Don’t bet on Jay Leno seeing David Letterman off

Jay Leno hinted Thursday about a “clue” that he wouldn’t be among David Letterman’s last “Late Show” guests.

In an interview with a Las Vegas radio station, Leno repeatedly dodged questions about whether he was invited, before offering a telling tidbit.

Leno, who is appearing tonight at The Mirage, kept saying, “I don’t know, I can’t say,” until “Mercedes in the Morning” host Mercedes Martinez brought up Letterman’s snub of Leno’s last show in February 2014.

Letterman recently revealed that he declined because he didn’t want to “steal” any of Leno’s spotlight.

“Is that true?” Martinez asked.

“That’s right,” Leno said. “Now, I just said, ‘Send a 10-second tape,’ and they said no; so that might give you some clue.”

Leno also addressed another feud.

Melissa Rivers told Howard Stern last week that Leno gave her a cold shoulder shortly after the death of Joan Rivers in September.

Melissa Rivers said she resents that Leno didn’t come up to her and offer condolences and closure to the long rift between Leno and Joan Rivers.

Leno’s rep told Us Weekly that Leno didn’t recognize Melissa Rivers and “apologizes if she was offended.”

MARIAH CANCELS

Mariah Carey’s last-minute cancellation of her show on Wednesday comes amid rumblings that her first-week ticket sales were slow.

Carey posted a social media message to her fans at 9:30 p.m.

It read: “Hey guys. I’ve been fighting bronchitis for the past few days. Almost better but on mandatory rest per doctor’s orders. I’m so sorry to cancel tonight’s show but I promise to make it up to you!!! Love you always, MC.”

A sign outside the theater said, “Tonight’s show has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.”

SINATRA SOUVENIR

Comedy magician Murray Sawchuck came away from the Riviera’s everything-goes sale with a coup from the Rat Pack era.

When he showed up at 8:45 a.m., he was in awe of a line that stretched nearly a half-mile to the Westgate, formerly the Hilton.

Luckily a friend, entertainment producer Andy Walmsley, was holding a place in line for him.

It took them about 90 minutes to get in, but Sawchuck accomplished his mission. He came away with one of the smaller chandeliers from the Frank Sinatra suite.

Sawchuck spent another two hours in the line to pay for his items, which included one of the brass door handles in the shape of an “R.” He paid $350 for the door handle and $110 for the chandelier.

He has the perfect spot reserved for the chandelier. It will hang in the kitchen over a booth with some history of its own.

In October, Sawchuck purchased one of the red velvet showroom booths from the Clarion Hotel, which has since been imploded. Entertainment legend Debbie Reynolds bought the booths from The Dunes for the hotel she opened in 1992.

Sawchuck, who held a farewell party in the Riviera’s presidential suite in March, said it was “hard to see (the Riv) go, but at least some of us are preserving pieces of it. I got a little history.”

GRONK TAKES THE CAKE

One of the highlights of Rob Gronkowski’s appearance at the Hard Rock Hotel’s Rehab party Sunday came when the NFL All-Pro tight end performed his signature Gronk spike of a football-shaped cake.

The New England Patriots issued a statement saying the cake’s density met league standards.

SIGHTINGS

Hunter Pence, a member of the San Francisco Giants’ 2012 and 2014 World Series championship teams, celebrating his 32nd birthday at the Hard Rock’s Joint on Wednesday. He was in town with the Giants’ Class AAA Sacramento club.

THE PUNCH LINE

“I’ve been doing a lot of pondering, a lot of ruminating. And I’m not looking at this as a retirement. I’m thinking of this as a multigame suspension. Like Tom Brady.” — David Letterman

Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter: @Norm_Clarke