Nighthawks (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Nighthawks was an Irish
television series broadcast on Network 2 (now known as RTÉ Two
). It was hosted by Shay Healy
. It was part of the major re-brand of RTÉ Two as Network 2 in 1988.
The programme, which began broadcasting in the late 1980s, was a three times—weekly, late-night series. Nighthawks was produced for its first two seasons by David Blake-Knox. In its third season the series producer was the Booker Prize
-winning novelist Anne Enright
. In its final season, it was produced by Briain Mac Lochlainn. The Irish Film and Television Awards
-nominated director Charlie McCarthy and producers David McKenna and Philip Kampf also worked on the programme. The show's signature tune was composed by Ronan Johnston. It also featured several contributory sketches from Nuala Kelly, Joe Taylor, and Orla McGovern.
An early star of the series was Northern Irish comedian Kevin McAleer
, who specialised in rambling but amusing monologues to camera. The Irish actor/comedian-turned British
television presenter Graham Norton
also appeared on Nighthawks early in his career.
Nighthawks was produced by RTÉ Radio Telefís Éireann. The programme was documented in the first episode of the 2008 RTÉ television series reviewing Irish comedy, Boom! Boom! The Explosion of Irish Comedy
. The Irish folk and contemporary singer Mary Black
has remarked on her website on the programme's 1989 connection to her song "No Frontiers
". When RTÉ Radio
issued new rate cards covering the period from 20 December 1999 until 4 June 2000, it used the term "Nighthawks" to refer to the fourteen spot nighttime packages it was making available on RTÉ 2fm
.
Nighthawks was broadcast three nights per week. The regular soap opera was originally written by David Blake-Knox, and started off as a two-hander between "Hay Healy",and Tanya (the comic creation of Joanne McAteer) They were later joined by burly Russian character Boris, played by Stanley Townsend. Lots of stand-ups, comedy actors and comedy writers wrote for the show but, from the second season, the late Gerry McNamara was the chief writer and script editor. Morgan Jones, Joe Taylor and Ann-Marie Hourihane were some of the regular "company" actors. Anne Marie Hourihane also wrote a number of skecthes and presented a weekly film review.Nighthawks was devised by David Blake Knox. John Comiskey created the shooting "grammar" of the series, and Shay Healy introduced the "4" Minute" Interview.
In 1992, Brian Mac Lochlainn won a Jacob's Award for his production of Nighthawks.
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,...
television series broadcast on Network 2 (now known as RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
). It was hosted by Shay Healy
Shay Healy
Shay Healy is an Irish songwriter, broadcaster and journalist. He is best known for his role as host of Nighthawks, a RTÉ Television chat show of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and for composing "What's Another Year", Ireland's winning entry in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest.-Early life:Shay...
. It was part of the major re-brand of RTÉ Two as Network 2 in 1988.
The programme, which began broadcasting in the late 1980s, was a three times—weekly, late-night series. Nighthawks was produced for its first two seasons by David Blake-Knox. In its third season the series producer was the Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
-winning novelist Anne Enright
Anne Enright
Anne Enright is a Booker Prize-winning Irish author. She has published essays, short stories, a non-fiction book and four novels. Before her novel The Gathering won the 2007 Man Booker Prize, Enright had a low profile in Ireland and the United Kingdom, although her books were favourably reviewed...
. In its final season, it was produced by Briain Mac Lochlainn. The Irish Film and Television Awards
Irish Film and Television Awards
The Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
-nominated director Charlie McCarthy and producers David McKenna and Philip Kampf also worked on the programme. The show's signature tune was composed by Ronan Johnston. It also featured several contributory sketches from Nuala Kelly, Joe Taylor, and Orla McGovern.
An early star of the series was Northern Irish comedian Kevin McAleer
Kevin McAleer
Kevin McAleer is an Irish professional stand-up comedian. He came to prominence on the RTÉ television show Nighthawks which began broadcasting in the late 1980s. McAleer became known for his three minute sketches of surreal rustic tales told in his slow County Tyrone drawl. One critic said that...
, who specialised in rambling but amusing monologues to camera. The Irish actor/comedian-turned British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television presenter Graham Norton
Graham Norton
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
also appeared on Nighthawks early in his career.
Nighthawks was produced by RTÉ Radio Telefís Éireann. The programme was documented in the first episode of the 2008 RTÉ television series reviewing Irish comedy, Boom! Boom! The Explosion of Irish Comedy
Boom! Boom!
Boom! Boom! The Explosion of Irish Comedy was a four-part Irish television programme broadcast on RTÉ One in 2008. Presented by Colm Meaney it focused on the positive changes that occurred in Irish comedy during the Celtic Tiger years...
. The Irish folk and contemporary singer Mary Black
Mary Black
Mary Black is an Irish singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both folk and contemporary material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland, and in many other parts of the world....
has remarked on her website on the programme's 1989 connection to her song "No Frontiers
No Frontiers
No Frontiers is a music album by Irish singer Mary Black. This ground-breaking album assured Black's status as one of Ireland's most respected artists in Europe and also in the US, where the release of the album greatly increased her popularity. It went straight to the top of the Irish album chart...
". When RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio is a department of Irish national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Radio broadcasts four analogue channels and five digital channels....
issued new rate cards covering the period from 20 December 1999 until 4 June 2000, it used the term "Nighthawks" to refer to the fourteen spot nighttime packages it was making available on RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
.
Nighthawks was broadcast three nights per week. The regular soap opera was originally written by David Blake-Knox, and started off as a two-hander between "Hay Healy",and Tanya (the comic creation of Joanne McAteer) They were later joined by burly Russian character Boris, played by Stanley Townsend. Lots of stand-ups, comedy actors and comedy writers wrote for the show but, from the second season, the late Gerry McNamara was the chief writer and script editor. Morgan Jones, Joe Taylor and Ann-Marie Hourihane were some of the regular "company" actors. Anne Marie Hourihane also wrote a number of skecthes and presented a weekly film review.Nighthawks was devised by David Blake Knox. John Comiskey created the shooting "grammar" of the series, and Shay Healy introduced the "4" Minute" Interview.
In 1992, Brian Mac Lochlainn won a Jacob's Award for his production of Nighthawks.