TV Review: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
Conan O’Brien made his debut as host of The Tonight Show Monday. The following are assorted reviews from TV critics around the Internet, compiled by B&C.
“The first night of what will probably be the first night of the rest of Conan O’Brien’s professional life was not a disaster. Not at all. But it was far from a success.”
-Verne Gay, Newsday
“I’m certainly not predicting doom for him…but I do wonder if any Jay fans who were on the fence about giving this freakishly tall replacement a shot may have hopped off the fence after last night to wait for their man to return in primetime in September.”
-Alan Sepinwall, The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.)
“Overall, the show wasn’t O’Brien at his funniest, but it was funny enough to get by.”
-Robert Bianco, USA Today
“All in all, a large-scale, impressive debut.”
-Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly
“His opening night was…funnier than any greatest hits collection one could mash up of Leno on YouTube.”
-Mark A. Perigard, The Boston Herald
“He lives and dies by being funny and smart. He was both during his Monday night debut.”
-Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News
“Conan O’Brien’s first Tonight Show was a good one-if you like canned video clips rather than topical humor. Otherwise, there wasn’t much to get excited about.”
-David Zurawik, Baltimore Sun
“Moving up to the big time, and relocating to the earlier time slot, seems to have robbed Conan of much of his charm.”
-Tom Shales, Washington Post
“One hour earlier, still pale but in greater danger of sunburn, up a sidekick but down a FedEx Pope-is Conan still Conan? Disappointingly, it’s too early to tell.”
-Paige Wiser, Chicago Sun-Times
“Hit and miss. Not a disaster…but no roaring success, either.”
-Alex Strachan, The Gazette (Montreal)
Stuart Roth commented:
What Conan lacks, Leno, Kimmel, and Letterman have.
Class to their act. Conan never had it on late night, or will he ever have it. He's silly, and that's not good TV.
thunderdtt commented:
jonny carson is rollin over in his grave... who thinks this guy is funny?? You're f*&%%&*ing idiots, Lenos got more smarts and humor in his chin alone.
DENDude commented:
He sucks, The Tonight Show is just not the same. I Find his antics dumb and childish, and will be waiting for Jay to come back in September. I feel sorry for the Affiliates who will have to deal with the ratings disaster in a year or so..
randy ross commented:
This guy is a disgrace!! Oh Johnny look what happened!! Poor Mike tyson !! Has to get interviewed by a total ass wipe!! give me a break!! i thoufght jay sucked but i must say he was a star , like him or love him. Here is this stupid idiot trying to Interview someone!! HEY Conan stop reading cards!! you suck!! Mike tyson should smack this Irish f and smack him in the face!! Conan has no class at all!! the tonight show has ended!!
Vicchino commented:
Much prefer it to Leno's Show, but his Late Night slot suited him better.
EJ commented:
I gave it my best shot with Conan. Watched the first two weeks-- I kept thinking it would get better... I can't do it anymore. On to Letterman until Jay's back in the fall. What was NBC thinking??? Tried to be a Conan fan- can't do it.
10kc commented:
GonzoBobO: The Tonight Show was cut to an HOUR three decades ago. It can't have been as bad as you imagined!
GonzoBobO commented:
Conan is 5 minutes of Comedy, all crammed into an hour-and-a-half...
Dave commented:
Conan sucks. He's not even in the same intellectual league as Leno.
TSA commented:
Much better than any episode of Leno, but Conan isn't quite up to Letterman's level, or even Colbert's really. He'll have to settle for me watching him online the next day.
TSA commented:
Much better than any episode of Leno, but Conan isn't quite up to Letterman's level, or even Colbert's really. He'll have to settle for me watching him online the next day.
Kop commented:
Seemed like Letterman Lite ...and I don't like Letterman. Waiting for Jay!
long time viewer commented:
Conan is Ok but who cares about the drunks in the audience. I don't want to hear their crap. The band blows and the announcer... well maybe he'll fade away too. If Conan can't keep it a little classy... I'll take a dump and wait for Jimmy Kimmel. Will Ferrel as the debut guest?? gimme a break.
donald t commented:
gotta say...was not a fan...and still am not....come back Jay!!
