TVSpy
One could forgive the average viewer for tuning into NBC on Monday at 10/9C and wondering why ‘The Tonight Show’ was on. Sure, NBC spent a reported $10 million marketing Jay Leno’s move to primetime and, sure, the ‘The Jay Leno Show’ has certainly been the most talked about programming decision of the new TV season, but after all of the commercials and all of the industry speculation, not much has changed to Leno’s familiar television presence.
As Leno worked in his new, couch-less studio with comedy patriarch Jerry Seinfeld and controversial rapper-producer Kanye West, the show scored a big opening night rating. In the early metered market numbers, the premiere scored a 12.1 household rating and a 19 share. It’s a solid start to be sure, especially considering that Leno’s farewell episode of ‘The Tonight Show’ pulled a 7.9 household rating. The real test will obviously be in the next few weeks when networks debut their primetime lineups and the show works to sustain the initial viewer interest. For now, here are some critical reactions to the ‘Leno’ premiere…
Robert Bianco, USA Today
“It’s a new business idea, an attempt to provide cheap, alternative programming five nights a week in a 10 p.m. slot the network was probably going to lose anyway. But creatively, there wasn’t an original thought to be found, which is what happens when your only goal is to fail less expensively.” More…
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News
“The only question left after the debut of ‘The Jay Leno Show’ on Monday night is: If this is as good as it gets with three months to work on it, what’s it going to be like once the night-after-night grind sets in?” More…
Jeremy Gerard, Bloomberg
“The blandness factor Leno assiduously fine-tuned at 11:30 is better suited to a postprandial living room chat than the at least marginally sophisticated tone of his predecessors, Johnny Carson and Jack Paar. Fans won’t be disappointed; anyone expecting actual wit from Leno after his release from the late- night format will quickly reach for the remote.” More…
Alessandra Stanley, The New York Times
“Mr. West’s apology didn’t fit NBC’s definition of the Leno hour as a refreshing infusion of stand-up comedy into the bathos of 10 p.m. network dramas and detective shows. If anything, the premiere out Oprah-ed “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and not because of the short pre-taped cameo Ms. Winfrey made as a joke during Jerry Seinfeld’s segment.” More…
Hank Stuever, Washington Post
“He has all the draw of buy-one-get-one-free smoothies. His comedy is bubble-wrap; its appeal needs no explaining. He goes with Dan Brown novels and Marriott Rewards points and repeat viewings of the cinchy CBS crime procedurals he now finds himself programmed against: Who doesn’t like all of those things?…And who won’t watch Jay when nothing else is on, or when the nurse won’t come change the channel?” More…