Culch.ie

To whom it concerns…

Once upon a time in a leafy suburb, far far away, a child was born. He kicked and screamed his way into the world like any other child, but this child was different. His parents just knew instinctively he was destined for greatness. The legend goes that 2 minutes after his birth, he suddenly stopped crying. All gathered around the bed were astonished at this unusual behaviour. He seemed to be in some kind of rapture.

It was as if the hand God had reached from the heavens to soothe his cries. It was only when one of the porters popped his head in the door and said “Oh Jaysis, I’m late for the Late Late Show”, that it dawned on everyone in the room. It was the music coming from the television in the corner that had stopped the baby crying. The suggestion of calling the child Gay entered the parents mind, but the name just didn’t seem to fit the little fella. And so it was that he came to be called Ryan of the Tubridy clan.

And so, 36 years later, it has come to pass that Ryan Tubridy will take his place on the throne of RTE Television as the host of the Late Late Show (the longest running television show in the world by the way, in case you missed it in every single tv guide).

Friday night is the big night of course. The eyes of the country will be tuned in to watch him kiss the ring of Pat Kenny before the crown is officially placed on his head. Many Late Late Show parties have been organised all over the country. Drinking games are the order of the day. Take a swig when Ryan bangs furiously on the table. Another for when he raises his eyebrow in curious wonderment. Clink glasses when he mentions the rat pack. Have one for the road when he says “there’s one for everyone in the audience”. Fall over unconcious when he engages in witty repartee with the house band. Ah yes, the All-Ireland Finals will pale in comparison to the excitement on Friday night, I’m practically exploding as I type this.

Place your bets..

Paddy Power was taking bets earlier on in the week for predictions on the number of viewers tuning in on Friday night. Since they aren’t taking any more bets, I’m going to give a peak prediction of 1,122,399. Place your own guesstimate below. Pat Kenny’s last show had 996,000 at the peak. Will Tubridy beat that do you think? A packet of Spearmint Tic-Tac’s for the winner (not a spearmint fan? no problemo mi amigos, substitution is allowed)

If you’d like to attend the Late Late Show yourself, you can apply for tickets here.