The Hit (RTE)

JP Liz V1

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/nicky-proves-hes-a-big-hit-at-rte-with-summer-tv-presenting-gig-29277503.html

Nicky Byrne is to be one of the two hosts of RTE summer music show The Hit.
Already used to playing in vast arenas, the 34-year-old will join co-presenter Aidan Power live on-stage at the O2 in July when established names perform the songs of unknown songwriters.

Running in the Friday night slot of the Late Late Show, The Hit will be one of the biggest talent shows ever aired by RTE.
Insiders have revealed they needed a presenter used to appearing on big stages to anchor performances during the six-week run at the O2.
"Not only has Nicky performed with Westlife at the O2, but he has also co-hosted the Cheerio's Childline Concert a number of times in the same venue for organiser Caroline Downey Desmond.
"Except this time Nicky will be co-hosting a television show," said a show insider.
The Nicky Byrne/Aidan Power team replaces MTV's Laura Whitmore, who presented the original pilot of The Hit, which aired last year as part of RTE's Format Farm.
Producer Philip Kampf said: "It's going to be much bigger and better than the pilot and for that reason we need two presenters, not one."
Beginning on Friday July 26, each week two well-known singers will cherry-pick songs from unknown songwriters, who will only discover if their song has been selected when the acts take to the stage.
At the end of the competition, two songs will go head to head and be available to download on iTunes, with the winner being whoever gets the most downloads.
Ratings for rival RTE talent show The Voice Of Ireland had been strong, but winner Keith Hanley only managed to reach no 37 in the Irish charts.
But The Hit insiders are more optimistic.
Sidelines, the winning track performed by Royseven from their show pilot last year, topped the Irish iTunes chart, with runner-up Invisible by Brian McFadden reaching number 3, with demand crashing Irish iTunes after the final last September.
U2 producer Steve Lillywhite will again assist in the selection of songs, which songwriters can submit through applications available on the RTE and IMRO website.

Go Harvey Go

If that Herald report is true, then why on earth does Laura appear in RTE's summer trailers?!? :eek:

I personally thought the pilot worked pretty well with her as the only presenter, even if she wasn't given the greatest script to work with.

If The Hit really does need two presenters, then I can't see any reason why she shouldn't be one of them...

I also don't see why it should go in the LLS slot, either. True, the pilot also went out at 9:30 - but I honestly think Sunday at 6:30 on RTE1, or a weeknight at 7:00 on RTE2, are better slots. After all, the Voice of Ireland aired in the former slot and was repeated in the latter...

Skid X

Good to see this back for a series

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Producer Philip Kampf

Wow, that is an unfortunate surname.

You know, what with the whole 'Mein Kampf' thing ...

Skid X

http://www.theo2.ie/event/the-hit/

RTE have hired the O2 for the weekly shows, that is ambitious, The Voice of Ireland was filmed in the (much smaller) Helix. Tickets for each night are €5 + whatever Ticketmaster want to mug you for. Tickets will be available for July 26th and the following four Fridays.

Shot in front of a live audience, the artists then reveal which song they have chosen. But ultimately it’s the audience and viewers who decide; when - at the end of each show - the two songs are immediately released for download. The artist and songwriter whose song charted the highest across the following week will then go forward to the grand finale show in August.

For the grand finale of the series the five artists will return to perform their song live in The O2 with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. But which artist will have the ultimate Hit? Only the viewers can decide!

Tickets for the new series go on sale on Saturday 22nd June at 9am from Ticketmaster and usual outlets.

Go Harvey Go

For the record, the pilot was filmed at the Olympia Theatre.

That O2 release also says that Nicky and Aidan will host - so I guess the Herald was right...

...and RTE's summer trailers are wrong. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

If it had already been decided by RTE and Vision Independent Productions when these trailers were made that The Hit would have two presenters, and Laura wouldn't be one of them... including her in the trailers anyway, ladies and gentlemen, there's only one word for that: idiocy.





And even if they hadn't yet decided, there was still no real reason to include Laura in the trailers.

Surely a presenter should be included in a trailer for an upcoming show only if it's decided that he/she will present that show?

