Monday, December 21, 2009

Jay Leno: Worst show of 2009?

Good thing Jay Leno doesn't care what the critics say, because it looks like his "Jay Leno Show" is becoming a staple of "Worst of the Year" lists. Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker chooses his program as the very worst of 2009, behind even Glenn Beck (he's at #2). "By any measure — comedy, interviews, ratings — this prime-time experiment has failed," writes Tucker. "There's an odd listlessness to Leno's performance these days, as though he's tired of being the public face of NBC's 10 p.m. audience shrinker."

The Washington Post's Hank Stuever also declares Leno the worst of 2009: "10 o'clock's bold experiment? Phhhfffft. Our bedtime isn't that early, after all."

While most critics list five or 10 shows as the worst of the year, Tom Maurstad of the Dallas Morning News doesn't even bother -- he names one show, and you guessed it, it's Leno: "'The Jay Leno Show' is train-wreck TV that just keeps going and going. Its ratings are dismal and it's obliterated what had been the time slot for some of the most beloved and important shows in TV history. "

Time writer and blogger James Poniewozik puts Leno on his list along with other worst-list staples like "Jersey Shore" and "Osbournes: Reloaded." "Didn't some idiot newsmagazine call this 'the future of TV'? Well, yes, and it remains so, as a sign of the cost-cutting and product-placement-ization of the declining big-network medium. But we did not necessarily mean this as a compliment."

TV Squad's Allison Waldman also disses Leno, calling his show "retro in a bad way."

Better luck in 2010, Jay.

5 comments :

  1. Anonymous said...

    I find it ironic that everyone's saying he's the worst - yet - his numbers have actually been improving over the last few weeks.

    Go figure.

    - Octobrain

  2. Anonymous said...

    As an avid Leno hater, this news makes for a great Christmas present. Hs ha suck it Leno!!!!!

  3. Anonymous said...

    Ouch. Like Dave says, I stand behind no man in my distaste for Leno (Dave uses that phrase to praise Oprah tho), but even I feel bad for him after reading this article. I wonder how long NBC is willing to let this excuse for a show continue.

    On a lighter note, happy holidays to all of you out there, specially Sue, the creator of this great blog! May 2010 be a good year for us all.

    Santiago

  4. Anonymous said...

    i found the jay leno show pretty funny, i mean i can see how some people dont like it but how did it just get such horrible reviews..

  5. Adam Lawrence Miller said...

    Leno's problem is that he's become a "TV" person -- he's literally unable to generate a human reaction in even those most shocking situations. He was recently on Bill Maher (a couple months ago), and they were discussing forced child prostitution. The conversation was entirely grave, and all he could do was make some corny joke and shrug his shoulders. Softball to the core. Letterman, on the other hand, actually seems like a human being.