For the first time since the Jimmy Carter administration, ABC’s 11:35 p.m. slot will not be filled with “Nightline.”
Decade-old chat show “Jimmy Kimmel Live” will take over that slot Jan. 8, going head-to-head with more established “The Late Show With David Letterman” and “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”
“Nightline” will move to 12:35 a.m., where it will compete directly with “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” and “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.”
What’s weird is “Nightline” routinely beats “Letterman” and “Leno” in the ratings. But “Kimmel” was the only late-night show to increase its audience last season, and ABC wants to see what it does with an earlier slot.
In addition to its post-midnight airings, “Nightline” will get a permanent primetime slot, 9 p.m. Fridays, starting March 1.
The news comes as the Leno is taking a huge pay cut and the declining "Leno" show is laying off dozens of staffers.
