I'm watching The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Only nine more days of Leno. Weird to think about.

I remember when Johnny Carson was at the helm. And after Leno took over, like many people I remember thinking and stating:  "Leno is no Carson."

Speaking of "the helm," Leno just did a comedy segment called Blockbuster where he and a video crew supposedly knocked on apartment doors and convinced the occupants to act out scenes from this summer's blockbusters—the new Terminator, Transformer, Wolverine and Star Trek movies.

The latter was the best skit, partly because of the four recent film graduates who lived in the apartment and partly because when Jay left the bridge William Shatner—the real William Shatner—took over the skit. After giving out a few orders to the gang, he asks: "What am I doing? I'm not even in this movie. Oh, yeah. I'm hear to hawk my new book!" (And he holds up a book for a closeup while giving the audience his trademark "Kirk"...uh, Shatner...grin.

Truth be told, I've probably watched The Late show With David Letterman more often than The Tonight Show since Leno took over. I preferred Carson, who was funny in a different, more natural (not standup) way that appealed more to me.

Letterman reminds me of a favorite great uncle—same grin, laugh and facial features. Uncle Howard even licked his lips a lot like Letterman. Uncle Howard could also wiggle his ears, together and independently, which fascinated me and my cousins. (I've never seen Letterman do this, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that he can.)

And now Conan O'Brien is taking over.

I actually like Conan. He's never been afraid to try new things or laugh at himself, which are two qualities I admire. He has crazy, unruly, red hair, and he doesn't let some hair and makeup artist give him helmet hair in an attempt to tame it. He's tall, clumsy and awkward-looking--like another Irish guy (and his dad) that I know—but there's something endearing about that when a sense of humor accompanies it.

This means I'll give Conan and the new Tonight Show a try, but I'm not making any promises. Letterman will easily lure me back with the right guests and musical acts.

As for Leno's new show, I read that it will be on five nights a week in the same time slot. That's at least four nights too many. I guess NBC can make four episodes of Leno's new show per week for a lot less money than the cost of four great hour-long dramas. But looking at the list of 2008-2009 shows that got the ax, I'm not feeling charitable. Every time I get into a really intelligent and well written show, it gets cancelled. (And it's not just NBC that does this. ABC is a culprit, too.

Boo. Hiss.

Bring on the Barbarian!