Eamon Dunphy had talked a sensational fight before getting into the ring but when the bell went his style turned out to be workmanlike and, with a guest list that was altogether too matey, there was never much chance that he was going to land a knock-out blow.
At its worst, Dunphy’s show was car-crash TV – the Jordan interview, for example – but even at its best it hardly had the country talking. Too often, the host seemed to be entirely in agreement with his guests, a cosiness which hardly makes for television fireworks.
By contrast, The Late Late Show wisely reactivated the old “let’s all have a heated debate” strategy, items such as Eoghan Harris versus ‘The Law Library Lobby’, and The Islamic Extremists versus Everybody Else, providing plenty of heat if not always the required light. The fine Jim Sheridan special also evoked memories of the show’s golden age.
Otherwise, Kenny was Kenny: solid and professional with the serious stuff, not always comfortable with mere entertainment chat, and way out of his depth with a one-off like Eddie Izzard.
The bottom line, of course, was that the Late Late continued to hammer the Dunphy Show in the ratings, so much so that, despite all protests to the contrary, the latter’s planned Christmas/New Year break had the look of a strategic retreat.
Then, suddenly, came the towel fluttering into the ring. A technical K.O. had ended the fight. Dunphy may not have a one-way ticket to palookaville, but in a world bereft of contenders, Kenny retains the title.
Elsewhere, reality tv continued to rule the roost. RTE’s Cabin Fever hilariously added a new twist to the plot with its sinking boat, while Celebrity Farm took a leaf out of the channel’s football coverage, the post-match celebrity fall-out proving more interesting than the game itself.
Highlights? The new season of Bachelors Walk the best yet; Curb Your Enthusiasm is a must-see if you can actually find it in the schedule; and even in advancing middle-age, Have I Got News For You remains the panel show to beat.
One reason to hold on to your telly in 2004: the new series of The Sopranos.