In the debut episode earlier this year of The Gareth Cliff Show on M-Net, comedian Trevor Noah simply stole the show.
When I broke the news RIGHT HERE in February that Trevor Noah is heading to the pay broadcaster for his own show and last month RIGHT HERE the title and that Tonight with Trevor Noah is a done deal and coming in August expectations were high that finally the right man with the right comedic chops will pull off what has hiherto alluded South African television: a great local stand-up comedic talk show with humour, cool guests and funny skits.
In format, set, pace and ambience the debut episode of Tonight with Trevor Noah on Wednesday evening came across as too meek, too mild and with Trevor Noah looking slightly stressed, slightly skittish and almost overly-aware of the weight of the TV production resting on his shoulders. Oh. And Tonight with Trevor Noah is on at the completely WRONG time of 19:30 which is probably the new show's biggest drawback.
M-Net is doing the show and Trevor Noah no favours by broadcasting Tonight with Trevor Noah way too early when viewers still want to follow prime time narrative dramas and comedy shows after which you want your jokes and fluffy fun later at night. Tonight with Trevor Noah at 19:30 is like having dessert in the middle of dinner. It just doesn't feel comfortable or right. Even switching Tonight with Trevor Noah and NCIS Los Angeles timeslots will already help. M-Net even flubbed his promo intertile with a typo, saying ''TREVOH NOAH'' is up next.
In the first episode Trevor Noah came across as somewhat unsure of himself, too guarded at times and looking skittish. His constantly changing faux American accent was jarring. Its okay to be scared or to have performance anxiety, but Trevor Noah made viewers feel his anxiety. He spoke too fast. He came across as wanting to fill every second with talking; almost stammering and rambling. The set of the Urban Brew Studios production is great however. Tonight with Trevor Noah is almost similar in tone and feel to Australia's Rove with Rove McManus. Hopefully Trevor Noah will settle in behind his red desk (careful - lurching!), become less afraid to possibly offend, and just relax and be the really funny stand-up comedian audiences know him to really be.
