57-year-old Jay Leno is supposed to step down from the Tonight Show desk next year when Conan O’Brien will seamlessly transition to the big leagues and take on either Letterman, or – we hope – Letterman’s replacement (Jon <strike>Stuart</strike>Stewart - too much blow energy drink?).

Thing is, Jay isn’t ready to call it just yet, which is basically a cash-register sound for every network out there. Jay is still top of the ratings, even during he writer’s strike when he was accused of scabbing by writing his own monologues.

Now, the NY Times has this interesting paragraph about the lengths that Sony is willing to go to land Jay and ratings.

Sony Pictures Television has made an approach through intermediaries to let Mr. Leno and his representatives know that as soon as he is allowed to discuss his next move, the studio will make him a rich offer for a syndicated late-night show that would make him the highest-paid host in late-night television, put his name on a new theater on the Sony lot and give him a financial interest in Sony music artists who appear on his show.

That means that if Jay wanted Burt Bacharach on his show, he’s get a cut from Burt Bacharach (he’s on Columbia, a Sony subsidiary). That means Jay could MAKE Burt Bacharach again if he so chose, giving him air time and finically sharing in the profits.

This is a big deal coming from someone like Sony, and even if Jay doesn’t take this particular one, it goes to show that Jay Leno will stay on the air until he’s damn well ready to leave.