I know Conan is not the best late night show talk host but I do enjoy watching him sometimes so when I heard that Jimmy Fallon was going to take over his “Late Night” show I was one of those who made sure I saw the first episode to see how well he did, and like most people who saw the show I can say he was passable but utterly unremarkable.
During the course of the first episode I found myself cringing for Fallon because it was just so obvious that he was trying so hard to seem funny and at ease though he wasn’t. For the most part I do blame the writers because lots of the jokes just weren’t funny. I especially hated the game “Lick it for Ten” where studio audiences were asked to lick some stuff (fishbowl, etc) so they’ll get $10. The game was not only pointless but it wasn’t funny, it wasn’t even gross enough to be interesting! Props to the audience though for trying their hardest to help Fallon out.
As for the future of Jimmy Fallon and the show who know? But I share Matthew Gilbert’s sentiments when he wrote the following in the Boston Globe, “Will Fallon improve? I hope so. Perhaps if the writers step up their game and Fallon relaxes, “Late Night” will find a groove. Maybe the producers should give Fallon a sidekick, someone with whom he can josh and tease. As it is, he seems like a lone deer in the spotlights.” I too hope for the best but so far after the couple of episodes I’ve seen I don’t even feel like staying up just to see how well he does.