To quote Jack Nicholson's Joker in 'Batman': "If you've gotta go, go with a smile!"

If Conan O'Brien's stint on 'The Tonight Show' is indeed ending on Friday, it looks like the host is at least going out with a bang.

The Wrap reports that Conan continued his ratings resurgence on Monday night, averaging a 1.8 Nielsen rating, doubling the 0.9 rating of 'Late Show with David Letterman.' 'Tonight Show' also beat 'The Jay Leno Show' on Monday, which averaged a 1.3 rating, according to TV By the Numbers.To quote Jack Nicholson's Joker in 'Batman': "If you've gotta go, go with a smile!"

If Conan O'Brien's stint on 'The Tonight Show' is indeed ending on Friday, it looks like the host is at least going out with a bang.

The Wrap reports that Conan continued his ratings resurgence on Monday night, averaging a 1.8 Nielsen rating, doubling the 0.9 rating of 'Late Show with David Letterman.' 'Tonight Show' also beat 'The Jay Leno Show' on Monday, which averaged a 1.3 rating, according to TV By the Numbers.

Conan's remarkable upturn began last week, when the Tue., Jan. 12th airing of 'The Tonight Show' earned a staggering 1.7 rating, up from the 1.2 rating of the night before. Conan scored a 1.9 rating on Fri. episode, once again leaving Letterman in his wake.

Conan is currently riding high -- is it too late for NBC execs to reconsider their decision to give O'Brien a zillion dollars to walk out the door quietly?