Megyn Kelly’s new NBC show has been widely panned by critics as being little more than a morning show ‘bride of Frankenstein.’
Critics tore into Kelly who – after carving a career for herself as a respected political journalist, appeared to flounder as she tried to paint herself as warm and fluffy mid-morning TV show host.
Time’s Daniel D’Addario said the former Fox host had totally failed to connect with her audience on Megyn Kelly Today.
‘If there was one message that Megyn Kelly sought to impart in the first installment of her new NBC talk show, Megyn Kelly Today, it was this: The old Megyn can’t come to the phone right now.
Megyn Kelly’s new NBC show has been widely panned by critics as being little more than a morning show ‘bride of Frankenstein (Megyn celebrated her first episode on set Monday morning, above)
Critics tore into Kelly who – after carving a career for herself as a respected political journalist, appeared to flounder as she tried to paint herself as warm and fluffy mid-morning TV show host (At one point, Kelly shared mimosas with the Today show hosts)
‘Kelly, for all her forced bonhomie, is more chilly than chill. Kelly’s work on Fox News, aggressively questioning perceived agents of division in a manner that was itself cleverly divisive, made her a star. Now, there was little left but self.’
The Washington Post’s Hank Stuever was even more cutting, comparing the debut to ‘watching a network try to assemble its own Bride of Frankenstein, using parts of Ellen DeGeneres, Kelly Ripa and whatever else it can find.’
He also criticized Kelly’s self congratulatory tone, adding that ‘most of the episode devolved into an intentionally meta hall of mirrors, inviting the audience to admire Kelly as much as Kelly admires Kelly.
‘The hour crawled by,’ he added.’
Jezebel also weighed in, comparing Kelly’s show to ‘a HomeGoods catalog brought to life’.
Viewers and critics alike picked up on Kelly’s awkward interviewing style.
As the former attack dog tried – and failed – to roll over and play nice, some her guests were stunned into monosyllabic responses.
Her insistence that, ‘I’m kind of done with politics for now,’ also inhibited her interview with the cast of Will and Grace whose first episode lands the characters in the Oval Office, left them with little to talk about.
On top of that, was the cringeworthy moment, where Kelly called a ‘superfan’ to ask if he ‘became gay’ from watching the show.
‘Very smooth,’ opined Stuever.
Come on down: Megyn was high energy throughout the live show and there were no major glitches or flubs
Big name guests: Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes of ‘Will & Grace’ joined Megyn, along with the show’s creators Max Mutchnik and David Kohan
Joining in: Dace enthusiast Hoda Kotb danced along with the Megyn on the morning of her big premiere
Flower power: Among those in the audience was the host’s husband Doug, who brought along a dozen roses for his wife
Variety’s Chief TV Critic Maureen Ryan added that the show ‘spent far too much time celebrating the show’s arrival’ with material which was ‘largely strained, and frankly unnecessary.’
‘It opened with Kelly recounting an anodyne, maudlin version of her life story (and pitching her book, of course). And midway through, there was another long segment in which ‘Today’ veterans showed her the ropes behind the scenes. If you were dying to see Kelly flip the contents of a frying pan with Matt Lauer, this frenetic show had you covered.’
The reaction wasn’t all bad with some acknowledging it was tough to judge a new show on just one episode.
CNN’s Brian Lowry conceded it was ‘absurdly early, of course, to draw any conclusions about the efficacy of the Kelly experiment.’
‘Still, after tepid marks for her prime time newsmagazine and now her addition to Today, it’s worth considering that NBC News brass leapt at the opportunity to snag a high-profile news star without having fully thought through how best to deploy her.’
‘Based on first impressions, Kelly is working awfully hard at being herself.’
LA Times TV critic Robert Lloyd agreed, adding ‘it is impossible to tell how anyone will do in this job from a first episode.’
But he said that Kelly needs to relax and learn to be herself.
‘Hair needs to be let down, but Kelly’s first hour gave no indication that this is a job she can’t learn. It always takes time, and time alone will tell.’
Viewers have also had mixed reactions with some praising the debut as a ‘great first show’. But others said they were already waiting for Megyn Kelly Today to fail.
‘It is what it looks like to watch $15 million set on fire in real time,’ was one viewer’s summation of the hour.
NBC declined any comment on the initial reaction to the show.
However, Page Six sources claim the network is concerned.
‘They spent all that money on this great political anchor and journalist,’ said an industry insider. ‘If you take those things away, what are you paying for?’