Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ON THE MOST recent episode of The Explainer podcast, Head of Dublin City University’s School of Communications Mark O’Brien said that the Late Late Show needs to “bring back that unpredictability” the show had previously.
Ryan Tubridy will make his last appearance as host of the world’s second longest-running late-night talk show this evening and will pass the role over to the show’s fourth host, Patrick Kielty.
O’Brien, who is also an associate professor of journalism history, said when the show first began “you either watched it, or you didn’t – that was the choice”.
“But I think nowadays, if you want to have the audience make an appointment to watch the show, it needs to bring back that unpredictability,” the professor added.
O’Brien compared the current format of the talk show to fellow RTÉ flagship, the Tommy Tiernan Show: “The unique thing about the Tommy Tiernan show is nobody knows who is going to appear. So you tune in with expectations – or without expectations I should say – and that adds to the unpredictability. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Patrick Kielty, who announced last week that he would become the newest host of the programme, also recently appeared as a guest on the Tommy Tiernan Show. O’Brien said he thinks Kielty is “well set” to handle the position.
The Late Late Show, which began in the early 1960s on RTÉ, would book a wide variety of guests for each episode, O’Brien told host Laura Byrne.
However, the panel of guests was kept a secret from the public until it was time to broadcast and, according to the professor, were only introduced to host Gay Byrne very briefly before the show.
During the episode, the guests discuss the beginnings of the Late Late Show and it’s impact on Irish society overall.
Kirsty Blake Knox, writer with the Irish Independent, suggested that the show be “revised going forward”.
The professor suggested if the programme returned to the unpredictable format, it would bring back the energy of the show and “make it lively”.
Broadcasting legend Gay Byrne had many firsts on the show, including the host position. According to O’Brien the Byrne-era of the show was “the right show, in the right place, at the right time” and broke the mold of the Irish media landscape.
According to O’Brien, Byrne was “hand-picked” for the slot: “The idea was that the older audience would tune in to see some distinguished guests and the younger audience would tune in to see Gay Byrne.”
While the journalism history professor commended both Tubridy and his predecessor Pat Kenny by bringing a more “highly polished, highly produced” version of the show, he added that the programme’s place in Irish culture was outshone by the arrival of satellite television and social media.
Blake Knox said that she thinks Tubridy brought the show to a younger audience and that RTÉ chose him as host because he “always sold himself as an old fogy”.
O’Brien agreed with Blake Knox and said that there was enough difference between Tubridy and his predecessor to allow him to build his own persona – however still could not contrast to Gay Byrne’s skill set.
“It’s hard to break that connection or relationship between Gay Byrne and the Late Late Show,” O’Brien said.
The Explainer delved deep into the history of the show this week with Mark O’Brien and Kirsty Blake Knox, writer with the Irish Independent.
You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Its a start. Its shocking that legally protected discrimination based on marital status and sexual orientation still exists in publicly funded institutions.
Agreed, I’m just shocked that the starting point is as described above.
What about born or newly required disability rampant out there in Irish society!!!!
Discrimination of workers in any type of bodies should not be allowed anymore, why limit ourselves to state funded?!
I have just recently became the latest causality of discrimination, I worked as a sales assistant for a well known chain of garages/shops on the grounds of disability. I had been working for them since 2004. After a nasty fall in 2008 I had been unfit for work, however in 2010 myself and gp felt that I could return to work part time, however this became a bit of a battle with their doctor who felt I would not be fit to return to work regardless what my gp felt. I constantly requested meetings each time ending with a visit to their doctors, when I again requested a meeting Jan 2013 sent to a corporate physical therapy place in town they upheld I would not be fit to do the job, even quoting what laws under the equality act I was covered. Finally I got a meeting with hr dept who flew in from england, asking for 4 hoursa day and not to lift heavy objects. I came away with a gut feeling I was going to lose my job. They knew I had other health issues when I was employed in 2004. The fall in 2008 compounded all together, however I could work in a support role, they did not feel the same judging I got the minutes of the meeting and dismissed from the 12th march 2013. Went to a solicitor who guided me on the direction to take regarding claiming unfair dismissal. This takes nearly two years, I will get just a basic statuary entitlements, I was told the laws protects the employer but different laws protecting private and public when did this happen? Aren,t we all citizens of Ireland?
Again the public services well provided for even in the laws of our land, where and how difficult will it be for a 53 year old woman now add disability the private sector need to lobby as hard if not harder to obtain the same deals and I call them deals because. If you take a closer look the public sector it includes politicans , judges, doctors and all in this sector, they really take home the best wages, pensions and now their legal rights, wow
Why did you oppose FF’s Bill, tabled by Averil Power, Senator? It was more comprehensive than this.
This is definitely a great start.
However, amending the constitution or laws does not necessarily mean that discrimination will evaporate into nothingness. Institutionalized discrimination is what follows a forced change in organizational culture when forced to cease discrimination. Therfore, change requires education, counseling and monitoring.
Sorry, remind me again, what year is this?
‘Kids, bullying is wrong. Everybody is different and we should respect those differences. Now please close your eyes while we fire Mrs Jones for being gay.’
Why do we even allow religion any more? Stalin had the right idea: we should ban all religions and every other so-called ethos
Yeah because the communist ethos worked out so well, didn’t it.
Tom. If u were to ban religion that would be discrimination to the person that wants to practise it.
Because making things we disagree with illegal is illiberal, unfair and wrong. Next question please, this one was easy.
Yea. Stallin. Wonderful role model. Sweet Jesus.
What about discrimination BY public sector workers?
Eg the refusal of HSE staff to perform civil marriages on Saturday.
If Labour truly represents “workers by hand or brain”, it needs to widen its focus from gender issues.
Don’t you mean discrimination IN FAVOUR of public sector workers……but that is a whole other discussion…….. :)
As long as religion is taught on schools it will be very difficult to decouple the two. If you want a strong sporting ethos in your school you employ sporty teachers, same would apply for a religious ethos.
Ivana you are one of the few politicians that I’m proud of!
To be fair, you would hardly expect a Roman Catholic school to employ a non-Catholic to teach religion in one of it’s schools? The Irish Constitution protects and promotes religion. Though that is the only example I can think of where this preference may be justified. In my humble opinion. Sounds ludicrous in a hospital setting. It also seems unjust for teachers other than religion. I presume Catholic and Protestants etc teach the same Geography.
Depends if your north or south of the boarder
In Ireland the lines are blurred though, as so many schools here are paid for and mostly run by the State, but technically owned by the Catholic Church or Orders. I think it’s important state-funded schools especially cannot discriminate…
Fantastic stuff, Ivana. I can’t tell you how impressed I am. :-(
Yep – let us get rid of privilege and discrimination Ivana – first of all start at the top. End the ridiculous privileges that are a remnant of ancient deference. Like those that allow universities to appoint members to the senate.
Excellent article Ivana.
have your say