It's clear who the loser is in the recent NBC late-night shake-up: Conan O'Brien.

But it's also apparent who the winner has become in this mess of a situation: David Letterman.

The Late Show host has gotten in numerous attacks on Jay Leno and NBC over the past couple weeks, prompting NBC executive Dick Ebersol to call him and O'Brien "chicken-hearted and gutless" for their take on the mess.

Naturally (and hilariously), Letterman responded to this critique last night. After subtly tweaking Leno's reputation as America's friendly everyman, he said: “I’m telling jokes and making fun of Jay Leno relentlessly, mercilessly, simply for one reason: I’m really enjoying it.”

It's classic Letterman:

Letterman on NBC