The 53rd season of the Irish television programme, The Late Late Show, the world's longest-running chat show,[1] began on 5 September 2014 and is expected to conclude in May 2015.[2] Ryan Tubridy's sixth season as host, it airs on RTÉ One each Friday evening from 21:30.

Local guests this season included Bosco, Bono and The Edge, Tánaiste Joan Burton, Alan Shatter (months after his resignation as minister for justice), Des O'Malley, Francis Brennan, Liz O'Donnell, Micheál Martin and Dustin the Turkey. A panel debate on Irish Water in October was followed by an interview with Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy in February, after which Tubridy's style of questioning came in for much criticism. A trio of Gleesons (Brendan, Domhnall and Brian) were interviewed on the same night in December.

International guests interviewed this season included Eva Longoria, Alan Rickman, Dominic West, Ryan O'Neal, Russell Crowe and Richard E. Grant (the latter alongside Gabriel Byrne). English actors Michael Palin and John Cleese, both of the comedy troupe Monty Python, were interviewed over consecutive episodes in December.

The season closed with a dance special and a tribute by Giles, Brady and Dunphy to Bill O'Herlihy after his death earlier that week.

Sponsorship

Sky Broadband sponsored the show for a second year.[3][4]

Declining audience ratings

Audience ratings declined considerably (at one point even The Saturday Night Show attracted more viewers).[5]

Sinéad O'Connor

The singer used her appearance this season (21 November edition) to call for non-violent revolution. She did so from Tubridy's chair, having convinced him to swap places with her.[6][7]

Paul Murphy interview

On 20 February 2015, Tubridy interviewed Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy in relation to the campaign against the implementation of a water tax.[8] The interview proved frustrating, with many expressing annoyance at the tone and some of the questions asked.[9] Opponents of the water tax praised Murphy on social media for what was said to have been his restraint during the interview.[10] Much commentary was critical of Tubridy.[10] Murphy himself described his encounter with Tubridy as "an exercise in badgering and trying to make me responsible for things that are nothing to do with me", a reference to Tubridy's attempts to link him to a protests against President Michael D. Higgins which he said he had nothing to do with.[11] Julien Mercille, the academic and writer of The Political Economy and Media Coverage of the European Economic Crisis: The Case of Ireland, observed that "Tubridy was pretty good from the standpoint of protecting government interests. [...] He asked all the right questions to try to discredit the water charges protests and Paul Murphy".[12]

Special editions

The Late Late Toy Show took place on 28 November.[13]

A Valentine's Day edition aired on 13 February 2015 attracted an extraordinary number of complaints.[14][15] One of the show's guests, Ronan O'Gara, even talked about "getting up on Jessica"; Tubridy covered his mouth in shock upon hearing this vulgarity.[16] O'Gara later admitted he had drunk two coffees and nothing else before the interview.[17]

Eurosong took place on 27 February 2015.[18]

The final episode of the season was a charity dancing special.[19][20] It did, however, manage to work in a tribute by Giles, Brady and Dunphy to Bill O'Herlihy after his death earlier that week (others like George Hamilton and Après Match's Risteárd Cooper were spoken to as members of the audience).[21][22][23]

