The Tommy Tiernan Show Thread - Mod warning, see OP

Ash.J.Williams · 15-01-2024 2:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617731#Comment_121617731

He was the principal

gormdubhgorm · 15-01-2024 2:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121614774#Comment_121614774

I always thought that McSavage show was rubbish or might occasionally raise a smile at best, from memory I think "Bull Island" was the best comedy skit show Ireland produced.

As others have said the "Savage Eye"/McSavage. He always seemed/seems very disturbed. Just disturbingly odd. I love the irony that no one accuses him of nepotism given his family connections in the media/politics. Is it because he presents himself as anti-establishment? His brand of "comedy" is more the "edgy" student demographic and now he is pushing 60 and past it.

As for The Tommy Tiernan show. When I saw the list of people on it (I did not watch the latest episode) I honestly assumed it was a wind up. McSavage and Jason Byrne... Jayus. Always odd to interview. The only joke I ever found funny from Byrne was the one where he used a Venetian blind as prop and pretended to be an "Irish mammy". He was also in an undercover prank programme I seem to remember which was OK.

As for Tommy Tiernan he is a way better presenter IMO (in this format) than he ever was/is as a "comedian". He just shouts and jumps around like a mental patent in his 'Comedy" for the most part. Like the friend in the pub who thinks he is funny when you are 18-25 ish. Which basically entails shouting as loud as possible, putting on a stupid voice, jumping around the place like a mad eejit.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but Tommy's most famous and IMO only funny joke is the "Jesus I can see your house from here" joke?

But I think Tommy should not have other past it "comedians" or even comedians on his show.

1) He knows them, they have little to "find out"

2) Comedians are really disturbed individuals (for the most part maybe with the exception of the likes of Ardal O'Hanlon) it just ends up being a really awkward live "therapy session" with "Dr Tommy". Who loves a "bang of sadness" off a guest.

Tommy literally once seriously said phrase "There is a bang of sadness of ya" to one of his guests. Nathan Carter (the singer) I believe it was. While Tommy was trying to be deadly serious. Ironically it was the most awkward uncomfortably/funny/odd interview I saw broadcast for a long time.

But that "guest list" from the last show reads "lads we are stuck" just get McSavage and Byrne on they will go on any show at short notice. Which is how I can imagine the producers chat behind the scenes. "Great to have on a few depressed/disturbed 'comedians'..... Tommy loves that lads!"

briany · 15-01-2024 2:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121618443#Comment_121618443

Savage Eye was great. I'm not claiming it was Chris Morris level comedy by any stretch, but as I say, better than any other sketch show RTE ever made. I remember that I watched Bull Island, but it made so little an impression on me that all I can remember is Michael Sheridan's Jackie Healy Rae. The Savage Eye was much more absurd, and not just impressions of the day's Irish politicians. Just for the Catholic church intros alone, it was nearly worth airing, with my particular favourite being the father and son at the museum looking at a painting of a priest, then the father turns away for one second, then looks back to see his child trapped in the painting with the priest, crying.

Or this. This was brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3apsBc8yOw

If nothing else, Savage Eye was a departure from the very low-hanging fruit paddywhackery, to an, er, more sophisticated form of paddywhackery.

I enjoy the fact that Tiernan's interviews can sometimes go awry, and that he could ask a completely miscalculated question, because that's what can happen in human interaction from time to time, and it's good the show reflects that as opposed to the homogenised, vacuum packed, dry and safe thing that virtually all other shows of that kind have become.

Banjo Carney · 15-01-2024 3:31pm

I wouldn’t be calling for its retirement just yet. But I think Tommy could do some great interviewing if 1, he had a good guest and 2, more time with that guest.

Correct me if I'm wrong but surely, as this is recorded he has time with the guest and what we see is what's considered to be the best of the interview.

briany · 15-01-2024 4:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121618867#Comment_121618867

Retire the Tommy Tiernan Show and you can guarantee that something not as good will fill the slot, so careful what you wish for. Then again, the professional complainers would secretly be delighted by Vapid Chat w/ Vogue Williams.