If, say, there was a trailer for a show featuring Jimmy Carr as host, then it would make no sense if it turned out that the show was going to be hosted by David Mitchell instead - whether the show's producers had already decided so, or were humming and hawing, when the trailer was made...

Rant over.

JP Liz V1

Is it Royseven and Brian McFadden again who picks the song and records it?

Skid X

Here we go, details of the format and contestants have been revealed

http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2013/0712/462037-final-line-up-of-artists-for-the-hit-announced/

The final line-up of artists taking part in RTÉ One's The Hit has been announced and includes Johnny Logan, Finbar Furey and Mundy.

The series begins on Friday, July 26 on RTÉ One and will see songwriters showcasing their songs to established artists. The artists will then battle one another to find the perfect song they can turn in a hit.

The artists will battle it out as follows:

Episode one, 26 July: The Stunning and Julie Feeney
Episode two, 2 August: Brian Kennedy and Ryan O'Shaughnessy
Episode three, 9 August: Johnny Logan and Duke Special
Episode four, 16 August: Samantha Mumba and Republic of Loose
Episode five, 23 August: Mundy and Finbar Furey

For the grand finale of the series the five successful artists will return to perform their song live in the O2 with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with the viewers deciding who has the ultimate hit.

Sounds like good fun, I like the idea of Ryan O'Shaughnessy going up against Brian Kennedy (who was his mentor on The Voice, and chose to eliminate him )

It is a good line up, with some unexpected contestants. I'll be watching.

Go Harvey Go

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Is it Royseven and Brian McFadden again who picks the song and records it?

No.

Skid X wrote: »

Here we go, details of the format and contestants have been revealed

http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2013/0712/462037-final-line-up-of-artists-for-the-hit-announced/

Obviously, whoever thought those bow ties would look good on Nicky and Aidan had no time for fashion school... :rolleyes:

I also notice that Domino's will be sponsoring the show. How will their bumpers compare to Volkswagen's Voice of Ireland ones, I wonder...?

JP Liz V1

Samantha Mumba :eek: thought she gave up singing

Skid X

Go Harvey Go wrote: »

I also notice that Domino's will be sponsoring the show. How will their bumpers compare to Volkswagen's Voice of Ireland ones, I wonder...?

I'm sure Dominos are auditioning for a new Barber Shop Quartet at this very moment Or maybe not

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Samantha Mumba :eek: thought she gave up singing

She's back! From last month

Former pop princess Samantha Mumba is back in the recording studio for the first time in more than a decade.

The Dublin beauty, who has not released an album since 2000, has not said if she’s planning to launch a new record.

However, Mumba posted photos of herself in the studio online.

http://www.thestar.ie/star/samantha-mumba-returns-to-the-studio-after-a-decade/

Maybe Samantha Mumba's big comeback starts here! You never know.

dublinman1990

I haven't seen the pilot of this but; I think that RTE could be wasteful in showing this in the O2.

What is going to be the maximum target of seats for airing this show? Every seat in the house is it? I would seriously doubt it.

RTE's finances would be destroyed for going ahead with a 'vanity project' like this.

I think a price of €5 a ticket is too cheap if they are going to pay huge money to hire it for a few weeks. The Olympia Theatre is a better venue for showing it in my view as it is smaller and more compact.

I will be watching it; but; it sounds like another flop if you ask me.

Skid X

dublinman1990 wrote: »

I haven't seen the pilot of this but; I think that RTE could be wasteful in showing this in the O2.

What is going to be the maximum target of seats for airing this show? Every seat in the house is it? I would seriously doubt it.

RTE's finances would be destroyed for going ahead with a 'vanity project' like this.

I think a price of €5 a ticket is too cheap if they are going to pay huge money to hire it for a few weeks. The Olympia Theatre is a better venue for showing it in my view as it is smaller and more compact.

I will be watching it; but; it sounds like another flop if you ask me.

The O2 does seem over-ambitious for the show but maybe RTE got a good deal for the show from the owners (or maybe no other venue was available for 5 Fridays in a row). Hopefully the crowds will come, but it is very short notice
and with respect to the performers, none of them would attract huge crowds in their own right. Maybe RTE should just give tickets away.

