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

serfboard · 08-11-2019 07:31PM

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

I'll have to check out that doc on Gaybo as I never watched it this week. I think I recall something mentioned by Mike Murphy in relation to Gay's contract in recent years and I was taken aback given how stable the media landscape was back in those days unlike today's constant pace of change! Looking back Gay seemed very insecure during the summer months when he would take his annual break from both The Late Late Show on tv and the Gay Byrne Show on radio. He was so insecure that he never jumped ship to Century Radio back in 1989 which turned out to be a wise move in the end.

I often think Gay admired his successor Pat Kenny for having the balls to quit RTÉ and negotiate such a lucrative remuneration package with NewsTalk 106-108 and subsequently TV3/Virgin Media Television as well.

The Gaybo documentary is well worth watching, even if it is, IIRC, nearly 15 years old now.

The standout for me, which speaks to the point you are making, was Gay referenced Mike Murphy quitting "The Live Mike" live on air - Mike said something like, that's the end of the series and that's the end of The Live Mike - we won't be back.

Gay couldn't understand that. He said to Mike, something like "You know that you've just ruined your career". But Mike, fair play to him didn't give a sh1t. He said he just wasn't enjoying it so why carry on? Gay said that the idea of not having something to hang onto was anathema to him.

Gay also said something about having a temp stand in for you when you're off - not someone too good who'd be kept on instead of you.

This insecurity is very interesting for someone so talented - but maybe that's what drove him to excel as well.

RabbleRouser2k · 09-11-2019 02:40AM

serfboard wrote: »

The Gaybo documentary is well worth watching, even if it is, IIRC, nearly 15 years old now.

The standout for me, which speaks to the point you are making, was Gay referenced Mike Murphy quitting "The Live Mike" live on air - Mike said something like, that's the end of the series and that's the end of The Live Mike - we won't be back.

Gay couldn't understand that. He said to Mike, something like "You know that you've just ruined your career". But Mike, fair play to him didn't give a sh1t. He said he just wasn't enjoying it so why carry on? Gay said that the idea of not having something to hang onto was anathema to him.

Gay also said something about having a temp stand in for you when you're off - not someone too good who'd be kept on instead of you.

This insecurity is very interesting for someone so talented - but maybe that's what drove him to excel as well.

Yeah, Mike ended up in Winning Streak- he never reached the same heights after Live Mike. (I wasn't alive when that show came to an end). My parents could never warm to him-and I think that sort of rubbed off on me too. I don't know what it was, he was sort of the 'lazy' types that arrived after Gay Byrne and crew.

I think quitting the show (Live Mike) in such a manner was sort of an insult to RTE. (Pat Kenny similarly quitting the Late Late live on air probably put him on the outs with RTE after that).

AwaitYourReply · 09-11-2019 10:16PM

RabbleRouser2k wrote: »

Yeah, Mike ended up in Winning Streak- he never reached the same heights after Live Mike. (I wasn't alive when that show came to an end). My parents could never warm to him-and I think that sort of rubbed off on me too. I don't know what it was, he was sort of the 'lazy' types that arrived after Gay Byrne and crew.

I think quitting the show (Live Mike) in such a manner was sort of an insult to RTE. (Pat Kenny similarly quitting the Late Late live on air probably put him on the outs with RTE after that).

Mike Murphy had a good show on Friday nights called The Live Mike which is when we probably first got to see the late Dermot Morgan dressed up as a priest except it was not Father Ted but Father Trendy. You also had sketches with Twink (Adele King) and Fran Dempsey. In those days The Late Late Show used be broadcast live on Saturday nights straight after the 9 O'Clock news. I think the late Derek Davis then had a show called "Davis At Large" which probably replaced "The Live Mike" on the Friday night slots before The Late Late Show made the permanent switch to Friday nights around the mid-1980's. "Saturday Live" a new entertainment show with different guest hosts each week then ran for a while before it eventually became "Kenny Live" with Pat Kenny.

Mike later did a successful Sunday night family quiz show for several years called "Murphy's Micro Quiz-Em" which used go out just before RTÉ's weekly rural soap drama, GLENROE! Not sure if "Where In The World?" with Marty Whelan (Series 1) Theresa Lowe (All other series) replaced that quiz in same time slot but I think it did.

Mike Murphy's best television was documentary type shows for television (1) Murphy's America and (2) Murphy's Australia some years later - I reckon these style programmes reflected his talents best. Mike did "Morning Call" which had music, news updates, listener requests on RTÉ Radio 1 for 7 years and that slot was replaced by news & current affairs show "Morning Ireland" around 1984 to present day. He also did an arts show on radio for many years.

