Review: Leno debut was familiar, unfunny
Jerry Seinfeld with Jay Leno
“The Jay Leno Show” at 9 p.m. is essentially the same as “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” was at 10:35 p.m. So why was Leno’s show so painfully unfunny?
I was never the biggest fan of Leno’s “Tonight Show,” but most episodes had their moments — a good joke or two in the monologue, an interesting guest, maybe “Headlines.” From the first moments of “The Jay Leno Show,” though, even good moments were hard to find.
Leno’s entrance, hand-slapping with audience members who had clearly been coached to scream and rush the stage, set the tone. Even the new jokes in the monologue seemed dated, and Leno’s delivery was disjointed. The comedy bit in the carwash was embarrassing and went on WAY too long. Conversely, the interview with Jerry Seinfeld was strangely brief, and much of it was taken up by the bland Oprah bit (Oprah by satellite chatted with Seinfeld but pretended not to know Leno had a new show). Oh, and if the lack of a desk was supposed to set “Jay Leno” apart from “The Tonight Show,” it didn’t work.
Many viewers thought Leno should have canceled Kanye West, who was scheduled long ago, in light of his insult to Taylor Swift at the VMAs Sunday night. Instead, Leno continued his tradition of giving celebrities a chance to apologize and possibly redeem themselves; he seemed to reduce West to tears by asking what his late mother would have thought of his behavior. I won’t comment on whether West’s apology was sincere or fake, but you can bet Leno got a boost in viewership by keeping West on the guest list.
Monologue, comedy bits, guest, musical number and “Headlines” — I guess placing “Headlines” at the end to lead into local news was the innovation. But I’m already tired of “The Jay Leno Show” after just one night.
What an awful show that was…The musical entertainment saved it for five minutes…
Agreed, but at least it was marginally better than the Rosie O’Donnell special. Lordy, that might have been a series.
Ugh.
Agreed. It was pretty bad. I especially disliked the the fake rushing of the stage at the beginning of the show.
I guess humor is in the ear that beholds it….or something like that. I thought it was an okay show. I kinda liked the car wash bit. Kanye is a jackass and is dead to me anyway. I was more intrigued by Rihanna making her first TV appearance since the “incident” with Chris Brown. It didn’t blow me away, but I wasn’t disappointed.
The best part of the show was watching Kanye squirm during the interview.
The show was exactly what I was expecting. As you pointed out, Gail, it’s the Tonight Show 90 minutes earlier. It was safe. It was vanilla. It was Jay. And I can’t imagine watching it every night. It will likely be my fall-back position if there’s nothing else on either live TV or my DVR. So I suspect I won’t see it much!
This is what happens when you put accountants in charge of network television. Their grand idea was to get rid of 5 nights of expensive scripted programs and fill the airtime with this drivel. It’s becoming clear after only 1 night that this idea is going to turn out to be a disaster. Jay Leno should have quit while he was ahead and not gotten himself involved in this fiasco.
I think Sienfeled said it best when he said “In the 90’s when we ended a series we actually went away”. I do think it will end up being successful for NBC. They will get back alot of the older viewers that Conan lost.
Gail,
Your review of the new “Tonight Show at 9,” aka The Jay Leno Show, was right on all counts.
All summer NBC was telling me the Jay Leno show would focus on comedy. Boy what a disappointment! I drank the kool aid thinking I was going to see a variety of comedy, cutting edge skits and the things that made Leno marginally funny (Headlines, Jaywalking, etc.)
Instead I get a copy of the late night shows I don’t give a damn about anyway. I agree with Gail: The Jay Leno Show is unfunny, unoriginal and at times unwatchable. I guess Jay whined to NBC to keep his tired format, his tired opening and his lame attempt to recreate the few glory days he had when he hosted the real Tonight Show.
I’m hoping ratings go right down the crapper quick on the show in its current format! When it happens, NBC had better deliver what it was promising: NEW COMEDY AT 9 P.M. FIVE DAYS A WEEK. If Jay doesn’t want to follow the program, he can be shown the door. Then bring in a host who is funny and knows how to make us laugh.
Sorry about the vent Gail, but right now, reruns of Saturday Night Live in that time slot are better than the Leno dribble!
Your review was right on point–starting with Seinfield interview Jay appeared uncharacteristicly ill at ease with new armchair format.
Car wash bit was very lame. Hope the rest of Jay’s new young comedian cadre of field reporters make me laugh–that singer/comic did not.
NBC network suits not smart enough to produce a stinker that drives demand back to Conan..What will happen is that Jay, probably the hardest working man in show biz, will work harder and/or have staff shakeup from top down to right the ship. Remember Jay stumbled early after taking over from Johnny–and he dumped his long time manager and went on the road promoting himself with local affiliates and went back to Number One status.
Did not see well touted exercise induced 14 lb loss. However seems to have gained 5 lbs of hair !
Next topic Gail? Letterman vs Conan — a very interesting duel