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Child Item

The Late Late Show Tribute to Gay Byrne, Tuesday, RTÉ One, 9:35pm

sligojoek

Ryan Tubridy has promised that tonight's Late Late Show tribute to Gay Byrne will be "really special".

The veteran broadcaster passed away on Monday, November 4, after a long illness.

Tubridy saluted his "great friend" and "magnificent mentor" on his RTÉ Radio 1 programme on Tuesday morning ahead of tonight's show. He described the Late Late tribute programme as "a happy wake".

Speaking to The Today Show's Brenda Donohue ahead of the show, Tubridy said: "Gay was a once off, so tonight is a once off.

"It makes perfect sense that we gather the troops, gather the family, the friends and to say a final thank you. Tonight isn't going to be maudlin, or morose, or mawkish, it's going to be upbeat, it's going to be fun."

The 90-minute live special on RTÉ One at 9:35pm will feature contributions from Gay Byrne's friends and colleagues across the world of entertainment and beyond, including Bob Geldof, Andrea Corr, Pat Kenny, John Sheahan and Mary McAleese.

Also appearing will be President Michael D Higgins, Joe Duffy, Sharon Shannon, John Sheahan, Finbar Furey, Tommy Tiernan, Pat Shortt, Eamon Dunphy, Twink and Mary Black.

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[Deleted User]

An excellent show last night- in fairness, well done Tubbs- it mustn't have been easy to do that.

RIP Gay- you were one of a kind. I'd love to see a tribute devoted to his radio show as that for me was in some ways, far more powerful and interesting than TLLS itself. I Might head over to the Radio forum and put together a thread on that.

The last slot with Mary, Fr. Brian and that lady who was caught up in the bombing was very touching i thought and I loved the song at the end- well done Finbar et al.

On a lighter note (and in spirit of LLS threads

) - TWINK!!!- she had about 25 seconds on-screen time and what did she do?
She b1tched about Gay liking Maxi more than her- I mean, you just couldn't make it up!! I'm sure Gay had a chuckle at that

Edit: I've set up a new thread in RADIO Forum, to get people's memories of The Gay Byrne Hour radio show- would love to hear your thoughts and recollections of what was featured on that show.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=111704131#post111704131

Sir Oxman

Mezzotint wrote: »

I think Ireland is still somewhat cushioned by the fact that we’re such a small market that we still tend to tune towards Irish produced programming. RTE would be better off focusing on producing seriously strong content, even if it means producing less of it with more resources focused on a few key shows. The days of TV channels with linear broadcast schedules are drawing rapidly to a close. If you’re watching Sky Q, half the time you’d lose track as to what’s live, cached and recorded or streamed on demand. If you look at where Eir has just gone with Apple TV, everything is basically server based and can be watched back (excluding the BBC due to rights issues and foot dragging) and that’s wheee Virgin Media will be at soon too. Meanwhile Netflix and probably increasingly, Amazon, Apple etc are growing and becoming far more relevant than terrestrial, sat or cable tv.

I think though we also need to pause, take a breath and look at what the Late Late Show was and how it contributed to debate because what’s destroying society and politics in the US and UK has been the inability to have those kinds of national debates and discussions and having everyone hiding in their own bubble, only talking to their online tribe.

If any anything, the huge reaction just shows that we were all sitting in the same living room or at the same kitchen tables back in the 20th century and we were participating in many of the same discussions.

Maybe the best legacy would be that we actually recognise the importance of it and, whatever the technology, attempt to keep that going. Fundamentally, it’s that ability to be a community that defines who we are and how this place works as a cohesive country.

BiB nails it on the head, IMO.

Seamai

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Regarding Sinead O'Connor not being there. I don't think it would be good to have her and Mary Coughlan together.

One of Sinéad's ex husbands Steve Cooney was also there with the musicians.

twirlagig

Watched it all last night, enjoyed it. Some bits were a bit cringe and parts of the musical acts were not great... but it can’t have been easy either to rehearse with the small timeframe given - and given the (what I presume was) huge audience watching must’ve put the pressure on too.
Was there viewing figures released for it yet?