I think this format could work very well, I am pleased to see RTE taking a chance. Maybe the format could be used to find a Eurovision song in the future.

Skid X

I like the film RTE have chosen to show after the first episode of The Hit, very appropriate!

RTE1 Friday 9.35

The Hit
Season 1 Episode 1 of 6
New series. Nicky Byrne and Aidan Power host the music competition in which fledgling songwriters pitch their songs to established artists in the hope of achieving chart success. In the first episode, six ambitious contenders hope to win over The Stunning and Julie Feeney with their compositions before the artists battle it out to decide which of the chosen songs can be made into a hit


RTE1 Friday 10.35

Film Music and Lyrics (2007)
A washed-up pop idol is given the chance to write a song for a teenage star - but despite his musical talents, he has never written a lyric in his life. However, the discovery that the woman who looks after his plants has a way with words marks the start of a beautiful relationship. Romantic comedy, starring Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Brad Garret and Kristen Johnston.

Read more at http://www.tvnow.ie/detail.asp?id=4112834#hucuLC9ToT7P0DbK.99

dublinman1990

Music And Lyrics on RTE 1 again? Ah for goodness sake!

I sorry to say this Skid but the amount of countless times that movie has been on that channel just makes my head spin.

That movie was only on about six months ago or less; and it's on yet again. How amazing is that?

Bandy Boots

The O2 sounds way too big for a tv show audience! Maby its for the venue floor space they need it.... i remember the big portacabins in the pilot... must be to fit them again.
I'm going to go to support it (and for the craic ;p) and I lourve steve wall

Skid X

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Music And Lyrics on RTE 1 again? Ah for goodness sake!

I sorry to say this Skid but the amount of countless times that movie has been on that channel just makes my head spin.

That movie was only on about six months ago or less; and it's on yet again. How amazing is that?

Ah sure, it's a classic - It deserves a few showings every :year

It is still better than the usual Nicholas Cage rubbish they give us most Friday nights.

JP Liz V1

Skid X wrote: »

Ah sure, it's a classic - It deserves a few showings every :year

It is still better than the usual Nicholas Cage rubbish they give us most Friday nights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmVnIwxP04c

Temaz

How many tv talent shows has that kid who was in Fair City been on now?

JP Liz V1

Temaz wrote: »

How many tv talent shows has that kid who was in Fair City been on now?

2 but here he is one of the "established artists or well known singers"

Temaz

:eek:

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

2 but here he is one of the "established artists or well known singers"

Harry Angstrom

WTF is all this about?

I'm surprised that Julie Feeney would get involved with this muck.

Skid X

The walking in and out of 'rooms' is very silly, it makes the performers look very uncomfortable.

It could be done with more decorum.

Lady Chatterton

I think Julie should pick Niamh Murphy, I like Alice's song too.

Skid X

Aidan and Nicky look like a dodgy 70s cabaret act, did they get dressed in the dark?

Harry Angstrom

I'm beginning to miss Celebrity Farm/Hotel at this rate.

Lady Chatterton

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

I'm beginning to miss Celebrity Farm/Hotel Fáilte Towers at this rate.

F.Y.P

I liked Niamh Murphy's song, it's a shame she's out.

lempsipmax

The programme is profoundly grim....

Skid X

I found it very hard to critique any of the songs based on short bursts, I'd like to hear them in full.

Lady Chatterton

Alice's song sounds very country-ish.

therewillbe

A load of tripe.Goonies on Gold:)

Skid X

It looks like there were a few tickets still available at the O2 tonight.

The Stunning song is alright, but a little bit limp.

amdublin

Aww Steve is so nice

amdublin

Doncha just love Nicky's Dublin/American accent!!!

Harry Angstrom

Just caught the bit there where they told yer man that they couldn't improve upon his song. Nice excuse :D

Skid X

amdublin wrote: »

Doncha just love Nicky's Dublin/American accent!!!

Aidan Power is well able to do this by himself, Nicky could go home to whatever part of the Atlantic he hangs out in these days!

Harry Angstrom

The last time I saw Clare from the FBD ad, she was Olga in Fair City. For a Russian, she's got a great Dublin accent.

Lady Chatterton

No Julie no, that sounds awful

Skid X

I quite like that song Julie is singing.

