Patrick Kielty has recently portrayed The Late Late Show (deployed on RTÉ One every Friday at 9.35 pm) as a distinctly Irish programme. This might be an indirect indication of its archaic nature and potential inability to shake off mediocrity, making it feel like it’s exceeded its expiry date. Nevertheless, many would miss it if it abruptly disappeared (You’re free to insert your own wisecrack on the subject of RTÉ’s financial management.)
When evaluating his debut season, it’s considered as a partial success by critics. His commencement episode was crammed with comedic takes on RTÉ’s financial catastrophe and featured a well-received first Toy Show. However, his New Year’s special was utterly disappointing, seemingly shot on a damp October Monday morning.
Regardless, there was a general consensus that the Late Late was holding up due to sheer momentum amid the changing tides. These high intensity levels were untenable. The question is, will Kielty be able to keep up as he embarks on his second season?
To give a complete verdict is premature at this stage, but the first episode of the season promises a substantial two-hour package of everything we have grown to cherish/disdain/feel totally apathetic about in relation to the Late Late. Starting off, Kielty’s introductory speech at the beginning of the show does decently. “It’s Friday the 13th, constituting the most terrifying day of the year,” says Kielty, “Your ultimate dread has materialised. I’ve returned.”
In his second season, Patrick Kielty’s opening episode of The Late Late Show has a decent monologue and just one hiccup.
He also serves up a snappy one-liner about the possible merging of Irish and American politics post the US presidential election, stating, “We’ll both have a Harris leading us, republicans as the opposition party, and Orangemen simply refusing” – with the last statement being followed by a clip showing Donald Trump in all his brightness.
The guest list is as eclectic as ever. The humorous John Bishop, who seems tailor-made for The Late Late Show, appears quite jovial, although he becomes a bit uncomfortable when Kielty accuses him of making a joke at the expense of a nonagenarian woman during one of his shows. The lady, however, took it all in her stride.
The musical guests provide a distinct contrast. The young rap group, Kabin Crew and Lisdoonvarna Crew, delve into their viral success with The Spark. Simultaneously, John Sheahan from The Dubliners and Phil Coulter share insights about their new endeavour, The Dubliners Encore, likened to an Aussie version of Pink Floyd’s homage to Luke Kelly, Ronnie Drew and their ilk.
The highlight of the evening is the presence of Ireland’s triumphant Olympians and Paralympians, who chat away enthusiastically. Kielty manages to make them feel comfortable, displaying the same charm while interacting with golfer Rory McIlroy in an early recording during the Irish Open in Newcastle, Co Down.
The evening hits a minor sour note with a contest announcing a holiday to Florida, conducted by Bláthnaid Treacy from Florida itself. Given the sponsor is presumably paying the bill rather than the financially-constrained Montrose, was it necessary to fly Treacy halfway across the globe to announce the launch of a Penneys store in Orlando, amidst persistent warnings about the climate crisis in every other RTE documentary? Does anybody at the national broadcasting agency comprehend the principle of optics?
Kielty, for his part, seems to be having a blast, unlike some previous Late Late hosts who found the job quite gruelling. Although the series has not introduced anything radically new and continues to lack high-profile guests, it’s satisfactory viewing, and given RTE’s predicament after the Ryan Tubridy controversy, it’s a welcome improvement.