Jimmy Kimmel chokes up in a very personal farewell to Letterman

Jimmy Kimmel says his goodbyes to Letterman — (Image credit: Jimmy Kimmel Live)

Jimmy Kimmel, it turns out, was kind of obsessed with David Letterman's Late Night when he was a kid, Kimmel said on Tuesday's Kimmel Live. He drew photos of Dave, got "L8 Night" vanity plates for his car, and held viewing parties at his house. Which probably helps explain why his farewell and thank you message to Letterman got so emotional, with Kimmel tearing up not once, but at least twice.

"Not only did I learn to do everything from Dave," he said, but "the reason I have this show is because the executives at ABC saw me when I was a guest on Dave's show and hired me to host this show." He then specifically asked people to watch Letterman on Wednesday night, not his show (which will be a rerun), "especially if you're a young person who doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. Dave is the best, and you should see him." He ended his tribute with an old Late Night segment he dug up that "sums up how I feel this week almost supernaturally well." It's as moving a farewell as Letterman is likely to get. You can watch it below. —Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.