Get Ready For A Late-Night Brawl: ABC Moves Jimmy Kimmel To 11:35 To Battle Letterman and Leno
For as long as we can remember, it has been Letterman versus Leno in the battle for late night. Well now, ABC wants a chance to let their dog–the one and only Jimmy Kimmel–into the ring.
Newsday is reporting that ABC plans to move “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to the coveted 11:35 p.m. starting in January, giving the two late-night kingpins a bit more competition.
Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney/ABC Television Group, said in a statement:
“Given the passionate fan base ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ has built over the past decade and the show’s ratings and creative momentum this season, the time is right to make this move.”
While this will probably bring in an entire new audience for Kimmel, not everyone is happy. “Nightline”, the historic nightly news program that held the spot, will now be moved to 12:35am, with a Friday prime-time hour. (Let’s mourn in advance for the ratings drop…)
On the plus side, however, maybe Kimmel will finally have some time for Matt Damon!