Leno's last 'Tonight' is May 29; O'Brien in June 1

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Conan O'Brien will take over the "Tonight" show next June -- and what happens to deposed host Jay Leno after that is anybody's guess.

Leno's last show will be May 29, and O'Brien will start the following Monday, June 1, NBC executives told a Television Critics Association meeting Monday.

NBC is angling to keep Leno with NBC Universal, but the late-night king has indicated he's ready to jump ship. Eager NBC competitors, including other networks and syndicators, are prepared to help him make the leap.

Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, NBC Entertainment co-chairmen, were asked about the specter of Leno being hired by ABC and overpowering O'Brien and top-rated "Tonight."

"We really believe in the decisions we've made with our partners, including Jay," and stand by them, Silverman said.

Graboff disagreed with the premise of the question, saying talks aimed at keeping Leno within NBC Universal post-"Tonight" are continuing.

Despite its prime-time woes, NBC has managed to maintain its late-night ratings dominance, although O'Brien has been challenged lately by Craig Ferguson on CBS. Now NBC is attempting a tricky transition based on a promise made nearly four years ago that O'Brien would succeed Leno.

Jimmy Fallon is poised to take over O'Brien's "Late Night" in March or April, after honing his approach in brief Internet shows, Silverman and Graboff said.