Report: Kimmel dating 'Live!' staffer

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Jimmy Kimmel's publicist says the comedian has been dating Molly McNearney, a staff writer on his late-night, U.S. chat show.

Usmagazine.com said Kimmel's representative confirmed the courtship.

A source told the magazine the couple started dating several months ago.

Kimmel previously dated comedian and television personality Sarah Silverman for five years. They broke up last March.

Word of Kimmel's relationship with McNearney came less than two weeks after David Letterman disclosed on his own talk show that he was the victim of a blackmail plot by someone who threatened to expose Letterman's sexual encounters with staff members unless the TV star paid him $2 million.