LOS ANGELES (AP) – “We’ll never be on later than this again.” That’s what Jimmy Kimmel told his audience last night, as he wrapped up his final show in the midnight time-slot. Kimmel thanked his viewers for staying up late all these years. Kimmel said “hopefully” they’ll “make many more memories” in the years to come. He ended the show with the running gag of apologizing to Matt Damon for running out of time, saying he’d be rescheduled.

When “Kimmel” premieres a half-hour earlier tonight, Jay Leno will have a one-minute head start. The “Tonight” show will air a minute earlier to try to steal viewers from Kimmel. He says it’s “an interesting strategy.” Kimmel says it shows him that they’re “a bit concerned.”

 

On January seventh, 1950, country performer Hank Snow made his Grand Ole Opry debut.

In 1954, Muddy Waters recorded “Hoochie Coochie Man” in Chicago.

In 1955, singer Marian Anderson made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

In 1962, “The Twist” by Chubby Checker hit number one on the pop charts for a second time. It had previously hit number one in 1960 for seven weeks.

In 1963, singer Gary “U.S.” Bonds sued Chubby Checker for $100,000, claiming that Checker plagiarized his hit “Quarter To Three” for Checker’s song “Dancin’ Party.” The suit was settled out of court.

In 1970, neighbors of New York land owner Max Yasgur sued him for $35,000 for property damage caused by people who attended the Woodstock festival. An estimated 450,000 people attended the three-day event.

In 1974, James Taylor and Carly Simon had their second child, Sarah Martin, in New York.

In 1992, singer Debbie Gibson made her Broadway debut in “Les Miserables”.  She played the part of Eponine.

In 1994, Nirvana played their last U.S. show, at the Seattle Arena.

In 1997, Lionel Hampton’s New York apartment caught fire and burned nearly everything he owned. Hampton escaped the fire unhurt.

Today’s Birthdays: Country singer Jack Greene is 83. Keyboardist Paul Revere of Paul Revere and the Raiders is 75. “Rolling Stone” publisher Jann Wenner is 67. Singer Kenny Loggins is 65. Singer-songwriter Marshall Chapman is 64. Actress Erin Gray (“Silver Spoons,” ”Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”) is 63. Actor David Caruso is 57. TV personality Katie Couric is 56. Country singer David Lee Murphy is 54. Bassist Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s is 54. Actress Hallie Todd (“Lizzie McGuire”) is 51. Actor Nicolas Cage is 49. Singer John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting is 48. Actor-rapper Doug E. Doug is 44. Actor Kevin Rahm (“Judging Amy”) is 43. Country singer John Rich of Big and Rich is 39. Actor Dustin Diamond (“Saved By The Bell”) is 36. Actress Lauren Cohen (“The Walking Dead”) is 31. Actor Liam Aiken (“Lemony Snicket”) is 23.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The sound of chain saws and screams managed to chase The Hobbit out of the number-one spot at the nation’s theaters. “Texas Chainsaw 3-D” is the new number one – taking in $23 million in its first weekend of release. Number two behind Leatherface and his oft-used power tool: “Django Unchained.” The Quentin Tarantino film is the runner up for the second straight weekend, taking in just over $20 million. And after three weeks on top, “The Hobbit” drops to third. It took in $17.5 million over the weekend.

 

On January fourth, 1953, thousands of people attended the funeral of country star Hank Williams in Montgomery, Alabama. He had died of a heart attack a few days earlier.

In 1954, Elvis Presley met Sam Phillips of Sun Records at the Memphis Recording Service. Phillips got Elvis’ address and phone number to contact him later about a formal recording session.

In 1957, Fats Domino recorded “I’m Walkin'” in New Orleans.

In 1966, the last episode of “Rawhide” aired on CBS.

In 1976, Mal Evans, the former road manager for The Beatles, was shot and killed by police at his Los Angeles home. Authorities said Evans had refused to surrender a gun he was holding. At the time of his death, Evans was working on a memoir of his time with The Beatles.

In 1984, Van Halen released their “1984” album.

In 1986, former Thin Lizzy singer Phil Lynott (LY’-naht) died in a London hospital of heart failure and pneumonia.

In 2000, Ted Turner and Jane Fonda announced they were divorcing after eight years of marriage. On that same day, “Scary Spice” Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls announced she and husband Jimmy Gulzar were splitting after 15 months of marriage.

In 2004, singer Ray Davies of The Kinks was shot in the leg as he chased after a purse snatcher in New Orleans.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Barbara Rush (“Peyton Place”) is 86. Actress Dyan Cannon is 76. Country singer Kathy Forester of the Forester Sisters is 58. Guitarist Bernard Sumner of New Order (and Joy Division) is 57. Actress Ann Magnuson (“Anything But Love”) is 57. Country singer Patty Loveless is 56. Singer Michael Stipe of R.E.M. is 53. Actor Dave Foley (“NewsRadio,” ”Kids in the Hall”) is 50. Actress Dot Jones (“Glee”) is 49. Actress Julia Ormond is 48. Country singer Deana (DEE’-nah) Carter is 47. Harmonica player Benjamin Darvill of Crash Test Dummies is 46. Actor Jeremy Licht (“Valerie”) is 42. Actress Jill Marie Jones (“Girlfriends”) is 38. Singer Spencher Chamberlain of Underoath is 30.