Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night lets the host act a little more relaxed, and Meyers uses that freedom well.

Fred Armisen is a surprising choice as bandleader, but he brings unequaled improv chops to the table, and his little banter with Seth every night has already proven one of the more reliably funny bits. Integrating him as much as possible is certainly a smart idea. Meyers, like Fallon, is also a more-than-capable interviewer.

As always, you can't judge a late-night host by a first show. But Meyers' debut indicates that his blend of intelligence and goofy humor will be a welcome addition to the crowded late-night neighborhood.

Mr. Meyers was at ease and disarming in his new role as a talk show host.

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.

The monologue was the sharpest part of Meyers’ first hour on the air (a departure from Fallon, whose monologue has never been his strength)–brisk, punctuated with self-deprecation, and wide-rangingly topical.... The distinguishing thing about the first night of Seth Meyers, in other words, was Seth Meyers, and the hour dropped little hints about how his personality and interests might shape the show.

You get a lot of jokes per minute from Meyers, and on Monday at least, most of them worked.... Time of course will tell, but Late Night once again seems to be in good hands.

The articulate comic whose charm is deftly walking the balance beam between cool guy and geek was at his best when he was simply conversing.