Leno says he’d return to ‘Tonight’ if asked

New York — Prime-time newcomer Jay Leno 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 Monday, Leno hastily added that such a decision isn’t his to make.

Conan O’Brien, his successor as “Tonight” host after 17 years, is “doing fine,” Leno said.

“Conan is in the same position I was in when I took over. It takes a while. Some will like it; some will leave forever and not come back.”

Leno said he doesn’t think the recent controversy surrounding his former late-night rival David Letterman “will have a big effect at all.”

Referring to Letterman’s acknowledged sexual affairs with female members of his staff, Leno said, “If it were me, it would kill me. I’m the guy who’s been married 29 years. But Dave has never pretended to be Mr. Moral America, he’s never set himself up that way. He’s not a hypocrite.”

“The Jay Leno Show” began on NBC in September, airing Monday through Friday at 9 p.m., where it has displaced several prime-time scripted dramas. For that, and for his less-than-stellar ratings thus far, Leno has taken heat within the TV industry as well as from critics.

It’s just part of the battle, said Leno, who insisted he enjoys it.

ABC to air Rihanna interviews on assault

Los Angeles — The first interview with Rihanna about Chris Brown’s assault on her is airing this week on ABC.

The network says the pop star’s one-on-one with Diane Sawyer will air Thursday and Friday on “Good Morning America” and Friday evening on the news magazine “20/20.”

Brown’s attack on then-girlfriend Rihanna occurred in February. He was sentenced in August to five years’ probation, six months of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling after he pleaded guilty to felony assault.

Rihanna’s ABC interview coincides with the debut of her new single, “Russian Roulette,” from her upcoming album, “Rated R.” It’s her first CD since 2007’s multiplatinum “Good Girl Gone Bad.”

Elton John recovering from flu and E. coli

London — Elton John has been hospitalized after suffering from a case of E. coli bacterial infection and the flu, his spokesman said Monday.

Gary Farrow said the pop star hopes to be released soon but has been forced to cancel concerts in England, Ireland and the United States.

John intends to rejoin the “Face2Face” tour later in the month when he and Billy Joel play concerts in northern California.

Farrow said 62-year-old John is suffering from a “bad case of the flu and a minor case of E. coli.” His Web site says he was advised by his doctor to postpone dates in Seattle and Portland, Ore.

The Daily Mail’s Web site quoted John’s partner, David Furnish, as saying “He’s OK — he’s fine,” after leaving a London hospital.

Farrow says the singer has rescheduled previously canceled dates during the European leg of his world tour.

Man charged with stalking Ryan Seacrest

Los Angeles — Prosecutors brought felony charges Monday against an Army reservist who allegedly stalked Ryan Seacrest, including showing up at the “American Idol” host’s studio and attacking one of his bodyguards.

Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr., 25, faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the stalking charge.

He was arrested Friday after he appeared at the E! Entertainment Television headquarters and tried to see Seacrest, whose radio show is produced at the location. A restraining order petition filed by Seacrest’s attorneys stated he was carrying a knife.

Uzomah is on probation after pleading guilty in September to assault, battery and carrying a switchblade knife in Orange County after he attempted to meet Seacrest after an event and attacked one of the radio and television host’s bodyguards. The charges were all misdemeanors.

Soon after his plea, Uzomah allegedly went to the offices of a radio station that airs Seacrest’s morning show, not realizing Seacrest wasn’t there. He then was arrested after showing up at the E! building last week.

Mel Gibson, girlfriend welcome baby girl

Los Angeles — Mel Gibson and his girlfriend are welcoming the birth of the couple’s first child — making the Oscar-winner a father for the eighth time.

Gibson’s publicist Alan Nierob said Monday that Oksana Grigorieva gave birth to a baby girl named Lucia on Friday at a hospital in Los Angeles.

No further details were available.

The 53-year-old “Braveheart” star has seven children with his ex-wife, Robyn. She cited irreconcilable differences in her April divorce petition to end their marriage of 28 years.

Grigorieva is a 39-year-old Russian musician. She and Gibson met while filming “Edge of Reason.” Gibson is currently filming “The Beaver,” directed by Jodie Foster.