The ratings may say otherwise, but let’s face it: Jimmy Fallon, your throne has been taken.

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” premiered on September 8 after months of hype, and for once, it actually lived up to the expectations… for the most part.

For the first time since David Letterman went off the air, we have a host that’s willing to take late night network TV beyond the boundaries that hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel seem content staying in, and it shows.

Before the show came on the air, Colbert made it clear that he wouldn’t be playing the character he made famous on “The Colbert Report.” Let’s face it, though: the only difference is that the Colbert we see here isn’t a send-up of political pundits like Bill O’Reilly. He even sets aside a whole segment of each show doing what he did so well on the Report: giving politicians (and other prominent people) their just desserts. It’s still as funny as ever, and if nothing else, it actually keeps viewers a little bit more informed — in a country where not even half of the people who can vote do vote, that’s hardly a bad thing.

Speaking of that, there isn’t really a traditional monologue. Sure, there are a few quick jokes at the top of the show, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Colbert saves the real laughs for after the opening credits have rolled.

Also not-quite-traditional: Stephen doesn’t have any sort of “sidekick;” he’s pretty much running the show start to finish. He’s been doing it for 10 years now; why change what works?

Colbert’s first week made it clear he isn’t interested in just talking to celebrities; guests ranged from George Clooney to Tesla CEO Elon Musk to Vice President Joe Biden. The interviews themselves have ranged just as much; Biden nearly broke down in tears in his Thursday night interview (talking about family loss), while author Stephen King proved to be just plain goofy on Friday night. Some of the interviews were a bit awkward (protip: don’t bring on a guest if they’ve got nothing to promote or talk about), but once Colbert got past the early jitters on Tuesday and Wednesday, things got much better.

The show is also about as unpredictable as late night can get. Friday night’s viewers were told Stephen tried and failed to get Paul Simon on as a musical guest… guess who showed up as the guest? Equally as unpredictable are the sketches Colbert has tried, such as Friday night’s “Unseen Mysteries Of The Hidden Secrets,” which really kind of speaks for itself in its weirdness with the title alone. They’re a bit out of place at first, but they’re not as bad (or cheesy) as they sound; if anything, once you get used to the bizarre factor of it all, these bits are actually pretty funny. They aren’t perfect, but they do what they need to — for now, that’s all we can ask.

Special mention goes out to Colbert’s house band, Stay Human, who keeps the energy alive throughout the show with an eclectic lineup of music. Unlike The Roots on “The Tonight Show,” they accomplish what they need to just by being there. They could be taking part in everything if they really wanted to, but why would they need to? They do a fine job as it is.

This show is solid proof that late night TV doesn’t need silly games *cough*Jimmy Fallon*cough* or awkward bits *cough*Jimmy Kimmel*cough* to get by. This new “Late Show” is already shaping up to be the best of the bunch quality-wise, if not ratings-wise. It’s not afraid to go a bit beyond its boundaries, and it’s actually reasonably hard-hitting.

Even if Fallon is winning the ratings race, the threat of Colbert may force Fallon to change things up some. Hey, a little competition never hurt.