Paul Andersonpreviews the most anticipated television ratings battle Ireland has ever seen, as theLate Late Show hosted by Pat Kenny is tonight challenged by TV3's The Dunphy Show.
Tonight's the night Ireland's chief controversialist aims to take on the establishment.
The Dunphy Show, Eamon's attempt to emulate the success of his Last Wordradio progamme, begins on TV3 tonight as the Republic's only independent national TV station goes head-to-head with that most venerable of broadcast institutions, the Late Late Show.
The pretenders to the throne of Ireland's most important talking shop have given themselves a 30-minute headstart, but the longest running television talk show in the world has got 41 years on its rival, even if presenter Pat Kenny has been less than a resounding success since he inherited Gay Byrne's swivel chair.
Ireland's oldest brat against Ireland's most famous plank is how the press has been playing it in the run up to the ratings battle billed to beat them all. The waspish against the WASP.
But while the war of words between the two presenters has not broken the Geneva Convention, Dunphy's astute eye for a chance when it comes to generating column inches has been in evidence.
The man who made the Late Latean institution, Gay Byrne, had suggested the scheduling of Dunphy against PK on Friday had been a mistake. Eamo described it "as kicking the s**t" out of the youngsters in his backroom team.
A definite over-reaction, especially when he demurred from getting shirty over Kenny's assessment of him as someone who broadcasts for a hobby. Nonetheless it generates hype.
Perhaps Dunphy realises Pat is something of a soft target - he has been careful not to create any impression of the Northside toughie picking on the Southside science nerd. Instead he went man and ball for the fella from Synger. Byrne rose to the bait and Dunphy's end was achieved.
Pat has been sanguine about the challenge, saying the new season introduction of the Apres Matchtrio to shore things up at the back had been planned before TV3 confirmed its plan to go on the attack.
The change of set - a considerable expense - must have something to with the impressive stage at the Helix which plays host to The Dunphy Show.
Pat's plankiness is unquestionably a disadvantage to the host of an chat show, but he has nothing to fear from Eamon when the serious stuff comes around. Pat also has a clear advantage in delivery.
Some dreadful meandering intros and questions marred the often excellent Last Word. In the chat show format it's important to do the guest introductions well and ask the questions concisely, so Eamon will need to make up for that deficiency in other departments.
His laconic interview style might just do the needful and in terms of courting and creating controversy, Dunphy beats Kenny hands down. So less money, fewer viewers at the outset and a yet-to-be-established TV reputation could mitigate against The Dunphy Show.
But people are certainly looking for something new as declining viewership figures for the Late Lateclearly indicate. So can Dunphy garner sufficient of the great unimpressed to justify the €3.25 million TV3 are spending on it? Not to mention the €10,000 per 30-second sport it charging advertisers.
The contrasting styles of the two presenters may well decide who wins the ratings battle. But as they are chasing different core audiences the much anticipated battle may turn out to be little more than pub brawl. One that can be sorted out by the schedulers, as Gaybo suggests.
Gaybo suggests Saturday, the old Kenny Liveslot. But how about Sunday?
To put someone as irreverent as Dunphy on the Sabbath, following up on Sunday newspaper stories along with the usual blend of celebs could facilitate Eamo's desire to emulate the Late Lateat least once, by providing Irish broadcasting first.
And perhaps then, TV3 could give the programme a more imaginative title, like Eamon Dunphy's Holy Show.