Andy Bumatai is back (without Teri Yaki)

Letterman and Leno need to move over. There’s another old guy in town.

Hawaii’s Andy Bumatai is back on TV and the only differences between Andy and other late night television hosts are a real set (and a studio audience, and a late night time slot, and national acclaim). Good? Bad? Or, just Ugly Andy?

Television viewing audiences are notoriously fickle, but “NightTime With Andy Bumatai” stands a chance, especially in the age of high cable TV penetration and digital video recorders. 9:30 weeknights isn’t exactly late night, but then, the show’s sets are not designed to compete with The Tonight Show.

So far as anyone knows, Bumatai’s NightTime is the only entertainment TV talk show in the islands. First in a furniture store, now in the Hilton Hawaiian Village. NightTime debuted in the new Honolulu Design Center on Kapiolani before a move to the Hilton.

What makes NightTime work so far (remember those fickle television audiences) is Bumatai’s ability to bounce from stand up comedian delivering a not-too-localized monologue, and then be able to sit down and interview a wide variety of guests– without lunging into a bit and taking over their part of the conversation. The animated Bumatai is very touchy-feely with guests, can’t find the on-air camera often enought, but keeps the giggles and chuckles coming, despite a constant need to cue himself with note cards.

Leno and Letterman read their lines from cue cards. Bumatai’s audience has cue cards, too. Applause and Laugh.

Two local TV stations have committed to 52 weeks of NightTime, aired weeknights at 9:30 on K5, but the Honolulu Advertiser reports that advertisers have committed only to the first three months.

NightTime may succeed even without a huge local viewing audience so long as Hawaii advertisers are willing to be associated with the antics of a veteran local comedian who brought us such memories as Teri Yaki and the Chicken Combo.

NightTime is at once familiar and new. comfortable and yet exciting. There’s a funny man, a monologue, a desk, some guests, some bits, and applause and laughter (sometimes together). Bumatai makes NightTime come across as local and fun, in a way similar to the classy productions from Michael W. Perry and The Hawaiian Moving Company, but without the polish. NightTime’s sound quality on the Hilton set was poor on opening night, but should improve quickly.

A monologue and three guests in 30-minutes makes the show move quickly. Nightly TV talks shows succeed because of the special blend of host, bits, and guests. Andy will need to keep the balance to succeed over the first 52 weeks, but NightTime is off to a good start.