'American Idol' Bandleader Headed for Leno
TMZ has learned "American Idol" musical director Rickey Minor will become the new Kevin Eubanks on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
We're told the announcement is supposed to be made tomorrow.
Minor has worked as a musical director for Beyonce, Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston and many others. He was also musical director for the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl.
Eubanks is leaving the show late next month... exactly the same time "Idol" goes on hiatus.
UPDATE: NBC has officially confirmed TMZ's story ... Minor will debut on "The Tonight Show" on June 7.
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Conan O'Brien -- From TBD to TBS
In a total shocker, Conan O'Brien will not be going to FOX ... but instead he's shacking up with TBS.
Conan will host a show Monday - Thursday at 11 PM EST -- getting a 30 minute jump on nemesis Jay Leno.
Once the show debuts, George Lopez's show -- "Lopez Tonight" -- will move to midnight. Short story for George -- the lead-in is a dream come true.
Conan just tweeted -- "The good news: I will be doing a show on TBS starting in November! The bad news: I'll be playing Rudy on the all new Cosby Show."
Scotty Lago's Olympic Conspiracy Theory
Scotty Lago thinks the woman who got down on her knees in Vancouver and simulated kissing his crotch -- the infamous photo that got him kicked out of Vancouver -- was a set-up, because she tried to do basically the same thing to Michael Phelps.
The bronze medal-winning snowboarder was super chatty on his way into "Jimmy Kimmel Live," claiming the chick who kissed his medal and then went South had also approached Michael Phelps and tried dragging him into a make-out session.
As for the Olympic Committee making him leave Vancouver before the closing ceremony -- Scotty says he's pissed.
More Scotty Lago
Kevin Eubanks May Bail on Jay Leno
Kevin Eubanks -- the longtime bandleader on Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show" -- may leave the show once it re-emerges after the Olympics.
K-EARTH 101 radio in L.A. first reported the story this AM. NBC has confirmed Kevin wants to tour and record and -- although he'll be there for Jay's debut next month -- his long-term prospects on the show are uncertain.
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Jay Leno Selling Scar Tissue
Having trouble finding what to get the person who has everything on your Christmas list? How about some of Scarlett Johansson's germs?!
Jay Leno and ScarJo are selling the tissue the 24-year-old actress blew her nose into on last night's "Tonight Show" on eBay and giving the proceeds to the USA Harvest food charity. Yum.
With bids already surpassing $2K, Scarlett said her cold had "value" because she got it from her "Spirit" co-star Samuel L. Jackson. Snots on a Kleenex!
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Tyrese Plays the 'Race' Card
Tyrese tried to do a nice thing on last night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," but even that didn't turn out right.
Usually he's kind of a douchebag, so imagine our surprise when -- live on air -- Tyrese promised to take the whole audience to a free screening of his new movie, "Death Race." Unfortunately, we're told some of the more excited fans showed up to the theater too quickly for the message to be relayed -- so they were denied.
Fans who showed closer to showtime were let in to a free screening with Tyrese himself. There was a small price to pay though -- they had to sit through the movie.
Kimmel Racks Up Frequent Flyer Miles
When talk show talking head Regis Philbin goes on vacation October 22, comedian/Sarah Silverman boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel will fill in for Philbin in New York and film his own late night TV show in Los Angeles. For five days, Kimmel will film "Live With Regis and Kelly" in the morning, and then hop on a plane for L.A. and film his own show at night. Just call him Jet Lag Jimmy.
"It will be difficult, but that's how committed I am to entertaining America. And parts of Canada," said Kimmel. Doesn't anybody else work in New York?
After his transcontinental travel, Kimmel's hosting the American Music Awards. "I also drive a cab on weekends," he said. Somebody give this guy a break!
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Kimmel Jimmied Open, Appendix Out
Late-night funnyman Jimmy Kimmel missed the taping of last night's show -- and for good reason.
TMZ has learned that Kimmel required an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday night in L.A., and though the surgery was successful, all tapings of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" have been canceled until Kimmel recovers.
His rep tells us that Jimmy "is resting comfortably and is looking forward to getting back to work."
We eagerly await the inevitable avalanche of side-splitting (sorry) barbs from Jimmy's best girl, Sarah Silverman.
Eddie Gets 'Crashie' From Jimmy K.
Eddie Griffin collected a trophy for his high profile Ferrari crash -- but it's not necessarily an honor.
On last night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Jimmy gave the questionable road menace a Crashie Award for "Best Celebrity Driver" for his totaling of an Enzo at a charity event this past Monday. Kimmel explained that past winners included the car-seat phobic Britney Spears, and Billy Joel, who once crashed into a house.
Ever appreciative, Griffin thanked "the producer (whose Ferrari was the one he totaled), the director and the manufacturer, 'cuz I'm still here."
So what's next for Griffin now that he's won the coveted golden award? "I'm going to Disneyland!"
Apologies To Matt Damon ...
For reasons we can't explain, yet find completely hysterical, Jimmy Kimmel has made a tradition of closing out episodes of the third season of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" by saying something like, "Apologies to Matt Damon, but we ran out of time" -- when Damon was never scheduled to be on the show.
Well on Wednesday's primetime special, "Jimmy Kimmel Live's All-Star Salute to Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Damon finally got his chance to appear on the show -- only Jimmy's introduction ran a bit long, so Damon was cut short once again.
And as you can see in the clip, Damon (quite the good sport for going along with the joke) didn't take the news too well. Maybe next time, Matt!