O’Brien to visit Leno on finale

When Jay Leno steps down as the fourth host of “The Tonight Show” on May 29, his successor, Conan O’Brien, will be by his side.

During a conference call with the media Thursday, Leno said his final week’s lineup also includes Mel Gibson, who will make his 25th appearance, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

O’Brien, 46, will take over “The Tonight Show” on June 1. That move was announced five years ago when ABC tried to steal O’Brien and NBC counteroffered with Leno’s job, a plan put in place long before NBC decided to give Leno a new 10 p.m. nightly show this fall.

“I’m glad that it’s going to Conan,” Leno said. “It couldn’t go to a better person. We’re friends, and it’s a really smooth transition.”

Although industry observers have wondered if NBC’s decision to hold onto Leno, who was being courted by ABC and Fox, will diminish O’Brien’s late-night role, both men have gone out of their way to say they are friends and are not competitive with each other.

“Five years ago, Conan was set to go to ABC and [NBC] said, ‘We don’t want to lose Conan. What do you want to do?’ ” Leno said. “And I said, ‘Whatever you want to do, guys.’ ”

Leno was in a good mood as he spoke to reporters for 70 minutes during a wide-ranging discussion in which he hinted at something “special” he has in store for his last night.

“I have something really unusual and different planned, something really out of left field,” he said. “It’s something really personal . . . and I think it will make people smile.”

He also shared his industry philosophy when asked whether he’s nervous about his new venture.

“The real trick to show business is try not to get too excited and try not to get too depressed. My feeling about show business is, look, you don’t fall in love with a hooker. . . . I come in here, and I enjoy it. But it doesn’t become my life. I’ve had a successful run. If nothing else happened in my life, that was great, I’m thrilled. If this show is a success, I’ll be over the moon. If it didn’t work out, I’ll be, ‘Oh, well, at least I’ve had this.’ ”

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maria.elena.fernandez@ latimes.com