As The Late Late Show returned to screens last night, some fear it puts too much emphasis on “entertainment” and American talk show-style chats. 

Patrick Kielty began his term as Late Late host with a comedic monologue referencing RTÉ’s payment controversies before bringing on guests such as comedian Tommy Tiernan and former President Mary McAleese. 

Comedian Jim Elliot told The Anton Savage Show he “loved the five-minute monologue” and hopes it becomes a regular segment on the show. 

“I've always wanted the Late Late to be a lot more like the American talk shows that I grew up watching,” he said. 

“What you have to do is hire a bunch of comedy writers – now I don’t know if that’s going to happen... I don’t think RTÉ is really looking to add staff at the moment.” 

Writer and broadcaster Barbara Scully agreed the monologue was “great” and liked that the guests weren’t revealed ahead of the show. 

“[But] if I did know who the guests were, I may not have switched on,” she said. 

Patrick Kielty talks to Newstalk's Henry McKean on the set of 'The Late Late Show' in RTÉ

Ms Scully said she thought it was strange Ms McAleese did have her own standalone interview and thought the majority of guests were too focused on comedy. 

“The show pays too much attention to American talk shows and things like that, where the entertainment thing is overarching,” she said. 

“In its heyday, [The Late Late had] the mix of interviews with celebs and well-known people but also panel discussions about things that were of interest - not necessarily heavy duty, political or current affairs things but cultural things. 

“I think that’s what we need to get back to. 

“There were seven guests on last night and five of them were on because of podcasts – what does that tell you about our media landscape?” 

'Graham Norton-style couch'

Mr Elliot said it’s odd if “we don’t want our programmes to be entertaining”. 

“The thing I’ve never understood about The Late Late is when I would watch it, there was always a tragedy segment,” he said. 

He said the show would never be able to bring a ‘Graham Norton-style couch’ of guests out for discussions and interviews. 

“I assumed they tried,” he said. 

Ms Scully agreed and said the staff in RTÉ just may not have the pull to get bigger names on the show. 

“I don’t like dissing people who work at that far lower level than somebody like Patrick Kielty does, but I do think they’re not best placed,” she said. 

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