George Lopez brings a glitzy street party to late night talk on TBS

If Wanda Sykes' new show was a funky, televised sit-down with a few friends, comic George Lopez went the other direction for his late night talk show -- bringing a giant-sized, raucous street party on a stage outfitted like a neon-trimmed boulevard, backed by some of the biggest names in show business.

Promising to bring change to late night, Lopez offered a debut show Monday filled with energy and gentle jokes about race and culture (one segment asked audience members to guess if people off the street fit certain stereotypes, including asking if an Asian man was, um, well endowed).

It was a bit of a change -- the only white performer to appear on Monday's show was comic Ellen DeGeneres, who made a surprise appearance in pajamas and slippers to greet the crowd -- with jello shots.

Months before the show's debut, Lopez cited long-gone talk host Arsenio Hall as his inspiration. Looking at Monday's show, you could see the influence -- as Lopez took Hall's vision of a funky good time and blew it up to enormous proportions, filling his studio with hundreds of guests who seemed to remain standing for most of the show.

Lopez's monologue felt like a snippet pulled straight from his standup act, with references to his tough mother and love life. A joke about shirtless rapper 50 Cent's new cologne was the most topical reference, with the comic cracking: "I hear it smells like illegitimate children and gunpowder."

Otherwise, Lopez offered a standard, if entertaining hour, with sit-down interviews featuring longtime showbiz buddies such as Eva Longoria Parker (he pulled out a stripper pole for her to strut on, referencing a bet they made when she appeared on one of his test shows) and Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant. But the chats weren't about much, beyond all the cool events Parker and Lopez visit together and how cool Bryant was for even deigning to stop by.

The evening's standout may have been a performance by rock guitar legend Carlos Santana, who offered blistering versions of Oye Como Va and Marvin Gaye's The World is Rated X,  backed by Lopez's band, which features several members from Michael Jackson's backup band in the film This Is It. 

It's a formula nearly old as TV itself, tweaked to serve Lopez's animated, multicultural style.

But if a successful talk show is a relentless marathon, this was a good first step, serving notice that a new voice had come to late night -- even if he was just reiterating what's been said before with a different flair.

Check my words of wisdom on the issue, tapped by National Public Radio:

Comments

[Levinson Axelrod]

I'm a George Lopez fan as a stand up comedian, but some how I've lost interest while watching this show. He's still a funny guy.

[Alfredo]

George Lopez has a lot of political jokes, too bad they are on the wrong side of the political spectrum. Political jokes are funny when there is some truth behind them. I didn't find the Sarah Palin jokes humorous at all. There are tons of material that his leftist political party puts out everyday, yet Lopez chooses to ignore it all.

Sorry George you've lost me and my family as fans. We will be staying away from anything related to George Lopez.

[metakid]

Interesting point Opionator. Perhaps a show that rides on the whole diversity might work just as this video suggests: http://tiny.cc/5sfep. But I think he really needs to be more funny. Yea... good idea. Wrong person.

[Conservative Tom]

g lopez a poor man's paul rodriquez

[Opinionater]

Cable television grossly underserves the hispanic audience in the United States. Lopez continues to get opportunity because there would seem to be a lack of latino entertainers that would play "mainstream." Here is the problem - -Lopez is this generation's Byron Allen. He is modestly talented on a good night. Where are latino talents? We need to find them for prime time. George Lopez is Zzzzzzzzzz. Good idea wrong person

[Eric Deggans]

I never knew that.

Figures one of my favorite comics woud say something stupid like that.

he didn't say anything like that monday, and i hope he doesn't ever again...

[Paul]

Did he reiterate his offensive humor towards gays?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbUrKdN08ZQ