Why do the Irish give Pat Kenny such a hard time?

LordSutch · 05-09-2017 12:50AM

Charles Babbage wrote: »

Because this discussion is informative for those of us that are not entirely au fait with different types of nuclear device! Pat may be well informed, but the expert will correct him if he hasn't the details in order. It is a pleasant change from some interviewers that ask stupid questions because they haven't a clue.

I beg to disagree. I think it was Parky who said that the secret to a good interview was for the interviewer to speak as little as possible, thereby allowing the interviewee/guest to talk unchallenged, thus allowing the guest to get into their stride & completely open up like a flower!
Gentle prodding by the interviewer being acceptable to keep the conversation flowing, & to keep the guest interested & interesting (for the listeners to listen to).

Pat Kenny destroys this basic principle by constantly stopping his guests 'mid flow' & explaining the experts thoughts (as if the listeners were either slow learners or children).

The guest (not the interviewer) should speak for the majority of the interview. Pat usually speaks his thoughts & interpretation's for at least 60% of the time

_Whimsical_ · 05-09-2017 01:02AM

I agree OP. I actually think Pat is great, honestly great. Sure his light entertainment leaves somewhat to be desired but I could never like a grown man who could be whooping with delight through 3 hours of the Toy Show anyway.

He is astoundingly knowledgeable on so many topics from science to politics. He's always incredibly well prepared. He never fluffs a single detail on his radio show, he can muster up the most probing, incisive questions on pretty much any topic right off the cuff in the middle of an interview. He's a bit of a gem I think personally.

Jesus Wept · 05-09-2017 01:29AM

This country would be a lesser place without him.

RayM · 05-09-2017 01:38AM

He's extremely good at what he does (harmless, pro-establishment, middle-of-the-road current affairs presentation). RTE should probably have tried a lot harder to keep him.

suicide_circus · 05-09-2017 07:43AM

Most eloquent, polished and all round professional broadcaster in the country by a significant margin.

tayto lover · 05-09-2017 11:48AM

Rumpy Pumpy wrote: »

Ireland's best current affairs broadcaster. Also a gent by all accounts.[/QUOTE]
His neighbour didn't think so.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/battle-for-gorse-hill-to-cost-kennys-up-to-2m-26437604.html

donegaLroad · 05-09-2017 11:57AM

BillyBobBS wrote: »

He goes to bat for the establishment time and again. No fairness in his interviewing style completely one sided bias to suit an agenda. Take the IW affair as an example but that's just one issue where he can't help himself but take a side. He's an interviewer and is meant to be impartial.

I agree, he very much sides with the establishment. I remember this in 2010 where he cut off a lady in the audience when she brought up the topic of the Bilderberg Group meeting which went on in Dublin, completely unreported.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhSp-EnXOZ4

Benjamin Buttons · 05-09-2017 12:12PM

He's better than most, though he can at times stray into Alan Partridge territory.
I remember listening to his radio show not long after the whole Kinehan/Hutch thing kicked off.
Some newspaper crime correspondent was explaining the 'tit for tat' nature of the
murders when our Pat interrupted him with: ''Yes but so far there's been a lot of tats but only one tit''....classic Alan Partridge.

Rumpy Pumpy · 05-09-2017 12:20PM

donegaLroad wrote: »

I agree, he very much sides with the establishment. I remember this in 2010 where he cut off a lady in the audience when she brought up the topic of the Bilderberg Group meeting which went on in Dublin, completely unreported.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhSp-EnXOZ4

That's because anyone who would appear on TV going on about the Bilderberg group, the illuminati etc tend to be batshít crazy.

Laois_Man · 05-09-2017 12:23PM

Pat used to get a hard time when he was presenting the Late Late Show / Kenny Live alright - but I don't see that he does anymore

The only time you'd hear/see him now is if you're a proactive Pat Kenny fan and you tune into him on Newstalk

He was never a suitable chat-show presenter but he is as good as anyone in his niche which is the political or serious stuff

mikeybrennan · 05-09-2017 01:27PM

I find his style of interviewing informative

By contrast ,John Humphrys has a more annoying interview style where he cuts in to rebut the interviewee

donegaLroad · 05-09-2017 01:31PM

Rumpy Pumpy wrote: »

That's because anyone who would appear on TV going on about the Bilderberg group, the illuminati etc tend to be batshít crazy.

That lady, by chance, found herself in the middle of the Bilderberg Group meeting. The point that she was beginning to make (before being closed down completely by Kenny) was that the meeting should have been reported about in the Irish media, such was the power and influence of the people who were present.

The Illuminati theory belongs on the far end of paranoia... but the Bilderberg Group and Trilateral Commission do exist, and make no secret of their existence.

BailMeOut · 05-09-2017 01:31PM

who gives him a hard time? His is by far the best radio presenter in Ireland and was delighted to see him leave RTE for Newstalk.

Hector Bellend · 05-09-2017 03:13PM

Rumpy Pumpy wrote: »

That's because anyone who would appear on TV going on about the Bilderberg group, the illuminati etc tend to be batshít crazy.

It does exist

smurgen · 05-09-2017 03:38PM

I only started listening to his show on newstalk a few days ago and i'm impressed. it's great to hear well informed presenters who know what they're talking about. same with dave fanning. if someone knows their stuff rather than someone who sounds like they read a 4 line summation of a topic(like a tubridy) then I'll listen to them.

