The Washington Post gave his return a great review.
(Although, the reviewer sort of took it all back in the last paragraph when he wrote: "In the end, Leno is talented in the most mediocre of ways, and this gives viewers great comfort. His big win here is a win for the middle of the road.")
The New York Daily News gave him a more mixed review.
( "Leno did the show last night exactly the same way he does every show. He knows how to tell jokes and he can make his way through an interview, especially with a guy like Jamie Foxx who essentially comes out and interviews himself. What was interesting Monday night was how indistinguishable this was from every other Leno gig. If he were emceeing an "Avatar" dinner, he would have looked the same, only bluer.")
The Chicago Tribune was less kind.
(Steve Johnson: "His new effort had neither pop, nor sizzle, nor surprise, and no amount of cheerleading from unconvincingly hyper first guest Jamie Foxx could make it seem otherwise.")
I only watched the first twenty minutes or so. To me, it felt like he was back where he belonged. I eventually tuned away for the same reason I always tuned away in the past. It's really not my cup of tea.