Somebody posted a comment last night that there’s only 6 months difference in age between Michael D and Mike Murphy - I had to Google it this morning because I was falling asleep last night. That’s mad! :O
Mike Murphy looks incredible and he’s funny. Enjoyed listening to him and Pat Kenny too.

valoren

The Nell McCafferty interlude was a perfect example of the difference between Byrnes Late Late and Tubridys. Byrne was the producer. He had editorial control. If McCafferty wanted to say something then Byrne, in his Late Late years, might have allowed it and if she did start rambling, he'd move it along or else she might have potentially said something interesting. Byrne was in control of that studio environment even to the point of calling for ad breaks if he saw fit or just letting the show continue if it was in full flow whereas Tubridy during a spontaneous moment gets flustered while reading the link on the auto cue and resorts to quelling McCafferty, who presumably wanted to say a few words, with a glass of water because he had to go to the scheduled ad break. It was ironic that people have been espousing Byrnes instinct for listening while one of his predecessors is in a tightly controlled studio environment working on a production that can't facilitate listening.

sporina

what was the story with Nell McCafferty last night? was she off her trolly or what?

freshpopcorn

sporina wrote: »

what was the story with Nell McCafferty last night? was she off her trolly or what?

I actually know some elderly people who'd be or was like that. Generally nothing wrong with them but they were demanding and wanted everything at a moments notice.

paleoperson

Nell's at around 1:14:30 here in case anyone's interested:

https://www.rte.ie/player/movie/the-late-late-show-gay-byrne-tribute/117584424395

You have to go through a lot of ads. To get to the time you have to click the white circle and drag it., you can't just click near the time. There's also no pause button - don't tell me you thought RTE could get something as simple as a videoplayer right...

She was twitching a lot. Tubridy said "we'll catch up with you anon" and she said "it's anon now". Honestly, that might be the last time we ever see Nell McCafferty again.

FrancieBrady

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I actually know some elderly people who'd be or was like that. Generally nothing wrong with them but they were demanding and wanted everything at a moments notice.

Had a relative who she reminded me off. Early onset Alzheimers, lucid one minute, the next minute no idea where you are or who is around you. Very sad to see it.

Seamai

Nell may have blotted her copybook where Tubridy was concerned some years back on the Late Late's 50th anniversary. First she berated him for not giving her some of the whiskey someone had brought onto the set to celebrate the evening, she then went on to critisise his presentation style and bemoan what the show had turned into under him, saying he was typical of his generation with a very short attention span leading to interviews that rarely ran over 20 minutes, lamenting the old days under Uncle Gaybo when you had discussions and interviews you could really sink your teeth into with the show frequently running over schedule. I have to admit that I agreed with everything she said.

alan partridge aha

I'd say she's fu5ked and wont be around long.

fryup

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Why not have this Friday?

probably guests pre-booked for friday, but i'm sure they'll have another tribute friday night

sliabh 1956

Well I enjoyed the Show sure there were a gliches along the way but all in all it was well done . It cant have been easy to organise it at such short notice. Thought all the music items were very poor Surely Paddy Cole could have played a better Jazz piece seeing as Gay was such a huge fan. But getting back to Gay Mrs. Sliabh who was born in London and only came to live in Ireland as a late teen in the mid 70's and was complety oblivous to who Gaybo was and yet when I informed her on Monday of his death was guinely upset and sad. She had grown to love and respect him over the years , she remarked that he came across as sensitive and caring and she had listened and watched him faithfully over the years. She rarley listens to radio these days has no time for present day talk show hosts. It's a tribute to Gay's undoubted talent that he made such a telling inpact in her life. For myself He was the best by a long shot in what he did I didn't allways agree with his views but he excelled in the way he conducted debate and interviews . I listened to his radio show almost every day for almost twenty years and I watched the late late from the 70's onwards. What really made last nights show was to hear and see Mike Murphy in such great form his genuine love and affection for Gay was obivious for all to see.

Strumms

Seamai wrote: »

Nell may have blotted her copybook where Tubridy was concerned some years back on the Late Late's 50th anniversary. First she berated him for not giving her some of the whiskey someone had brought onto the set to celebrate the evening, she then went on to critisise his presentation style and bemoan what the show had turned into under him, saying he was typical of his generation with a very short attention span leading to interviews that rarely ran over 20 minutes, lamenting the old days under Uncle Gaybo when you had discussions and interviews you could really sink your teeth into with the show frequently running over schedule. I have to admit that I agreed with everything she said.

