Jimmy Kimmel takes Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover away from David Letterman

While we understand that the debate as to what late-night show gets the opportunity to display the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover is probably not a big deal to most (largely because most people care more about the cover itself), we feel like the reveal has become a bit of an event. Some of the models go on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” he turns it into a big ridiculous event, and then the cover is revealed on some giant billboard outside. What makes Dave the perfect host for this is that you really don’t get the feeling that he cares that much about it, and that serves as a great contrast to everyone else.

Now, that big tradition is shifting gears. For the first time in seven years, Letterman will not be hosting the big reveal on his show (which is in repeats this week). Instead, Jimmy Kimmel has snagged the big exclusive for his Thursday night edition of his “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show. Meanwhile, the model will appear for an interview on his February 17th show, and the magazine will hit newsstands the following day.

Who will the model be? As always, Sports Illustrated is being very coy about that, though Kate Upton was at the front of the magazine both of the past two years. In 2013, she was even on the front cover following a shoot in Antarctica.

Kimmel is already breaking tradition when it comes to having the interview with the model take place on a different day as the cover reveal, as Letterman traditionally has done both of them within the span of one night. For those of you who like to get all of your swimsuit magazine news (strange as that is to write) in one night, this may disappoint you.

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Photo: ABC