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Seven mountains Ray D'Arcy needs to climb tomorrow night

No pressure.

The Ray D'Arcy Show Andres Poveda Andres Poveda

TOMORROW NIGHT THE Ray D’Arcy Show debuts on RTÉ One.

Going head-to-head (not literally, but in every other way) with Tubridy, attempting to translate a highly successful radio career onto the small screen, and leaving behind his kids tv presenter past (while depending on the good will and nostalgia those memories generate) – none of this is easy.

Some of the mountains he has to climb include…

Fever pitch

We don’t know about you, but the first song that springs to mind when we think about Ray D’Arcy isn’t steamy Peggy Lee classic Fever.

That’s the song that accompanies the teaser trailers for the new show, giving it something of a Nighthawks feel.

ray

Are we to expect dim lighting, guests swilling drinks, sophisticated and risqué chat and Ray in a slinky red number? DON’T WRITE CHEQUES YOUR BODY CAN’T CASH, RTÉ.

Great set-pectations

RTÉ has released pictures and ‘drone footage’ of D’Arcy’s new set, and it looks… like a chat show set.

The Ray D'Arcy Show Andres Poveda Andres Poveda

It’s a little Graham Norton with the long couch and the coffee table. There’s the standard band set up, the wood-effect back drop.

But the big question is: where’s Ray going to sit? On the plush couch with his guests? On a chair that hasn’t been revealed to us? Behind a barrier-building desk? Suspended from the rafters?

RTÉ - IRELAND’S NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA / YouTube

Of course, there isn’t much leeway when it comes to chat show sets, but it’s sure to be under scrutiny, as will the cost of the carpet, couch, lightbulbs, screws etc. And we’ve all seen the frenzy that grips the country when the Late Late dares to make a change. Big issues. Huge.

The Ray D'Arcy Show Andres Poveda Andres Poveda

Update: 

Tweet by @The Ray D'Arcy Show The Ray D'Arcy Show / Twitter The Ray D'Arcy Show / Twitter / Twitter

The inevitable guest comparisons

One of the Late Late Show’s biggest pains in the hole is the (largely unfair) guest comparisons to UK chat shows.

Graham Norton has Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard and Jessica Chastain this week. Graham Norton’s show is pre-recorded. Graham Norton’s show is filmed in London. Graham Norton’s show is watched in large numbers by Irish audiences, particularly Irish audiences who pay to go the cinema and listen to music.

matt

Bringing big name stars to Ireland is often seen as an unnecessary addition to an already packed press tour, and asking the talent to do it live is an added headache.

D’arcy will no doubt face the same problems, and with his show and the Late Late battling for the same guests, it’s a jungle out there in Donnybrook.

The inevitable pints of Guinness/hurls/jerseys

Something the Late Late Show – and indeed Ireland as a whole –  is guilty of is weighing any celeb who comes to the country down with pints, sliotars, heritage certificates and aran jumpers.

steve RTÉ RTÉ

Can Ray and co entice the big names, but then avoid the fetishisation of tired Irish stereotypes?

People will kill their grandmothers to see Beyoncé swigging a bottle of McDaid’s Football Special or Will Ferrell scoring the winning goal for Ireland at the Euros though, so it’s a delicate balance.

The first guest benchmark

Tommy Tiernan has been revealed as one of D’arcy’s first guests. Indeed, he’s been touted as a ‘scandalous’ first guest.

ted

Scandalous? No. Safe? Possibly. Tiernan is a middle Ireland favourite. A Vicar Street staple. He’s guaranteed to bring the laughs to a mass audience; people love him and will tune in in case he says something controversial about the Church/Cavan/Dublin/Australia etc.

Is he an exciting enough first guest though? Is there something else up the D’Arcy sleeve for tomorrow night?

Switching gears

Ireland TV has a seemingly unshakeable horn for switching gears between complete fluff and serious topics on live chat shows.

D’Arcy is used to this to a certain extent after his years at the helm of mod mornings on Today FM. In fact, his show had turned a little Old Man Shouting At Clouds in the months (years? Please don’t shout at us, Ray) before his departure.

The Ray D'Arcy Show Andres Poveda Andres Poveda

Can he successfully switch gears between the lighter guests and the ‘lean forward and look serious’ stuff, while also treading the line between being more opinionated than Tubs without shouting at clouds?

That’s a lot of gear switching and line treading.

HOW MUCH?

D’Arcy earns seven skagillion euro, or so we’ve heard. He’s going to have to face plenty of variations on “GIVE ME BACK MY LICENCE FEE” if he fails to prove himself.

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    Mute Owen McDermott
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    Sep 21st 2015, 9:49 PM

    The old chap with the bike at the end of the article – now that’s a real story!

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    Mute TommyJung
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    Sep 21st 2015, 9:59 PM

    Good man. Still going strong. Worth thinking about what this man has seen and experienced in a long life.

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    Mute Redmond Barry
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    Sep 21st 2015, 9:59 PM

    That bike is in good nick for the age of it.

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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:08 AM

    Redmond Barry
    the bike is in great nick alright, – replaced the saddle 4 times, the wheels 6 times, and the frame, pedals & handlebars twice.
    All jokes aside, a man to be greatly admired.

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    Mute TheGor Gorry
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    Sep 21st 2015, 9:23 PM

    Nice, I enjoyed this article, please do another town, then another

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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Sep 21st 2015, 10:58 PM

    Humans of Waterford next.

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    Mute Rob O'Farrell
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    Sep 21st 2015, 10:53 PM

    No. 7 engaged ?? A combined age of 31 will you stop.

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    Mute TommyJung
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    Sep 21st 2015, 11:38 PM

    Los Vegas here we come.

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    Mute Maggie
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    Sep 22nd 2015, 5:27 AM

    Thought it was a gay story actually ha

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    Mute Lou Tennant
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    Sep 21st 2015, 8:49 PM

    This headline takes some beating by journal and daily edge standards. worst ever

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    Mute Powerful Sayings
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    Sep 21st 2015, 8:50 PM

    whats wrong with it?

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    Mute Lou Tennant
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    Sep 21st 2015, 8:53 PM

    Ah heeyor

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    Mute Ben Smith
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    Sep 21st 2015, 9:12 PM

    I would imagine having your heart melted would actually be extremely painful.

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    Mute paul compton
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    Sep 21st 2015, 9:30 PM

    Melt your head more like.

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    Mute johnnyblaze2004
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    Sep 21st 2015, 11:05 PM

    how about coming up with an original idea for once Dublin?

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    Mute Rachel Ray
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    Sep 21st 2015, 10:49 PM

    it’s always about Dublin. ah sure never mind the rest of us!!!!

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Sep 21st 2015, 11:20 PM

    I presume this Varga guy was in Dublin when he did his interviews. Otherwise it could be ‘Humans of Hackballscross ” or some other charming title. Why are people blaming Dublin? Get on Mr Varga’s case about it. :-)

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    Mute Owen McDermott
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    Sep 22nd 2015, 11:30 AM

    What about “Cute Hoors of Cork”?

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    Mute gary kelly
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    Sep 21st 2015, 11:24 PM

    Number 7 = cracker

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Sep 23rd 2015, 11:45 PM

    How can one story compare to another, they can’t.

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