Last night was about one man, a celebration. With this in mind she needed to show some respect and decorum, for him and those who cared about him. If it wasn’t going to be possible to make a contribution for whatever reason she just needed to sit back, enjoy the tributes rather than throwing her toys out of the crib in protest at not being able to talk and have her say. It was a completely self entitled bullshìt rant. A lot of Gays friends in the audience and on the panel and watching at home, family watching on... at what was meant to be a celebration... I can’t see her ever being invited back to RTÉ, no loss.

fryup

sliabh 1956 wrote: »

Well I enjoyed the Show sure there were a gliches along the way but all in all it was well done . . What really made last nights show was to hear and see Mike Murphy in such great form his genuine love and affection for Gay was obivious for all to see.

another "near" gliche is when Tubridy stopped talking to Mike by saying "now lets go and meet others in the audience"...Mike thought for a second he was suppose to follow him down and nearly stood up from his chair

RabbleRouser2k

alan partridge aha wrote: »

I'd say she's fu5ked and wont be around long.

From something she wrote in 2017, I think she's disappointed and conflicted with how Irish society turned out-in comparison to how she believed it would turn out.

We seem to be more split and disjointed than ever. That and the 'feminists' of today are more divided than close-I mean, they find Margaret Atwood 'problematic' now... the woman who wrote the The HAndmaid's Tale is now on the 'outs' with feminists.

Also, the LLS was never more modern than during Gay's time on the show. Ryan turned the LLS into the very thing Gay's show strived not to be.

Seamai

Strumms wrote: »

Last night was about one man, a celebration. With this in mind she needed to show some respect and decorum, for him and those who cared about him. If it wasn’t going to be possible to make a contribution for whatever reason she just needed to sit back, enjoy the tributes rather than throwing her toys out of the crib in protest at not being able to talk and have her say. It was a completely self entitled bullshìt rant. A lot of Gays friends in the audience and on the panel and watching at home, family watching on... at what was meant to be a celebration... I can’t see her ever being invited back to RTÉ, no loss.

I agree, last night was not the night for her to to be going off on one of her rants.

Cork Boy 53

fryup wrote: »

probably guests pre-booked for friday, but i'm sure they'll have another tribute friday night

I doubt that. Seeing as how the funeral will be earlier that day, Tubridy might just say something along the lines of how Gaybo got a great send off as he surely will have but I would think that will be it.

FixdePitchmark

Was a great show.

Kind of reminded me how controlled the late late is now.

There are no debates or audiences participation.

The argument could be, we have all the new programs like that, Claire Byrne etc

AwaitYourReply

Yes, I was somewhat surprised they went ahead last night given that the funeral will be on Friday when The Late Late Show is next due for it's usual live broadcast. The Byrne family were understandably not in attendance at RTÉ's Montrose H.Q. last night although; I understand they were said to have been watching. Not sure if Friday's regular Late Late Show will still air or; if they will show a repeat of Tuesday night's special tribute programme dedicated to Gay Byrne. The special tribute show deserves credit given that it had to be put together at very short notice.

I wonder if Frank McNamara touched a nerve with Tubridy with his remark about: in our day we used get 1 million viewers on The Late Late Show or words to that affect and then his wife, Theresa Lowe thanked Marty Whelan for handing her the gig of presenter of quiz show "Where in the World? with Marty more or less stating that this was only because he was no longer allowed to retain his RTÉ tv gigs as he jumped ship to ill-fated Century Radio in 1989. I was surprised not to see Christy Moore involved unless I missed some part? I wonder if they should have held the Tribute Show for another night to allow them more time to gather further content and allow more individuals to be present in person on the show.

Cork Boy 53

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Yes, I was somewhat surprised they went ahead last night given that the funeral will be on Friday when The Late Late Show is next due for it's usual live broadcast. The Byrne family were understandably not in attendance at RTÉ's Montrose H.Q. last night although; I understand they were said to have been watching. Not sure if Friday's regular Late Late Show will still air or; if they will show a repeat of Tuesday night's special tribute programme dedicated to Gay Byrne. The special tribute show deserves credit given that it had to be put together at very short notice.

