Sam Pang Tonight review: While it certainly wasn’t a flop, it also wasn’t the crisp and cutting bitey bits or loveable roasting we love from Pang

Let’s hope the over-rehearsed and analysed script writing gets written off in weeks to come and the show just leaves Pang to being Pang.

We really, really wanted it to work, so let’s not do the usual Aussie whinge-fest and write Sam Pang Tonight off just yet.

It’s been a long time in between drinks, 15 years in fact, since Australia had a late night talk show after Rove McManus said so long to ya mum.

So it seemed like a no-brainer for Channel 10 to put The Front Bar funny guy Sam Pang, the wise cracking Have You Been Paying Attention panellist and everyone’s new favourite deadpan Logies host front and centre for his own show.

But can Pang pull off going solo without his team of merrymen beside him to riff off?

Sam Pang is everyone’s favourite deadpan Logies host. Picture: Channel 7

While it pains us to say so the jury is still out.

Following the tried and true format of late night talk shows in the US with a five-minute-odd opening monologue on the news of the week followed by guests and humorous segments, Pang made a nervous entry.

There were some rolled gold Pang moments, cracking gags about being the Asian Rove McManus – “say Ni Hao to your mum”; Leo DiCaprio weighing in on Australia’s mine expansion approval – “strange because DiCaprio usually loves minors” and poking fun at King Charles announcing a new podcast – “just what the world needs another white guy with a podcast.”

Although a gag about his Asian penis, er, fell flat.

It pains us to say the jury is still out on Pang’s talk show.

With his guest sidekick comedian Dave Thornton not bringing much to the table, jibing Pang along as the canned audience laughter veered into cringe territory, the usually unflappable Pang clearly had some first night jitters.

First up was veteran 84-year-old actor Jack Thompson.

While we love the living Australian legend, it was an odd choice as a debut guest given many of a younger demographic wouldn’t have the foggiest who the Breaker Morant actor is.

Pang didn’t have the same airtime to delve into the vast archive of Thompson’s work and life – c’mon nary a mention of the nude Cleo centrefold? – a la another late night show host predecessor in Andrew Denton on Enough Rope.

But Thompson was clearly enjoying himself as the gears started to oil up and soon Pang had warmed into his hosting seat and back cracking the one-liner punchlines we all love him for.

What Pang does best is the unscripted jibes and wisecracks, joking to the camera Thompson’s parting words were “don’t rely on this for a living”.

More of this please.

The usually unflappable Pang clearly had some first night jitters. Picture: Paramount

Next was a segment with guest Royal Melbourne Hospital Dr Emma West on “Questions I’ve Always Wanted To Ask Now I’ve Got My Own Show.”

Silly stuff, but the good humoured doctor got some laughs “foreign things in foreign places” and Pang finally loosened up.

Further bits such as “Yesterday’s News Tonight” and “Wheel of Segment” was a place for Pang to play it safe, some got some laughs while others felt a bit like time fillers.

A musical act was sorely missed as was a flashy set.

Let’s hope the over-rehearsed and analysed script writing gets written off in weeks to come and the show just leaves Pang to being Pang.

Because while it certainly wasn’t a flop, it also wasn’t the crisp and cutting bitey bits or loveable roasting we love from Pang.

Australian TV showbiz has a history of oversaturating our celebrities, let’s hope that’s not the way for Sam Pang Tonight.