Jimmy Kimmel gets a visit from his idol David Letterman

Jimmy Kimmel’s week in Brooklyn got off to a rough start, but Wednesday’s show may just have made up for all the storm business: He finally got the chance to meet his idol, David Letterman.

The “Late Show” host made the journey from the Ed Sullivan Theater in Midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn on Wednesday, a seven-mile trip that took him an hour and 25 minutes, thanks to Sandy-induced gridlock. It was a rare crossover appearance for Letterman, and his first-ever visit to “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Kimmel made no effort to play it cool. In his introduction, he described Letterman as not only “the main reason I got into television” but also “the main reason I got a television.”

“I am more excited that he’s here tonight than I am able to explain,” he said. To prove what a fanboy he is, Kimmel pulled out pictures of himself as a teenager blowing out candles on a Letterman-inspired birthday cake and of his car, with its “L8 NITE” vanity plate.

Throughout the lengthy interview, Kimmel made repeated overtures of friendship toward Letterman, who shot them down. There were offers of homemade BBQ, fly-fishing trips, and even pie, but sadly, Letterman refused to bite.

“Do you have guy friends that you hang out with?” Kimmel wondered at one point.

“Mmm… no,” Letterman admitted. “I don’t know why that is, and I don’t think at this point and certainly here on this show we’re going to answer that question.”

Kimmel, to his credit, was able to mask his disappointment – if just barely.

While Letterman is unlikely to become BFFs with Kimmel anytime soon, he was extremely gracious regarding the younger host’s move to 11:35 p.m. this January, which will put Kimmel in direct competition with his hero.

“I want to wish you the best of luck when you move the show. I think it’ll be exciting. I think you’re going to be perfect at 11:30,” Letterman said. “I think it’s going to be great and I couldn’t be happier to have you in the running.”

Awwwww. Now that’s more like it, Dave.

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