Nikki Finke is making a big deal out of Jay Leno's comment on last night's Tonight Show that supposedly hinted at a future with ABC: "Last night on NBC's The Tonight Show, Jay Leno was doing his Monday night 'Headlines' segment when he held up a magazine cover with a picture of himself and a cutline that said Host of The Tonight Show on ABC'. When the few laughs died down, Leno looked into the camera and smirked, 'It's like a headline from the future.'"

This is, supposedly, evidence that Leno will be headed to ABC after his deal with NBC is up in 2010 (though he's pushed off the air in 2009 when Conan O'Brien steps in).

But don't read too far in to this. Not only in Leno legally barred from even entertaining offers until November 2009, but the ABC option has long been on the table — as has every other network and syndicate out there.

We've been through this before: Leno could land at ABC at 11:30pm and push Jimmy Kimmel back an hour. He could land at Fox, if they could get their affiliates in line, for an 11 or 11:30pm show. He could sign with Sony for a syndication deal. He could stay with NBC in some manner, doing a talk show. Or he hangs out until David Letterman's contract is up at CBS and brings his ratings lead there.

Nothing has been decided. Far from it. And whatever Leno "hinted" at last night was nothing more than that's already been discussed. (Entertainment Weekly has a 4-page spread this week devoted to rehashing the possibilities.)

So: Leno was making a funny last night, not indicating a deal at ABC was any more likely than elsewhere.