When RTÉ originally handed over its improvised Wednesday night chat show slot to a man that is known for his tongue in cheek and unrehearsed humour there was a ripple of uncertainty about the possibilities of it all going terribly wrong. Last night Tiernan proved his critics wrong.
In an episode that's being described as one of the best in Irish chat show history, Tiernan's hour-long show dealt with mental health, suicide, and sexual impotency. Twitter felt that the shows biggest strength was not its guests but how Tommy turned everyday taboo topics into an ordinary conversation:
That may have been the best talk show I've seen in 20 years or more, rounded off by a stunning performance from Lola. Proofing that u don't need A list celebrities, just normal decent people. #tommytiernan
— Michael Crubeens (@MagtreeCrubeens) January 10, 2018
Michael Healy Rae was one guest who turned the tide in his favour. Healy Rae is part of a political dynasty in Kerry who is known for campaigning to reintroduce drink driving, which Tiernan took no time in hilariously ripping apart. The audience was mesmerised by his sheer honesty and the revelation he was "delighted" when a TD died cause it meant another spot for him and his family:
@MHealyRae got his start in politics because he'd get three weeks off school when a TD died! He tells @Tommedian about his unusual introduction on The #TommyTiernan Show! pic.twitter.com/ug7tBIwWCy
— RTE One (@RTEOne) January 10, 2018
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Michael Healy Rae is an absolute joy to listen to. That piece with Tommy Tiernan was nourishment for the soul #tommytiernan
— John McNamara (@jmcnamaracoach) January 10, 2018
The thing about Michael Healy Rae is you can mock him all you want, you can scorn the machine that their family has created in Kerry politics, but, the man has empathy in abundance. You could see it on #TommyTiernan tonight, and in how he behaves with constituents.
— Jerry Lane (@imjerrylane) January 11, 2018
Rae shared a moving story about one of his constituents who had died by suicide and blamed the advice he'd given the man as the reason for his death. Mental health became an overarching theme on the night as writer and actor Michael Harding shared his own struggles with mental illness.
'I realised that depression is normal, everybody suffers it', Michael Harding tells @Tommedian about his experience of depression on The #TommyTiernan Show. Wednesdays at 9.35. pic.twitter.com/fn1kpsLFUC
— RTE One (@RTEOne) January 10, 2018
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Michael Harding: "One of the most terrible things I found in depression was the sense that it wouldn't end. It's just a small thing, I think, and yet it's so huge with people who get depressed. They feel this will never end. #tommytiernan
— Donal O'Keeffe (@Donal_OKeeffe) January 10, 2018
Not only was mental health a massive focus of the episode, erectile dysfunction is another taboo topic that traditionally slips under the radar but sexologist Emily Power Smith gave the facts and Tiernan could personally relate:
@tommedian talks to Sexologist @empowersme about what it's like for men who have problems downstairs! The #TommyTiernan Show airs Wednesdays at 9.35 and Tommy doesn't know who the guests are till they walk out on stage! pic.twitter.com/mftzMEIG3k
— RTE One (@RTEOne) January 10, 2018
If you haven't seen last nights episode, head over to the RTÉ player. You won't regret it.
