Jimmy Kimmel Wins The First Leg Of Late Night Ratings Race

On Jimmy Kimmel’s first night in a timeslot competitive with Jay Leno and David Letterman, the late night host came out on top – beating both Jay and David.

While final numbers are still pending, Kimmel’s debut at 11:35 was viewed by 2.8 percent of households that have TVs. His show appeared to steal viewers from Leno, forcing The Tonight Show into third place. Letterman had 2.7 percent of households, while Leno had 2.4 percent.

Many expected Kimmel to win his ‘premiere’ 11:35 show, which featured an extended segment with Jennifer Aniston and a performance from No Doubt. Once the 11:30 audiences get to know him, they will ultimately decide if they want to stay. Conan O’Brien enjoyed a surge in ratings during his initial run during the 11:30 NBC slot, but after time those  numbers dropped considerably.

Kimmel’s second night at 11:35pm ET features guests Ryan Gosling and musical guest Brad Paisley.

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