All Hail Jimmy Kimmel - Hollywood Reporter: "Interesting article on the late night talk show circuit. What started off as an experiment with Steve Allen early in television history has evolved into a plethora of comics helming their own show with people gravitating to their selective camps (Letterman,Kimmel, Leno, O'Brien). While the author may give Letterman a legendary ranking, he is the respected godfather of late night talk shows. This was bestowed on him by Johnny Carson who wanted him to be the one to succeed him, not a corporate butt kissing closet hiding yes man. And it was clearly brought home when Carson dies and it was revealed that Carson wrote jokes for Letterman and had appeared twice on his show and zero times on his old show. The author is correct in wanting to delve more into Leno's tarnished ratings crown because his peers don't give him the respect they bestow on Letterman. Letterman, in his prime, was groundbreaking in his attack on biting the hand that feeds him, man on the street, not caring about guest celebrity status, it was always good to see guest wonder what he would do or say to them. and there were the guest he couldn't figure out but made for great television (Crispin Glover, Larry "Bud" Melman, Joaquin Phoenix, Harvey Pekar).
And Kimmel has great respect for him and it's reciprocated as well. Kimmel was on Letterman as a guest and the author is correct, Letterman has given him what Carson had gave him, the respect and anointment to go and succeed him when his time is done. Letterman is starting to see his window close and he, like Carson, will go out on his own term and Jimmy Kimmel, if he's smart, will reap the benefits of being the next godfather of late night, with respect to Jon Stewart.
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