Kevin Eubanks and Jay Leno (Video)

Kevin Eubanks made it official on Monday's Tonight Show. Sitting in an unusual spot for him, in the guest's chair next to Jay Leno's desk, bandleader Eubanks announced that he'll be leaving the show in about six weeks.



It will be tough to replace Kevin because he's more than just the leader of the band. He's served as a sidekick for Leno, sort of like an Ed McMahon only with a tremendous amount of musical talent.

The craziest speculation is that Max Weinberg, Conan O'Brien's bandleader since he started hosting Late Night in 1993, is interested in the job.

Here's a strange report:

Is there mutiny on the couch? Longtime Conan O'Brien bandleader Max Weinberg may be a turncoat in the O'Brien-Jay Leno late-night war, according to a new report.

Film site Movieline alleges that Weinberg is eyeing the gig as Leno's new emcee, after Kevin Eubanks announced he'll soon be leaving Leno's side.

Weinberg was jazzed last year to assume the position when Conan took over the "Tonight Show" reins, but in light of the Team Coco flush, he's made "overtures" to return solo.

"I used to think when I was a kid what a great job that must be -- you know, same place, every time, everyday. Lo and behold, here I am 40 years later, doing it," Weinberg gushed about the gig to Inside Jersey magazine in August.

As if buzz about a switch to Leno's show isn't controversial enough, the Movieline report goes on to say ...

... that Weinberg wasn't necessarily a beloved member of Big Red's team:

Weinberg would send interns to do gardening work at his house on the New Jersey shore, and would involve staffers in his pay disputes with the network -- at one point, even enlisting an intern to tabulate every minute of screen time Weinberg had racked up over two years in an argument for a salary raise.

There is no way that Weinberg is replacing Kevin.

No chance.

Weinberg may not be interested in sticking with Conan, but he's not going to join Leno.

Absolutely not going to happen.