Jimmy Kimmel Reignites Late Night War, Says Leno ‘Can’t Stay On TV Forever’ 

Thanks to the brilliant three-episode saga on Louie this summer, Jay Leno actually caught a break. While an off-screen David Letterman used Louie (Golden Globe nominee Louis C.K.) as a pawn to get a raise, Leno was the (k)night(time) host in shining armor who gave the comedian a coveted slot on his show. For the first time maybe ever, Leno looked like the good guy, especially among younger audiences who typically revile the car-loving, decidedly unhip Tonight Show host. Was the late night war, at long last, over?

Of course not. So long as Leno is still on the air alongside rivals Letterman and Conan O’Brien, the war will never cease. While the far-too-amiable Jimmy Fallon would never dare take a side, Jimmy Kimmel has been more up front about his feelings on Leno’s cutthroat history with his late night brethren. Back in August, Kimmel (who does a pretty killer impression of the famously-chinned Tonight Show host) put it rather succinctly: “F**k him.” Once again, Kimmel — who will soon be in direct competition with Leno when his ABC show Jimmy Kimmel Live! moves to the competitive 11:35 PM ET time slot — has aired his grievances about him. During a conference call to talk about the big shakeup for his show, Kimmel said of Leno, “Just when you think he’s dead, he comes back.”