I wonder if Frank McNamara touched a nerve with Tubridy with his remark about: in our day we used get 1 million viewers on The Late Late Show or words to that affect and then his wife, Theresa Lowe thanked Marty Whelan for handing her the gig of presenter of quiz show "Where in the World? with Marty more or less stating that this was only because he was no longer allowed to retain his RTÉ tv gigs as he jumped ship to ill-fated Century Radio in 1989. I was surprised not to see Christy Moore involved unless I missed some part? I wonder if they should have held the Tribute Show for another night to allow them more time to gather further content and allow more individuals to be present in person on the show.

No, Christy Moore was not on the show last night.

Mrcaramelchoc

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Had a relative who she reminded me off. Early onset Alzheimers, lucid one minute, the next minute no idea where you are or who is around you. Very sad to see it.

Or else she was pissed?

Utopia Parkway

Seamai wrote: »

Nell may have blotted her copybook where Tubridy was concerned some years back on the Late Late's 50th anniversary. First she berated him for not giving her some of the whiskey someone had brought onto the set to celebrate the evening, she then went on to critisise his presentation style and bemoan what the show had turned into under him, saying he was typical of his generation with a very short attention span leading to interviews that rarely ran over 20 minutes, lamenting the old days under Uncle Gaybo when you had discussions and interviews you could really sink your teeth into with the show frequently running over schedule. I have to admit that I agreed with everything she said.

Think RTE were scared off using Nell after she called Mary Harney an alco on air on Newstalk. Think it was back around 2010. Ended up in court with substantial damages paid out to Harney.

Turbidy probably crapped himself that Nell would say something mad.

AwaitYourReply

Mrcaramelchoc wrote: »

Or else she was pissed?

I thought that she seemed quite confused and almost agitated. I genuinely hope that she is not seriously ill as she shared many interesting conversations on The Late Late Show down through the years during Gay Byrne's time in the chair.

FrancieBrady

Mrcaramelchoc wrote: »

Or else she was pissed?

Possible too of course.
I have seen Miriam O'Callaghan tweeting pictures with Nell after the show with the message 'The legend that is Nell', I suspect that it is more than being pissed tbh. Others retweeting the pics too.
If she was just 'drunk' I doubt M O'C would be arsed doing that, you'd be annoyed.

AwaitYourReply

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Think RTE were scared off using Nell after she called Mary Harney an alco on air on Newstalk. Think it was back around 2010. Ended up in court with substantial damages paid out to Harney.

Turbidy probably crapped himself that Nell would say something mad.

I was not aware of this which then begs the question - why would RTÉ/The Late Late Show production team risk getting into such a tricky situation by allocating her with an audience ticket for that show?

Ash.J.Williams

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

I was not aware of this which then begs the question - why would RTÉ/The Late Late Show production team risk getting into such a tricky situation by allocating her with an audience ticket for that show?

because unlike tubs and like gaybo she is actually part of irish history

hardCopy

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

I was not aware of this which then begs the question - why would RTÉ/The Late Late Show production team risk getting into such a tricky situation by allocating her with an audience ticket for that show?

It's probably a good idea to show society that ill people can be let out in public. I thought Ryan handled it pretty well, Nell wants a drink, here's a drink, rather than an unwell person being shushed by an usher.

FrancieBrady

hardCopy wrote: »

It's probably a good idea to show society that ill people can be let out in public. I thought Ryan handled it pretty well, Nell wants a drink, here's a drink, rather than an unwell person being shushed by an usher.

So did I, he kept the show going quite smoothly. Live television - unplanned things happen, that's the deal.

AwaitYourReply

hardCopy wrote: »

It's probably a good idea to show society that ill people can be let out in public. I thought Ryan handled it pretty well, Nell wants a drink, here's a drink, rather than an unwell person being shushed by an usher.

I look after an ill person myself so I'm not suggesting they be shut up by an usher however; that's exactly what I picked up having watched it the other night. Ryan was put in a no-win situation and so he kindly offered her his glass of water but when she was trying to express herself afterwards I felt so sorry for her and also for those trying to handle a tricky situation. It reminded me of the difficulty of the person that I am currently caring for. I thought to myself - when that person was previously in better health, would they have wanted such an awkward exchange on national tv - somehow I think not.

That said, there are some wonderful supports out there in local communities such as daycare centres if you can manage to obtain access which can be difficult. Once a client gains access they can still engage with others in a more suitable caring environment and the person I look after loves going there as it gives her a great sense of routine and purpose at this stage of her life.