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It was cold out there- but not nearly as frigid as a conf. call between Jeff Zucker and Comcast.

Zucker being the mad genius that accidentally put late night television back into the public interest.

Too bad he can’t bring the public interest to NBC airwaves.

Oh well, NBC.com and Hulu will have to suffice. (Shame their revenue structure won’t.)

I’m digressing…

Let me admit I cut the line by about 50 people somewhere around 7am.  Shame on me, but hey none of this mattered in the long run.

You see, years ago I was an NBC page for Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show”- I had major intelligence on the process. I knew there was a way I could get a ticket and guarantee myself entrance into this bittersweet television moment. My 6 hours in line was a mere insurance policy, one I might add, that would have paid off.

Well over 60 people from the standby line gained access.

It was however my encounter with a sweet couple from Valencia that yielded me the golden ticket. (Literally a gold ticket.)

I traversed the line of actual ticket holders around Noon, seeking one of the many couples whom requested the maximum 4 tickets from NBC in the mail. Chances are there was at least one couple that ordered 4 and only had a need for 2 or 3.

Enter the nice couple from Valencia.

So within hours, yes hours, I was inside the studio, it was awesome!

But here’s the deal, the show ran long as amazing as it was. One bit among the many cut stood out in my mind.

At one point during the top of the show, Andy and Conan had a very real moment.

Andy asked Conan if he had heard from Jay in the last few weeks. Conan said they had not spoken since September. Now, recently Jay eluded to the fact that he spoke with Conan. I should say, Jay tried to sell that notion to the public but a discerning ear could hear the truth.

Other little bits were cut, such as a rambling story by Tom Hanks and an accompanying musical bit.

This “Jay” exchange between Andy and Conan lasted just a quick moment but it was never seen on NBC.

Was this cut for time? Was this the network’s attempt to protect Jay’s image? After-all, Leno didn’t air a show Friday night, a first in his four month run.

Perhaps Jay didn’t want to reference Conan’s exit. Instead a “Dateline” aired.

Now doesn’t that feel just a little Zucked up?

8:00pm Big Brother: ‘Til Death Do You Part CBS – The food competition.

9:00pm Masterpiece Theater: Emma PBS/KCET – The 1996 BBC adaptation of the Jane Austen novel starring Kate Beckinsale

9:00pm Adams HBO – Adams and Jefferson visit France and hook up with Ben Franklin.

9:00pm The L Word SHOWTIME – Season finale.

10:00pm Dumped BBCA – ‘Survivor-in-a-landfill’ continues to kick ass.

9:00pm Trading Spaces TLC – A divorced couple redesign each other’s bedrooms. Paige Davis needs a new haircut.

9:00pm Torchwood BBCA – An alien shape shifter is the baddie for this episode

8:00pm Cavemen ABC – Series Premiere. Racism never looked so good. I hope they make a Captain Caveman Joke.

8:30pm Carpoolers ABC – Series Premiere. Isnt that the dude from Sliders, Crossing Jordan and other failed shows?

9:00pm Queer Eye BRAVO – Season Premiere of the final season. I can’t believe theres ANOTHER season.

Image courtesy of Pat Rioux from Flickr.com

Las Vegas (9:00pm NBC) – Season Premiere.Vegas baby Vegas.

Moonlight (9:00pm CBS) – Series Premiere. I havn’t even seen a preview, so oh yeah its going to be good…yeah thats it.

NUMB3RS (10:00pm CBS) – Season Premiere. Good things happen when Math happens.

My Name Is Earl (8:00pm NBC) – Season Premiere. Earl does something rednecky, and fixes someones life.

Ugly Betty (8:00pm ABC) – Season Premiere. Yeah we get it, she’s not hot and works in high fashion. Oh the humanity.

Smallville (8:00pm CW) – Season Premiere. Clark Kent keeps his identity a secret, puts on Gel, and takes off his glasses. Nobody is the wiser.
The Office (9:00pm NBC) – Season Premere. All your comedy is belong to us. Can’t get enough

Grey’s Anatomy (9:00pm ABC) – Season Premiere. Panface is upset, drinks wine, saves someone.

ER (10:00pm NBC) – Season Premiere. Stamos factor in full effect. The ER you MUST see because its not different at all from any of the rest.

Big Shots (10:00pm ABC) – Series Premiere. So this is Sex In The City for men right? So why would I watch this?10:00pm It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia FX – Hopefully Danny Devito doesn’t take his shirt off.

We’ll resume tomorrow… If thats an issue, KMA.

Beauty and the Geek (8:00PM,CW) – The male beauty and the female geek move into the house; each geek must write and perform an autobiographical rap for Three 6 Mafia; the beauties must debate current events; the first elimination ceremon. One of the funniest shows, my favorite line is “I think he might be a diamond in the rust”.

Bones (8:00PM, Fox) - I tried to watch this show. Its not so good, but the chick is hot, and isn’t that the dude from Buffy?

Biggest Loser (8:00PM, NBC) – Whats with all the fat people? Seriously. Also does anyone else notice all the shows that start with the letter B at 8:00PM. Is that a coincidence? Sneaky TV Executives.

House (9:00PM, FOX) – One of the best shows on TV is back! The dyspeptic diagnostician is back tonight for the fourth season, but without Foreman, Cameron or Chase. Oh, they’ll be back, too (next week, in fact), but they won’t be working for House, who’s without a staff for now. Watch as the hilarity of killing people ensues.

Reaper (9:00PM, CW) – Sam Oliver (Bret Harrison) has a pretty lousy 21st birthday: He discovers his parents have sold his soul to the Devil, who enlists him to be his personal bounty hunter. I’ve seen this show, except it was probably done better in “Dead Like Me“.

Boston Legal (9:30, ABC) – Larroquette is reunited with Kelley and joins the cast as Crane Poole & Schmidt senior partner Carl Sack, a transfer to the Boston office who shares a mutual dislike with — who else? — Denny Crane. I like the show, just never know when its on TV.

Cane (10:00PM, CBS) – The series centers on a Cuban-American family with a rum and sugar business in Florida run by patriarch Pancho Duque (Elizondo), who announces in the opener that his adopted son (Smits) will now run the company. ???????

Law & Order: SVU (10:00PM, NBC) – Based on a report of possible child abuse, the department goes on a full manhunt in an attempt to locate the missing mother and child. They end up finding more than they bargained for. What can I say? Its L&O, so its gonna be good.