm starting this September.