The Late Late Show owl
Encyclopedia
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
, The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
, since its inception in 1962. The owl symbol (a barn owl
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
) is the only remaining theme from the classic format other than the show's name and the traditional annual ‘toy show
The Late Late Toy Show
The Late Late Toy Show—also known as The Toy Show— is an annual iconic and influential Irish institution, an edition of the world's longest-running chat show, The Late Late Show broadcast on RTÉ One in Ireland each Friday evening. The Toy Show, as it is referred to, is broadcast in late...
’ edition. The first thing Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
said when announcing his plans for his takeover as host in August 2009 was: "I can tell you that the owl is not dead". Tubridy posed for photographs on the set holding a wooden owl.
Such is the nature of the owl theme, that RTÉ have used it in advertising campaigns for upcoming television shows. Halifax, a recent sponsor of the show, created its own giant owl mascot which was used to herald the show's arrival, ending and the in-between commercial breaks. It also ran competitions alluding to the famous owl theme, including one for primary schools, with the aim of building a shelter for the barn owl. A month afterwards, the winners, St. Patrick's Boys National School, were invited onto the show to discuss their design.
The mother of the singer Eva Cassidy
Eva Cassidy
Eva Marie Cassidy was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. In 1992 she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996...
was startled by the owl on her appearance on The Late Late Show and was heard by the show's researcher Will Hanafin
Will Hanafin
William 'Will' Hanafin is an Irish journalist, a researcher, television producer and radio presenter from Youghal, County Cork. He can currently be heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM, largely in the background offering advice to listeners but he sometimes presents the show solo. He has been...
to exclaim loudly: "What's that chicken doing flying there?".