Band leader Kevin Eubanks is no longer part of ‘The Tonight Show’.  At 52 years old, Eubanks has been with Jay Leno when he came to NBC in 1992.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had an argument,” Leno said, bidding Eubanks farewell on Friday’s show. “We’ve had a lot of fun.”

Eubanks joined Leno last fall for the short-lived “The Jay Leno Show” in prime time, then came back to “Tonight” when Leno reclaimed the show from Conan O’Brien in March. O’Brien left NBC rather than move “Tonight” to a later slot to make room for Leno in late night.

In April, Eubanks announced his plans to depart, but he insisted the recent turmoil had played no part in his decision. He said he was seeking a career change of pace.

Exiting with Eubanks will be the other five members of the Tonight Show Band. They include vocalist and percussionist Vicki Randle, keyboardist Gerry Etkins, bass guitarist Derrick “Dock” Murdock, saxophonist Ralph Moore and drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith.

“We have gone through all this together,” said Eubanks, introducing and thanking them.

He will be replaced by former “American Idol” music director Rickey Minor, who arrives with his own troupe June 7.

One can’t help but feel sorry for late night talk show host Conan O’Brien as NBC has yanked his talk show time slot away from him just to give it back to his predecessor Jay Leno.

Just days after NBC announced their bombshell decision to give Leno back his coveted 11:35 time slot, comes news that O’Brien is now left with three options.  TMZ breaks down the funny man’s choices in moving forward with his career.  To be quite frank, neither of them seem too shabby.

Option 1: Quit the show and spend the next four years at the beach. If Conan does this, our sources say NBC would have to pay him the value of his contract. We’re told it’s a five-year deal, worth as much as $20 million a year. With four years to go, Conan could conceivably get $80 million. But given his skin pigmentation and, possibly, his ego, the beach is unlikely.

Option 2: Go to either FOX or ABC. This is where it gets complicated. If Conan were to strike a deal with either network to do a competing show, any salary Conan pulls in would offset the obligation owed by NBC. So, for example, if Conan made $20 million a year at NBC and ABC were to pay him $15 million a year, NBC would only owe Conan $5 mil a year for the four years remaining in his contract.

Option 3: Eat crow and take the 12:05-1:05 time slot. If Conan takes this option, our sources say it’s likely NBC would negotiate a new contract with the same salary Conan was getting before. Even though the salary isn’t supported by the time period, it’s cheaper than paying him off. NBC, we’re told, prefers this option, because Conan would not be splintering Leno’s rating by going to another network.

No word yet on what O’Brien will decide to do. NBC just made a mess of things by taking Jay away from his hit show.  Their poor decision to fire the #1 man in late night television (Jay that is) from his job shows why they continue to come in last amongst other major networks.

TELL US – ARE YOU TEAM LENO OR TEAM O’BRIEN?