Episode list

No.Original air dateGuest(s)Musical/entertainment guest(s)
15 September 2014 (2014-09-05)Maria Walsh (2014 Rose of Tralee)Interskalactic
212 September 2014 (2014-09-12)The ScriptThe Script
319 September 2014 (2014-09-19)Tom Vaughan-LawlorSharon Corr
426 September 2014 (2014-09-26)Kelly McDonagh Mongan and familyMargo
53 October 2014 (2014-10-03)Ed SheeranEd Sheeran
610 October 2014 (2014-10-10)Majella O'DonnellThe Riptide Movement
717 October 2014 (2014-10-17)Emily RatajkowskiMary Black
824 October 2014 (2014-10-24)Bono and The EdgeBono and The Edge
931 October 2014 (2014-10-31)Brian O'DriscollMusic from Grease
107 November 2014 (2014-11-07)Eva LongoriaMadness
The Longoria interview was recorded in advance on 4 November
1114 November 2014 (2014-11-14)Saoirse RonanHomeTown
1221 November 2014 (2014-11-21)Sinéad O'ConnorThe Coronas
1328 November 2014 (2014-11-28)Various childrenTBA
The Late Late Toy Show
145 December 2014 (2014-12-05)Brendan O'Carroll and Jennifer GibneyOlly Murs
1512 December 2014 (2014-12-12)Brendan, Domhnall and Brian GleesonImelda May
1619 December 2014 (2014-12-19)Take ThatTake That
179 January 2015 (2015-01-09)Michael O'LearyCeltic Woman
First episode using the new Late Late set[24][25]
1816 January 2015 (2015-01-16)Stephanie RocheBay City Rollers
1923 January 2015 (2015-01-23)Mikey North and Ian Puleston-DaviesTBA
2030 January 2015 (2015-01-30)Donncha O'CallaghanMike Denver
216 February 2015 (2015-02-06)Nick Munier, John Walsh from Shebeen on Wheels, Vogue Williams, Kodaline, Maia Dunphy, Siobhan O'Connor, Moe Dunford and Terry McMahon, Father Pierre 'Jalapeno' PepperKodaline
2213 February 2015 (2015-02-13)Louis WalshJames Bay, Altan
Valentine's Day special[14][15]
2320 February 2015 (2015-02-20)Marco Pierre WhiteThe Shires and Dónal Lunny
2427 February 2015 (2015-02-27)Phil Coulter, Mairead Farrell, Panti Bliss and Linda MartinPhil Coulter and Niamh Kavanagh (performance of Coulter's song "Congratulations")
Eurosong 2015 (Marty Whelan also featured and presented from backstage)[26][27]
256 March 2015 (2015-03-06)Mary BerryThe Overtones
2613 March 2015 (2015-03-13)Ibrahim Halawa's sistersThe Kilfenora Céilí Band
2720 March 2015 (2015-03-20)Maria Walsh (Rose of Tralee) and Adi RocheJersey Boys
Russell Crowe also performed with the house band
2827 March 2015 (2015-03-27)Barry Cummins and Dearbhail McDonaldHomeTown
293 April 2015 (2015-04-03)Liam CunninghamPaul Brady
3010 April 2015 (2015-04-10)Jack Reynor and Gerard BarrettAlbert Hammond
3117 April 2015 (2015-04-17)Michael LysterCharley Pride
3224 April 2015 (2015-04-24)Killian Scott and Peter CoonanMamma Mia
331 May 2015 (2015-05-01)Jennifer Maguire and Darren KennedyThe Three Degrees
348 May 2015 (2015-05-08)Jason ByrneDon McLean
3515 May 2015 (2015-05-15)Jim SheridanOnce the Musical, Dublin
3622 May 2015 (2015-05-22)RTÉ Washington correspondent Caitriona PerryNathan Carter
3729 May 2015 (2015-05-29)Giles, Brady and Dunphy pay tribute to Bill O'HerlihyDancing, dancing and still more dancing

References

  1. "Dima performs at The Late Late Show". Eurovision. 31 May 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  2. "Ryan Tubridy will return with Paul McGinley, Rose of Tralee winner Maria Walsh and Baz Ashmaway for Late Late line-up". Irish Independent. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  3. "Sky Broadband Officially Named New 'Late Late Show' Sponsor". Irish Film and Television Network. 23 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  4. "Sky's €1m deal to sponsor Tubs' Late Late Show". The Herald. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  5. "More tuned into Saturday Night Show than Late Late last weekend – but they're "not in competition"". TheJournal.ie. 10 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  6. "Here is Sinead O'Connor's call for non-violent revolution on the Late Late Show: She called for "the creation of a second Republic of Ireland". Daily Edge. 22 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  7. "Sinead O'Connor swaps seats with Ryan on tonight's Late Late Show". BreakingNews.ie. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  8. "The Paul Murphy Takedown (contains transcript of interview)". 22 February 2015. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  9. Hynes, Robert (21 February 2015). "Twitter users angered by Ryan Tubridy's interview with Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy". Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  10. 1 2 O'Brien, Tim (21 February 2015). "Socialist TD responds to Late Late Show 'badgering': Paul Murphy says Ryan Tubridy interview was designed to link him to abusive remarks". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  11. "Paul Murphy describes Tubridy interview as 'exercise in badgering'". TheJournal.ie. 22 February 2015. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  12. Mercille, Julien (23 February 2015). "Just Doing His Job". Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  13. "Looking for Toy Show tickets? The deadline is today". TheJournal.ie. 13 November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Some people weren't too pleased with the antics on The Late Late Show". The Journal. 14 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Ninety complaints over risque, 'car crash' Valentines Late Late - RTE". Irish Independent. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  16. "Ronan O'Gara has apologised for THAT cheeky quip on the Late Late Show". Daily Edge. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  17. McGowan, Sharon (28 February 2015). "'I only had coffee' before Late Late, says O'Gara". Evening Herald. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  18. "Listen to this year's Eurosong 2015 hopefuls". RTÉ. 9 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  19. "George Hook went on the Late Late and danced like a gangster". TheJournal.ie. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  20. "Video: That George Hook Dance Routine From The Late Late Show". Balls.ie. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  21. ""He had a genius for living" – The Late Late tribute sparked a lot of love for Billo tonight". TheJournal.ie. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  22. "Video: Eamon Dunphy's Tearful And Eloquent Tribute To Bill O'Herlihy On The Late Late". Balls.ie. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  23. "The Late Late Show piad a very special tribute to Bill O'Herlihy tonight". Joe.ie. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  24. "New Late Late Show set divides nation". Irish Examiner. 10 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  25. "Here's a peek at the brand new Late Late Show set". Daily Edge. 10 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  26. "Molly Sterling to represent Ireland in Eurovision". RTÉ. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  27. "Eurosong on the Late Late Show review -'as ridiculous as always, run to the same format as always…it was two hours of rambling, absurd, vaguely shambolic fun'". Irish Independent. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
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