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I'm Stephen Metcalf, and this is the Slate Culture Gab Fest.

I've got 10 cartridges of toner in my pants edition.

This is also the daily podcast from slate.com for Wednesday, January 13th, 2010.

On today's program, The Saga continues. Conan and Jay Leno, who will host a tonight show. Then, nobody, we don't know. And we remember the great French film director, Eric Romer, with our special guest, Jody Rosen, and of course, The Simpsons Turns 20. Joining me today are Slate's deputy editor, Julia Turner, Julia. Hi, Steve. Lovely to see you. And our film critic, Dana Stevens. Hey, Dana. Hello, Stephen. And we'll be joined for the Eric Romer segment by Jody Rosen, Slate's music critic. But first off, let's start right in with Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, and the chair at the Tonight Show.

Is it empty or over full? It's in transition. We're not really sure.

Sorry, Steve. One little note. After the podcast was recorded, Conan O'Brien released a statement

that says he won't continue on as the host of the Tonight Show if indeed NBC moves it to the 12.05 time slot.

The one thing I know, Julia, the one thing I know, Dana, is that as this episode has gotten

stranger, Jay Leno has only gotten funnier. I've never liked him, never found him a rapier in the least,

whatever the opposite is of rapier is how I perceive him.

He's's exactly.

And he's gotten funny all of a sudden, if nothing else, is happening in this whole crazy

episode.

So why don't we listen to a clip from Monday Night's monologue?

What, any, NBC said the show performed exactly as they expected it would, and then they

can't list.

...