Letterman on Leno

Letterman contends that the idea there's a rivalry between the two is not true.

"Jay and I were friends. We were always friends before all of this happened," he says of being passed over to take over Johnny Carson's seat.

"He has a way, he’s an unusual fellow. I’ve never met anyone quite like Jay," Letterman tells Oprah of the "Tonight Show" host. "And I will say -- and I’m happy to say -- that I think he is the funniest guy I’ve ever known. Just flat out, if you go to see him do his night club act, just the funniest. The smartest, a wonderful observationist and very appealing as a comic."

*** [11/23/13]

Though the shots have ceased in the great war between Jay Leno and David Letterman, one brave soldier continues on. That man is Howard Stern, who never has a remotely nice thing to say about Leno.

Stern is a fairly regular guest on "The Late Show with David Letterman," though he refuses to visit Jay on "The Tonight Show." It's especially awkward since Howard is a judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent."

Still, Howard has always stuck to his guns, never giving up the fight over Leno getting the "Tonight Show" instead of Letterman, even though the rest of the world moved on over two decades ago.

Even Jay and Dave seem to have put it all behind them, exchanging phone calls with one another. Of course, Howard hates hearing about that. "I never served in the military, but I feel like a Vietnam veteran, you know? I feel like I'm still in the jungles, fighting your war, and you've made up with Vietnam."