edithrenas: ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ Premiere: Review Roundup, Video Highlights

Sunday, March 2, 2014

‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ Premiere: Review Roundup, Video Highlights

Former SNL ‘Weekend Update’ anchor Seth Meyers made his debut as the host of ‘Late Night with guests, Amy Poehler and Vice President Joe Bieden, taking over the program from Jimmy Fallon. Now the television critics have had their say. Check out a roundup of reviews.

With the new host of ‘Late Night’ the transition is complete. Jay Leno departs — for good this time — Jimmy Fallon takes over ‘The Tonight Show’ and Seth Meyers takes over ‘Late Night.’ Somehow it’s almost like talking about the transfer of power in a government!

The 40-year-old Seth Meyers makes arguably a bigger transition than Jimmy Fallon. It marks his first time hosting an hour-long late-night television program, or a program on TV of any kind, for that matter. The long-time head writer of ‘Saturday Night Live’ had also been its ‘Weekend Update’ anchor for several years.

He began the inaugural night of the show with a cold open that an homage to Jimmy Fallon’s famous ‘Thank You Notes’ segment. Naturally, he thanked Fallon for moving on so that he could host the show. And from there, with his new bandleader, also a Saturday Night Live alum, Fred Armisen — the show was off and running, with monologue and two lively guests — Amy Poehler and Vice President Joe Bieden — who strangely enough had been on the same set, as Biden made a cameo appearance on ‘Parks & Recreation’ as himself. This led to several jokes including speculation on a future collaboration; “Snakes on a Train.” Biden, of course, had a chance to make an announcement that he was not going to make an announcement that night as to whether or not he would run for President in 2016.

Rather than picking a legendary musical guest — as did Jimmy Fallon with ‘The Tonight Show’ as U2 gave a first-ever 30 Rock rooftop performance — Seth Meyers’ first musical guests were the breakthrough duo A Great Big World whose single became a worldwide smash when they teamed up to rerecord it with Christina Aguilera (who was not present for the performance).

As for the television critics, the reviews were mixed, but most noted Seth Meyers’ strengths even as they pointed out the weaknesses. Here is a roundup.

“…..Seth Meyers still doesn’t have a thing. But he has the potential for a good one. He has the potential to complicate the unfailing friendliness of Jimmy Fallon by peppering in a little bite. Wasn’t that, after all, what made Meyers’s work on SNL so great? The danger and naughtiness that the weekend allows for and that we all hoped he’d bring over to week nights?…..” — The Daily Beast

“….Meyers, for his own part, seems thoroughly an adult, playful but self-possessed. At 40, he is six years older than Fallon was when he took the job, and had been a head writer at “SNL” since 2005. (Fallon is 39 now, but forever a puppy dog.) Where Fallon’s first episode of “Late Night,” following O’Brien’s 16 years in the chair, felt both tentative and unproductively busy, Meyers — though he admitted in the days leading up to the premiere to being nervous — was shaky only fleetingly. He stuck his landings. He was cool, but clearly having fun…..” — L.A. Times

“….Newly minted “Late Night” host Seth Meyers hit a few early potholes during his inaugural show Monday night — but eventually found his sea legs and drove his new 12:35 p.m. show to a solid, if unspectacular, debut…These are very small nits to pick, and Meyers will be fine. He’s charming with a certain “aw shucks” demeanor that doesn’t seem forced or contrived and he’ll have plenty of time to grow into his new role as a late-night host….” — New York Post

“….Meyers was still yelling like a fake newscaster, not talking like a real host. He favored snappy bits that cut to the chase like his Update jokes. The segment “Venn Diagram” found the middle ground in two apparently unlikely things: Russia and the NBA (“Places That Are More Gay-Friendly Than Arizona”), Nicki Minaj and Hoarders (“Lots of Junk in the Trunk”), Snow and Toilet Paper (“Things You Won’t Find in Sochi.”) He looked a bit nervous. His left hand kept jittering. (It recalled that old Jack Donaghy line: “What do I do with my arms?”)…..” — Entertainment Weekly

“…. On the plus side, Meyers came across as relaxed and loose, riffing on his show’s micro-budget and acknowledging the jokes that fell flat. The writing, however, simply wasn’t that strong — with a preponderance of uninspired Olympic gags — which seems especially weak given the front-loading and extra preparation time that inevitably goes into an opening night for this sort of venture…..” — Variety

And with the first night of the show that all-important debut out of the way, Seth Meyers reaches phase two of the venture, as critics and media will make note of ratings at that 12:35 a.m. time slot which sees him competing with CBS’ ‘Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. And, there will be the inevitable comparisons with his predecessors, Jimmy Fallon most notably as well as Conan O’Brien and David Letterman who were the previous hosts.

Watch highlights video below!

‘Thank You Notes’ Cold Open