The Television Forum Christmas and New Year Thread 2023

Say Your Number · 27-12-2023 7:31pm

Documentary on Christy Dignam on RTE now, hope there's no Dave Fanning in it 😬

Say Your Number · 27-12-2023 8:09pm

He looked a bit like Chris Cornell at times.

Hold My Hand · 27-12-2023 10:02pm

Christmas University Challenge was very good tonight. Two sporting teams not trying to run down the clock. Host is excellent.

HeidiHeidi · 27-12-2023 10:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121541852#Comment_121541852

I'm just starting to watch it now - I really enjoy these Christmas ones, the contestants clearly haven't been practicing intensely for months if not years, their innocence is very endearing!

But I have to disagree on the host - I think he's awful. No charisma whatsoever, and he talks so fast I can't understand what he's saying half the time - towards the end of a show I honestly don't know how the contestants can even hear the questions. I'm not sure I'll be back watching for another series after this if he's kept on.

Arghus · 27-12-2023 11:20pm

I know watching movies off the TV is kinda old hat, but there is something quaint and enjoyable in turning on the tv and finding some familiar classic playing - but I think this years selection on RTE has been absolutely piss poor in comparison to other years. Absolute perennial certainties like the Back to The Future and Indiana Jones nowhere to be found on the schedule. You could bet your house on those films getting an airing each Christmas prior to this. A distinct lack of other classics too.

Jim_Hodge · 27-12-2023 11:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121541912#Comment_121541912

The quizmaster has destroyed the show. Speeds up as the clock as running down and comments on almost every answer. He's a disaster. I feel the teams for this year's Christmas series are quite lifeless compared to other years.

Nodster · 27-12-2023 11:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121541333#Comment_121541333

Thankfully Fanning was absent....along with the remaining members of Aslan except Tony who left in 2008

Hande hoche! · 27-12-2023 11:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121515832#Comment_121515832

Just shy of an hour is overly indulgent for that kind of video.

The big fat quiz of the year was decent this year.

Say Your Number · 28-12-2023 12:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121542155#Comment_121542155

The only real staples I've seen RTE show this was both Home Alone films, they've showed Paddington for a third year in a row, I'm glad Sky took Harry Potter as an exclusive, was really annoying when RTE's schedule was wall to wall Potter.

They'd always have documentaries this time of year, apart from the Dignam doc they don't seem to have any, or even a retrospective on the GAA season or Women's World Cup or something like that.

Say Your Number · 28-12-2023 12:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121542246#Comment_121542246

When you're as consistently funny as he is you get away with it.

Arghus · 28-12-2023 12:24am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121542300#Comment_121542300

Wonder if some of the belt tightening is having an effect. Who knows. There have been a few things of quality here and there - first two Godfathers, Mise Eire on TG4 - but a lot of the big hitters are distinctly absent. You'd get Raiders every Christmas or Stephen's Day without fail. And, yes, definitely a lack of documentaries and retrospectives. Not a comparitively great selection all round this year.

lumphammer2 · 28-12-2023 12:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121542375#Comment_121542375

Apart From Fair City I didn't watch a minute of TV this Christmas ... and don't plan to ... other years I tuned in and was complaining about it for the next month ...

I think it is time they cancel Mrs Brown's Boys for good ... I didn't watch the Christmas episodes the last few years because one from way back was among the most awful things I've ever seen on TV ... unprofessional and smutty is what it is ... bad jokes, bad language, the cast laughing at each other and the camera man videoing himself ... how this amateur garbage can make the cut I don't know ....

Most of the rest is awful news .... all them senseless wars and other misery .... and speaking of the misery that NYE countdown always has all the charm of being alone in a morgue ... the most depressing thing going and I am surprised after all the years they continue to show this depression inducing killjoy ...

As regards films ... I do not rely on TV ... I have my DVDs and downloads ... have watched all 5 Indiana Jones and several other classics ... watched the Godfather ones last year on NYE-2nd January so may put on Scarface, Goodfellas and Casino this year ...

Say Your Number · 28-12-2023 6:03am

Don't think it was ever the critics darling but here is MBB getting savaged.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/mrs-browns-boys-christmas-special-2023-b2469462.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1703683495

PTH2009 · 28-12-2023 3:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121542223#Comment_121542223

Definitely something went on with the remaining memebers of Aslan and Christys family

Band will just not be the same without Christy

odyssey06 · 28-12-2023 4:16pm

Looks like a new documentary on RTE 1 tonight at 630?

Framing Irish History - The Sean Sexton Collection

Welsh Megaman · 29-12-2023 9:52am

Callan be kicking the year tonight on RTE One at 9.30pm.

Welsh Megaman · 29-12-2023 11:12am

Mortimer and Whitehouse going Hogmanay Fishing tonight on BBC Two at 9pm.

FrancieBrady · 29-12-2023 11:17am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121543932#Comment_121543932

Very enjoyable and interesting doc. Never knew there was that kind of value in photographs.

Bobson Dugnutt · 29-12-2023 10:37pm

Callan Kicks the Year is on TV now. He's so bad at impressions that they have to display the name of who is attempting to take off. It's about as funny as driving round the corner and seeing an ambulance outside your parents house.

ednwireland · 29-12-2023 10:49pm

Ah now the impressions might not be great but I do get a laugh out of the satire ( love living with the Burke's)

Bobson Dugnutt · 29-12-2023 11:13pm

That Francis Brennan sketch must be in the running as the worst thing RTE has ever produced and aired. We are talking Upwardly Mobile or Leave It to Mrs O'Brien standard.

