ABC is moving Jimmy Kimmel into the thick of late night television.  The network announced today that Jimmy Kimmel Live is being moved to the coveted 11:35pm timeslot, while Nightline will be pushed to 12:35am.  This move puts Kimmel directly against late night staples David Letterman and Jay Leno, and given the show’s momentum and Kimmel’s growth as a late night host over the years, I think the guy is a genuine contender.  Kimmel has a knack for creating funny content with celebrity guests that doesn't feel trite or familiar, and sidekick Guillermo is comedy gold.

The move comes on the heels of Kimmel extending his contract with ABC for two more years, and the network made the timeslot decision based on “ratings momentum, advertising demand, and increased revenue potential.”  Per THR, Kimmel will make his debut in the new time period on January 8th, the day after ABC airs the BCS National Championship Game (Boomer Sooner).  Kimmel recently hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and he’ll emcee the upcoming 64th Primetime Emmy Awards next month.  Hit the jump to relive some highlights from Jimmy Kimmel Live over the years.