The whole Jay Leno/Conan O'Brien shakeup may have the rest of the world crying like jilted prom queens, but it's got one man grinning from ear to ear. And no, it's not Jeff Zucker. That would be more of a giant, belly shaking James Bond villain laugh.

Ben McKenzie, the man who tore into Jay Leno and his former network for pushing his cop drama Southland out of its time slot when Jay moved into primetime, has said he's happy The Jay Leno Show is going out of commission.

While he says that Leno is a "great guy," it still doesn't change his sentiments that he's "glad it failed...Things have worked out in a good way."

I'm sure Conan seconds those thoughts. That should make his first interview on Fox's Up Late at Night with Conan O'Brien especially awkward when he goes on it to promote Southland on TNT.

"If they want to watch Ryan Atwood on 'Southland,' then please do. If that gets you over there ... whatever it takes, baby!"

Fans went ga-ga over him as brooding Ryan Atwood on 'The O.C.,' and now Ben McKenzie has graduated to a more mature TV role. But no worries, ladies -- he's still very much a swoon-worthy heartthrob.

On NBC's 'Southland' (premieres Thurs., April 9 at 10 PM ET), McKenzie plays rookie LAPD officer Ben Sherman. He's surrounded by seasoned cops and passionate detectives, all determined to catch the city's most violent criminals, solve crimes and console victims' families ... all while keeping their personal lives intact.

McKenzie talked to AOL TV exclusively about having his face on billboards again and trying to shake -- but also embrace -- being seen as Ryan Atwood, and tells us how he's like a big kid on this show ... and why it'll be the next 'ER.' -- By Maggie Furlong