Jerry Seinfeld is trying to do for Leno and Letterman what Frank Sinatra did for Martin and Lewis.
There has probably been a discussion between Jay's people and Dave's people — or maybe even between Jay and Dave themselves — of having Jay guest on Dave's show. It was offered the last time Jay left but then, Dave's people wanted it for the same night Conan debuted so they could, probably, crush him on his first night and Jay said no. Now, Jay's probably trying to decide how long to wait before doing it so it doesn't look like he's harming Jimmy Fallon…although, the night it happens, he will.
But it would be in both men's interests. Dave would get killer ratings and a chance to soften his "cranky guy" image. Jay would bury a lot of the feeling that somehow, he did something unethical to get Johnny's job when, to some people, Dave was the obvious choice.
One of the things that intrigues me about Leno is that he doesn't fight much. He defends himself — weakly, I think — but he doesn't throw as much mud back at the folks throwing mud at him as he could. I think he could make a decent case that he got The Tonight Show fair 'n' square and then Letterman wronged him by hiring Mike Ovitz of C.A.A. to, in effect, pressure NBC to fire him. When Conan O'Brien and his people started trying to spin NBC's unhappiness with Conan's Tonight Show as Jay shoving him out, Jay did not go around and say, "I didn't but what if I did? I seem to remember him shoving me out of that job and I was expected to be a good sport about it."
I'm not saying those are the only ways to view those two situations…but they would have been at least as valid as what a lot of what Jay's competitors and detractors were saying about him. And he didn't take those approaches.
Years ago at the Comedy Store, I actually saw Dave and Jay pal around a bit. They seemed like buddies…and I don't think either man has ever uttered anything but superlatives about the other's skills as a comedian because there really has always been a mutual admiration there. It would be interesting to see some of that again.