Posted on Tue, Nov. 03, 2009

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Leno would rather have stayed on 'Tonight'

Prime-time newcomer Jay Leno says he would have rather stayed put at "The Tonight Show" — and that if NBC offered him that job again, he'd take it.

In an interview with Broadcasting & Cable magazine published online Monday, Leno hastily added that such a decision isn't his to make.

Conan O'Brien, his successor as "Tonight" host after 17 years, is "doing fine," Leno said. "Conan is in the same position I was in when I took over. It takes a while. Some will like it; some will leave forever and not come back."

Leno also said he doesn't think the controversy surrounding his former late-night rival David Letterman "will have a big effect at all."

Referring to Letterman's acknowledged sexual affairs with female members of his staff, Leno said, "If it were me, it would kill me. I'm the guy who's been married 29 years. But Dave has never pretended to be Mr. Moral America, he's never set himself up that way. He's not a hypocrite."

John hospitalized

Elton John has been hospitalized in London after suffering from a case of E. coli bacterial infection and the flu, his spokesman said Monday.

Gary Farrow said the pop star hopes to be released soon but has been forced to cancel concerts in England, Ireland and the United States.

John, 62, intends to rejoin the "Face2Face" tour later in the month when he and Billy Joel play concerts in northern California.

They're not in love

Ignore the rampant rumors —"New Moon" co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart aren't carrying on a torrid affair, he says.

"It doesn't make any difference what you say (to the tabloids)," the actor, 23, tells Vanity Fair. "I've literally been across the country (from Kristen), and it's like, 'Oh, they were on secret dates!' It's like where? I can't get out of my hotel room."

But Pattinson, who has claimed repeatedly that he can't get real dates despite his fame, admits that his 19-year-old co-star inspires him.

"She's influenced how I've done all the 'Twilight' stuff," he says. "It's quite nice to have someone who is genuinely indifferent to the whole spectacle of everything."

The "Twilight" sequel "New Moon" hits theaters Nov. 20.

Another year older

Today's birthdays: Baseball Hall-of-Famer Bob Feller , 91... actress Lois Smith , 79... former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis , 76... actor-dancer Ken Berry , 76... singer Lulu , 61... comedian-actress Roseanne Barr , 57... actress Kate Capshaw , 56... comedian Dennis Miller , 56... actress Kathy Kinney , 56... singer Adam Ant , 55... actor Dolph Lundgren , 52... Olympic gold medal figure skater Evgeni Plushenko , 27.

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