Visit by Letterman, a Hero and a Rival, Lifts Kimmel\'s Ratings

Jeff Neira/Disney ABC Television Group, via Associated Press David Letterman was a guest Wednesday night on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” which was broadcast from Brooklyn.

David Letterman helped a competitor, Jimmy Kimmel, score his biggest audience for a Wednesday night in the 11 years of the show, even though Mr. Letterman had just performed in his own show - and worn the same suit - on CBS.

Mr. Kimmel, who was broadcasting from the Brooklyn Academy of Music for a second night this week, attracted 2.355 million total viewers. The 985,000 viewers in the 18-to-49 age group that many advertis ers prefer represented his best total in five years.

Mr. Letterman sat in with Mr. Kimmel for three segments, a testament to how important he has been in Mr. Kimmel's career. (He showed Mr. Letterman photos of a birthday cake his mother made him as a child that featured the logo from Mr. Letterman's first late-night show on NBC.)

Mr. Letterman also welcomed Mr. Kimmel to the 11:35 p.m. time period, which the Kimmel show will join in January.

Bill Carter writes about the television industry. Follow @wjcarter on Twitter.