Ant and Dec's American show blasted by reviewers after 'cringe-worthy' and 'dull' premiere... but the viewing figures tell a different story

By Helen Turnbull For Mailonline

Published: 08:43 EST, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 02:40 EST, 19 September 2015

They're hailed national treasures by the population of Great Britain.

But it appears the American audience don't quite understand Ant and Dec's sense of humour as the Stateside version of their Saturday Night Takeaway show has been slammed by television critics after its less than impressive premiere on Tuesday evening.

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly's Best Time Ever failed to impress despite having Oscars 2015 host Neil Patrick Harris, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Scherzinger on board.

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Not for them: Ant and Dec's American show - Best Time Ever which is a variation of their Saturday Night Takeaway series - was blasted by reviewers after a 'cringe-worthy' and 'dull' premiere on Tuesday evening

Not for them: Ant and Dec's American show - Best Time Ever which is a variation of their Saturday Night Takeaway series - was blasted by reviewers after a 'cringe-worthy' and 'dull' premiere on Tuesday evening

The variety programme featured an assortment of entertaining segments with one challenging Reese, 39, and Neil, 42, to a ladder-climbing competition.

American TV reviewers slammed the Geordie duo's efforts, labelling the show 'dull' and 'cringe-worthy'.

Max Nicholson wrote in his review for IGN: 'The whole thing was just cringe-worthy and only amusing in an "I can't believe this is still going" way.'

''Obviously scripted banter': American television critics slammed the show on which the Geordie duo 'relied on Neil Patrick Harris way too much'

''Obviously scripted banter': American television critics slammed the show on which the Geordie duo 'relied on Neil Patrick Harris way too much'

He added that the entertainment he and the audience expected was in fact just 'tepid jokes' and 'obviously scripted banter'.

New York Times resident reviewer Neil Genzlinger posited that it relied on Neil's profile 'way too much' and that the aforementioned challenge section was 'pretty dull'.  

'Earlier generations tuned into variety shows to see skilled performers and perhaps to have their horizons broadened, whether by an opera singer or the Beatles. Now, apparently, we’re satisfied with lukewarm chaos,' he added.

Cheers to us: Despite the scathing reviews, Ant and Dec managed to pull in 6.8 million viewers. They celebrated with a pint after the show had wrapped

Cheers to us: Despite the scathing reviews, Ant and Dec managed to pull in 6.8 million viewers. They celebrated with a pint after the show had wrapped

However, the viewing figures tell a different story as it won its time slot, beating ABC and CBS with 6.8 million people tuning in.

Ant and Dec didn't let the less-than-kind reviews get them down as they appeared to be chuffed with the success of the launch show.

Sharing a photo of the trio on their joint Twitter account earlier in the week, Dec wrote: 'This guy was awesome last night. Congrats on your first #BestTimeEver @ActuallyNPH.'

The twosome's debut showing comes as new research - commissioned by Just Eat to celebrate the launch of the British Takeaway Awards - revealed they're the nation's favourite famous faces to share a takeaway with. To vote for your favourite takeaway, visit http://www.thebtas.co.uk 

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