Question: is there anyone out there who still thinks that Robin Williams is funny?
I ask this because he's the very first guest (well, after the adorable niece and her drawings) on The Bonnie Hunt Show, the new talk show from the veteran actress/comic, and he pretty much ruins the episode. The first half anyway. The guy just can't shut up, and I suppose that would be rather great if he was funny, but with Williams, quantity doesn't equal quality. There are very few moments to breathe when Williams hits a talk show couch, and I think the only reason I get through his segment was because halfway through Joe Mantegna showed up with pizza for the audience.
But then again, maybe it was a smart move, because 1.) you get his appearance out of the way. Now we won't have to see him until next year, and 2.) he's so crazy that you forget the nervousness that Hunt displays at the start of the show. This is probably expected in the first episode of a show where you have to sit and talk in front of a large studio audience and a large home audience every single day (it shows how hard it is to host a talk show), but I couldn't stop focusing my eyes on the note cards that Hunt kept playing with. She shuffled them throughout her entire opening, at one point accidentally fanning them out on the desk and having to carefully pick them up while she kept talking. But that's no big deal. I've been cooking for years but I still drop things in the kitchen.
The show has lots of potential (though I will admit it's a bit odd to review the first episode of a talk show, a show that can evolve rather quickly). Hunt interviews kids, and she's good and funny with them, so that will probably be a regular segment. I also like the set she has (and the font/design she uses on her logo, but I don't want to bore you with my love of retro fonts). She has pictures of other talk/variety show hosts from over the years, people she looks up to, like Johnny Carson and Dean Martin. I wonder about that fireman's pole she has though. She wants it there because she's from Chicago and has family members in the fire department there and also because Dean used one on his talk show in the 60s. I wonder how many people even remember that though (the pole, not Dean Martin).
One thing I don't like about many daytime talk shows nowadays is that they seem to be taped well in advance of their show date. What happened to the days of daytime talk shows being filmed the same day (or at least the same week) that they air? I always thought that gave the shows a nice immediacy, like the late night shows. Seems like a natural thing to do for a talk show like this, but I have a feeling that Hunt already has several shows in the can.
I'll be tuning in again. Hunt is a likable person (CRUSH!) on camera and hopefully she and her cohorts (which, of course, has veteran partner Don Lake as executive producer) will pick some great guests. After Robin Williams I mean. I just don't want her to go the route of having relationship experts on or people who are going to tell women how to organize their closets or (the worst of all) reality show contestants/winners. Though I would probably watch any of those people before Williams again.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-08-2008 @ 1:22PM
deebopalula said...
I'm with you on Robin Williams. I believe he is why the mute button was created. For many years now, whenever he has been a guest on any talk show or morning show, I automatically mute the sound until his segment is over. He is too manic and he makes me feel like a nervous wreck just listening to him.
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9-08-2008 @ 1:38PM
Jimmy said...
I'm sorry I missed the premiere, and I forgot to set my DVR.
Robin Williams hasn't been a good guest (or a relevant actor) in at least 15 years.
It's too bad Bonnie's friend David Letterman couldn't guest on the first show to help her get it off the ground.
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9-08-2008 @ 1:54PM
Elf said...
I'd bet that Hunt is saving Letterman for sweeps, assuming he'd even do the show at all. And that's a good point in the article about talk shows evolving quickly. I think the rapidly implemented changes in Letterman's daytime talk show left it a completely different show than when it started, and I can envision Hunt doing the same thing, just not as extreme. I think people watching daytime TV didn't want to see Dave making fun of cooking demonstrations (except for that crazy pie lady), but would like to see Bonnie do it because she's much more gentle about it.
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9-08-2008 @ 2:51PM
Jackie Schnoop said...
What made the Robin Williams bit even worse was the fact a good portion of his shtick today was the same material he did on his recent Letterman appearance.
But Bonnie is great -- she made me laugh out loud more than a few times on the show. I hope this one's a keeper!
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9-08-2008 @ 4:24PM
Oreo said...
Wasn't shown in my area.
However Robin Williams always reuses his material, he might make new material every 3-5 years, if you are lucky.
9-08-2008 @ 3:23PM
Leota said...
Robin Williams was horrible, I had to turn it off. He's just not funny. It was painful.
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9-08-2008 @ 3:59PM
Goody said...
I couldn't get through the whole thing. It won't get a second chance from me. Too bad she couldn't get a better first guest than Robin Williams.
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9-08-2008 @ 4:02PM
Judie said...
I saw the premiere this morning and I loved it. I just got off the phone with two friends to tell them all about it. As I told my friends, usually I feel uncomfortable watching someone try a new talk show but Bonnie had me from the beginning. Love the background set!!!! Robin Williams fantastic, Bonnie Hunt keeps right up with him and I don't think that's an easy task. Keep up the good work Bonnie. Love you.
