I agree with your entire review... Having rewatched via TIVO, it was better the second time around and it didn't even sound like a laugh track (and I also noticed the audience pan both at the beginning and at the end). Good show... Will look forward to the next editions! Into my TIVO programming!
I heard a few calls to Rush (Roger Hedgcock) and the callers raved! Except for the guy who said he was a liberal and thought it was fun but FNC was the wrong venue for it--it should be on Fox--because "FNC is Fair and Balanced and this wasn't"! What a riot--that's FNC's claim--and the fact that a liberal buys it is priceless.
I hope it's re-played--I was laughing too much to hear it all! Lighten up and loosen up, folks.