TVSquad

"I guess obviously you've downsized. You had to sell the desk." -- Robin Williams

Leno's had a couple of nights now to get a feel for what kind of show he wants to do, and figure out how to stay relevant in prime time. Most of the feedback that I've seen from people who saw it hasn't been very positive. They're disappointed that it feels so much like The Tonight Show.

If one of the ways he's trying to differentiate himself is by having longer comedy bits and fewer guests, then I think that's backfiring a bit because every single comedy video he's shown has gone on way, way too long. It's as if they're trying to create internet viral-worthy videos like Saturday Night Live has with their "Digital Shorts," but they're missing the mark.

Tonight's showcase video featured comedy duo Hamish & Andy filming a "ghosting" competition. Ghosting is where one person films and the other person tries to walk as close as they can directly behind someone until they get noticed. Okay, that's kind of fun. This video went nearly five minutes.

Saturday Night Live is known for taking a potentially funny sketch and running it into the ground by going on and on until mid-Sunday morning with it. Now we've got Leno taking a page from their book and taking what could have been a light and funny look at something goofy that people do for fun and turned it into a chore to watch.

"10 @ 10" came back with Miley Cyrus. I'm still on the fence on this one. It definitely needs to stick to just one person answering; Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz spent more time bantering than getting through the questions last night. I still feel like it might need to be "5 @ 10:40" if it is going to make it.

"Cash for Flunkers" was funny because it was short and sweet and got right to the point. It even utilized the "Asian kids are smarter" stereotype for a quick laugh. But it was pared onto the end of a too-long Carrot-Top inspired bit featuring lame back-to-school items like Guitar Hero Sandwich and a personalized swine flu mask.

Once again, the guest was the highlight of the night. So maybe an Ed Sullivan type of show is what Jay should go for. Just step back and fill your show with people more entertaining. Robin Williams is usually a guest that irritates me to no end. He's "on" all the time running from one side of the set to the other, climbing the props and flinging excrement at the audiences. Tonight, he did a little of that but in small funny doses. The rest of the time he was genuinely talking and answering questions. Do you think he was medicated?

At least Leno's monologue remains one of his strong points. I've always found the traditional joke-punchline-joke-punchline method of monologue boring (I know, they almost all do it), but for that format, Leno is probably one of the best going. He keeps his jokes light, short and piled one on top of the other like Airplane! humor. If one misses, there's another coming right at you. Kind of like The Jay Leno Show. See you tomorrow night.