Jay Leno on Instant-Classic Super Bowl Spot: 'A Good Joke is a Good Joke'

While David Letterman's fast-and-loose broadcast Monday night ("Where's Drew Brees? Oh? The Lincoln Tunnel? What are we doing now? Top-10 list, ladies and gentlemen!") paid only glancing tribute to his already legendary Super Bowl commercial, his friend-turned-rival-turned-collaborator Jay Leno wasn't quite as coy in recalling the top-secret behind-the-scenes details. In a short aside during his penultimate 10 p.m. broadcast, Leno walked viewers through the strategy, subterfuge and image-salvaging dynamics of his stunning reunion with his "old friend."

I mean, keep in mind that Leno only two weeks ago busted out with his, "How do you get David Letterman to ignore you? Marry him!" joke, which was one of the lower blows thrown in a bruising late-night free-for-all that saw its share. But if anyone needed to latch on to some spirit of détente, it was Leno, and he milked the gratitude angle for all it was worth Monday night. Perhaps the best part: Considering all the NBC bras who had to green-light this stunt, who was the panicked network idiot who Leno says came late to the party? Was this the guy busy demolishing Conan O'Brien's set while Leno went off to New York? Suggestions welcome below...