Kenny Live
Encyclopedia
Kenny Live is an Irish
weekly chat show on RTÉ
that was hosted by Pat Kenny
. The show debuted in 1988 and aired every Saturday night, except during the summer months, directly after the main evening news
. In 1999 Kenny Live came to an end when Kenny succeeded Gay Byrne
as host of The Late Late Show
.
broadcasting, having presented Today Tonight
, however, he also showed that he could handle light entertainment when he co-hosted the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. Kenny had also hosted an edition of Saturday Live which proved successful.
at Donnybrook
, Dublin 4
. That studio was also home to the show's Friday night rival The Late Late Show. As RTÉ's biggest at the time, the studio held 120 audience members. In 1995 the show moved to Studio 4, a new studio specifically adapted to cater for large productions. The size of the audience also more than doubled to 250.
retired as host of The Late Late Show. There was some speculation as to whether the show would also be retired with Byrne, with Kenny simply transferring Kenny Live to the vacant Friday night slot. In the end it was realised that The Late Late Show was too successful a franchise to end as it had dominated RTÉ's ratings viewership figures, coming in consistently either at number 1 or number 2. Because of this Kenny Live was put "on ice" and Kenny became host of The Late Late Show.
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
weekly chat show on RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
that was hosted by Pat Kenny
Pat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
. The show debuted in 1988 and aired every Saturday night, except during the summer months, directly after the main evening news
RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock
RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock is the flagship evening news programme for Irish television channel RTÉ One. It is presented by Anne Doyle, and deputised by Eileen Dunne. It is the final comprehensive news programme of the day on RTÉ One...
. In 1999 Kenny Live came to an end when Kenny succeeded Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
as host of The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
.
History
Following the departure of The Late Late Show to Friday nights in 1985, RTÉ were left with a gap in their Saturday night schedule. In 1986 a new chat show called Saturday Live was devised to fill the void. The new show, which featured a different guest presenter every week, ran for two series from 1986 to 1988, however, it proved unpopular. For their autumn schedule in 1988 RTÉ devised a new chat show with a permanent host. Mike Murphy was rumoured to be the host, however, in the end the job went to Pat Kenny. Since the late 1970s Kenny had been more associated with current affairsCurrent affairs
Current affairs can refer to:*Current affairs : a genre of broadcast journalism* an approximate synonym for current events* an approximate synonym for politics* "Current Affairs", a song by Zion I from Heroes in the City of Dope...
broadcasting, having presented Today Tonight
Today Tonight
Today Tonight is a controversial Australian News and Current Affairs program, produced by the Seven Network and shown weeknightly at in direct competition with rival Nine Network program A Current Affair....
, however, he also showed that he could handle light entertainment when he co-hosted the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. Kenny had also hosted an edition of Saturday Live which proved successful.
Production
The first six series of Kenny Live were broadcast from Studio 1 in the RTÉ Television CentreRTÉ Television Centre
RTÉ Television Centre is a television studio complex which is owned by Radio Telefís Éireann and has been home to the national broadcaster of Ireland since 1961. It is situated at Montrose, Donnybrook, Dublin 4...
at Donnybrook
Donnybrook
Donnybrook may refer to:Placenames* Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland** site of the original Donnybrook Fair***donnybrook is a brawl - named for the fair** Donnybrook Stadium, Ireland, a rugby union stadium...
, Dublin 4
Dublin 4
Dublin 4 is a postal district of Dublin, Ireland including the suburbs of Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Ringsend and Irishtown on the South side of Dublin....
. That studio was also home to the show's Friday night rival The Late Late Show. As RTÉ's biggest at the time, the studio held 120 audience members. In 1995 the show moved to Studio 4, a new studio specifically adapted to cater for large productions. The size of the audience also more than doubled to 250.
Kenny takes over The Late Late Show
In 1999 Gay ByrneGay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
retired as host of The Late Late Show. There was some speculation as to whether the show would also be retired with Byrne, with Kenny simply transferring Kenny Live to the vacant Friday night slot. In the end it was realised that The Late Late Show was too successful a franchise to end as it had dominated RTÉ's ratings viewership figures, coming in consistently either at number 1 or number 2. Because of this Kenny Live was put "on ice" and Kenny became host of The Late Late Show.
Format
Kenny Live featured guest interviews and live music from guest music groups and featured a mix of serious discussion and light chat aimed at a younger audience than its main rival The Late Late ShowThe Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
.