Let me apologize to Jimmy Fallon right off the bat. I’m going to share some thoughts based on the first two episodes of “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” even though they’re probably not indictative of what the show will become. Late-night talk shows and hosts take time to develop and evaluating a show right off the bat is about as unfair as judging an entire stand-up routine on the opening joke. (t doesn’t help that David Letterman has been on fire lately)

So why do it? I do think there’s merit in documenting a host’s initial approach and then look back and see where he or she improved - or failed to improve, where the seeds of something fantastic were first planted - and what bits never reached fruitition. Hope you keep that in mind when you read my thoughts - and share your own.

Fallon, like anyone he steps into this kind of role, looked like he was going to twitch his way completely off stage. Either it’s 4 below zero in the studio or he’s one Nervous Nellie. Understandable. What’s not understandable is booking Robert De Niro as the first guest. If you want to calm yourself down, you don’t call Travis Bickle. De Niro, as always, was less than helpful (the opposite was true with Justin Timberlake and Tina Fey, who both carried their sessions, as Fallon giggled away, pretty much the same role he performed on “Saturday Night Live.”)

No bits have stood out yet, although I thought the one Tuesday about the rejected chair hitting the streets of New York was close - until Fallon stepped into the skit. I think Fallon could be a soothing presence at night and is an extremely likable guy, but he’s not a sketch performer, at least not yet (if he didn’t become a good one after so many years on “SNL,” it’s unlikely to happen now.

He does have the ability to deliver a punchline, though, and his monologue is better than one would expect for a rookie. The music is also top notch, but that was a given as soon as The Roots were announced.

The biggest obstacle Fallon will have to face is getting over how freakin’ cool everything is. When Jon Bon Jovi gave him a cheap mug, Fallon exclaimed that “this is amazing” and “this is brilliant.” Uh, no, it isn’t. It’s a mug. Fallon revels in his proximity over the years to famous people and the fact that he was on “SNL.” Much of time with Fey and Timberlake was spent reminiscing about the good ol’ days, but not in the way that allowed us a sneak peek into show biz. It just sounded like two people sharing an inside joke.

Fallon will get better. Just how much better? Too soon to tell.

What are your thoughts?

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