It's amazing that Gay Byrne had managed to stick with the same Late Late Show on prime time television and The Gay Byrne Show on radio for all those years as the pressure was on him to keep churning it out at such a high standard week in week out.

Welsh Megaman · 09-11-2019 11:03PM

Good article in today's Indo from Kim Bielenberg, about how the LLS was back in Gaybo's Day...

Unpredictable, the guest line-up not being revealed beforehand, the audience joining in with the debate with often led to fisticuffs.

Imagine that in 2019, Ryan would soil himself

Cork Boy 53 · 09-11-2019 11:15PM

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Good article in today's Indo from Kim Bielenberg, about how the LLS was back in Gaybo's Day...

Unpredictable, the guest line-up not being revealed beforehand, the audience joining in with the debate with often led to fisticuffs.

Imagine that in 2019, Ryan would soil himself

The only occasion that came anywhere near that in Tubridy`s time on the LLS was when Linda Martin and Billy McGuinness went head to head a few years back. And as far as I remember Ryan did look as if he was going to **** himself.

Leilak · 09-11-2019 11:25PM

does anyone know why Marian Finucane wasn't at either the tribute show or funeral? She also had very little to say on her radio programme this morning about Gaybo

tylercheribini · 09-11-2019 11:27PM

Leilak wrote: »

does anyone know why Marian Finucane wasn't at either the tribute show or funeral? She also had very little to say on her radio programme this morning about Gaybo

With all of those egos involved they cant all have been the bosom buddies the claim in their eulogising.

Cork Boy 53 · 09-11-2019 11:28PM

Leilak wrote: »

does anyone know why Marian Finucane wasn't at either the tribute show or funeral? She also had very little to say on her radio programme this morning about Gaybo

No idea. Maybe they were not friends?

FrancieBrady · 09-11-2019 11:29PM

Leilak wrote: »

does anyone know why Marian Finucane wasn't at either the tribute show or funeral? She also had very little to say on her radio programme this morning about Gaybo

She was out in the smoking room?

tylercheribini · 09-11-2019 11:31PM

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

No idea. Maybe they were not friends?

Possibly but when a broadcaster of that stature dies generally everyone toes the company line, eg Jimmy Savile and then subsequent u-turns by the same company drones.

glenfieldman · 10-11-2019 12:03AM

Leilak wrote: »

does anyone know why Marian Finucane wasn't at either the tribute show or funeral? She also had very little to say on her radio programme this morning about Gaybo

she was at both

AwaitYourReply · 10-11-2019 12:36AM

Independent.ie on Saturday 09/11/2019
Entertainment section/Joe Brolly

Joe Brolly: 'For all the sugary words from RTE's top brass, Gay Byrne wouldn't last two minutes there nowadays'

Readers under 40 will not appreciate just how thrilling, shocking and transformative Gaybo was. In truth, they should have retired The Late Late Show along with him..."

Source/Full article by Joe Brolly as per below link:
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/joe-brolly-for-all-the-sugary-words-from-rtes-top-brass-gay-byrne-wouldnt-last-two-minutes-there-nowadays-38676958.html

I would recommend those interested to review this article as it does seem to reflect what was unique about Gay influence from 1962-1999 versus where The Late Late Show has ended up since Gay departed the show back at the end of May, 1999. I would have to agree that the show probably should have finished as soon as Gay Byrne exited. Yes of course so many things have changed such as attitudes, access to foreign media, new technologies etc; however; now it should be more engaging rather than safe and predictable most of the time.

RabbleRouser2k · 10-11-2019 05:58AM

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Independent.ie on Saturday 09/11/2019
Entertainment section/Joe Brolly

Joe Brolly: 'For all the sugary words from RTE's top brass, Gay Byrne wouldn't last two minutes there nowadays'

Readers under 40 will not appreciate just how thrilling, shocking and transformative Gaybo was. In truth, they should have retired The Late Late Show along with him..."

Source/Full article by Joe Brolly as per below link:
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/joe-brolly-for-all-the-sugary-words-from-rtes-top-brass-gay-byrne-wouldnt-last-two-minutes-there-nowadays-38676958.html

I would recommend those interested to review this article as it does seem to reflect what was unique about Gay influence from 1962-1999 versus where The Late Late Show has ended up since Gay departed the show back at the end of May, 1999. I would have to agree that the show probably should have finished as soon as Gay Byrne exited. Yes of course so many things have changed such as attitudes, access to foreign media, new technologies etc; however; now it should be more engaging rather than safe and predictable most of the time.

He's accurate enough in his analysis. Just look at how he was fired from the Sunday Game. Joe Brolly went off on one, Joanne Cantwell couldn't handle him-so instead she reported him to RTE.