JP Liz V1 · 29-12-2023 11:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121546154#Comment_121546154

I did lol at Lucy living with The Burkes and surprised he went in on RTE so much as they aired it 😁

castletownman · 30-12-2023 12:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121548801#Comment_121548801

Living with the Burkes and the Sinn Fein rebrand was good.

Rest wasn't.

Hold My Hand · 30-12-2023 2:22pm

Channel 5 playing a blinder. I watched Out of Africa yesterday and You’ve Got mail is on now.

icdg · 31-12-2023 9:24am

Probably a bit late now for most as far as Christmas is concerned but Sky’s the Heist before Christmas is really good, mercifully short at 75 minutes, and that rare thing, an NI drama that doesn’t mention religion or politics or even Northern Ireland itself (could have been set anywhere other than the accents and PSNI style uniforms). Pat Shortt has a bit part but only in the first five minutes. No, he doesn’t bother with the accent!

head82 · 31-12-2023 11:35am

I was really hoping for a Christmas special of Detectorists this year. But alas.. it wasn't to be.

Last years Christmas special was the highlight of the schedule for me.

Welsh Megaman · 31-12-2023 1:50pm

NYE - You Knows It!

RTE One

8.30pm Dolores Keane documentary, ‘Dolores@70’

9.40pm Mrs. Brown’s Boys New Year Special

10.15pm The Late Late Show

NYE Kittehs and Puppehs!

11.45pm NYE Countdown Concert - presented by Anna Geary from Dublin Castle featuring Picture This.

RTE Two

Fillums!

9.30pm Mile 22

11.10pm Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

12.55am Saturday Night Fever

TG4

11.30pm Fáilte 2024

BBC One

10.25pm Graham Norton’s New Year’s Eve Show

11.30pm Rick Astley Rocks NYE!

https://media.giphy.com/media/mEqMknMZWh1Fm/giphy.gif

12am FIREWORKS!

12.10 to 12.40am More Red Hot Astley Action

BBC Two

11.30pm HOOTENANNY!!

Haven’t seen the line-up, but I’ll take a stab at Gregory Porter, Madness, Michael Kiwanuka, Imelda May, Ruby Turner (obvs)., and Cannibal Corpse.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD WELSH MEGAMAN!!

😊

HeidiHeidi · 31-12-2023 4:00pm

There's some young Donegal singer has a slot on Hootenany tonight - I had never heard of her, and can't remember her name, but best of luck to her from it!

Welsh Megaman · 31-12-2023 5:57pm

If you’re interested, here’s the guests on tonight’s LLS…

Midge Ure

Maverick Sabre

Wheatus (wonder what song they’ll be performing 😁 )

The Tumbling Paddies

Niamh Kavanagh

Gearóid Farrelly

Allie Sherlock

the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Carl Mullan, Winnie Ama and Camille O'Sullivan.

Wonder what the misery p0rn is going to be…will they bring out Joe Dolce just to get Midge Ure to start crying? 😌

HeidiHeidi · 31-12-2023 6:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554656#Comment_121554656

Genuine question - is PK still filling the misery porn slot??

I haven't tuned since his first one - but I thought maybe he'd have cheered the whole thing up a bit!

Say Your Number · 31-12-2023 11:21pm

Words cannot describe how much I hate that Galway Girl sh1te.

Laphroaig52 · 31-12-2023 11:24pm

Niamh Kavanagh! FFS.

Digging up the dead?

Say Your Number · 31-12-2023 11:25pm

But Creedo is on the radio now, when did he master bi-location.

Laphroaig52 · 31-12-2023 11:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121555652#Comment_121555652

Ah here, are we being had?

TheRiverman · 31-12-2023 11:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121555661#Comment_121555661

The power of pre-recording.

Say Your Number · 31-12-2023 11:34pm

He has a real yank accent

Say Your Number · 31-12-2023 11:37pm

Why does the baby in the Fairy ad sound like Barry Sh1tpeas.

Welsh Megaman · 01-01-2024 12:05am

This means nothing to me…

Say Your Number · 01-01-2024 12:12am

Jesus, no ambiguity in the lyrics.

Say Your Number · 01-01-2024 12:27am

In just over half an hour, 2015 will be 9 years ago, honestly feels only like 3 years ago 😢

Say Your Number · 01-01-2024 12:29am

Sam Ryder on drums for Wheatus???

Say Your Number · 01-01-2024 12:31am

I remember when they'd beep out Gun and Kick in this song when it was played when it was out, censorship gone mad if you ask me, where will it all end

Welsh Megaman · 01-01-2024 12:38am

HOOTENANNY!!

When did Paul Jones from Manfred Mann morph into Ken Barlow?

Welsh Megaman · 01-01-2024 12:40am

No Gregory Porter?! Did he miss the train?

Say Your Number · 01-01-2024 12:45am

"Thanks Patrick from a few weeks ago"

Say Your Number · 01-01-2024 12:49am

Some fairly bland anthemic pop, suppose RTE have had worse bands doing this over the years.

Welsh Megaman · 01-01-2024 12:51am

The Mary Wallopers!

YEOH!

Say Your Number · 01-01-2024 12:57am

What's the craic with the Hendrix- y style guitar in this song.

Welsh Megaman · 01-01-2024 1:02am

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BOARDSIES!!

JP Liz V1 · 01-01-2024 1:03am

Is this NYE gig at Dublin Castle free?

The Television Forum Christmas and New Year Thread 2023

Comments

Being young is a great advantage, since we see the world from a new perspective and we are not afraid to make radical changes - Greta Thunburg

Being young is a great advantage, since we see the world from a new perspective and we are not afraid to make radical changes - Greta Thunburg