You might say it's the way he tells 'em. As soon as Patrick Kielty strolled (no jazz hands or showboating here, folks) onto the spanking new set of The Late Late Show on Friday night an almost electric charge and a feeling of change was in the air in Studio 4 in Montrose.
The gags were a hell of a lot better too.
RTÉ are banking on the twinkly and telegenic 52-year-old from Co Down to give a bit of giddy-up to their trusty old warhorse and generate some much-needed cash. And this time, the suits haven't booked the wrong pony. Kielty's debut turn as Late Late Show host was very, very good.
It's also a good news story after a summer of scandal and an upcoming winter of discontent at the national broadcaster.
Watch: Patrick Kielty opens his first Late Late Show with a bang
The second PK to present the show has always been an all-rounder. He's got thirty years of telly experience behind him, including hosting his own chat show for the BBC. But it's his reputation as a comedian who comes across like an innocent choir boy with a wicked tongue that is his calling card.
His opening monologue on Friday night didn't disappoint. The non-RTÉ man who has ascended to the high dais of Irish chat caught the public mood as he gleefully indulged in the new Montrose pastime of self-flagellation and prostration - also known as getting the digs in harder and faster than anyone else.
Thanking the audience for a genuinely rapturous reception, he said: "I was standing at the back there thinking it was going to be like Joe Duffy being introduced at a Wolfe Tones gig, so thank you very much for that welcome."
The new boy, dressed simply in a dark blue suit, tieless, and looking supremely relaxed, was already on a roll. "And what a treat it is to have the Late Late Show on again after the news," he continued with a sly smile.
He then added his first reference to the "former guy".
"We’re trying out a whole new format on the show tonight," Kielty said, relishing the punchline. "Where the host gets to ask the questions instead of answering them at the Oireachtas."
Gesturing at the new set, he said: "No expense spared... and if you're the host, no expenses spared."
He followed that with zingers about the calamitous drop off in TV licence payments and RTÉ’s very own Scottish play, Toy Show: The Musical. It wasn’t just the Late Late Show owl who was hooting.
And when it came to the serious bit, it was a genuinely moving moment. Choking up Kielty said: "I just wanted to say how much this means to me tonight. Like so many of you watching this show tonight my journey has had the odd bump in the road but it’s funny how things work out.
"There's no way I ever thought that I’d be standing here this evening but I am so, so happy and it truly is an honour of a lifetime to be able to say welcome to The Late Late Show."
So, one RTÉ chat show host interviewing another RTÉ chat show host or as Tiernan had it, "You'll be doing Friday and I’ll be doing Saturday. We’ll have this place wrecked."
The cheesy and creaky Ed Sullivanisms and Mister Rogers act of the "former guy" were banished for good within seconds. It was all about bringing a fresh zing to an old institution, but this new Late Late was also more than willing to pay homage to the past.
Before Kielty walked on set on Friday night, he could be seen patting the large black and white portrait of Gay Byrne that adorns the back lot of Studio 4 for good luck and he walked on to an archive recording of Gay introducing him to the show back in 1996.
Watch: Patrick Kielty on The Late Late Show with Gay Byrne in 1996
So, something old, something new, lots of things borrowed, and going by that new set, something very blue. And purple. Along with modish new opening titles, a new sponsor (and phew to that!) and a new logo, the set was all clean lines and it had the look of an old-fashioned picture house complete with art deco portico. Gone was the former guy's taste in young fogey chic, although those new curtains did give one online commentator "crematorium vibes".
Very late-night US chat show but also quite Late Late Show 1962. It had a certain swing to it.
In another break with the past, the guests for Kielty's first show weren't announced in advance and while there were no surprises, there was a far more relaxed approach and no rush to finish up quickly.
First up were Tommy Tiernan, Hector Ó hEochagáin and Laurita Blewitt, who began a new run of their Hen House podcast earlier in the week. So, one RTÉ chat show host interviewing another RTÉ chat show host or as Tiernan had it, "You'll be doing Friday and I'll be doing Saturday. We'll have this place wrecked."
They were joined by former President of Ireland and former RTÉ reporter Mary McAleese, an august presence wherever she may roam, but perhaps it was only her fellow Downer Kielty who could welcome her on set with a matey, "Howaya, missus!"
The 2 Johnnies were wheeled on to chat about their new RTÉ2 series, which is set in a pub, but the interview of the night - and one that revealed that Kielty can do serious as well as light-hearted - was Irish footballer James McClean’s candid discussion about the sectarian abuse he and his family have endured.
The new boy also knocked good craic out of the competition slot (a trip to Orlando with 50k spendies) and a live link-up with the Dundrum Inn in his hometown. Any Alan Partridge moments would have been wholly intentional but what was with the choice of music that bookended that ad breaks? All great songs but Gimme Shelter by the Stones (riiigght), The Boys of Summer by Don Henley (double why? Triple what?), and Linger by The Cranberries (ah, here, lads).
One show down, 29 to go, RTÉ's new €250,000 man has made a very, very good start. Not quite a reinvention, more a well-needed overhaul.
Somewhere, the former guy may be having regrets and somewhere else entirely, Gay Byrne is looking down with a very proud smile.
Alan Corr @CorrAlan2
