Jimmy Kimmel beats David Letterman in move to new time slot

Jimmy Kimmel has toppled a giant, as the late-night host beat out veteran David Letterman in ratings Tuesday night when his show debuted in his new time slot, ABC said Wedensday.

The move from midnight to 11:35 p.m., which took effect on Tuesday, paid off big for ABC. "Jimmy Kimmel Live," with guest Jennifer Aniston, attracted 3.1 million viewers, the second-highest number ever for the 10-year-old show and a 59 percent increase over its usual audience, according to ratings data on Wednesday.

Still, Jay Leno and "The Tonight Show" came out on top as usual, garnering 3.3 million total viewers. Letterman's "Late Show" on CBS was watched by 2.9 million Americans.

In the cherished 18-49 demographic, Kimmel trounced Letterman by 30 percent, with 887,000 versus 683,000 viewers.

"I am now 25 minutes closer to my lifelong dream of co-hosting 'The View,'" Kimmel quipped on Tuesday about his show's earlier time slot.