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9-08-2008 @ 4:06PM
lynneez said...
the show was ok, But Bonnie seemed uncomfortable with Robin Williams. I liked the kids interview. The singer was fine. But there is a lot of talent on-line. I encourage you to check out a band on my space "Arcadia Zero" These guys are high school kids who have songs up that they have also written. Any how Good Luck Bonnie
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9-12-2008 @ 9:29PM
Mary Ann said...
I like Bonnie and think she is very funny. However, the show didn't seem to flow, seemed unpolished and not ready to air. I didn't think her family bits were funny- she was referring to them in the jokes and introducing them. That seemed odd.
The best part was when she answered what she liked and learned as a nurse. She was warm and personal in that moment. If she could find ways to do that more, it'd be a great show.
Best wishes to her!
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9-08-2008 @ 8:25PM
Mary Ann said...
One more thing-
When Bonnie said how old do you think I am when someone said Streep could play her, I thought: wait! Aren't they about the same age?
I googled (Happy B-day Google, btw! 8-) and found out that Bonnie is 15 years younger. Opps! Then again, I would never have guessed Streep was as old as she is- so I underestimated, Streep and overestimated Bonnie's age.
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9-08-2008 @ 11:48PM
Ann said...
I love Bonnie Hunt.
I thought she was great everytime she was on David Letterman. I hope Dave will consider being on her show, they have great chemistry together. I was a little disappointed with her first show. I am hoping that she will get better as time goes on. I agree it did not flow very well.
Robin Williams has not been funny for many years, all of his material is old, and has been seen on so many talk shows. Each time he appears to be more annoying then the last time. It appears that the hosts think they have to laugh because that's what they are suppose to do.
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9-09-2008 @ 4:01PM
michael hill said...
This show is a total..stinker..and its not just the guests..that were bad.Very BADLY PRODUCED..or should I say OVER PRODUCED..you know..to many cooks and all that..and stop already with the reaction shots of the Exec Prod. and his group of staff onlookers..laughing at the unfunny..Bonnie..You deserve better
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9-09-2008 @ 10:09PM
anthony joseph lucchese said...
I saw the Bonnie Hunt show premier and it was great!
She is a all around great talent: comic, actress and singer.
She is also an attractive woman who held my attention through out the whole show.
There is also a nice live band with the show that is pretty good!
I hope she brings the show to Chicago and eventually maybee she can broadcast the show from Chicago permantley instead of L.A.
I hope that she has a long run with the show. It is refreshing to see a Chicagoan as host of a daytime show!
Good luck Bonnie and staff on your new daytime show.
I will be looking forward to seeing the next show and enjoying your great talent and staff!!
Kind regards,
Anthony Joseph Lucchese
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9-10-2008 @ 9:55AM
Karen said...
Can someone tell me what channel the show is on & if it is going to be shown in Maine ..................
been looking & looking. Thanks
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9-12-2008 @ 9:35PM
me said...
michael hill said...
"This show is a total..stinker..and its not just the guests..that were bad.Very BADLY PRODUCED..or should I say OVER PRODUCED..you know..to many cooks and all that..and stop already with the reaction shots of the Exec Prod. and his group of staff onlookers..laughing at the unfunny..Bonnie..You deserve better"
I am glad I am not the only one who thinks showing the group of staff watching is weird!
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9-15-2008 @ 9:23AM
Jerri said...
I absolutely love Bonnie Hunt's new show ... Haven't seen anything so funny and down to earth since Rosie quit her show ... The show makes you feel like you are her friend not just an onlooker ... I hope she has a long run with this one ... not only is she talented, she is from Chicago ... and ya can't beat that with a stick ....
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2-16-2009 @ 5:51PM
Charlaine said...
Love the show , she makes me laugh . I switched from M & J Show to her show .
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9-15-2008 @ 2:22PM
Janice said...
Wanted to throw my two cents in and say, "I think Bonnie Hunt is a breath of fresh air. She is completely down to earth - a sweet personality and she makes my day shine, thanks Bonnie.
Janice
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9-16-2008 @ 2:15PM
lorddonk said...
I never heard of "Bonnie Hunt" before. I was tuning in for "NBC Crosswords" (which I normally watched at 2pm) and saw this show on and I thought "What the heck is this!?" and turned it off.
(I thought it was some sort of telethon or something.)
The next day, I found it on again, and I watched it because there was nothing else on and now I'm hooked! The episode I saw was hilarious, featuring Cloris Leachman! I was literally crying from laughing so hard.
The show is a little too reminiscent of Ellen (of whom I'm also a loyal fan) but I like it! The way I see it, I get two Ellen DeGeneres Shows a day! I hope she gets enough viewers to continue the show, and as much as I love it, I hope she does more to make her show stand out from the rest of the "Talk Show pack."
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