So Jay Leno must have said no to that primetime variety show NBC had in mind for him, because Defamer HQ opened for business this morning with flocks of winged monkeys dropping pamphlets promoting Rosie's Variety Show, Rosie O'Donnell's live, hour-long mash of song, dance, comedy and teeth-gritting celebrity cameos set for a Nov. 26 trial run before launching into a full season some time in 2009. The show comprises NBC's best laid plans and worst-kept secret in one handy bundle; O'Donnell has been in talks with the 'Cock at least since July, conjuring a catch-all talent show/musical comedy free-for-all just in case Leno defected to ABC. And while Leno's plans still aren't officially set, Rosie and her new network allies should encounter little trouble throwing together the hot, hodgepodgy mess in a month and a half. Behold what NBC brass is calling "the YouTube of variety shows":

The hourlong event will include celebrity guests, musical acts, comedy skits and a contest both for in-studio and at-home auds, the network said. David Friedman (Last Comic Standing, Last Call With Carson Daly) will exec produce with O'Donnell. "We want to show people that variety can be done in a new and inventive way for 2008," said Craig Plestis, NBC Entertainment's exec VP for alternative programming, development and specials. "We hope to do it in ways you haven't seen before. It's going to be the YouTube of variety shows." [...] Details of the show were still being ironed out, but Plestis said a repertory cast will likely populate the show's sketches, and a house band is being considered. Other details, such as marketing partners, the primetime giveaway and celeb guests, will be unveiled later.

No rush, NBC! Worst case scenario, in-house talent like Ben Silverman and Jeff Zucker are good for a sketch apiece (though we'd consider keeping Zucker away from a live audience just in case), and Tina Fey is always looking for another show to overtake at Rockefeller Center. And in the end, should producers actually regress to scouting the YouTube wilds for emergency bookings, trust that Rosie will overcome. This woman was a ringleader on The View, for Christ's sake.