Jay Leno

Can Opening Day really be less than four months away? Can you almost feel it? Maybe not, but at least you can get caught up with what Cal Ripken Jr.'s been doing, as he interrupts his off-season to visit with Jay Leno. Otherwise, you're best served today by a few choice repeats and a commercial-free showing of one of the greatest movies of all time.* "Murphy Brown" (9 p.m.-9:30 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- This is a repeat of the very funny episode in which Paul Reubens plays a network executive's nephew who is named a vice president and tries to manipulate Murphy into anchoring a second news hour.

Arrest warrant issued in Mass. for Bobby Brown An arrest warrant has been issued for Bobby Brown after he failed to appear in a Massachusetts court on a contempt complaint. Norfolk Judge Christina Harms ordered Brown arrested the next time the singer is in Massachusetts. He failed to appear at a June 29 hearing. The Boston Herald reports that Brown has fallen $45,000 behind in child support payments for the two teenage children he had with former girlfriend Kim Ward. A phone message was left for Brown's lawyer in Atlanta.

NEW YORK -- If you listen carefully amid the applause for Johnny Carson as he prepares to leave late-night television after 30 years, you might hear the sound of cash registers ringing.Between now and May 22, when the final "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" will run, NBC will raise its rates for a 30-second commercial, in stages, about fivefold -- yes, fivefold -- to almost $200,000 for the finale.That instant inflation from the regular price of $40,000 will place the show's rates on a par with what marketers like Miller Brewing and Wendy's might pay for a 30-second commercial on a hit prime-time series like "Roseanne."

Are Jay Leno's days numbered as host of the "Tonight" show? And will he be replaced by David Letterman?That's the latest speculation to surface in the never-ending NBC late-night soap opera.In an article in the latest issue of the New Yorker, Peter Boyer, a former TV reporter for the New York Times, suggests that Mr. Leno's future hinges on how well the "Tonight" show does in the ratings during the important November sweeps (which determine local ad rates through the next quarter).Right now, Mr. Leno is in a battle for first with ABC's "Nightline."

Last Monday, the biggest news was David Letterman, leaving New York for a week to do some shows from Los Angeles. Tonight the biggest news is Jay Leno, who's arrived from the West Coast to do a week's worth of shows from New York.* "Final Analysis" (8:30-11 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- In the final analysis, "Final Analysis" was pretty stupid -- but with Richard Gere, Kim Basinger and Uma Thurman in the starring roles, this 1992 movie was easy on the eyes. NBC.* "One of Her Own" (9-11 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13)

The second inning of "Baseball" is tops on the list tonight -- which means a VCR would come in real handy, because the premiere of "ER" and the season premiere of "Northern Exposure" run directly opposite.* "Baseball" (8-10 p.m., Channel 22) -- Two words: Ty Cobb. That's what tonight's inning of "Baseball" presents, covering 1900-1910. You'll also get to see the Paul Bunyanesque hands of Honus Wagner, the positive role model credo of Christy Mathewson, and the origins of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," a song you'll hear -- and hear, and hear -- over the next seven nights of "Baseball."

For generations of Americans, tuberculosis was a serious health threat -- and it hasn't entirely gone away, according to a new PBS documentary airing tonight. Jay Leno also has international newsmaker Harry Wu as a scheduled guest.* "Maryland Connections" (7:30 p.m.-8 p.m., Channels 22, 67) -- This local production was made to accompany the three-part PBS series "The American Promise" (continuing at 8 p.m.). It profiles three individuals in this region who demonstrate grass-roots democracy, including a Hispanic immigrant who helps others in Montgomery County; a Columbia woman who aids people with hearing or mobility impairments; and a Washington man who has adopted troubled teens.

LOS ANGELES -- The president of NBC's affiliate board has made a dramatic proposal to keep both Jay Leno and David Letterman at the network by moving "The Tonight Show" to 10 p.m. and "Late Night" to 11:30 p.m."NBC's prime time is third, and it's not as if they would be replacing a winning schedule with something chancy," said Jim Waterbury, head of the affiliate board and the general manager of KWWL in Waterloo, Iowa. "Leno is decidedly mainstream, just like prime time. Larry King has shown on CNN that you can do this and it is the closest thing to a national town meeting."

The stars are coming out in Ocean City this summer. Big name entertainers Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Jay Leno, Garth Brooks and Kenny Rogers will be at the Convention Center in July and August.Singer Ray Charles, who is seen advertising Diet Pepsi on television commercials these days, will be there at 8 p.m. July 3. Tickets are $17.50.Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach are scheduled for 8 p.m. July 17. Tickets are $25. Comedian Jay Leno, who often sits in for Johnny Carson on the "Tonight Show," will take the stage at 8 p.m. July 31. Tickets are $17.50.

WHAT follows is an "NBC memo" read by Jay Leno on a recent "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," regarding NBC's policies concerning what "intellectual properties" David Letterman may use on his new CBS show:Mr. Letterman may not use any words containing the letters "N," "B," or "C" on his show. Legally, they're ours.Because color broadcasting originated with NBC, all of Mr. Letterman's broadcasts must be in black and white.Guests on Mr. Letterman's show may not sit down. That idea originated with Steve Allen on NBC. Therefore, all Letterman guests must either stand or squat.