Fade Street (Ireland's answer to 'The Hills')

Just saw an advert for this. Looks like an Irish version of the Hills/ Jersey Shore with a bunch of D4 heads. In an age where the licence fee has climbed to 160 euro and we are deep in recession is it a lot to ask that the public service broadcaster not rehash American ideas badly? I don't think that people who probably barely go outside the door to the pub or any social outlet really want to see these people lead their lives, let along pay for the privilege.

I'll credit RTE where it's due, The Frontline isn't a bad show (at least the Irish public get their voices heard in some capacity) and their series Freefall was an excellently made documentary, whatever your thoughts on its merits. But 5% of the licence fee goes to TG4 (along with various grants and commercial funding before anyone glibly points that out!) and they manage to produce a better standard of drama that RTE does with any of its shows! They've had better ideas in several areas in 13 years with Paisean Faisean, Deis Roc, etc. than RTE has had in ! In the past year, RTE's 50th anniversary it should be noted, we've had 'That's all we have time for', a dire rip off of 'Have I got news for you' which lasted for about two shows, and the biggest embarrassment in the history of Irish television in the shape of 'Your Bad Self'. It's hardly a stretch to make the connection between Brendan Gleeson's son being involved and these guys getting a prime time RTE 2 slot is it? Why is it that Dublin 4 people can monopolise our airwaves and no one makes a problem of it? Why does it take 4 guys from Mayo to prove that quality comedy can be made for nothing? And now another group of D4 heads are going to come along and show us middle and working class people what their exciting lives shopping in Dundrum and Templebar is like? I'm just glad I've got Sky and the TV licence man is an endangered species where I live!!!

Rant over!!