A decent beginning, I say. But I can see some flaws in the Daily Show spinoff  The Colbert Report.

To the good: Colbert did a shout-out to Soviet Canuckistan (my words, not his) in his 'Word' segment by focusing on 'hoser'.

"This evening, the Colba-i-r-r Repore debuts in Canada -- our pale sister to the north," he said.

One joke started off with softwood lumber and then darted off into a gentle slap at PM PM's recent speech in New York and the national penchant for mild-mannered politeness.

"... I can't believe he flew off the handle like this: 'Forgive my sudden departure from diplomacy, but this is nonsense.'

"Put that madman on a leash!" Colbert declared. "Thank God you people don't have the bomb!"

But some of the bit was more than a little obscurant. He sent a researcher up to Vancouver to become a Canadian citizen. Daniel then came back with Codiene, Vicodin ("that is yummy!") and the Tamiflu, just in case."

Colbert mildly freaked when he found out Daniel couldn't get him any Oxycontin.

Quick question: Who or what was Colbert riffing on?

Was it chickenshit right-wing blowhard Rush Limbaugh's Oxycontin addiction? If so, that's so 2003. Plus, I don't think Limbaugh had a researcher travel to Canada to get it (although I stand to be corrected).

If it's mail-order prescription medicines from Canada, why did Daniel have to go and become a Canadian citizen?

I didn't get it, and to me, good satire should have a clear link to current events.

On the Threatdown segment, Colbert was on slightly solider ground.

His top five: Pirates, Canadian optometrists (Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman called his province's optometrists "a bunch of terrorists -- and I don't negotiate with terrorists"), the Rockettes, NASCAR romance novels and bears -- specifically a section from indicted former Cheney fartcatcher Scooter Libby's novel The Apprentice in which a young girl is sexually attacked by a bear.

"Well, he's definitely guilty of creeping me out," Colbert said.

One problem Colbert might have to solve is being "too hip for the house" -- something Dennis Miller had thrown at him.

Basically, that means you're playing above everybody's heads -- and being regarded as unfunny in the process.

This also manifested itself in Colbert's interview with Elliot Spitzer, New York's attorney-general who is running for governor.

Spitzer might be a fantastic prosecutor, but he's not a great wit.

"You've gone after Wall Street, you've gone after insurance companies, you've gone after Clear Channel -- who's left to contribute to your campaign?" Colbert asked.

"The reality is we have gone after companies and individuals who have done really bad things to many, many people. And the many, many people out there who have been victims want to be supportive."

Colbert resurrected the "bears" threat and Spitzer made a weak joke about unsuccessfully hunting for them in Central Park.

"How many bulls?" Colbert asked.

After a split-second pause, Spitzer said, "very good. I like that,"  with a forced chuckle (a sound very close to the notorious Dubya chimp laugh), before adding, "the bulls are down on Wall Street."

It wasn't great TV.

When the Daily Show asks questions during a fake news report, the joke is in the visual reaction of the hapless interview subject. In the Colbert Report, he needs a witty response.

To my mind, unless Colbert can find people who play with him, a lot of watchers will be dropping out during the interview segments.

At the end of the half-hour, I did get some actual laughs out of the show. Colbert was one of my favourite Daily Show personalities, so I'm willing to give him a chance.