AS ANOTHER FRIDAY night rolls around, a bit of socially distant light banter might help to break up the monotony.
With the drop in temperatures, there’s no better night to sit on the couch and watch some quality chat shows.
Here’s our latest round-up of talk show content from the week and what will be on tonight. There should be plenty here to keep anyone occupied.
Continuing the Late Late’s trend of nabbing international guests now that interviews via zoom are the norm, US actor Kevin Bacon will join Ryan to talk about his new psychological thriller You Should Have Left.
He’ll also be discussing the ‘phenomenon’ of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon – based on six degrees of separation (the idea that all people are six, or fewer, social connections away from each other) – and how he’s monetised the cult status the theory has brought.
Actress Amy Huberman, who recently revealed via Instagram she’s expecting her third baby, will be chatting about the launch of the new series of Finding Joy, emerging from lockdown, as well as “an insight into what she has discovered about her new home’s spooky past”.
In her first television interview since the death of Gay Byrne, Kathleen Watkins joins Ryan to chat about what life is like for her now without her husband, how poetry brings her comfort, and how she managed to survive the last few months cocooning.
Comedian Dara Ó’Briain will be zooming in from London to share a story with viewers “that will make you laugh until you cry” according to RTÉ’s press release – eh, no pressure.
His new children’s science book about the possible existence of aliens is out this month so that will no doubt creep up in conversation.
Jack Edge, a 17-year-old who was struck down with Covid-19, will be on alongside his mum Jennifer to talk about his long road to recovery after spending 18 days in the hospital.
Claudia Boyle and Red Hurley will be in studio to perform, as will breakthrough pop artist Lyra.
Graham Norton is back again for the second week of his in-studio show. The Cork man is showing no signs of slowing down having just published his third novel and being recently dubbed the most dangerous celebrity to search for online in the UK by cybersecurity firm McAfee.
His guests this week include Ewan McGregor, head judge on Strictly Come Dancing Shirley Ballas, Britain’s Got Talent judge Ashley Banjo, and comedian Frank Skinner (who is not a TV talent show judge to the best of our knowledge).
Miley Cyrus will also be on to remotely chat and perform her current single Midnight Sky.
Looking across the pond these days can often feel like you’re looking directly into an eclipse, so why not do it through the gaze of a late-night chat show host.
Jimmy Kimmel broke down this week’s vice presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence, predicting Mike Pence’s fly will be this Halloween’s must-have costume.
Kimmel also touched on Donald Trump Jr’s comments about his dad “rushing him off the phone”, and Trump posting a new video that’s basically a Regeneron advert.
Meanwhile, Maya Rudolph talked Jimmy Fallon through the steps it takes to prepare for her role as Kamala Harris on Saturday Night Live, and her newfound addiction to winning Emmy Awards.
Daily Show correspondent Jordan Klepper headed to a Trump rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to gauge the reaction of the US president’s supporters to his Covid response, his Supreme Court pick, QAnon, and the legitimacy of the election.
Keep an eye out for Klepper’s takedown of the pro-life anti-masker who is most definitely not a sheep.
Jon Bon Jovi made headlines here this week after he claimed Bono was subjected to threats of violence by Orangemen marching through his neighbourhood as a child – giving Finglas a bad name (sorry).
He told Stephen Colbert that he spent his summer starting a food bank to supply local food pantries and washing dishes at his non-profit restaurant Soul Kitchen. At least he has a noble excuse for having no time to read up on Irish history.
Late Beatles star and musical legend John Lennon would have been celebrating his 80th birthday today.
His last interview with the BBC, days before he was shot dead aged 40 in New York in 1980, is the subject of the documentary Lennon’s Last Weekend.
It covers the breakup of the Beatles, his fraught relationship with the US government and what would have been his future plans. The interview can be heard in full below.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say