Stay There! with Miriam - 20 June 2015 9:45pm

Go Harvey Go

I've said it before and I'll say it again - while it's a tremendous achievement for Miriam's show to complete a decade on air, its best days are probably behind it.

IMHO, 2011 was the last good year for the show. It was the last year where the quality of the guests was decent, including a fair few British and international ones. And, of course, Miriam wore a dress of the Quality Street variety more often than not.

But since then...

2012: The quality of the guests noticeably declines, with fewer guests from outside Ireland. Miriam still wears the dresses, though.

2013: An uninspiring new title sequence is introduced, along with an equally uninspiring brassy theme tune that isn't dissimilar to that of the LLS. The quality of the guests doesn't bounce back up. And Miriam only wears a dress once, in the final episode of the series.

2014: Another uninspiring new title sequence is introduced, though the brassy theme tune remains (and it doesn't really fit, either). A new set is introduced, too, that is more garish and probably less welcoming than its predecessor. The producers manage to book Daniel Radcliffe, but he's not given the chance to deliver everything he promises, and besides that the quality of the guests remains sub-par. But perhaps most shockingly of all, Miriam doesn't wear a dress at any point... :eek:

It's clear, too, that her enthusiasm has wavered. She does still enjoy presenting the show - but I'm fairly sure that in earlier years, she was considerably more excited during interviews ahead of the start of a series, in addition to wearing those dresses.

http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2015/0619/709193-interview-saturday-night-with-miriam-returns/

And last year, she wanted the series to be pre-recorded and to have fewer episodes - a request that was declined for whatever reason.

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/miriam-gives-up-battle-to-ease-show-workload-30168464.html

I like to think that her feelings are the same as mine - that the show has had a good innings, but the tank is eventually going to run out and something new will have to be tried. (The SNS, of course, still had plenty left in the tank when the folks at Montrose pressed the panic button. )

Do you agree or disagree with the above, or can't decide? Well, I've attached a poll.

I think we can all agree, though, that the threads accompanying each episode will never be short of entertainment. And just to underline that, I think they should all be titled "Stay There! with Miriam" in some way.

Mustn't forget to point out the guest list for tonight, courtesy of Facebook:

After this week’s tragedy in Berkeley Miriam will be joined by U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O’Malley and singer Charlie McGettigan. Charlie’s son Shane was on his J1 in Boston when he lost his life in a workplace accident 17 years ago.
Marty Whelan and Sinead Kennedy spin onto the set to mark the return of Winning Streak.
Republic of Ireland international Stephanie Roche will join Miriam to chat about signing for Sunderland Ladies.
Marrissa Carter, Irish entrepreneur and creator of Cocoa Brown tanning products will discuss the recent endorsement of reality star Kylie Jenner and breaking America.
And a musical performance from Tony Christie singing “Show me the way to Amarillo.”

Nor must I forget to include these crittehs.

RayM

I think I'd prefer to watch Schindler's List (9pm, RTE2). More entertaining.

Taxburden carrier

Go Harvey Go wrote: »

And, of course, Miriam wore a dress of the Quality Street variety more often than not.


That was the closest that show ever came to quality:rolleyes:

my friend

RayM wrote: »

I think I'd prefer to watch Schindler's List (9pm, RTE2). More entertaining.

More upbeat I think

NormanNicetouch

Does anyone know if she will still be presenting from Donnybrook or have RTE flown her over to California to gush over the biggest tragedy ever to hit Foxrock? Literally

Welsh Megaman

'Callan's Kicks' had a funny sketch about tonight's line-up :O

I didn't think it was the ACTUAL line-up!

NormanNicetouch

Does anyone know if she will still be presenting from Donnybrook or have RTE flown her over to California to gush over the biggest tragedy ever to hit Foxrock? Literally

Welsh Megaman

Will Ray D'Arcy be getting a kitteh and puppeh when his show starts? :pac:

Go Harvey Go

TomShaugh wrote: »

I think the phrasing of that poll is very unfair to Miriam O'Callaghan, who is a national institution.

"Are the show's best days behind it?". ???
With respect, I would ask you to change the question to
"Has there every been a good episode of Saturday Night With Miriam, genuinely?"

