The Ryan Tubridy Show **Mod: Read OP**

Genuine question - would you with your contacts in the area have any way of finding out if Friday’s show was pre-recorded?
My colleague is adamant she saw him in public in Dublin during the broadcast hours.

Who knows if it was pre recorded! Virgin radio being DAB only have less rules as regards having to broadcast live. I listened to about 5 minutes of Q102 followed by 5 minutes of Virgin Radio UK this morning and by God it’s heavy going. Lots of me, me, me stuff followed by random film nominations and a music selection that surely must jar with most of his core audience likes. They aren’t making it any easier for him to retain an audience for sure

I just tuned in and Ryan is interviewing author Colm Toibín. Ryan described his writing MO as “intriguing”.

This I believe is my first time hearing Colm speak and his accent is definitely intriguing. If any of you have friends who were raised in Ireland but born to shall we say “posh-sounding” English parents you’ll know this type of accent. It’s not overpowering and certainly not the strongest of these types of accents I’ve ever heard - but it’s definitely there and slips through occasionally. He’s from Enniscorthy I believe so I’d assume he’s a left-footer (not that there’s anything wrong with that of course!).

Ryan name-dropping Saoirse Ronan into the conversation again.

I don’t necessarily mind these interviews, but I don’t understand why they break them up by playing songs every couple of minutes through them. You’re just getting into the meat of the conversation and then with no announcement Benson Boone gets drops in. Why?

The RDS is - as usual - all over the place.

I never read Toibin but I have seen a criticism stating if he used a woman name his books would have been classed as chick lit, if that's still a thing now.

I'm sure there's some gems in that genre, although the katty lette series that really kicked it off were an extremely high bar, they make Bridget jones look like a watery imitation.

Anyway the publishing spectrum, especially in the anglo phere is unfortunately mostly aimed at an aging demographic. TV is the same.

I don’t know how many times I have to say it but I genuinely like this show. Liking something however doesn’t mean you have to shower it with gushing and over the top praise. You can like something and still highlight its shortcomings where appropriate - the show is once again this morning plagued with technical difficulties - for example we’re now once again being treated to a digital warbling noise over Alison Moyet; and the RDS is, as always, “off”. Thought her solo work would be too commercial for my taste, I do like her work with Yazoo and her voice remains wonderful.

Ryan sounds in good form. He says he fell asleep during a screening of The Phonetician Scheme yesterday, and admits that this is something he regularly does - which likely explains some of his movie reviews. Another mention of 28 Years Later, which I actually saw myself this past weekend. Truth be told, I was very disappointed with it. There wasn’t enough of the incredibly large slayer in it though.

He’s off to another matinee theatre performance later and promises to fill us in on that tomorrow. My afternoon sadly is less relaxed as I have meetings (which apparently is something that appears unusual to some 🤷‍♂️). Oh to have so much free time - he really has landed on his feet in London as there’s just so much more to do there than Dublin.

He also excitedly welcomed the Cool Britannia wave/revival. I wonder is this an attempt to court more British listeners? I think his playing of Oasis earlier was also a nod to this.

I am aware of this fact. They - like most stations these days - run a strict playlist with minimal to zero input from the host. Ryan has many strengths but he’s not John Peel.

I’m sure if Ryan had his way it would be non-stop Beatles, Macca, and Sinatra; which would make for a boring and repetitive listen. The songs on this show are quite varied in a something for everyone kind of way, but with an emphasis on greatest hits/80s ‘til now chart friendly stuff. It’s fine for background accompaniment and isn’t offensive. That said, I’d bet Ryan’s been exposed to more new (to him) music in the last 18 months than his entire time in RTÉ and that can only be a good thing. He’s growing musically too and good for him.

I think you’re misreading my intent on that post. While I’m mostly enjiying the show musically I actually agree with you that the fit between Tubridy, this type of music, and his core audience is off. 

I’ve often said here I feel the fit is off whilst still enjoying the show (square peg, round hole). I genuinely feel that Ryan’s talents would be more suited to a more chat / less music format. I can however still enjoy the current iteration whilst maintaining that view.

Interesting opening few sound bites from Ryan. He’s now talking about the play he attended yesterday afternoon - for free of course. Interview coming up with one of the stars later which I assume was recorded yesterday after the play rather than being live in studio.

We had numerous pieces discussing strawberry and cream sandwiches, which he completely overdid. Ryan also enunciates the word as “sam-itches” / “sam-midges” which I must admit to being both surprised and disappointed by - I expected better tbh.

Slight clanger when he was talking about going into the 7 Eleven chain of convenience stores but called it 9/11.

Posh-English voice put on more than once (I wonder what British listeners think of that?), attempt at a Northern Ireland accent, and a Trump impression too.

Music is very commercial today, but Duran Duran on now which is nice as I’m going to see them and Chic on Monday.

Virgin Radio’s playlist is nothing if not random

Did he tell people that the lead singer once lived in Ireland?

Plenty of fodder for future radio shows after he interviews graham Norton during the west cork literary festival.

Hope he's up to date with his reading.

I thought he'd be at Glastonbury interviewing kneecap.