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
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