Finally, the time has come. Jay's new show has the potential to re-define the last hour of prime time and has far ranging implications - if successful - for all the big 3 networks. The days of expensive dramas at 10 p.m. may be nearing an end.
Your blogger would like to share some of my own thoughts about the premiere of the "Jay Leno Show" that debuted Monday Night on Channel 3 at 10 p.m. that we wrote as the show aired live tonight:Instantly, I felt the old "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" had just moved to 10 p.m. The open didn't "wow" me, but the monologue was fresh and faster paced. The monologue was always among Jay's strongest features of the old "Tonight Show" - so it only makes sense to take advantage of his brand of unique comedy, the cute skits and the always entertaining Kevin Eubanks with the new "Primetime Band."
The "Cheaters" sketch worked well in the monologue, which was among the funniest of several short skit moments, with Kevin and a Jay look a like. The first 8 minutes of the show moved well.
The second segment featured a new regular of Jay's, Dan Finnerty and his Dan Band, with a entertainment skit, "Car Wash," that seemed to go on forever. The skit was meant to fill the time of a real car wash, but bored the heck out of us. I began watching the minutes tick away on the clock and probably some viewers left at this point. Probably not the best idea to follow a strong first block. But, perhaps the show felt this way after just watching the finals of "America's Got Talent" on NBC. Any of those acts would have fit better on Leno in this slot.
The second half hour began with more comedy. Jay always loves playing with our commanders in chief and did so with President Obama, using snippets from a CBS 60 minutes interview that ran Sunday evening in a very funny sketch that poked fun at the new show and other hot topics on the nation's agenda. I felt the skit was tight and bright and was just long enough to re-grab my attention in the 2nd half hour that affiliates worried would quickly become a tune out factor for the show. Jay held my attention well.
Next came one of the hottest topics of the day - the Kanye West interview and what happened at the MTV Music Awards Sunday Night. This was the show's highlight and led into the important final quarter hour stations need as a strong lead into our local news. Although Kanye was a planned guest, the interview was moving and off the cuff which Jay handled well playing the mom wildcard and showing Jay's diversity as an interviewer. I wonder if Kanye's tears were real or if he was really sorry, again.
The interview was followed by a performance with Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West that put three very interesting personalities on one stage - part of Leno's strategy to keep the show entertaining. Not my cup of tea in music, but I found myself waiting for Kanye to grab the microphone from Rihanna.
You may have also noticed an abundance of NBC promos during the show to kick off their Fall season and the launch of NBC's new tag line we previously mentioned: "more colorful." Of course, WKYC likes this as NBC needs to do a good job and get it right this fall.
Finally at 10:52 pm, Jay turned to another old reliable feature from his old "Tonight Show" called "Headlines." This was always one of my favorites and was a good way to wind down the premiere show. Love those misplaced cabbages and the "doctor who uses groin to fix brain."
For the first show, your blogger thinks it was a good effort on Jay's part. Yes, the show needs some polish, but that will be fun to watch as it improves in the weeks and months ahead. Jay has one year to prove himself we feel. He is off to a strong start.
Please share your own thoughts in the comments section below.
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Disclaimer: The previous thoughts are those of the blogger and do not necessarily represent those of WKYC or Gannett Broadcasting.
