NBC, HBO and ABC to raise money for Sandy relief

Disney noted that this plan comes on the heels of its announcement of a $2 million cash commitment — or about 6¹ / ₂ “Modern Family” ads — to those severely affected by Hurricane Sandy.

‘Kimmel’ ratings record

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Pulitzer Prize winner, Peabody recipient, Medal of Freedom honoree -- Lisa de Moraes is none of these, but she is an authority on the bad direction, over-acting, and muddled plot lines being played out in the TV industry's executive suites.

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David Letterman’s visit with his No. 1 fan, Jimmy Kimmel, churned up the biggest Wednesday audience for ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in that show’s 10-year history: about 2.4 million viewers.

“I’m more excited than I’m able to explain,” Kimmel gushed as he introduced Letterman to his studio audience at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Kimmel, who usually tapes his show in Hollywood, had headed to Brooklyn for a week, only to have to pull the plug on Monday’s show because of Hurricane Sandy.

Tuesday’s show went off as planned. Ditto Wednesday’s show with Letterman, which will go down as one of the most torrid bromance scenes in TV history.

“I’m a little bit overwhelmed,” Kimmel said demurely when Letterman took the guest chair, noting that it was maybe similar to when Johnny Carson visited Letterman on his show.

Letterman said the big difference was that “Johnny Carson was something . . . and I’m not much of anything.”

Kimmel pshawed, then showed Letterman photos of Young Kimmel with a “Late Night With David Letterman” birthday cake and a “Late Night” license plate on his car.

Very creepy.

“This is serious for me. This could make me or break me tonight. . . . I hope I’m not making you uncomfortable,” Kimmel said.

Very, very creepy.

“I’m more concerned for you — did your parents step in? These are warning signs, Jimmy,” Letterman quipped.

Then, surprisingly, Letterman began to fawn over Kimmel:

“In show business, one of the precepts is that you’re not supposed to be really nice to people — especially if you have the same occupation as the other person.

“Jimmy has broken that precept and been nothing but generous and courteous and kind to me and my entire crew,” Letterman said.

“I’ll be honest with you. At first I thought, ‘Why is he sucking up to me?’ Then, I was persuaded there was some measure of stability here, and I realized it was genuine.”

To read previous columns by Lisa de Moraes, go to washingtonpost.com/
tvblog.