Anti RTE, anti Irish

Mock the Week wins cos its 30 mins of gags, not 60 mins of "funny" chat.

As for The Cassidys I saw one once, never again.

Mike.

ps your sig kinda undermines your argument, edit - now I get it you work for RTE don't you?

I would agree to an extent that the forum topics constantly fall into the trap of "typical RTÉ crap" and I certainly don't think it's a fair argument. I do however understand peoples frustrations with the organisation, especially for younger demographics. I know scores of people who certainly don't feel represented by RTÉ because the majority of their programmes are made with older audiences in mind.

Fair City, is the worst piece of television I have ever had the misfortune to watch. Visually it boarders on upsetting, one memorable scene I saw in the past 12 months was set in a hospital ward, and was lit with what looked like two lights... It boarded on offensive to anyone who might even hold a passing interest in television.

Then there's the talent pool. While there does seem to have been an effort in Young Peoples in the last few years to look outside of the D4 postcode for new talent, the station is still shockingly lacking in new faces. Who on earth would sanction the likes of Derek Mooney and Keith Duffy to present You're A Star? A show based on international formats where the hosts are cool, talented and not naff, wooden or like the current host cheesey.

With regards your comments on the Late Late you say it's a magazine show. It isn't. It's a live chat show and there's a big difference because by nature they live or die by their host. Unfortunately the Late Late was the victim of politics and unimaginative casting when Pat was made host. While there is no arguing he is a great radio journalist, he has never looked comfortable on television and this forum and others are littered with numerous scenes where he was unable to handle a guest or situation. If the host cannot handle any situation his live chat show throws up at him, then they are simply the worng person for that show. Pat strikes me as someone who is doing the job for the sake of it, and not someone doing the job for the love of it.

Unfortunately I think your statement about Seth McFarlane is wasted when talking in terms of RTÉ or Irish Television in general. From what I've heard, comissioners in RTÉ receive a bonus based on ratings performance, meaning that most are of the attitude "if it ain't broke..." Those who want to shake things up are usually never in their department long enough to be given the chance or are simply vetoed by micromanagement. And then there is money, or the lack of it. There is simply very little money floating around in Irish TV to allow anyone to try anything new. Too many times, great concepts have been ruined by poor sets, or low production values and end up looking "irish".

I do think there is some good in RTÉ. Their acquisitions department have usually got their finger on the pulse, it's the one area that seems ready to acknowledge that RTÉ does have competition and often schedules US hits a week or two before the UK. That said, its often stuck with slots that are simply unappealing to mass viewers.

I also get a kick out of their filler shows that they are forced to make. Hands On for the deaf is surprisingly interesting as is Eco Eye on a Sunday morning. When they can be bothered to putting the money into it, they've shown some superb docs. Haughey and indeed Gaybo were both visually stunning as was the recent Father Cleary film.

In the end of the day, you'll never please everyone. Especially when people feel the licence fee is an excuse to nail RTÉ to the cross. You do have to listen to those people though, 'Pat the plank' didn't take off for no reason you know..

Punchbowl wrote: »

I would wager that most of the people who claim that the Cassidy's is rubbish, have never actually seen it, and it seems to have taken on the role as Poster Boy of bad Irish comedy. Was it really that bad? I certainly don't know as I've never seen it.

I watched 2 and a half episodes of it which was probably more than anyone in Ireland and I thought it was rubbish. The most completely unfunny comedy I've ever seen. I know it's difficult to believe anything was that bad it was.

Punchbowl wrote: »

So, most threads are becoming watered down versions of the ones that proceeded them and are offering little in terms of constructive Television criticism. And instead they're gaining in offensiveness.

I would like to think that I and most posters try to offer a balanced perspective. Sure a lot of people are annoyed when they make an original post but most people here watch a lot of TV (it is the TV forum) so are well versed in RTÉ's failures (and successes - this is the only forum where you will see Hands On discussed)

Punchbowl wrote: »

Pat Kenny and the Late Late have never pretended to be anything then what they are. It's not 'random' like South Park. It's not 'wacky' like J Ross. But it's not supposed to be. It's a magazine programme, that regularly tackles the big issues and gives a forum for those who wish to discuss. It punctuates this with appearances by noteworthy people and light entertainment pieces, usually from some pop star. And it does all off this with flying colours. Why is there thousands of posts devoted to Pat 'Plank' Kenny when the very people who are offering this criticism are the very ones who would never watch it anyway? Maybe because it's boards.ie fashion.

I think that some of the abuse Pat gets is over the top. However he is pretty poor at interviewing any celebrity whose "cool factor" is above a zero. See his interview with Russell Brand last week as an example. He is very good at the serious issues but if he's only good at serious issues then he shouldn't be presenting the LLS (the opposite is also true if your only good at fluffy interviews then you shouldn't do it)

Punchbowl wrote: »

There are bad shows on RTE, but there are bad shows on BBC. Per capita, and in terms of budget, I don't expect RTE to rock my world but they constantly box above their weight, and shows like Hidden history lately blow any BBC documentary out of the water. Soupy Norman was the funniest thing on these islands this year. News, Prime time, and Sports coverage is way above the norm for a terrestrial station. The Clinic is as professional and well written a drama as any ITV one of late. The Panel is vastly superior to Mock the Week.

