Jimmy Kimmel seems to really be enjoying this NBC drama.
In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, the host of ABC's Live! was all smiles when he discussed the reports and whispers that Jay Leno, his long-time nemesis, will soon be replaced as the host of the Tonight Show. When Tapper asked Kimmel if he thought his recent move to the 11:35 time slot would be the cause for Leno's exit, Kimmel couldn't hide his excitement.
"God, I hope so," he said with a laugh. "I really -- I don’t know. I mean, I have no idea. I mean, well, obviously, NBC is looking to move on, because they did it once already. This would be the second time that this has happened. So I mean, it makes perfect sense."
As The Hollywood Reporter first reported, NBC is worried that Kimmel's move to the same time slot as Leno (and CBS's David Letterman) will cause NBC to lose coveted young viewers, thus hastening the planned transition to Fallon. Kimmel has long made his hatred for Leno known, from wearing fake chins to ripping him on stage and in print, but seems to have no such animosity toward Fallon.
"Jimmy Fallon is doing a great job," he continued. "And he’s very popular. And so, I mean, hey, eventually, it’s going to happen one way or the other. I mean, one way or the other, it's going to have to happen, right? Right?"
