WHY IS IT A CRITICISM to say that Leno’s new show is a lot like his old show? His old show was very successful — and a show built around Jay Leno is, you know, always going to be a show built around Jay Leno. Lots of people tuned in, presumably to see . . . a show built around Jay Leno that was a lot like the one they were used to seeing. It would have been a dumb idea to try to change things a lot just for the sake of change.

UPDATE: Reader Len Smith makes a more cogent criticism:

Saw the show last night. Left after about 15 minutes. Very unimpressed. I thought the opening was flat, monologue was tedious. This is mid-September of 2009 and he is still telling Bush/Cheney jokes? Apparently Obama has not done anything funny yet that warrants a poke by Leno. I figured with all the time they had to prepare an opening show, that it would have been a little sharper. Graphics were boring, skit was weak, writing was tepid. Not sure if I can listen to Bush/Cheney jokes for 5 nights a week.

I think Jay will bail in December. Didn’t look to me like his heart was in it.

Ouch.