David Higgins

I’m looking forward to RTÉ’s new schedule more than any other channel this year (after Sky 1 that is). It promises a fresh new set of programs that reflect the times we are now living in. This means an emphasis on current affairs, politics and economics. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea but it’s what everybody’s suddenly interested in now.

As Pat Kenny said as he left the Late Late Show:

“Politics is the new rock and roll” ”.

This season sees The Late Late Show change hands for the second time in it’s 47 year existence, with the young Ryan Tuberty taking the reins of RTÉ’s flagship show. Like all previous series current affairs will take the centre stage and the two previous presenters held debates very well. However this time things are different. Tuberty’s brother Garret unsuccessfully ran for Dublin City Council this year under the Fianna Fáil name (It was a very small logo on his poster but I managed to read it).

I have reservations about a FFer having the minds of the nation at his grasp every Friday Night however we’ll have to judge him as the show proceeds. However don’t be surprised if the opposition are being shushed to let the Minister explain his position!

Pat Kenny, of course has moved on and this season he has his own show to replace the second longest running show on RTÉ, Questions and Answers. This was by far my favourite show on RTÉ these past few years so Pat has a lot to live up to here. His new show The Frontline will be on our screens every Monday night.

While politics is mainly a boring topic Ardal O’Hanlon appears to have stepped in to provide a satirical look at political life. His new show Val Falvey T.D. sees the former Father Ted star play a newly elected TD in a brand new six-part series. And who would know better than Ardal, his father is a TD of course. Rory O’Hanlon of Fianna Fáil is a TD for Cavan-Monaghan and he served as Ceann Comhairle from 2002-2007. Like Tuberty I fear a FF bias coming on however Ardal has shown restraint in the past and I hope we’ll see it here too. His previous show for RTÉ “So You Want To Be Taoiseach” was a great success.

And the political satire doesn’t end there. Following in the footsteps “The Panel” which has been renewed for a new season, is a similar untitled show to air at 10 o’clock mid-week. It’s quoted as “A brand new topical comedy show, which looks back on the events of the week.”  Also in the comedy genre is a new show by Jason Byrne. It’s a six-part panel show called The Byrne Ultimatum. He has me caught with the funny title, but whether the show will be funny is another thing.

Moving onto RTÉ factual now in which I see some more promising programs.

• Addicted To Money: David McWilliams surveys the wreckage of the global economy.
• If Lynch had Invaded: How Jack Lynch dealt with the crisis of August 1969
• Charlie Bird’s American Year: Behind the scenes with RTÉ Washington Correspondent Charlie Bird through an extraordinary year in American and Global Politics.
• The Way We Worked: A six-part series looking at changes experienced in work practices in Ireland

The Final highlight for me comes from RTÉ Young Peoples (Very innovative name I might add). “The Guitar” is where 16 of Ireland’s most electric young guitarists compete to win Fender’s extraordinary Rory Gallagher Tribute Stratocaster guitar. My friend Shane McDonnell is in this competition so I wish him well in that.

All in all this looks like a fine list of shows from a station that is gripping with falls in advertising revenue and with the economic crisis as a whole.