The Tonight Show - Virgin Media One

I got an post of mine delete in another forum for saying this but.

Gavin Reilly is very dull, and a bit of a know it all. I had various views on his Group Chat co-hosts, but basically they just seem to agree with one another.

Sheehan isn't great at the job either.

Bit of an unusual choice as a fill in.

I hope not.

That segment about the drones was a real eye opener.

Small countries like Estonia can spend 5% on defence but we can't even manage 3%

Niall Collins got his arse handed to him by Sheehan.

Is Alison O'Connor's only job to speak rubbish on political panel programmes?

Just complete and utter nonsense out of her again and again and again. Every time I listen to her speaking, I think this is another level of guff altogether. A total spoofer Bill.

Jesus your man from the Daily Mail presenting tonight is real car crash stuff..just shows he is ok as a panelist but different story when you are hosting. They had really messed up this show, need a proper host again #bringbackvinny

They don't seem to be bothering with Gavan Reily anymore.

or Fionnan Sheahan. Doesn't look like they have a long-term successor lined up…

VMTV have been given 3million in funding for News and Current Affairs. It's likely that Tonight will start going out 4 nights a week again.

Also RTÉ pretty much cancel their Monday CA in the Summer.

Sunday - TWIP (Have to agree TWIP was better in the past, Aine Lawlor's time at the helm has been dower)

Monday - Q&A, Frontline, Claire Byrne and Upfront ==⇒ Cancelled.

Tuesday - Prime Time

Wednesday - The Midweek Movie (A remember that)

Thursday - Prime Time

I email RTÉ about it

Me: Do you know if Upfront will be replaced in September with a new regular Audience and Panel based Monday night Current affairs programme? or has this type of programme been axed? (Link to news article provided)

RTÉ: There are currently no confirmed plans for a replacement programme on Monday nights. Programming will be confirmed towards the end of August and announced with the Autumn schedule. Otherwise, the only information we have on this is what is mentioned in the statement you referenced below.

Me: It does read as though RTÉ are not going to have a panel / audience show from that press release. "As part of the organisation’s New Direction Strategy, in the prioritising digital content, it has recently launched a news podcast, and Clarity, a new strand beginning to tackle increasing misinformation and disinformation challenges." Can you confirm?

RTÉ: We are not in a position to confirm any plans for future programming at this office. We are only aware of the information as outlined in the public statement.

Me: If you could pass my mail on to the News and Current Affairs division of RTÉ, they may be able to help me. 

RTÉ: We have forwarded your query for the attention of the News and Current Affairs team to see if they can advise further.

RTÉ: Just to follow up on your query - the News and Current Affairs team responded to say they have already advised media and all interested parties that “Details of all new programming will be announced as part of RTÉ's New Season launch in August.” We hope you can appreciate that they are not in a position to advise anything further in advance of that. 

Me: I will assume that RTÉ has no plans to have a regular Audience / Panel programme in the future, save for Presidential debates, referendums and election debates. But I look forward to being proven wrong.  Also please let the News and Current Affairs team know that "all interested parties" includes their audience and public when asked a question. 

Am I the A-hole … I don't care haha.

Also I was wrong there was no live studio audience Presidental debate from any broadcaster. I have to admit when I am wrong I suppose.

I don't understand why Prime Time can't be shown 3 times a week.

RTE are getting away with not having a nightly current affairs programme now for ages. They had Prime Time at only once a week in the summer months and that was extended because of The Traitors. Farce.

We openly lecture other countries about free speech when our own media is so lacking in output.

"Do you agree with James Brown that Met Eireann were to blame for everything that happened"

Such a lazy way of phrasing a question in a serious interview. Of course Harris is going to bat it away..

Who's John Lee? Are they doing auditions like RTE did for Liveline (and then picked none of them) or just getting random people?