Vincent Browne versus The Eleventh Hour

[culloty82]

It's not listed in the TV guides - but tomorrow night, RTE goes head-to-head with Vincent Browne when its new offering, The Eleventh Hour starts on RTE 2 at 11 (strangely enough). It's only going out Mon-Wed, and it's unclear if the programme will continue after the election, but will be interesting to see if it's any more "fair and balanced" than TWIP, Frontline or Prime Time.

[BonnieShels]

It won't be. But I will watch from 11 until Vinnie B is on at 1110. It will also enable me to decide once and for all whether I think Keelin Shanley is attractive or not. It has bugged me for an age.

[total hoofball]

Vinnie B vs Fianna Fáil pre-election propaganda

gosh, what a difficult choice that is to make for my current affairs viewing tonight!

[Rasputin]

Is there not enough RTE productions massaging the FF ego?

[BonnieShels]

Clearly not... Monday night is FF orgy night.

[Spudulika]

Shanley lost the battle with Dunphy who decided to get on his soapbox. I like Fintan O'Toole, he's intelligent and articulate, but the drip they had on between them, it was asking for trouble. She couldn't even look anyone in the eye. I'll try to watch the next show, but christ it was a bit weak.

[Macy]

Saw my first bit of the 11th hour last night, and didn't think it was too bad to be honest. However, a big caveat was that I only watched about 10 minutes of it, and it was a bit by Daire O'Brien without any politicians, but with analysts. I would have a fair amount of time for O'Brien - his late night show on Newstalk was ok (feckin brilliant compared to Marc Coleman's nonsense anyway), and that segment did seem pretty even handed.

[bluemovie]

It's not listed in the TV guides

It's listed in the Sunday Times culture section every night this week as The Eleventh Hour - music show with Dave Fanning :D I've flicked to it both nights so far and wasn't impressed. It's a bit confused. RTE want to take back some viewers from Vincent Browne, but it seems like it's aimed at a Yoof audience. I'm half expecting questions like "explain the difference between left and right wing" or "how many seats do you need to have an overall majority?"

It seems reeeeeeaaaaally boring too. Vincent Browne's show should be inherently mind-numbing, but Vincent's a lovable rogue which adds wit and sparks to the programme. His personality, the fact that he's been annoying these politicians for years and his overt socialist leanings make it enjoyable. RTE's show instead has the veneer of having impartial hosts (which makes it less interesting) and then they have some bloke on the panel last night from the Drury Group...hmmm. You'd have to call the panel last night three nobodies and Daire O'Brien wouldn't have a high profile either. God love Dunphy, he tried his best to give it a lash on Monday by engineering a 'controversy' about how hurt he was by sexist comments about being "a middle-aged man". Whether it's football or politics, Dunphy will give producers value as a guest. He must have been thinking on Monday "Christ, this is boring.....I'll have to go on a rant here to save the show". He does the same about Ronaldo when Champions League coverage goes a bit flat.

[Macy]

It seems reeeeeeaaaaally boring too. Vincent Browne's show should be inherently mind-numbing, but Vincent's a lovable rogue which adds wit and sparks to the programme. His personality, the fact that he's been annoying these politicians for years and his overt socialist leanings make it enjoyable.
Recent incidents have probably given it a higher standing than it deserves - a lot of times it is really boring. And cut that nonsense of someone coming on to read the texts and tweets too!


RTE's show instead has the veneer of having impartial hosts (which makes it less interesting) and then they have some bloke on the panel last night from the Drury Group...hmmm. You'd have to call the panel last night three nobodies and Daire O'Brien wouldn't have a high profile either.
Don't know whether that was the bit I saw, but the fella furthest away from O'Brien was introduced as a former FF staffer and advisor. More than ever gets said when Noel "former FF candidate and strategist" Whelan anyway.

[bluemovie]

Recent incidents have probably given it a higher standing than it deserves - a lot of times it is really boring. And cut that nonsense of someone coming on to read the texts and tweets too!

Don't know whether that was the bit I saw, but the fella furthest away from O'Brien was introduced as a former FF staffer and advisor. More than ever gets said when Noel "former FF candidate and strategist" Whelan anyway.

I've watched it a lot ever since it started and I generally find it enjoyable - not just when he gets someone like Joan Bruton, Conor Kebabs, Ciaran Cuffe or Jack O'Connor to blow up. I actually like the complete lack of production values and the way it can meander on a whim. That's just me though. You're right - the tweets thing is agonising.
As I said, I just flicked to the Eleventh Hour so I didn't see the introductions. Surprised they announced the FF connection unlike with Political Analyst Whelan. Once I saw 'Drury' I tuned out.

[Macy]

Brawn was wrecking my head last night (O'Callaghan-esque interrupting when people were explaining points), so stuck with the 11th Hour. Thought it was ok, but again there were no politicians on it which probably dilutes the pravda tendancies. Added advantage is that it's over by quarter to 12, including the review of the papers. The extended "Tonight" really doesn't suit when you have to be up before 7.

So after a couple of watches, it really comes down to which guests and Brawns mood as to which one I'll watch.

[Spudulika]

I was giving VB a chance to be something other than a vainglorious grandstander when I sat in horror watching his feminist show. The clown from FF was horrendous and when she started spoofing VB didn't try to pick her up on her evasion, unlike with the reps from SF and Labour. Then he let her rail away against the SF councillor to such a point that even the others on the panel, even Herr Oberfuhrer Creighton, looked embarassed. Can't handle him again, he's not adding to the debate just trying to create a fuss.

11th hour has improved, kind of different take on things and at points funny. Daire O'Brien always impressed me and now I can see him as a serious host. Keelin Shanley is a shark, she pretends to be nice but can really twist things the way she wants.

[bluemovie]

RTE took another turn for the worse last night with the introduction of Prime Time: The Late Debate XXX or something like that. Again, I only watched snippets, but it really looked badly thought-out. Basically, it's an attempt at creating a sitting-room in the Prime Time studio. A couple of rolls of carpet flung on the ground (one was bunched up under the legs of a couch), an armchair and two sofas. Four guests wedged onto each sofa with them craning their necks to see the presenter in his armchair. It looked like the worst houseparty of all-time!! They looked desperately uncomfortable - four to a couch. Ivana Bacik shoved in beside Richard Boyd Barrett. Eamon Ryan and Lucinda Creighton actually looked like a married couple who felt obliged to call in to a housewarming party, but were using the babysitter as an excuse to leave early. A horrible idea altogether. All it was missing was a cup of tea in an Arielator!

[Macy]

Saw the start of it, I was actually expecting it to be The Late Debate from the radio (so wasn't going to watch because Claire Byrne is brutal). Didn't bother as soon as I saw how many people they were attempting to cram on. Even if it was chaired properly - and at least there was a chance as it wasn't O'Callaghan - they weren't going to be given enough time to properly debate it.

Watched Vinny instead - far to protective of the economist that was supporting the Government line, and he was allowed interupt when the others weren't. However, still got the message home that the Bailout deal will have to be renegotiated one way or another.

[Spudulika]

I watched the first 20minutes and had the same thoughts - I was just waiting for them to put their keys on a table and wander off to rooms for a swinging time. I think the idea is good, but the execution is awful. It seems somewhat easier to get information on the radio.

[geysir]

Max Keiser on the VB show tonight.

[bennocelt]

Max Keiser on the VB show tonight.

Just finished watching it on the net - good stuff, def agree with the guillotine - but jesus that bird from the Indo was way out of her depth

[BonnieShels]

Is it just me or has VB gotten even madder as brushes in an asylum janitorial closet since the election?