Ipso · 05-09-2017 04:54PM

Did anyone hear his interview with the author James Ellroy? It was supposed to be very good, Ellroy is a bit of a character to say the least and a few days prior to Kenny's interview he was on Matt Copper's show and the interview was a disaster.

suicide_circus · 05-09-2017 06:01PM

smurgen wrote: »

I only started listening to his show on newstalk a few days ago and i'm impressed. it's great to hear well informed presenters who know what they're talking about. same with dave fanning. if someone knows their stuff rather than someone who sounds like they read a 4 line summation of a topic(like a tubridy) then I'll listen to them.

He's streets ahead of tubs, darcy, cooper, healy, hook

ToddyDoody · 05-09-2017 07:57PM

jetsonx wrote: »

Why do the Irish give Pat Kenny such a hard time?

Because they need someone to take their frustrations out on.

chicorytip · 05-09-2017 08:24PM

RobbingBandit wrote:

He's a creep, just oozes nasty over entitlement which he does not deserve or have any right to. Pure epitome of Kent Brockman type media person.

He has worked hard all his life and become successful and quite wealthy as a result of being, in the main, a serious, talented and intelligent broadcaster. What's wrong with that? He certainly conveys no sense of over entitlement to me unlike many of the younger generation of so called "stars" now so prevalent on our airwaves

feargale · 06-09-2017 12:06AM

LordSutch wrote: »

I beg to disagree. I think it was Parky who said that the secret to a good interview was for the interviewer to speak as little as possible, thereby allowing the interviewee/guest to talk unchallenged, thus allowing the guest to get into their stride & completely open up like a flower!
Gentle prodding by the interviewer being acceptable to keep the conversation flowing, & to keep the guest interested & interesting (for the listeners to listen to).

Pat Kenny destroys this basic principle by constantly stopping his guests 'mid flow' & explaining the experts thoughts (as if the listeners were either slow learners or children).

The guest (not the interviewer) should speak for the majority of the interview. Pat usually speaks his thoughts & interpretation's for at least 60% of the time

You are quite right. But it's only fair to say that Kenny is not the only offender. So many of them seem to think that they must frequently butt in when somebody is saying something pertinent or relating a fascinating story, thus causing the interviewee to lose their train of thought and leave us in midair. The interviewers seem to think that the programme is about them.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Rank hypocrisy from O'Connor after his attacks on the privilege of Kenny and the like.

Nobody is disputing any facts about O'Connor. But this thread is about Kenny, not O'Connor. A government minister doesn't get off the hook if a parliamentary question is put by a tax defaulter.
My point stands. Kenny is better at dishing it out than taking it. He likes to parade his knowledge. And other posts here would suggest he is not the most likeable of people.

ChikiChiki · 06-09-2017 12:29AM

Rumpy Pumpy wrote: »

That's because anyone who would appear on TV going on about the Bilderberg group, the illuminati etc tend to be batshít crazy.

C'mon, I think people have every right to question the motives of the Bilderberg group meetings without being labled crazy. Its lack of transparency is worrying. The world would be a lessor place if people didn't kick up a fuss about it.

big b · 06-09-2017 05:39AM

He's a land grabbing, smarmy, w@nker without a grain of personality

and also the leader of ISIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZX65IxKFks

mezzz · 07-09-2017 12:29AM

Rumpy Pumpy wrote: »

Ireland's best current affairs broadcaster. Also a gent by all accounts.

surrounded by sycophants

LordSutch · 07-09-2017 09:12AM

Pat Kenny just now 9:05am...

Do the Math, do the Math, do the Math.

Three times in a row!

That's what annoys people, definitely a touch of the Richard Madeley's about Pat. Trying to be oh so cool with his "math" yet sounding silly at the same time.

tayto lover · 07-09-2017 09:14AM

He has a condescending attitude and also comes across as smarmy.

Shurimgreat · 07-09-2017 10:09AM

Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny were/are two of our best broadcasters.

As for bland, has anyone listened to RTE radio lately?

Sometimes you only notice how good someone is after they leave.

Pat and Gay are light years ahead of anything RTE radio have at the moment.

Minderbinder · 07-09-2017 10:26AM

smurgen wrote: »

I only started listening to his show on newstalk a few days ago and i'm impressed. it's great to hear well informed presenters who know what they're talking about. same with dave fanning. if someone knows their stuff rather than someone who sounds like they read a 4 line summation of a topic(like a tubridy) then I'll listen to them.

You'd have to wonder if younger generations in particular really have an appetite for serious presenters and serious discussions. Pat is not perfect by any means but like you said it's nice to listen to someone who does their research and can have an adult conversation about serious issues.

He is perhaps not a natural to presenting, but I think he recognises that and knows he has to be on the ball and work hard in preparation.

Some of the people on RTE currently are an embarrassment. I'd respect Pat Kenny for his work ethic alone and think he earns his salary.

mikeybrennan · 07-09-2017 10:33AM

Shurimgreat wrote: »

Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny were/are two of our best broadcasters.

As for bland, has anyone listened to RTE radio lately?

Sometimes you only notice how good someone is after they leave.

Pat and Gay are light years ahead of anything RTE radio have at the moment.

You only have to listen to Paul Williams before PK in the morning to see the difference in quality

whisky_galore · 07-09-2017 10:58AM

Politics and current affairs, very good at that.

'Light entertainment', forget it. Like a school master attempting to be funny.

Gaybo could flip seamlessly between the two, disliked his sometimes patronising/superior attitude though.

mikeybrennan · 07-09-2017 11:02AM

whisky_galore wrote: »

Politics and current affairs, very good at that.

'Light entertainment', forget it. Like a school master attempting to be funny.

Gaybo could flip seamlessly between the two, disliked his sometimes patronising/superior attitude though.

Gaybo isn't as good in hindsight

His LLS hasn't aged very well and he wasn't that good at current affairs either

Why do the Irish give Pat Kenny such a hard time?

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