Late-night hosts will appear on counterparts' shows

On Thursday night, you can tune into NBC to watch Jay Leno interview Jimmy Kimmel, then flip to ABC and watch Jimmy Kimmel interview Jay Leno.

Facing a dearth of guests on their picketed shows, the two late-night hosts have agreed to appear on each other's programs this week. Kimmel will tape his "Tonight Show" appearance on Thursday, and Leno will return the favor by showing up for "Jimmy Kimmel Live" later in the evening. (Though not actually live, Kimmel's show tapes later than "Tonight," making the cross-appearances possible.)

"There are only three or five people in the world that know how tough this job is," Leno says. "Jimmy is one of them. It will be fun to discuss who's a good guest, who's a difficult guest and everything else that comes with sitting behind these desks."

Adds Kimmel, who has taken frequent shots at Leno in the past, "If Jay and I can come together and guest on each other's shows, then surely there is hope for peace in the Middle East."

The two comics find themselves in similar positions: Their shows returned to the air last week without striking writers, and their booking efforts could be hamstrung by Writers Guild picket lines outside their studios. The Screen Actors Guild is urging its members not to cross lines to appear on "The Tonight Show," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" or "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," which is also writerless.

Leno has also come under fire from the guild for apparently writing the monologues on his shows last week. The guild says such action goes against its strike rules, while NBC counters that as a performer, Leno is allowed to write material for himself.

Kimmel and Leno reportedly have struck up a friendship over the past few weeks of the strike. Kimmel also defended Leno on his show Wednesday, noting that both he and O'Brien had supported striking writers and paid their non-writing staffs during the off time. "I just think at a certain point you back off a little bit," he said.

There's no word on whether the two hosts will share a ride over the Cahuenga Pass from the NBC in Burbank to Kimmel's studio in Hollywood.