Jay Leno is perched in prime time, but he still says he would have rather stayed put at "The Tonight Show" -- and if NBC offered him that job again, he'd take it.

In an interview with Broadcasting & Cable magazine published online yesterday, Leno hastily added that such a decision isn't his to make. Conan O'Brien, his replacement as "Tonight" host after 17 years, is "doing fine," Leno said.

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• Elton John's spokesman says the singer has been hospitalized after suffering from a case of E. coli bacterial infection and the flu. Gary Farrow said yesterday that the pop star hopes to be released soon but has been forced to cancel concerts in England, Ireland and the United States.

• Cable network TNT says it has rescued the shot-down NBC cop drama "Southland" and will bring it back in the new year. Beginning Jan. 12, TNT will broadcast all six episodes that were shot by NBC for its aborted second season, as well as the seven episodes from the first season.