Stephen Fry and Gay Byrne

That is a great clip.

You could listen to Stephen Fry all day and he would never repeat himself.

I love how Gay Byrne's smug question "you think your going to get in saying that" is just batted away by Fry's response.

I think when Gay sits back in his chair with a face of contempt, is completely disrespectful. How dare someone disagree with him but i dont watch the show so he might always be like that when he is listening intently.

I probably will watch this episode.

Excellent , it sums up the view that the god made up by the Jews to make them fly straight was a bit of a prick, as the american comedian lewis black put it.
Fry is a great word smith

Despite what is clearly extreme discomfort from Gay Byrne in listening to Fry's response, it's a demonstration of the class of interviewer that he is, that he is at least capable of regulating his response. And at the end, rather than get into a debate where Byrne knows that;

a) He is dealing with a much more intelligent opponent, and
b) He himself is too emotionally invested in it to risk getting into a debate about it

Instead, he commends Fry for the quality of his response rather than discuss the actual content of it.

I'm not a huge fan of Gay Byrne as a person, he is egotistical up there with the worst of them. But it would be fair to say that he does have a true dedication to honest journalism and has never really shied away from discussing difficult issues in the public forum, regardless of his own belief.

I think the reason the late late show seemed to dip in quality so badly after he left has less to do with the quality of the interviewers who have come after him and more to do with editorial control. In Gaybo's day, he was untouchable. He could say whatever he liked, bring on whomever he liked, and stir up controversy. Once he left, the management at RTE seized majority control over the show, and this has only gotten worse over time. Now what's discussed on TLLS is what the solicitors and Iona and the advertisers will allow you to discuss, rather than what should be discussed.

robindch wrote: »

Can't say I disagree. In Gay Byrne's defence though, from time to rare time, he provided an outlet for the nation, and stimulated a national debate, which existed nowhere else in the country.

The program he did on the letters written in response to the death of Ann Lovett and her child was perhaps one of the most devastating ever broadcast by RTE:

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/the-ann-lovett-letters-sorrow-shame-anger-and-indignation-1.1673920

From Time to Rare Time is correct, I always felt that if ever spoke out against the Church on the Late Late it was always uncomfortable.

On his program in 1984, he says “too many letters. They couldn’t be ignored.” Doesnt that say if we only got a few letters we could have ignored them?

When he posed his smug question to Fry, he was waiting for him to retract what he said, which Fry didn't - Brilliant.

seamus wrote: »

In Gaybo's day, he was untouchable. He could say whatever he liked, bring on whomever he liked, and stir up controversy. Once he left, the management at RTE seized majority control over the show, and this has only gotten worse over time. Now what's discussed on TLLS is what the solicitors and Iona and the advertisers will allow you to discuss, rather than what should be discussed.

Did management seize control or was this down to the presenters that followed him?
Pat Kenny has never been able to conduct a decent interview and respond to what people are saying, instead he just went on to his next question.

While Tuburdy is more dynamic, he is just too middle of the road ask hard hitting questions.

Perhaps TLLS is now just light entertainment, leave the serious discussion to Prime Time and Vin B. Back in Gay's day it was the only show in town.

magicbastarder wrote: »

no he wasn't; he didn't expect fry to. he's a seasoned interviewer and asked a pointed question to get an interesting answer - which is his job.

He might be a seasoned interviewer but I don't think he's actually a good one.

magicbastarder wrote: »

no he wasn't; he didn't expect fry to. he's a seasoned interviewer and asked a pointed question to get an interesting answer - which is his job.

His body language is awful. If you don't agree with the answer at least try to mask your contempt and show some manners. Gay Byrne seems to think he's earned to right to be rude and condescending.

Fry gives a very thoughful answer and all Gay can say is "thats the longest answer i've ever received."

Poor.

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Much as it goes against the grain for me to come out in support of gaybo, I do think you're being a bit harsh there. Fact of the matter is he didn't ignore them and he should be commended for that not, berated because he could have!
Similarly with fry - rightly or wrongly (ok just wrongly!) gaybo is tv royalty here, he could have easily just interviewed people he agreed with and rte would delightedly hand him a big fat wad of our hard earned cash to do it, but he didn't. Again he should be commended for that I think.

I see your point, and I suppose I was harsh on him "we couldn't ignore" probably just means that there was a massive response.

And he could have just spoke to the irish celebs. But Fry is TV royalty not just in Britain so he knows its a good coup. I still think that from the clip he sure comes across poorly.

http://entertainment.ie/life/9-Gay-Byrne-reaction-memes-for-every-ossible-situation/335134.htm

I have to commend Stephen Fry on his comments.