Jimmy Kimmel Slams Jay Leno For 'Selling Out'

Kimmel explained his beef with Leno in the latest issue of the magazine, which hit newsstands Friday. The New York Daily News obtained a few snippets from the article, including Kimmel's thoughts on going head-to-head with Leno in the late-night television-ratings race.

See, next week, ABC is moving the opening of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from 12:35 a.m. to 11:35 p.m., meaning that Kimmel will be going head-to-head with Leno for the first time. And Kimmel is not hesitant to slam his new rival with a little trash talk in advance of the switch.

“As a comedian, you can’t not have disdain for what he’s done,” Kimmel said of Leno. “He totally sold out. He was a master chef who opened a Burger King.”

While Kimmel clearly has a beef with Leno, it seems he has nothing but respect for another competitor, the host of CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman."

Even if Kimmel beats Letterman in the ratings game, he said, the “Late Show” host is still the king: "If I beat David Letterman in the ratings, does that mean I’m better than Letterman? No f---ing way!"

Kimmel also had some words to say about the host of NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," but they’re largely positive and indicative of a nice, friendly rivalry between the two comedians. “People are going to compare me and him for years to come -- we’re being positioned as the Leno and Letterman of the next round,” Kimmel said. “I like it because he’s a very worthy competitor.”

For some context, watch one of Kimmel’s best slams of Leno below. In the video, Kimmel dons a Jay Leno costume -- including a ridiculous prosthetic chin -- and mocks Leno’s headlines segment on “The Tonight Show.”