TELEVISION - Nov. 9, 1992

Jay’s Say: “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno has denied rumors that NBC has threatened to fire him if the show does poorly in the ratings sweeps this month. “Word of honor, it’s not true,” Leno said in an interview in the Nov. 14 issue of TV Guide. “Yes, I feel like I have a sword hanging over my head, but I’m the one who’s gone to NBC to say I’d quit if I began to do poorly, not the other way around.” The New Yorker magazine reported last week that if ratings don’t improve, the network plans to replace Leno with David Letterman. NBC confirmed Leno’s version, calling the New Yorker report “nonsense,” TV Guide reported.