Jimmy Kimmel Beats Leno, Letterman, on First Night at 11:35pm

Nightline, the previous ABC fare in the time slot, was also beating the two late night talk show hosts regularly

Jimmy Kimmel is now Live! an hour earlier -- and on his first outing in late night's prime 11:35 p.m. slot, early returns have ABC comedian pulling well ahead of competition Jay Leno (NBC) and David Letterman (CBS).

Preliminary Nielsen numbers give the broadcast a 2.8 rating and 8 share in households (over Letterman's 2.7/7 and Leno's 2.4/6).