Chelsea's NBC Debut Nothing Special

Chelsea Clinton made her debut appearance on NBC last night, presenting a story about an Arkansas woman's challenges in running an after-school program for underprivileged kids. Critics weren't particularly impressed, but suggest she may have a future:

• "Either we’re spoiled by TV’s unlimited population of giant personalities or this woman is one of the most boring people of her era"—which would be okay, if she weren't on television, writes Hank Stuever in the Washington Post. Her job is an easy one: "feel-good journalism about folks just makin’ their way."

• Her "monochromatic" presentation proved Clinton doesn't know what she's doing now, but she may have potential, argues Verne Gay in Newsday. "Work out the kinks. Master the craft. Learn what it really means to be a reporter."
• At Mediabistro, however, Chris Ariens applauds Clinton's work. "If you’d tuned in as the story was airing you might think a seasoned journalist was delivering the report—her questions were direct, the writing was succinct, her voice has a built-in broadcast quality."
• Sure, "Chelsea doesn’t 'pop' off the screen, to use an industry term—her demeanor is reserved, she doesn’t project her voice like a broadcaster," writes Howard Kurtz at the Daily Beast. "Not that most viewers probably cared," he notes. "If she can loosen up a bit, this could be a pretty good niche."

(More Chelsea Clinton stories.)