I agree that RTÉ doesn't have the budget to make Lost or whatever but it has the ability to do much better. Current affairs good, sport mainly good, documentaries above average. But thats probably only half the RTÉ 1 schedules and less than a quarter of RTÉ 2. You have to admit that drama (including soaps), comedy, chat shows are all performing poorly enough with the kids department and lifestyle programmes both going downhill.

Punchbowl wrote: »

I think you guys gotta step back and look at the widescreen here. To call something 'usual Irish crap' is as lazy a comment as I can think of, but it does beg the question? Why don't you guys do something about it?

Seth McFarlane made his show cos he was not happy with comedy, and didn't sit around and spout the same rubbish over and over on boards.ie. So why don't you..

I do look at big picture. I see some talent and ability in RTÉ. I don't see it in TV3. I don't see vision, bravery and getting the most from the budget in RTÉ, I do see it in TG4. What annoys me about RTÉ is that it could be a lot better with relatively small changes. RTÉ 2 is supposed to be the "young people" channel yet from 6.30 to 9/9.30 I'd hardly ever watch anything thats not a match on it. Thats their core audience not watching during prime time: SOMETHING IS WRONG. Even relatively small changes like replacing the endless Friends repeats with stuff the bought from the US and dumped in the crazy hours (V Mars, Friday Night Lights etc.). They seem to believe noone will watch them cos their up against soaps but their are an array of 18-35 men out there who hate soaps (look at viewership of CL footie to see that).

Overall RTÉ is one of the stations I'd watch the most; because it's Irish, because it gets good US dramas early, because it has good sport coverage and good news for an Irish audience. They go on about public service but surely there main public service should be to entertain. They risk losing younger viewers who have more choice than ever and are the future of the TV audience

Punchbowl wrote: »

One very good point above about RTE 2 vacum of interesting programes between 7-9.30. Never thought about it, but it is true. They effectively throw in the towel for those hours (unless it's Champions Lge) so there is a big hole there that, with some imagination, could be filled

Yep I mean they used to put 2 hours of nature docus twice a week there. Now I like nature docu but it's neither the time or place. And they wouldn't even have to buy in new stuff or make anything new themselves simply rejig their schedule. Tbh if I had control of RTÉ for one week the main changes I would make would be scheduling ones. Just putting some of the programmes they have into more suitable slots to maximise viewership.

How dare anyone criticise RTÉ! (it appears)

Never mind TV3 … it’s just a Granada company that generally shovels out “top” ITV programming.

But RTÉ as a national broadcaster should be scrutinised and scrutinised regularly.

Forget about any British or American programming. RTÉ have no control over the quality of these “fine shows”. When it comes to home produce, I have to say that there have been some good Irish productions broadcast on RTÉ, but it’s RTÉ’s own in-house “stuff” that generally falls down.

I don’t think budget should be used as an excuse for poor TV. A great example was the Reardons. Done on a shoestring but puts Fair City to shame as far as soaps go. Fair City is cringe TV. Embarrassing to watch and completely unbelievable. The scripts can be excused but the acting is dreadful. I know of a TV & Film Studies group that view Fair City as part of a “how NOT to do it” module.

But it’s just the general inability of RTÉ to find presenters that actually display genuine charisma. A condescending attitude or being able to say “rindabite” instead of roundabout should not be part of the criteria for presenting television. But it appears to be the norm within RTÉ.

Overall as a broadcaster RTÉ falls down big time when it comes to its own in-house productions. They don’t relate to the general population and appear to cater only to the so called upper middle class of south side Dublin. Off the top of my head, Anne Cassen is one of the few that displays a natural ability as a presenter. There may be more but unfortunately they don’t stand out.

I could go on and on and on but it’s just a waste of time. RTÉ will never change their attitude and we will be forever subjected to the same old terrible formats and presenting. I have to exclude the Rugby, GAA and Soccer coverage but that goes without saying. At least in general, sports people know what they’re talking about.

csk wrote: »

The problem with boards and RTÉ is simple. RTÉ doesn't really cater for the 18-35 year olds which happens to be the main users of boards. As was already pointed out, the 7-9 spot is usually taken up with nature docs. This is mindblowing. Especially when they the insist on putting on programs like veronica mars, 24 etc. during the grave yard shift.

Agree totally

csk wrote: »

There are probably two reasons RTÉ neglects the 18-35. Most of the good programs aimed at that age group are american made and available from the cousins in america:) quicker than RTÉ and secondly there is very little Irish made programs aime at that group.

Don't really agree here. You can't blame the interweb. RTÉ never made an effort before such practices became commonplace in the last couple of years. Anyway what are TV stations gonna do over here, just give up because everyone has relations across the pond?