Might need a few listens.

dee_mc

Oh Julie that was very strange... I was waiting for yer man Tommy to go 'no, stop, you've ruined it!!'

discobeaker

Why is Julie Feeney hurting music???

Harry Angstrom

Fair play to Nicky Byrne. I didn't think he was capable of walking and talking at the same time while reading from a moving autocue.

Skid X

"Brian Kennedy knows all about having hits with his own songs"

So they played a clip of his World Party cover to illustrate that. Hmmm.

lempsipmax

The quiet desperation of the artists and the writers coupled with the ludicrous format the cheesy presentation and the pretence that this is an event that anyone apart from parents and neighbours care about, is almost making me sad.

None of this could, would or should happen but for the desperation of all the participants as well as the lack of imagination on behalf of Rte.

The whole process is just designed to be disposable. The artistic element of the programme such as it is barely registered.


It's just another horrible take on the dream making /breaking routine. No good can come of it save for a rise in pizza awareness.

Grim as hell.

Skid X

Hugh Grant could have been an epic 80s pop star.

Music and Lyrics give us a brief glimpse of what might have been.

SterlingArcher

Haha where do I start. First of all the concept is as ridiculous as the oversized clown dicky bows worn by the presenters.

Then comes the show. people write songs for stars like Britney spears in the knowledge that they will make a lot of money from royalties. Anyone with more than 2 brain cells to rub together knows in the case of Rte the hit, this will not happen.

So Rte get these song writers to pitch their songs to two nobody hacks to butcher their songs I was left in awe at how much they ruined the clearly doped up contestants songs. And then people are expected to Download these molested melodies.

Tune in next week when Brian kennedy ear rapes some poor desperate upstart, turning any credibility of the song into another regurgitated banal mess.

Raiser

Editing was attricious, I bet that Steve/Julie werent that ignorant leaving the rooms without so much as a gracious nod or smile etc.

Presenters - No Holly Willowby (sp?), no Tess Daly, no Davina, not at all, lets flake out two 70s plastique miniatures who look like they may die of little preened man hairspray-itis!

I usually have no time for product placement on TV but I thought the yellow Jelly Tot on Julies head was very discreet - Maybe she'll spend the cheque on a pair of shoes she can actually walk in and wander off to find a mirror.

Show was as clunky as a sack of rocks, hope it sinks as fast, a slow death would....... Oh God, we're gonna get the slow death to sell Persil at the ad breaks aren't we!?!?!

SterlingArcher

It was embarrassing. And what that "superstar" woman what's her face did to that guys song, god damn strange, that horrific noise will haunt my dreams. Next they will have Shane lynchs sisters on telling some poor smo they need to change their lyrics like they are some kind of authority on talent.

And next week Brian Kennedy, like rumple stilskin out to steal some artists first born in exchange for 15 min on rte. It's making me throw up in my mouth some.

Why didn't I go out tonight ,now I feel dirty.

discobeaker

I used to work with the band that last years winners played in,it was the song that Royseven covered

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcwK7DuUX6Q

.

They said it was good exposure,you make some contacts in the business and get your name out there in the industry but your not going to living the high life and having cocaine and hookers every morning with your cornflakes cos of it.

In Fairness, Its a cheap program for RTE to make and its a prime time slot filled so they are happy out. The songwriters get some exposure (which is a tough thing to get in this country if your an unsigned act without management and PR behind you and also get afew quid... not much but enough to get a 3 in 1 on the way home) so in a way its kinda a win win for the song writers as its something great that they can use it to promote themselves and they make some contacts in the business.

expectationlost

didn't watch it, who chooses the winners each week?

discobeaker

expectationlost wrote: »

didn't watch it, who chooses the winners each week?

Each artist picks 2 songs then records one of the tracks and you dont know who's track they picked until they start playing it "live" (ahem) so i guess that would be classed as "winning". Just found out a mate of mine's track got picked for the show. Not sure when he is on but it looks like i'm going to have to keep watching this

amdublin

Skid X wrote: »

Hugh Grant could have been an epic 80s pop star.

Music and Lyrics give us a brief glimpse of what might have been.

Omg! Pop went my heaaaarttt!

Amazing