JAY SHINES LIGHT ON ‘TONIGHT’ FIGHT

Jay Leno just opened up about the fallout from the late-night musical chairs he played with Conan O’Brien back in 2009. And he's claiming he had nothing to do with ousting America's favorite redhead and fellow Massachusetts native from “The Tonight Show.”

“I sort of smile when I read about how I `conspired' — you know, `Jay Leno demanded the show back and they had to give it to him because they had to pay him $150 million,' ” Leno told The Hollywood Reporter.

“No, they didn't have to give me $150 million,” he continued. “I mean, if I'm that smart, how did I lose the show in the first place?”

To be fair, O'Brien did play a part in his brief tenure on the “Tonight Show.” When he was slated to take over Leno's position as “The Tonight Show” host, NBC offered the chinny comedian “The Jay Leno Show,” which aired right before his old slot.

But both shows earned unfavorable ratings after the switch. When network execs went with Plan B, where both shows would air later in the night, O'Brien passed — so he was out and Leno was back in for “Tonight.”

Let's just say Leno wasn't upset about reclaiming his throne, if only for a bit.

“When we came back on, we were number one again, just like that, and we stayed number one until we left and I handed it over to Jimmy (Fallon),” Leno told the mag.

Is it just us or did Leno just give the machete lodged in Conan's back an extra twist?

Leno has also been involved with the David Letterman drama. When Johnny Carson retired from “The Tonight Show” in 1992, many folks believed Letterman was a shoo-in as his replacement. But Leno got the gig, while Letterman took the wheel at the “Late Show” on CBS.

“Johnny was always very nice to me, but I think it's fairly well known that Johnny wanted Dave,” Leno said. “But Dave had a tough relationship with the network.

“Of course, somehow I got this moniker of being this horrible person,” he continued.

And despite their almost simultaneous retirements, Leno and Letterman opted not to show up at each others' final broadcasts.

“I asked David first,” Leno said. “You know, David is odd — he's just awkward. I just think it would have been really awkward for him.”

We get that Leno's lately been all about the automobiles, but way to throw him under the bus, bud.

NEWSCOM PHOTO Best of frenemies Conan O’Brien, left, and Jay Leno appear on tour in 2009 to promote O’Brien’s move to the ‘Tonight Show’ host’s seat and Leno’s new prime-time show. Leno said he had little to do with the bitter switch back.