Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel struck up a new friendship recently. The pair bonded over the Hollywood writers strike and how much it sucks for everyone involved.

Thursday night, in a first for the two, each appeared on the other's talk show for the first time.

Above, check out a clip of Leno on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

At the end of the segment, Jay shook Jimmy’s hand and said, “We should do this more often.” Jimmy replied, “We can do this every week…we may have to!”

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When Jay Leno returned to the airwaves on Wednesday without his striking scribes, he announced that he had written his opening monologue, a violation of the Writers Guild strike rules.

Tisk. Tisk.

The WGA sent out the following statement on Thursday, reprimanding educating Leno about his responsibilities.

"A discussion took place today between Jay Leno and the Writers Guild to clarify to him that writing for The Tonight Show constitutes a violation of the Guilds' strike rules."

David Letterman will have an advantage over Leno for the time being. The Late Show host is back with his entire writing staff, a deal he was able to broker independently with the Writers Guild because Letterman, unlike Leno, owns his show.

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

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Finally!

Feeling an intense backlash in Hollywood, Jay Leno has agreed to pay his staff out of his own pocket since they were all fired by NBC as a result of the writers' strike on Friday.

Jay was the only major late night talk show host NOT to support his staff.

He must not care too much about them, though, Leno has only agreed to pay their salary for one week.

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

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Tisk tisk.

NBC is trying to strong arm Jay Leno back to the Tonight Show, the very same program they are basically forcing him to leave against his own will in a year and a half.

The funnyman with the heart of gold has been supporting his writers by walking out in solidarity and not crossing the picket line.

But, now, NBC has informed all nonwriting staff that they will be fired at the end of next week if Leno doesn't return.

Ewwww. That's all sorts of wrong!

“I talk to Jay every day, and he will not be the first [late-night host] to cross the picket line,” said Tonight Show head writer Joe Medeiros, also a strike captain for the Writers Guild of America.

So, in an attempt to save people's jobs and also lure Leno back, NBC is "looking into" the possibility of having guest hosts fill in while Jay is gone.

How shady of NBC!

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

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Despite numerous reports that he does not want to retire, Jay Leno will definitely be leaving The Tonight Show in 2009, NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker said on Monday.

It has already been established by the network that Conan O'Brien would replace Leno, a move which is said to upset Jay, though publicly he's been supportive.

"Conan O'Brien will take over The Tonight Show," said Zucker. "I'm hopeful that Jay will be with us [after 2009]. We are in those conversations now."

Anything is possible, though. Leno could bolt for another network. He could stay at NBC in another capacity. Or NBC could buy Conan out of his contract and opt to keep Jay on the Tonight show.

Only time will tell!

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

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