It was similar to how Ryan Tubridy handled Linda Martin and Billy McGuinness-except they didn't invite Billy back to the show. But they did invite Linda-possibly because she's ingratiated herself with out types. And Ryan can't afford to lose guests. I'd say there's some in the canteen who won't appear on the show out of respect to Gay Byrne.

But Joe Brolly was accurate-I know my mother was saying to me the other night that my cousins who are older than me, probably remember the impact of Gay Byrne far more than my brother and I do.
I tried to disagree with her-I do remember many shows and how important they were. But I don't think she was far off.
I do remember how RTE showed the Dubliner's tribute on the LLS either a year, or two years ago. And I felt that was like a 'secret thank you' to Gay Byrne-it was two years after his diagnosis, and I'd imagine even then people knew the prognosis was not good. Imo, the tribute to Dubliners acted also as a tribute to Gay Byrne.

As Graham Norton said-people had a voice when Gay Byrne was around. Even if it was just calling in to complain about about price increases.
In the time before Twitter, facebook, instagram.... people felt seen. Genuinely acknowledged. Even Social media is a vapid, vacuous 'we see y'all' load of crap.
Gay Byrne would take that time-genuinely set aside his own time-to speak to people. When others were trying to shun AIDS victims, ignore them, or deny them their voice... he knew there time was short-so he gave them time to record their voices.
As he did with Thom McGinty aka the Diceman. AIDs was killing people, taking their lives-and Gay went out of his way to allow them be heard.

But for him-a lot of these folks would have been silenced.

Cork Boy 53 · 10-11-2019 01:30PM

Leilak wrote: »

does anyone know why Marian Finucane wasn't at either the tribute show or funeral? She also had very little to say on her radio programme this morning about Gaybo

Big discussion about Gay on her show right now.

RabbleRouser2k · 11-11-2019 12:23AM

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

Big discussion about Gay on her show right now.

I'd say she needed time to adjust to it all. You sort of forget how close many of these people were to Gay.

serfboard · 11-11-2019 01:12PM

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Source/Full article by Joe Brolly as per below link: https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/joe-brolly-for-all-the-sugary-words-from-rtes-top-brass-gay-byrne-wouldnt-last-two-minutes-there-nowadays-38676958.html

Thanks for posting this, well worth a read, though I think that Brolly himself has mastered the art of controversy for controversies sake, in a manner similar to Eamonn Dunphy.

This is feckin' hilarious though:

Joe Brolly wrote:

I felt myself blushing ... when Joe Duffy began reading out Auden’s 'Funeral Blues' with a straight face.

Maybe Joe doesn’t realise that Auden wrote the poem as a piss-take on how the establishment goes way over the top in eulogising an individual's death for its own ends.

When Joe finished with: "... I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong", I could imagine Gay’s eyebrows hitting the ceiling.

Joe went on to boast that it took him seven years to get through Trinity. That quickly?

elperello · 11-11-2019 03:48PM

Joe Brolly is full of it.

He might know his stuff when it comes to sports matters but his knowledge of literature is sadly lacking.

The fact that a different version of Funeral Blues with a satirical slant was originally written by WH Auden for a play in no way negates the use of the version quoted below written two years later.

It is widely used by mourners as a sincere tribute to the memory of the deceased.

The poem has also become part of popular culture being quoted in both films and TV programmes most notably Four Weddings and a Funeral

Funeral Blues

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message 'He is Dead'.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

FrancieBrady · 11-11-2019 04:24PM

elperello wrote: »

Joe Brolly is full of it.

He might know his stuff when it comes to sports matters but his knowledge of literature is sadly lacking.

The fact that a different version of Funeral Blues with a satirical slant was originally written by WH Auden for a play in no way negates the use of the version quoted below written two years later.

It is widely used by mourners as a sincere tribute to the memory of the deceased.

The poem has also become part of popular culture being quoted in both films and TV programmes most notably Four Weddings and a Funeral

Funeral Blues

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message 'He is Dead'.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

I have to say, I did go into cringe mode when Duffy did that. He goes completely over the top and it comes across as faux despair, just as his 'anger' does at times. That recitation put the tin hat on it tbh.

elperello · 11-11-2019 06:59PM

FrancieBrady wrote: »

I have to say, I did go into cringe mode when Duffy did that. He goes completely over the top and it comes across as faux despair, just as his 'anger' does at times. That recitation put the tin hat on it tbh.

And you are of course quite entitled to that opinion. I too often cringe at some of what is said at funerals or wakes but I keep my feelings to myself.

Joe Brolly on the other hand simply used the occasion of Gay Byrne's funeral to take a cut at Joe Duffy and RTE.

