Fallon reviews not so hot

US reviews for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this week have all said the new talk show host looked way too nervous. First night guests Robert De Niro were described as awkward while Justin Timberlake saved the day.

And it’s all true. Fallon also didn’t seem especially in control of a very boisterous audience with some vocal audience members trying to muscle into the spotlight.

Variety said:
Fallon also struggled at the desk, which is where, ultimately, talkshows have to be made most nights. Although De Niro is a notoriously bad interview, peppering him with questions designed to yield one-word answers only exacerbated the awkwardness. Justin Timberlake helped matters by exhibiting his talents mimicking other popular singers, and Fallon seemed relieved to let someone else carry the load.

Although Fallon will doubtless settle in, it’s pretty clear that “Late Night” is exactly the same format with a new frontman, which means NBC can only hope that its host grows into the gig. For now, though, the support system looks iffy, and the learning curve appears pretty steep.

“Believe it or not, we have another show tomorrow,” Fallon said near the end. We believe it — and better luck next time.

Hollywood Reporter said:

Then out came De Niro, a friend doing Fallon a favor in making a rare talk-show appearance. Fallon, somewhat tongue-tied, made a joke of not being able to draw De Niro out. Didn’t work. But he was rescued by the ever-charismatic Timberlake, who was ebullient in doing dead-on impressions of John Mayer and Michael McDonald.

Fallon figures to take a while to find his rhythm, much as was the case with O’Brien before him. He didn’t come across on Night 1 like a natural in the chair so much as a comic who does great impressions doing his awkward best to put the spotlight on his guests. But the truth is it really isn’t entirely fair to judge a guy on his first night on a very big and bright stage. Fallon is certainly talented enough to deserve a chance to make a go of it. The problem these days is there’s no patience for slow builds, so the guy had best get comfy fast.

But his second night was better received.

Baltimore Sun:
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon was definitely better the second time around last night. But much of the credit for that improvement must be attributed to the difference in lead guests: an animated Tina Fey last night, vs.a Robert De Niro who acted like just showing up was enough on opening night.

…Now the bad news: Fallon didn’t have much to do with the good moments last night. When he held the spotlight, the show faltered.

In my review of the premiere, I said that I knew Fallon would deliver funnier opening monologues in nights to come. But after seeing him last night, I am not so sure. His rhythm was better, but he seems utterly incapable of taking the news of the day, or the events that adults are most likely to be talking about at night, and make a joke about it. “Topical” is the word I’m thinking of here — or in his case, the lack of humorous topicality.

Fallon airs here on the Comedy Channel.