There's definitely no question that Miriam is a national institution.

But her chat show was good once. And to anyone who believes that it has never been good... we'll just have to agree to disagree.

Go Harvey Go

NormanNicetouch wrote: »

Does anyone know if she will still be presenting from Donnybrook or have RTE flown her over to California to gush over the biggest tragedy ever to hit Foxrock? Literally

It's coming from Donnybrook all right.

And the title sequence, theme tune and set are all unchanged from last year. *sigh*

Welsh Megaman

Aaaaaaaaaaaand it's straight to the misery

Ol' Donie

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Will Ray D'Arcy be getting a kitteh and puppeh when his show starts? :pac:

Don't know. There'll definitely be claws and bitching, though.

Go Harvey Go

TomShaugh wrote: »

Dont tell me they are gonna spend the night talking about Berkeley as well, not after the whole week had already milked out of it. I find it very disrespectful and exploitative, I dont find it "comforting" or anything like that. I'm turning back over to Schindler's List on RTE TWO, might be a bit more cheery than this.

I don't think they will - Marty W and Sinead K are due on later to talk about the welcome return (yes, really) of Winning Streak.

Welsh Megaman

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Don't know. There'll definitely be claws and bitching, though.

I bought a new pitchfork just this morning - looks nice

Ol' Donie

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Aaaaaaaaaaaand it's straight to the misery

Jesus, didn't take long, did it?

It's a terrible story, but I can't for the life of me see the reason to discuss it on the show like this.

Atlantic Dawn

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Jesus, didn't take long, did it?

It's a terrible story, but I can't for the life of me see the reason to discuss it on the show like this.

Exactly, the families have been supported and are in the process of coming home, there should be privacy for them now, they don't need reminding of the pain they are in.

Thargor

He's a bit manic...

Ol' Donie

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

I bought a new pitchfork just this morning - looks nice

*puts down paint brush and placard*

What's that now?

Go Harvey Go

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Jesus, didn't take long, did it?

It's a terrible story, but I can't for the life of me see the reason to discuss it on the show like this.

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Exactly, the families have been supported and are in the process of coming home, there should be privacy for them now, they don't need reminding of the pain they are in.

Well, at least they're getting it out of the way first.

And that's said without any disrespect intended towards the families.

Harry Angstrom

Go Harvey Go wrote: »

I don't think they will - Marty W and Sinead K are due on later to talk about the welcome return (yes, really) of Winning Streak.

I caught the end of the show tonight. The props for the final round looked like they'd been made out of toilet roll holders and sticky back plastic.

Go Harvey Go

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

I caught the end of the show tonight. The props for the final round looked like they'd been made out of toilet roll holders and sticky back plastic.

They're more charming than a pyramid of drawers with envelopes inside, though...

sudzs

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Jesus, didn't take long, did it?

It's a terrible story, but I can't for the life of me see the reason to discuss it on the show like this.

Me neither. And of course they had an alternative show planned before the tragedy happened. I wonder who was bumped off to allow this weird misery obsession to continue.

monkey9

Good to have a chat show thread again!!

Welsh Megaman

It was a deeply tragic accident, and my sympathies go out to the families and friends of the victims of course, but it's Saturday night dammit!

I've got the hot tub ready, the champagne is on ice, the escorts my friends will be here shortly...par-dee!

Welsh Megaman

I'm starting to think (after all this time) that you Irish have an obsession with misery!

*hides behind hot tub*

Atlantic Dawn

monkey9 wrote: »

Good to have a chat show thread again!!

Yes I had turned to the drink the last few weeks

Harry Angstrom

Charlie's already been through the emotional wringer on Liveline this week.
Does he really need to go through it again?

Go Harvey Go

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

I'm starting to think (after all this time) that you Irish have an obsession with misery!

*hides behind hot tub*

Well, the folks at Montrose certainly do...

(Again, no disrespect intended towards the families.)

Welsh Megaman

How's Oskar Schindler getting on?

Welsh Megaman

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

Charlie's already been through the emotional wringer on Liveline this week.
Does he really need to go through it again?

Funny Friday is next week! :pac:

*takes a bow*

amdublin

Aww that was a lovely song