Jay Leno used the first minute of Monday’s Tonight Show opening monologue to rip NBC and Comcast for the 20 layoffs from last week:

“As you may have heard, our parent company has downsized ‘The Tonight Show.’ And we’ve consistently been number one in the ratings,” Leno continued in the monologue. “And if you know anything about our network, that kind of thing is frowned upon. I have more bad news: turns out we’ve been taken over by Bain Capital. … I knew something was going on. Friday morning I woke up and there was a peacock head in my bed.”

You think Leno will get a call from management today?

Due to backlash from movie theater operators, Universal Pictures decided to squash plans to show Tower Heist on Comcast’s video on demand service.

“Universal Pictures today announced that in response to a request from theater owners, it has decided to delay its planned premium home video on demand (PVOD) experiment,” Universal said in a statement. “Universal continues to believe that the theater experience and a PVOD window are business models that can coincide and thrive and we look forward to working with our partners in exhibition to find a way to experiment in this area in the future.”

The original plan involved Comcast cable customers with a high-definition TV in Portland, Oregon and Atlanta paying $59.99 to watch Tower Heist from their home starting on Nov. 23. A number of theaters worried about losing customers were prepared to not show the Eddie Murphy-Ben Stiller comedy in protest.

In the end, the pressure was too much and Universal caved … for now.

Universal Pictures and Comcast are testing out a new concept that will allow you to watch a movie that’s still in theaters from your living room couch.

The only catch?

It’s going to cost you $60.

Comcast cable customers with a high-definition TV in Portland, Oregon and Atlanta can test out the service starting Nov. 23 with Tower Heist, starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller. You have a 48-hour window to watch an unlimited number of times.

I can see this concept working for families. When you factor in the cost of parking, four tickets and food, $60 is a steal.

In the future, let’s hope the film selections are better than Tower Heist. You would have to pay me $60 to sit through that one.

FitzSimons Resigns: Tribune Co. CEO Dennis J. FitzSimons is stepping down as soon as Sam Zell completes his deal to take the company private — which could be Thursday or Friday. FitzSimons, who slashed budgets at the LAT to the point that two top editors resigned in protest, will likely not be missed much. But who needs a cake and heartwarming stories when you’re making off with $40 million in severance and other payout deals.

More Giant Media Circle Jerks: Viacom Inc. and Microsoft Corp. signed a five-year, $500-million “strategic partnership,” which allows Viacom to supply Microsoft with movies, videos and games, in return for Microsoft selling advertising for Viacom’s Internet sites.

Newspapers Fucked: The Federal Communications Commission relaxed a 32-year rule banning corporate ownership of a newspaper and broadcast station in the same city. The move — if it’s not overturned in court — could mean more mergers. Which usually doesn’t bode well for newsrooms. In another move, the FCC also pissed off Comcast by tighten a rule aimed at checking the growth big cable television companies. So, basically, everyone’s miserable. Except Sam Zell. Fancy that.

Stealing Its Own Thunder: So much for understanding the media. CBS Corp. announced its “rapid evolution from an old-media titan into a powerful Internet player” with a “Rolling Thunder,” a new online network that will partner with Microsoft, Comcast and Yahoo. They thought the news was all anyone would talk about. Then they fired Imus.

Newest Trend Story: Be on the lookout for more “Big Water” stories. They’ll be everywhere. They’ll be important. And no one will read them.

We’ve Come A Long Way, Not: Fewer women are trying to break into to stand-up comedy these days. Down to two from a high of three in the 80s.