For the first time in 17 years as host, talk show legend Jay Leno was forced to cancel his shows Thursday and Friday after being hospitalized for complaining he wasn't feeling well. According to reports, Leno left his office at NBC's studios Thursday about midday and checked himself into a Los Angeles hospital for an undisclosed illness.
Rumors have surfaced that the comedian was suffering from food poisoning or dehydration, but his rep did not confirm that, saying only his illness was nothing serious and that the star was kept "under observation." Leno was released from hospital on Friday.
"Jay Leno is doing just fine," NBC spokeswoman Tracy St. Pierre said in a statement. "He was kidding around with the hospital staff and running his monologue jokes by the doctors and the nurses. He's expected back to work on Monday."
Leno, who turns 59 on Tuesday, will leave the Tonight show Friday, May 29. But he will continue on NBC, with a Monday-through-Friday program at 10 p.m., starting in the fall.
Conan O'Brien takes over as host of The Tonight Show June 1.
