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There has been so much talk about The Jay Leno Show. But last night the most compelling part was 15 seconds of silence from Kanye West.
Right off the top, we admit to having a cynical mind.
Upon hearing about West's outburst on Sunday, when he boorishly interrupted 19-year-old Taylor Swift's acceptance speech to champion a horrified Beyonce at the MTV Video Music Awards, our first thought was this:
How much did NBC pay Kanye West?
Could Leno ever have dreamed of a more controversial, in-the-moment guest for the debut of The Jay Leno Show on NBC and Citytv?
You'd think cash had changed hands -- if NBC weren't so broke, that is.
Anyway, before West performed a song last night with Jay-Z and Rihanna, Leno said, "This wasn't really planned. Kanye wanted to talk."
Leno asked West what kind of day he'd had.
"It has been extremely difficult, just dealing with the fact I hurt someone or took anything away from a talented artist," West said. "I immediately knew in this situation it was wrong. It was someone's emotions I stepped on. It was rude, period."
Leno asked when exactly West knew it was wrong.
"As soon as I gave the mike back to her and she didn't keep going," West said.
Leno then asked one of the boldest questions we ever have heard him ask.
After Leno pointed out he had met West's late mother several years back, Leno asked, "What do you think she would have said about this?
West sat silently for 15 seconds, struggling to keep his emotions in check. You could hear a pin drop in Leno's spiffy new studio.
"Would she be disappointed with this?" Leno finally interjected. "Would she give you a lecture?
"Yeah ... obviously, I deal with hurt," West said. "I've never taken the time off, just music after music and tour after tour ... I'm ashamed my hurt caused someone else's hurt.
"I don't try to justify it because that would just send the wrong message. I need to take some time off and analyze how I'm going to make it through the rest of this life, how I'm going to improve.
"If there's anything I can do to help Taylor in the future, or help anyone ..."
Remorse?
Genuine remorse, or another strain of look-at-me syndrome from West? Either way, it was compelling TV.
The Jay Leno Show is going to be able to respond quickly to current events. Kanye West proved that. And that's something CSI: Miami can't do.
Leno's move to 10 p.m., weeknights, has been nothing if not controversial. The whining from some corners about Leno stealing five hours a week of network primetime -- which traditionally had been reserved for scripted drama -- has been funnier than some of the jokes he tells.
The opening few minutes last night sure seemed like The Tonight Show, which Leno hosted from 1992 till earlier this year. Same handshakes with the crowd, same band leader (Kevin Eubanks), same Leno-style monologue.
"Let me explain what's going on -- this is not another annoying promo, this is the actual show," Leno said. "I apologize for my face being all over the place."
Leno's best line in the monologue came at the expense of the West-Swift controversy. Leno said U.S. President Barack Obama was inviting West and Swift to the White House for a "root beer summit."
First guest Jerry Seinfeld, clad in a tuxedo, complained that Leno's big farewell from The Tonight Show had been for nothing.
"You know, in the '90s when we quit a show, we actually left," Seinfeld said. "But not in the Brett Favre-Lance Armstrong double-Os."
During Seinfeld's segment, there was a surprise appearance by Oprah Winfrey through video hookup.
Seinfeld, to Oprah: "I'm on that new Jay Leno Show."
Oprah: "Really? What time is that on?"
That's 10 o'clock, Oprah, 10 o'clock.
For one night, at least, the ratings are going to be spectacular.