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).