Late Night Live
Encyclopedia
Late Night Live is an Australian radio program broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
's Radio National
as well as on Radio Australia
shortwave radio and podcast and streamed over the World Wide Web.
Since 1990, the program has been hosted by well-known broadcaster and journalist Phillip Adams
, who refers to the program by its acronym 'LNL'. Previous hosts include Richard Ackland and Virginia Bell
, now a judge of the High Court of Australia
.
Often the setting for a serious and learned discussion of culture and politics, the programme is shot through with Adams' gentle and ironic humour. Adams has a generally left-liberal/progressive stance on most issues and many of his guests are similarly inclined.
from the The Australian
. Tingle and Kerr are interviewed by Adams on alternate Mondays, in a feature called 'Canberra Babylon'. This segment of the show - normally the first segment of each Monday's program and lasting for between 10 and 15 minutes, deals with significant issues in contemporary Australian politics.
Tuesday's program usually commences with Adams talking to Bruce Shapiro
, a leading American journalist and Director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
. Shapiro and Adams usually discuss contemporary USA politics, though the discussion can often be wide-ranging and include global politics. Adams frequently asks Shapiro to comment on the significance of the life of an important public figure who has recently died.
Less frequent regular contributors include the economist Satjadit Das, Beatrix Campbell
on British politics and Eddin Khoo, a Malaysian writer, journalist and translator, regarding south-east Asian affairs.
, a short piece of instrumental music lasting about 15 seconds.
When introducing a guest who is a university professor occupying a named chair, Adams always asks the guest to briefly explain who or what the chair is named after.
In 2007, the show highlighted issues including climate change and water resources, the Iraq War
, Guantanamo Bay detention camp, elections in East Timor
and the election of Kevin Rudd as Australian prime minister.
For many years, Adams has referred to his listeners as "Gladys", the joke being that only one person is listening and that is her name. (In fact, LNL consistently rates among the most popular of Radio National's programs.) With the advent of podcasting and web streaming, Adams has since added "Poddies" to his listenership, and will often talk or refer to his "Gladdies and Poddies". He also has Noddies (who fall asleep to his program) and Maddies (who write him vitriolic letters).
is from the Wild Swans
ballet by Elena Kats-Chernin
. This replaced "Russian Rag" also by Elena Kats-Chernin
. Adams jokingly refers to the earlier theme as the 'Waltz
of the Wombats'. Several different arrangements have been used: Clarinet, trumpet, marimba, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass; Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass; Flute, piano, cello; Bassoon with piano; Clarinet with piano; Violin with piano and unaccompanied Piano.
Previous themes were drawn from: Abbey Road and Johann Sebastian Bach
's Violin Concerto in E major
, Concerto for Two Violins and Concerto for Violin and Oboe, featuring Yehudi Menuhin
. The most well-known was the third movement of Concerto for Violin and Oboe, BWV 1060.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's Radio National
Radio National
ABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
as well as on Radio Australia
Radio Australia
Radio Australia is the international broadcasting and online service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation , Australia's public broadcaster.- History :...
shortwave radio and podcast and streamed over the World Wide Web.
Since 1990, the program has been hosted by well-known broadcaster and journalist Phillip Adams
Phillip Adams
Phillip Andrew Hedley Adams, AO is an Australian broadcaster, film producer, writer, social commentator, satirist and left-wing pundit. He currently hosts a radio program, Late Night Live, four nights a week on the ABC, and he also writes a weekly column for the News Limited-owned newspaper, The...
, who refers to the program by its acronym 'LNL'. Previous hosts include Richard Ackland and Virginia Bell
Virginia Bell
Virginia "Ding Dong" Bell is a topless model and actress. She started her career in the 1950s as a burlesque dancer....
, now a judge of the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
.
Often the setting for a serious and learned discussion of culture and politics, the programme is shot through with Adams' gentle and ironic humour. Adams has a generally left-liberal/progressive stance on most issues and many of his guests are similarly inclined.
Regular contributors
As at August 2008, regular contributors include Laura Tingle from the Australian Financial Review and Christian KerrChristian Kerr
Christian Kerr, an Australian political commentator who wrote for the email news service Crikey before joining The Australian in 2008.Prior to becoming a writer Kerr was a staffer to South Australian Liberal Senators Robert Hill, Amanda Vanstone and former South Australian Premier John Olsen.In...
from the The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
. Tingle and Kerr are interviewed by Adams on alternate Mondays, in a feature called 'Canberra Babylon'. This segment of the show - normally the first segment of each Monday's program and lasting for between 10 and 15 minutes, deals with significant issues in contemporary Australian politics.