He should have realised it was neither the time nor place and besides he based his little diatribe on an incorrect understanding of the poem.

No class.

FrancieBrady · 11-11-2019 07:03PM

elperello wrote: »

And you are of course quite entitled to that opinion. I too often cringe at some of what is said at funerals or wakes but I keep my feelings to myself.

Joe Brolly on the other hand simply used the occasion of Gay Byrne's funeral to take a cut at Joe Duffy and RTE.

He should have realised it was neither the time nor place and besides he based his little diatribe on an incorrect understanding of the poem.

No class.

No argument on Brolly either! Opportunistic contrarian.

Beechwoodspark · 11-11-2019 07:22PM

FrancieBrady wrote: »

I have to say, I did go into cringe mode when Duffy did that. He goes completely over the top and it comes across as faux despair, just as his 'anger' does at times. That recitation put the tin hat on it tbh.

What’s worse Duffy seemed merry/jarred reading it too.

I strongly felt it was extremely disrespectful to GB and his family in mourning.

PWEI · 11-11-2019 08:14PM

Does anybody know why Christy Moore wasn't' on the show?

FrancieBrady · 11-11-2019 08:27PM

PWEI wrote: »

Does anybody know why Christy Moore wasn't' on the show?

On tour, judging by his website. Other than playing on the show I never sensed a great rapport between them tbh.

pinkyeye · 11-11-2019 11:54PM

FrancieBrady wrote: »

On tour, judging by his website. Other than playing on the show I never sensed a great rapport between them tbh.

Does anyone have a rapport with Christy Moore?

Cork Boy 53 · 12-11-2019 12:17AM

pinkyeye wrote: »

Does anyone have a rapport with Christy Moore?

Has Christy Moore been on the LLS since Tubridy took over as host? I can`t remember him being on it in a long long time.

FrancieBrady · 12-11-2019 12:19AM

pinkyeye wrote: »

Does anyone have a rapport with Christy Moore?

Yeh, I know there are plenty. Christy never looked comfortable in Montrose to be honest, plenty of artists and others out there like him.

sligojoek · 12-11-2019 01:13AM

pinkyeye wrote: »

Does anyone have a rapport with Christy Moore?

I've met him several times. Always a gent to deal with.

He doesn't suffer gobsh1tes.

sligojoek · 12-11-2019 01:17AM

This is the last time I remember him on.

Naggdefy · 12-11-2019 01:25AM

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Independent.ie on Saturday 09/11/2019
Entertainment section/Joe Brolly

Joe Brolly: 'For all the sugary words from RTE's top brass, Gay Byrne wouldn't last two minutes there nowadays'

Readers under 40 will not appreciate just how thrilling, shocking and transformative Gaybo was. In truth, they should have retired The Late Late Show along with him..."

Source/Full article by Joe Brolly as per below link:
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/joe-brolly-for-all-the-sugary-words-from-rtes-top-brass-gay-byrne-wouldnt-last-two-minutes-there-nowadays-38676958.html

I would recommend those interested to review this article as it does seem to reflect what was unique about Gay influence from 1962-1999 versus where The Late Late Show has ended up since Gay departed the show back at the end of May, 1999. I would have to agree that the show probably should have finished as soon as Gay Byrne exited. Yes of course so many things have changed such as attitudes, access to foreign media, new technologies etc; however; now it should be more engaging rather than safe and predictable most of the time.

Brolly using Gay's career for his own agenda. He's at this full time since he was thrown off the SG. Oh look at me I'm a brilliant maverick that bland modern Ireland is trying to silence, a modern Gaybo.

No Joe. You said David Gough, the all Ireland ref the first day for Kerry v Dublin 2019, was compromised. You've been insufferable on the SG not letting anyone speak. Spillane tries to get a word in, puts his hand on your arm and you start shouting 'STOP PATTING ME'! You can be seriously witty and are very bright but most of the time you're a little boll*x. Plus you want to eulogize about the Dubs in long ramblings with no proper analysis. You're as fickle as a weather vane. One week it's 'I love the All Blacks playing what's infront of them the best in the world', next week 'my favourite team is South Africa as they're playing for a bigger cause'!

Joe you've done a great deed donating your kidney, but you're insufferable with a massive ego.

P.s. This coming from someone who knows Brolly well from college days and even then all his teammates felt the same about him.

Naggdefy · 12-11-2019 01:26AM

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

Has Christy Moore been on the LLS since Tubridy took over as host? I can`t remember him being on it in a long long time.

Sang Nancy Spain this month 10 years ago when the great Liam Clancy died. All I remember with Tubs.

https://youtu.be/5BdZlGIZCsA

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

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