Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

New Leno Show Numbingly (or Pleasantly) Familiar

It's pretty much the Tonight Show in a new time slot

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 15, 2009 6:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Jay Leno Show won't disappoint Leno fans looking for more of the same, say critics, but the only thing new or ground-breaking about it is the 10pm time slot.

  • James Poniewozik, Time: Leno and NBC aren't "out to win over critics who liked Letterman better. Instead, they're giving old Jay fans what they like—for far less dough than producing 10pm dramas—interspersed with enough of Whatever People Are Talking About Today to get a churning drive-by audience."

  • Matthew Gilbert, Boston Globe: "From the opening monologue and the overly scripted banter with guest Jerry Seinfeld (and, via satellite, Oprah Winfrey) to the goofy-headlines segment at the end of the hour, The Jay Leno Show was numbingly familiar."
  • Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times: The show "promises to be better than, say, Rosie O'Donnell's mad flight into variety, but gosh darn it, at least Rosie took some chances," whereas Jay took none at all last night. "The best we can hope for is that The Jay Leno Show will get better, much better, or at least provide good fodder for Conan."

Jay Leno speaks during the panel for The Jay Leno Show at the NBC Universal Television Critics Association summer press tour.
Jay Leno speaks during the panel for "The Jay Leno Show" at the NBC Universal Television Critics Association summer press tour.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Fans write messages for Jay Leno while waiting in a holding area to watch the premiere of the Jay Leno Show outside NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif. yesterday.
Fans write messages for Jay Leno while waiting in a holding area to watch the premiere of the "Jay Leno Show" outside NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif. yesterday.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
The Jay Leno Show, Sept. 14, 2009   (hulu.com)
OFFICIAL PRETTY BOI TWITTER www.Twitter.com   (prettyboimusic)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

They said The Jay Leno Show wouldn't feel like going to bed really early, that it would feel new. But it's like going to bed really early. It feels old. - Hank Stuever, Washington Post

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Rocket448
Sep 17, 2009 1:35 AM CDT
This show is junk...more of the same, but not as good. Oh, and Time Magazine? Jay is NOT the future of TV. Sorry, but -- no.
Ucantusethatname
Sep 16, 2009 1:15 AM CDT
Boring. I watched the first show. That's enough. The new show should last at least a month. This format does not capitalize on Leno's talent.
Guest
Sep 15, 2009 10:55 PM CDT
Man, Conan really got low-balled by Leno. His show is so much funnier, you just need to have a REAL sense of humor to get it. Jay, your car website is fugging awesome, just focus on that.

More Newser Stories

India Fumes Over Leno Joke

Perry Explains Gaffes to Leno

Obama to Leno: GOP Race Like Survivor

4 Signs Kim, Kris Are Getting More Ridiculous

Roseanne: 'I'm Running for President'


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne