KIMMEL LOSES GROUND ON SECOND NIGHT AT 11:35 P.M.

Well, it didn’t last long. Jimmy Kimmel’s debut show at 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday may have posted some terrific ratings, but they quickly eroded the following night. On Wednesday, Kimmel attracted 2.86 million viewers versus 3.04 million for David Letterman and 3.55 million for Jay Leno. In the key 18-49 age group, he remained slightly ahead of Letterman but continued to trail Leno. Nevertheless, he was attracted nearly one million more viewers than he was when his show began at midnight, with nearly half of them in the younger age group. Speaking to TV writers at their annual press tour in Pasadena on Thursday, ABC programming chief Paul Lee said, “There’s no question Jimmy has come out strong and shown he’s really going to be competitive.”

UPDATE: Kimmel edged out each of his rivals in the 18-49 demo on Thursday night but remained behind in total viewers. The contest remained tight, however. Leno led with 3.4 million viewers; Letterman was second with 3.3 million; and Kimmel third with 3.2 million.