NBC attempted to redeem itself last night by bringing back ratings winner Jay Leno after giving him the boot in favor of the world’s oldest frat boy, Conan O’Brien, in June.
Well, yes, they brought Jay back, but in the old people’s spot of 10 p.m. instead of 11:35.
But still, Jay roared back with Kevin Eubanks and the band, like it was late night all over again.
And unlike everyone else who does what he does, but often not as well, Jay returned with that smart and smartass mix of talent and controversy that separates the pros from the bores.
How do you beat guests like President Obama (OK, despite what we expected, it was a joke clip interview) and Oprah (live, but not in person, on a video screen), musical guests Rihanna, Jay-Z and, yes, Kanye West, whose comments at the MTV awards were only slightly less controversial than Obama’s on health care,
Jay opened his new show with his usual politically oriented monologue, then hit a dead end with a boring, hit-and-miss video bit by an up-and-coming comic who did a not-very-funny, endless, musical car-wash video that would have been better suited to Conan than Jay.
Then it was time to bring on first guest Jerry Seinfeld — in full black tie, looking very elegant. Seinfeld poked fun at all the dopey, emotional testimonials on Jay’s last “Tonight” show, which was just three months ago.
“You know, in the ’90’s, when we quit a show, we actually left!” he said. Then the two of them got into it with a funny married-guy bit about cheating spouses, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and his Argentine “soulmate.”
“Can’t you sleep American?” Jay quipped.
But it wasn’t until a contrite Kanye West came out shame-faced and looking like he was ready to burst into tears that things took a whole other turn.
Unlike what was expected, Leno didn’t go all Dr. Phil on us. Instead, he got tough and even brought up the entertainer’s famously close relationship with his late mother. “Let me ask you something,” Jay said. “I was fortunate enough to meet your mom a number of years ago. What do you think she would have said about this? Would she be disappointed in this? Would she give you a lecture?”
West hung his head and said, “Yeah. I’m just ashamed that my hurt caused someone else’s hurt. I need to, after this, take some time off and just analyze how I’m going to make it through the rest of this life, how I’m going to improve.”
Will 10 p.m. be the new 11:35? Stay tuned.