Putting a controversial egomaniac like Rush Limbaugh on Jay Leno's late night dais might seem like a squeeze play for a show that's reaching the bottom of the ninth of its opening day. And, well, it is, or at least it smells like it. Jay is no stranger to controversial guests, from his infamous interview with Hugh Grant just days after he got caught nibbling on a hooker's tea and crumpets to his recent sit-down smack-down with Kanye West.

So "El Rushbo" sounds like a natural punching bag for Leno's friendly jabs and right crosses, right? Not really. Leno bled into confrontational the way two guys in a bar argue a round of "F*$&, Marry or Kill," but for the most part, let the big-headed one (both emotionally and physically) speak as long as he wanted.

And when Rush is on your show, that's exactly what you let him do. Let him speak until the blood stops rushing to his brain. Whether you love him, hate him, or constantly think about the level of hell that's been specifically designed for him, he makes for an entertaining interview.

Rush has such a huge ego that he has no shame in showing it off to the nearest soul like a frat boy with a brand new Lamborgini Murcielago that he just bought on his father's maxed out credit card. So naturally Jay, like any good host, just let the man open his mouth as often and as much as he wanted, and every sentence that fell from Rush's gaping maw drew out an emotion from me, whether that be laughter, shock or shock induced laughter.

Jay did have some interesting give and take in this faux debate on the government buyout and made for a good devil's advocate, but he didn't try to talk over or down to the man even if he clearly disagreed with him. There's something clearly wrong with the world if Jay Leno can do a better interview with a controversial figure than most of the TV news talking heads who couldn't find a dramatic pause with both hands duct taped to their mouths.

The funniest part of the show, hands down, was Rush's turn at the "Green Car Challenge." Rush looked physically ill standing next to that hippie mobile and couldn't resist stepping on Jay's lines about how the electric Ford Focus is "saving the environment." His deliberate running over of the Al Gore cutout was the icing on the conceited cupcake, but when he stopped and backed over it, he added a big diabetic induced scoop of vanilla ice cream and two scoops of sprinkles on top. It's not because it was a moment I didn't expect. I did expect it and I was twice as amused that it actually happened. It was the Michael Moore Oscar speech all over again.

The rest of the show was, unlike Rush's second lap around the track, hit and miss. The monologue wasn't the best Jay has ever done, but it's hard for me to really criticize them because writing monologue jokes is extremely hard. I tried my hand at the same task for a small Chicago public access comedy show and everything that seemed funny on paper completely bombed in the hands of the host. Every other joke felt like the first one that jumped into the staff's heads and that's forgivable since former Johnny Carson Tonight Show writer and Simpsons genius Mike Reiss noted that being a comedy writer on a late night talk show requires writing at least 60 jokes a day. I will never bitch about another feature list again.

Nick Thune's crack at a comedy guest spot was funny and amusing in a subtle and dry way. I've enjoyed how the show has turned the comedian guest into something more than just a watered down version of their club act. He gives them more than just some airtime to plug their smoked filled club updates or newest back of the rack CD. He gives them a blank canvas in the form of five to seven minutes to do with what they wish. It doesn't always work, but it's a fresh idea.

The "Internet Successes and Failures," however, is far from fresh. It's at best a lukewarm remake of America's Funniest Home Videos with YouTube and Fail Blog in "America's" place. He didn't even have any written comedy material to accompany the videos. Did the monologue wear them out? It's only been two weeks. Drink a Red Bull and get back to work.

Didn't Rush tell you? We're one Dow Jones point drop from turning into socialist elves.

[Watch clips and episodes of The Jay Leno Show at SlashControl.]