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TV Nostalgia: Memorable shows of the past

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Conor Tivnan @conortivnan

 

We have all grown up with TV shows that have conjured up moments of unbridled joy and nostalgia. No matter what decade or vintage you have spent your childhood in, there are certain shows that always seem to resonate with people up and down the country.

Here at mediacontact, we decided to take a trip down memory lane, and pick a selection of  TV shows of the last 5 decades that have made a significant impression on many a household in the country. Lets get right into it:

TYRONE PRODUCTIONS - THE SCHOOL AROUND THE CORNER1. School around the corner (1954-1973) (1990-2005) (2013-present)

After returning to our screens this year, school around the corner has a special place in the hearts of many Irish people. I  would say that you could think of someone who has appeared on the show and often when you ask someone, a wry smile would come to their face. When you enter into your twenties/thirties, if you were on the show, you can be rest assured that someone will dish out a video of your childhood innocence. The show which originally began on radio, first aired on RTÉ television in 1961 and ran until 1966 with Paddy Crosbie as its presenter. After a 17 year absence, the show was revived again in 1990 with the late Gerry Ryan as host. RTÉ offered the series to UTV in Northern Ireland where it ran for a decade from 1995 to 2005. However, to the delight of many, the popular presenter, Ray D’arcy hosted the big return of the show with a Christmas special in 2013. Presenters may have come and gone but the format of questioning from the host and the cute, humorous and innocent answers from the school kids has lived on.

This clip of a recent episode of the show shows childhood innocence at its very best.

Mike_H2. The Live Mike (1979-1982)

A precusor to the modern day Naked Camera and Anonymous, the Live Mike presented by Mike Murphy, was synomonous for the candid camera sketches from the man himself. As well as the humorous camera pieces, the show also featured a chat segment with inputs from the likes of Twink, Fran Dempsey and the late great Dermot Morgan. It was first broadcast on RTÉ 1 on 9 November 1979 and by its last show on 2 April 1982, the catchphrase which concluded each sketch : “I’m Mike Murphy from RTÉ” was infamous with the man from Dublin. The programme ran for three series and included a famous prank played on fellow RTÉ broadcaster Gay Byrne. On the last show, Murphy created a bit of a stir when he told viewers that the show would not be returning. The main reason for his decision was down to the fact that alot of his original crew had left the show and Murphy felt the show was not fun to make anymore. Not to worry, Murphy treated us to three fantastic years, full of bizarre and witty moments.

This is the infamous video when Gay Byrne gets a bit hot under the collar so to speak outside Trinity College Dublin.

play3. Glenroe (1983-2001)

A staple in the lives of many country homes, Glenroe was as Irish as you get. With character names like Miley and Biddy, the show centered on the lives of the people living in the fictional rural village, of the same name, in Wicklow. The main protagonists were the Byrne, McDermott-Moran families, related by the marriage of Miley Byrne to Biddy McDermott. The series ran for 18 unforgettable years and on the penultimate series of the show, viewers were in shock when Biddy tragically died in a road accident involving her car and a tractor. The show ran its final course with Miley trying to come to terms with the loss of his wife and coping with raising his two daughters. Even at present, Actor Mick Lally who played Miley is a bit of a cult hero and his popular phrase”Well holy God” has stood the test of time. For many young children watching the show at the time, the closing theme tune of Glenroe on the Sunday nights usually meant bed, with “school in the morning” echoed from their parents. A not too pleasant memory but a great show all the same.

The theme tune below is sure to bring you a bit of nostalgia

lyrics4. The Lyrics Board (1992-2003)

Who could ever forget this gem. The Lyrics Board’ was a 1990′s game show that pitted two teams against each other in a musical battle. Each piano-playing team captain and their two celebrity teammates had to sing songs containing words that were revealed on a game board. A simple concept that has seen more than 20 other countries replicate the format which is a testament to the Irish produced show. The show was presented by Aonghus McAnally and featured team captains John Keogh and Kevin Hough. They were joined by numerous musicians and celebrities, most notably the rock and roll legend, Jerry Lee Lewis. The poularity of the show was evident when John Keogh recalled someone coming up to him in Kuala Lumpur and  saying, ” The Lyrics Board”at him in a market. With the advent of all the reality music shows like the X-Factor, will we ever see shows like the Lyrics Board again?

 BW5. Bachelor’s Walk (2000-2003)

The turn of the millenium saw a new comedy brought to our screens in the form of Bachelor’s Walk. The three stooges, so to speak, of Raymond (Don Wycherley), a struggling film critic, Michael (Simon Delaney), a would-be barrister who spends more time in the bookies and the pub than at work, and Barry (Keith McErlean), an idle dreamer looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. The show was a real comic hit as the differing ambitions and personalities of three central characters made for some great moments for the viewers at home. David Robbins, who reviewed the first series of the Dublin based show back in 2001 said: “The importance of Bachelors Walk goes beyond ratings: it somehow managed to capture the spirit of a time in the life of a great old city. It was the first home-produced drama to reflect the Dublin of the Celtic Tiger back at itself”. With the way the country has suffered economically since 2008, Bachelor’s Walk will always be remembered for both its fantastic plot and underlying themes that paved the way for the mistakes of the Celtic Tiger.

 

Sources: RTÉ TV 50 RTÉ.IE, RTÉ Official YouTube Channel, RTÉ.ie/TV/livesofMike, Caitlin ó Ceallacháin YouTube Channel, DonegalDollop.com, saynotoursoap YouTube Channel, Irish Independent


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