NEW YORK — Conan O'Brien says Jay Leno's kindness is making the "Tonight" show transition go smoothly.

Both men are happy with where they're going, says O'Brien, and that's been a godsend.

Friday will be Leno's last night after 17 years at "Tonight." He'll host a prime-time NBC hour this fall. O'Brien will be a guest on Leno's last show, then take over Monday as "Tonight" host.

RAPPER T.I. LATE TO OWN INCARCERATION

FORREST CITY, Ark. — T.I. entered an Arkansas federal prison yesterday to begin a year and a day sentence on a weapons conviction.

The Atlanta rapper, now known as inmate No. 59458019, made a concertlike entrance to the Forrest City low-security prison — showing up late in a black van with tinted windows. T.I. (Clifford J. Harris Jr.) was to report at noon, but the deadline passed as guards blocked reporters and onlookers from coming near the rural facility.

JON AND KATE PLUS 9.8 MILLION, NO FOOLING

NEW YORK — "Jon & Kate Plus 8" drew a huge audience for its fifth-season premiere.

Nielsen Media Research says the TLC reality show attracted 9.8 million viewers Monday night — more than double the audience of its fourth-season finale several weeks ago. Even before the scandal, "Jon & Kate Plus 8" was TLC's most popular show.

Jon and Kate Gosselin have recently been swamped by tabloid allegations they cheated on each other.

The couple continued to deny any infidelities on Monday's episode, lashing out at the media.

MARILYN MONROE, ELVIS ITEMS ON AUCTION

LOS ANGELES — Marilyn Monroe's coffee table and Elvis Presley's prescription bottles will go up for bid.

Julien's Auctions will also sell Monroe clothing and other memorabilia, including items from her Brentwood, Calif., home, and jewelry, books and other items Presley gave to his longtime physician, Dr. Nick.

The items will be on view at the Planet Hollywood resort in Las Vegas before the auction begins June 26.

MEL GIBSON CONFIRMS BABY ON THE WAY

LOS ANGELES — Mel Gibson and his girlfriend, Russian musician Oksana Grigorieva, are expecting a baby, only six weeks after his wife filed for divorce.

Gibson, 53, confirmed that 39-year-old Grigorieva is pregnant on Monday's "Tonight" show with Jay Leno.

"This is true, we're having a child," Gibson said. The baby will be his eighth.