THURSDAY
Jerry Springer
Readers of a certain age will remember Jerry Springer, host of a notorious TV sleaze-fest which became a worldwide phenomenon (er, shame on us all).
They won’t admit it, but even culture snobs were familiar with the Jerry Springer show during its peak years. The star died today, at the age of 79.
When it first erupted on to our screens, his bizarre show really did change TV. A precursor to the modern reality television age, the Jerry Springer show guaranteed drama, with dysfunctional, warring families/partners airing their grievances, the verbal arguments inevitably morphing into physical confrontations.
It was trash TV, raucous and wild, with flying chairs, ham-fisted fights and bellowing audiences. Springer excelled as ‘ringmaster’ in a circus that became a cultural phenomenon.
Fans argued that his show was harmless escapism – entertainment – but there was also a sad and exploitative side to it.
The politician-turned-presenter became world famous, and regularly appeared on chat shows in Ireland and the UK, on which occasions he was charming and self-deprecating.
Browsing the obituaries, I particularly liked this quote from Springer: “I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a comfortable measure of success in my various careers, but let’s be honest, I’ve been virtually everything you can’t respect: a lawyer, a mayor, a major-market news anchor and a talk show host. Pray for me. If I get to Heaven, we’re all going”.
FRIDAY
Radio daze
On Newstalk’s The Hard Shoulder, they were having one of those prone-to-be-smug reviews of the week that the national stations love to do on a Friday. This afternoon’s chosen ones were chatting about how, in today’s digital age/fast-moving world, we find it hard to concentrate on one thing for very long, and generally have ever-decreasing attention spans. At least I think it was something like that…
SATURDAY/SUNDAY
Happy event…
By far the best moment of our week (and year) came overnight with the birth of our first grandchild, a beautiful baby boy, born to our eldest daughter Emma and her partner, Coman. Fiona and I could not be more proud. We welcome baby Donal and look forward to him making his own imprint on this world. Congratulations, Emma and Coman. As ever, the staff in Portiuncula Hospital were wonderful. (Now I’m off to shop for slippers)…
MONDAY
Still snooker loopy
I’m very confident that it’s not a trick of the mind when I proclaim that we don’t watch the snooker to the extent that we did in the 1980s and ‘90s.
It was a golden age then, the game brimming with wonderful characters. Ironically, the standard is significantly higher now. And while TV viewing figures in the UK and Ireland have fallen – relative to that golden era – the sport has actually grown in popularity in terms of its global spread, particularly in Asia.
We may not be watching the way we did in the glory days of Alex Higgins and others, but I became engrossed in this year’s World Championships over the past fortnight.
Arriving in Sheffield as world number 80, China’s 20-year-old Si Jiahui was an unknown, but he electrified the Crucible Theatre, defeating Shaun Murphy on his way to the semi-finals, where he stormed 14-5 ahead against another brilliant attacking player, Luca Brecel. Remarkably, the fearless Belgian overturned that deficit to reach the final against tough-as-nails Mark Selby.
Tonight, an exciting final ended with Brecel becoming the first world snooker champion from mainland Europe. As always, the BBC’s magnificent coverage was flawlessly led by the superb Hazel Irvine. Savouring the last session of the world snooker in the intimate atmosphere of the Crucible is one of life’s joys!
TUESDAY
Joe v Donald?
On the eve of former President Trump’s visit to County Clare, I find myself in agreement with a guest on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ the other night, who made the obvious observation: Why are the American people likely to be given a choice (for next president) between Trump and 80-year-old incumbent, Joe Biden? I’m not being ageist; Biden is arguably too weak to serve another four-year term. Like the guest on the Bill Maher Show, I’m at a loss as to why the Republicans and Democrats cannot source better candidates.
WEDNESDAY
Sam and Jurgen…
Wherever you are in the world today, and particularly if you’re interested in the English Premier League, perhaps spare a thought for Leeds United fans, of whom I am one.
Following a dismal run on and off the pitch, supporters of the club – currently on course to be relegated – aren’t sure if they’re dreaming, in the middle of a nightmare, or worse still, experiencing reality.
Now they’re dispensing with managers on a scale not seen since Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were both turfed out of Downing Street.
The latest would-be messiah is our old friend, Sam Allardyce, appointed as Leeds manager today. Big Sam has been tempted to return to football because he loves a challenge, well, that and the fact that Leeds are reportedly paying him £500,000 for the period of the remaining four games of the season, with a further £2.5 million bonus (allegedly) should he keep Leeds in the Premier League! Unfortunately, the would-be ‘Great Escape’ begins with a fixture against Manchester City (on Saturday).
Meanwhile, and at the risk of irking local Liverpool fans, I find myself agreeing with calls for their manager, Jurgen Klopp, to be taken to task over his increasingly unacceptable touchline antics. He’s not the only offender – Antonio Conte, José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola spring to mind – while Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta is particularly fond of the histrionics.
Klopp’s a big character, who has been great for Liverpool. But his goading of fourth official John Brooks after his team’s dramatic late winner against Spurs last weekend, was unpleasant, unfair, and unsporting. When he behaves in such a disrespectful way, Klopp is letting himself down in the eyes of many football fans who respect what he has achieved in the game.
