Update: GREG GUTFELD: FIRST SHOW REVIEW -- BORRRRRRRRING ... TIME FOR FOX TO BRING OUT ADAM CAROLLA

Update: GREG GUTFELD: THIRD SHOW REVIEW - LAST REVIEW BECAUSE I CAN'T STAND THE PAIN

The lameness continues with a bit of self-deprecating humor that appears to acknowledge the malaise of his debut show …

The show opens with Gutfeld talking to himself in the mirror in his dressing room. “You can do this Greg. You could do this. This is your show. Don’t screw it up like last week. This one is going to be the one. This is going to be the one. You can do it. Go get ‘em Greg.”

Staring directly into the TelePrompTer …  Greg rips off a fast-paced written set piece … filled with word play, but without any seeming warmth or emotion. Looking like an amateur caught in the headlights of an opportunity to perform.

• Still showing nervousness, Gutfeld bobbles the name of Mary Katherine Ham as Mary Kathylyn Ham.
• His annoying “liberal panel,” the animated character, is about inspiring as Microsoft’s animated paperclip. Alan Comes in a mirror hanging on the wall would be more amusing.
• Gutfeld becomes more relaxed later in the show when he starts talking with his guests about Vince Vaughn and the Second Amendment. This is the way Gutfeld is normally on guest appearances. This is the engaging Gutfeld, the mischievous troll who can command audience attention.
• The “News for Kids” segment on Entourage was well-written and well-produced.
• The pandering piece with Donald Trump was mildly amusing.
• Lou Dobbs reading a Gutfeld poem is the type of forced humor that is painful to watch.

There is little doubt in my mind that it is extremely difficult to write and field a topical one-hour humor program. Leading me to believe that Fox is missing an opportunity with Adam Carolla.

Greg Gutfeld’s first outing was a major disappointment to me …

I cannot believe Gutfeld’s first show.It is unexpectedly boring and Gutfeld in large doses is unwatchable. A whiny voice, a forced and pretentious attitude, as if someone will buy a conservative spewing facts in an attempt to be funny. Gutfeld might be a great writer, a colorful guest, but cannot seem to carry a show as a solo act. Even if you bought the “Letterman Premise,” of hip, sophisticated, nuanced, parody … it still doesn’t work and is not entertaining. Perhaps Gutfeld is trying too hard and is funnier in off-the-cuff comments. But, the show still doesn't work as written.

Bottom line …

Better than the last outing, but still not a “must watch” program. Just a though … perhaps this is the new Fox Farm club to repurpose Fox contributors and expose them to a younger audience. Perhaps winning the younger demographic against more staid programs will make a difference and keep him on the air long enough to build a loyal following.   

Gutfeld is a funny man, a good writer, but a man who has zero performance charisma when under pressure. How many funny asides and comments can you string together before they become worthy of one hour?

Nothing to see here yet, move along.

-- steve