Jay Leno is so chuffed that he is on at 10 pm that he has a massive great 'ten' logo built into the floor and the show continually plugs him being on at 10. Not much use to me as the cable time I see the show is nowhere near 10 pm so the ten thing is a dead loss. What does amuse me is that he has the same routine he has always had (walks out to up-beat, funky music, shakes hands with a pre-selected group of studio audience, then returns to centre stage where he delivers the monologue, hands in pockets and intermittently clasped and rubbed together. I have always wondered how he, a fastidious chap, could bear to have contact with so many strangers. But these days of H1N1 viral contact and the fever over 'flu - it could be deadly. So then it hit me. In his pockets he has pre-loaded waterless hand-santizer. A quick rub, one hand to a pocket, withdraw and then rub hands lightly together and Bob's your uncle, fresh as a daisy! Watch the routine carefully. It is so predictable that it has a rhythm about it. Shake, high five, music ends, hands in pockets, hands rubbed together, speak, hands in pockets for a refresher, clasp hands to dry, continue monologue. Nice one Jay!
The show is pleasant enough and they have clearly been trying to break the tonight show template by changing things around, but the abrupt ending following the news promo is a little deflating. Still, it's nice not to be locked in to the music numbers, and people flogging their wares. I like the 'earn your plug' segment a lot. The Ford car race is a pain in the neck though and needs to have some more production value. Tonight with Matt Lauer gave them the chance but they blew it. Jay appears to be such a nice chap that it may jsut end up being the kind of filler programme you turn on when all else fails. Sad, that. The lame ventriloquists, gagmeisters and bits must go. Tighten up the bits and if the length is fill for money reasons, make them intorunning or serialised gags or season regulars to maximise the locations and sets. But I am sure the producers have thought of this.
Speaking of sets, the set is great - nice lightbox look with some excellent silhouette vignette appeal.
Well, I will give it a few more nights.