Yes, the interviews are chopped down. TV and radio is fundamentally hamstrung by a schedule which makes almost zero sense in this day and age when everything can be on demand and programme lengths don't actually matter.

John arse · 15-01-2024 4:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121619128#Comment_121619128

Vogue and Rosanna's baby talk?🍼👶🤱

gormdubhgorm · 15-01-2024 4:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121618552#Comment_121618552

Basically because Tiernan can be a very poor interviewer, and has zero filter it can make for an entertaining show.

But there is one thing that annoys/throws Tiernan the most is when guests seem happy, it throws him.

He does one of two things keeps quizzing them in the hope that they "break" (like with Nathan Carter). Or look on them with amazement and congratulate their attitude as an example for others (like the woman with robotic arm).

If there happens to be a misery guts/socially awkward/guarded individual on it just does not work in this format and Tommy's own nature at trying to embrace/revel in melancholy sadness just makes it worse. The guests have to be talkers and not one dimensional. That is why the Roy Keane interview did not work he was guarded/safe.

Fitz* · 15-01-2024 5:17pm

There was an interview with a lad (who's name escapes me) from Cork in one of the early series that I thought was fascinating. He was an ex-drug addict who had turned his life around and was now helping young people in his local area to avoid those pitfalls. He was really well able to speak and the interview worked well with Tommy.

corkie · 15-01-2024 6:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121619552#Comment_121619552

https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/tommy-tiernans-chat-with-james-leonard-about-drug-addiction-and-recovery-is-genuinely-life-changing-691726

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rZLZwwq6rA

Is this the person, you where thinking of?

Fitz* · 15-01-2024 6:39pm

Is is indeed

Westernview · 16-01-2024 12:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622811#Comment_121622811

I like Tommy but I kind of agree. It's into season 8 now so that's a long time for any presenter on one particular show and I think Tommy is showing signs of being a bit jaded with it these days.

Wonder would a new presenter revitalise it? It's a good format in my view and at it's best was far better than most of the stuff on at that hour.

Tombo2001 · 16-01-2024 12:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622811#Comment_121622811

Funeral humour is a good way to describe it.

To be fair, if you want happy clappy, then Kielty is there on a Friday.

It needs to be a bit different, but it does feel like he has turned into this persona a little bit.

Brendan O'Connor on the radio is an obvious comparison, and he seems to move between light and heavy a bit more easily and naturally than TT.

Actually if they wanted to shake it up, they could have other interviewers in the TT role. Share it out. He could do ten weeks, someone else could do ten weeks. Notable absence of female voices on the talkshows at RTE at present, would be one way to address it.

spakman · 16-01-2024 1:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622856#Comment_121622856

Brendan O'Connor!?

That fella had a chat show years ago and it was nearly as bad as Ray D'Arcy's effort.

I can't listen to O'Connor on the radio and it's not just his whiney Cork accent - if anyone gives their opinion, he immediately jumps in to give the counter argument, he doesn't let any conversation flow. He's a terrible host IMO.

Tombo2001 · 16-01-2024 1:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121623042#Comment_121623042

OK. Thats fine. We can agree to differ.

John arse · 16-01-2024 3:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622855#Comment_121622855

Tubs???

Westernview · 16-01-2024 3:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121623835#Comment_121623835

Perfect....Because it wouldn't be at all scripted.

kowloonkev · 17-01-2024 5:17am

I know it's there online anytime you want but it shouldn't be on a Saturday night. It's a midweek programme if ever there was one.

yuridwyer · 17-01-2024 7:14am

Ah here, Chris Morris wasnt a bad right back

CatFromHue · 17-01-2024 9:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121618552#Comment_121618552

Yeah The Savage Eye could be great, really funny stuff.

By the end though it'd lost a lot of steam and had veered into some mean spirited not funny jokes.

gormdubhgorm · 18-01-2024 5:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121619384#Comment_121619384

I would agree with you that Tommy is only as good the guests he has. If the guest is not talkative and open it ends up being awful. The best interview by far of this series I would pick his chat with Michael D. He was on flying form and well able for Tommy. Kept Tommy on his toes.