The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
NBC | Release Date: June 1, 2009
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
67
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews
Positive:
7
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
Boston GlobeJoanna Weiss
Season 1 Review: It was vintage Conan stuff, proof that his absurdist sense of humor won't change much on the West Coast. And yet last night also contained some grand nods to O'Brien's fancy new home. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesPaige Wiser
Season 1 Review: Admit it. Seeing O'Brien under direct sunlight in various bits was a jolt. But he looked giddily at home on the Tonight Show stage. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan
Season 1 Review: Though he seemed a little nervous and the humor seemed a bit broader, generally speaking, than it was on "Late Night," Conan on The Tonight Show worked just fine. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyKen Tucker
Season 1 Review: All in all, a large-scale, impressive debut. Read full review
75
USA TodayRobert Bianco
Season 1 Review: All in all, O'Brien got his Tonight off to a decent start, though you still got the sense you were watching an introduction more than a settled production. Read full review
70
New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley
Season 1 Review: Conan made it subtly clear that the new kid in town will be a little naughtier and that for better or worse, Tonight is now his ride. Read full review
63
San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman
Season 1 Review: O'Brien's debut was pretty much what one would expect from these kind of pre-hyped events. It was both funny and forced and the expectations of - what, exactly?--never seemed to materialize, even though Will Ferrell as the sole guest tried to drum something up and Pearl Jam, as the musical guest, at least kick-started an aural ruckus. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterRandee Dawn
Season 1 Review: After one show, let's say he's a work in progress. Read full review
60
Newark Star-LedgerAlan Sepinwall
Season 1 Review: Conan was simultaneously reassuring his fans that he wasn't going to change too much in the new gig, and telling the traditional Tonight audience what they might expect from the new landlord. This was the smart, and really only, play Conan could make on night one of such a high-profile job. I just wish the execution had been a little better. Read full review
60
Washington PostTom Shales
Season 1 Review: Moving up to the big time, and relocating to the earlier time slot, seems to have robbed Conan of much of his charm. Much--but not all. Read full review
60
Philadelphia InquirerDavid Hiltbrand
Season 1 Review: In its first week, the show has acquired a more expansive, scattershot tone. It feels less rehearsed than Leno's regime, but at times, out of control. Read full review
50
Baltimore SunDavid Zurawik
Season 1 Review: Conan O'Brien's first Tonight Show was a good one--if you like canned video clips rather than topical humor. Otherwise, there wasn't much to get excited about. Read full review
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