Tuesday's program usually commences with Adams talking to Bruce Shapiro
Bruce Shapiro
Bruce Shapiro is an American journalist, commentator and author. He is executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, a resource center and think tank for journalists who cover violence, conflict and tragedy, based at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Shapiro...
, a leading American journalist and Director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma is a resource center and think tank for journalists who cover violence, conflict and tragedy around the world...
. Shapiro and Adams usually discuss contemporary USA politics, though the discussion can often be wide-ranging and include global politics. Adams frequently asks Shapiro to comment on the significance of the life of an important public figure who has recently died.
Less frequent regular contributors include the economist Satjadit Das, Beatrix Campbell
Beatrix Campbell
Mary Lorimer Beatrix Campbell, OBE is a British campaigning journalist and author.Since the mid 1970s, she has published numerous articles and book reviews in such publications as Marxism Today, Red Rag, Time Out, Feminist Review, New Statesman, New Socialist, The Guardian, The Independent,...
on British politics and Eddin Khoo, a Malaysian writer, journalist and translator, regarding south-east Asian affairs.
Notable features
Most programs are divided into two or three segments. Each segment is delineated by a stingSting (musical phrase)
A sting is a short musical phrase, primarily used in television shows and films as a form of punctuation—for example at the end of a scene, or as a dramatic climax is imminent...
, a short piece of instrumental music lasting about 15 seconds.
When introducing a guest who is a university professor occupying a named chair, Adams always asks the guest to briefly explain who or what the chair is named after.
In 2007, the show highlighted issues including climate change and water resources, the Iraq War
2007 in Iraq
-Incumbents:* President - Jalal Talabani* Prime Minister - Nouri al-Maliki* Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government ** President - Massoud Barzani** Prime Minister - Nechervan Idris Barzani-January:...
, Guantanamo Bay detention camp, elections in East Timor
East Timorese presidential election, 2007
The 2007 East Timorese presidential election involved two separate votes. The first, on 9 April 2007 eliminated six of the eight nominees. The remaining two candidates, current Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta and Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor President Francisco Guterres, faced...
and the election of Kevin Rudd as Australian prime minister.
For many years, Adams has referred to his listeners as "Gladys", the joke being that only one person is listening and that is her name. (In fact, LNL consistently rates among the most popular of Radio National's programs.) With the advent of podcasting and web streaming, Adams has since added "Poddies" to his listenership, and will often talk or refer to his "Gladdies and Poddies". He also has Noddies (who fall asleep to his program) and Maddies (who write him vitriolic letters).
Theme music
The current theme musicTheme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
is from the Wild Swans
Wild Swans (ballet)
Wild Swans is a ballet by Soviet-born Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin.The story is based on The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen, and tells the tale of Eliza, a princess whose wicked-witch stepmother has changed Eliza's eleven brothers into swans...
ballet by Elena Kats-Chernin
Elena Kats-Chernin
Elena Kats-Chernin is an Australian composer.Elena Kats-Chernin was born in Tashkent , and migrated to Australia in 1975.-Europe:...
. This replaced "Russian Rag" also by Elena Kats-Chernin
Elena Kats-Chernin
Elena Kats-Chernin is an Australian composer.Elena Kats-Chernin was born in Tashkent , and migrated to Australia in 1975.-Europe:...
. Adams jokingly refers to the earlier theme as the 'Waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
of the Wombats'. Several different arrangements have been used: Clarinet, trumpet, marimba, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass; Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass; Flute, piano, cello; Bassoon with piano; Clarinet with piano; Violin with piano and unaccompanied Piano.
Previous themes were drawn from: Abbey Road and Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's Violin Concerto in E major
Violin Concerto in E major (Bach)
The Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042, by Johann Sebastian Bach is a concerto for violin, strings and continuo in 3 movements:#Allegro with ritornello, with an overall structure like that of a da capo aria.#Adagio with an ground bass....
, Concerto for Two Violins and Concerto for Violin and Oboe, featuring Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
. The most well-known was the third movement of Concerto for Violin and Oboe, BWV 1060.