Kimmel beats Letterman in new time slot

Kimmel beats Letterman in new time slot

Richard Cartwright/ABC/AP

'Jimmy Kimmel Live' was seen by over 3 million viewers.

Jimmy Kimmel steamrolled over his boyhood hero David Letterman with some of the best ratings of his career as he made his debut in the 11:35 timeslot Tuesday night.

The ABC variety show “Jimmy Kimmel Live” shifted into direct competition with Letterman and the “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno â€" and scored an eye-opening 3.1 million viewers.

That handily beating Letterman’s 2.8 million and brought Kimmel close to his foe Leno’s 3.2 million.

The good start no doubt pleased Kimmel, who has openly groused about Leno.

"Leno hasn't been a good stand-up in 20 years," he told Rolling Stone. "As a comedian, you can't not have disdain for what he's done. He totally sold out. He was a master chef who opened a Burger King."

Tuesday was Kimmel’s second most-watched episode ever, and about 60 percent better than his season average of just under 2 million at his old midnight start time.

“Thank you for joining us here,” Kimmel said to open the show. “A new studio, new time slot. The deal is this, we used to be on at midnight. Now we’re on at 11:35. Now 25 minutes closer to my lifelong dream of co-hosting ‘The View.’

“We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” he added. “And I want to thank our network, ABC, for this vote of confidence. It was a big decision. It’s a risky decision. ... I want them to know that I understand what’s at stake here, and I do not take this responsibility lightly, especially now with the Kanye West-Kim Kardashian baby on the way. This is the time that I shine bright like a diamond.”

“For those of you who tuned in expecting to see ‘Nightline’ right now, this is not it. ‘Nightline’ is on after us now, and I hope you stay up to watch it because it’s a great show. But just because this isn’t ‘Nightline,’ that doesn’t mean we’re not going to talk about important stuff. For instance, did you know Honey Boo Boo’s mother is afraid of mayonnaise?”

Kimmel launched his ABC show in 2003. He has long spoken of Letterman as his idol.

But he said he’d try to do his best against the king of comedy.

"It's like if Nolan Ryan is pitching to you,” Kimmel said. “You still have to try to hit the ball, no matter how many baseball cards you might have in your bedroom or posters of him on the wall."