DOWN SOUTH (THE LATE LATE SHOW)

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It was 'The Late Late Show' but not exactly as Irish television audiences have known it.

Yes, there was the Chris Andrews 'To Whom It Concerns' theme tune in the opening credits and a brief taste of Nat King Cole at the end. 

Yes, there was 'The Late Late Show' owl.

There was even the voice of its first host, the late Gay Byrne introducing the new host Patrick Kielty when he first appeared on the show as a stand-up in 1996.

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But then there was a new set which looked straight out of the 'Late Night with David Letterman/Stephen Colbert' playbook.

There were US talk show style blasts by the house band during the ad breaks and closing credits of classic rock songs like The Rolling Stones' 'Gimme Shelter,' Don Henley's 'Boys of Summer' and Van Morrison's 'Moondance'.

And unlike the three previous hosts, Kielty had his stand-up comedy roots to draw upon and began the fourth incarnation of 'The Late Late Show' with an American talk show style opening monologue.

The County Down comedian fired off gags, often at the expense of his new employer, RTE.

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"Thank you so so much. What a lovely welcome.. I was standing out the back there like Joe Duffy about to be introduced at a Wolfe Tones gig," he quipped.

With a typical twinkle in his eye, he noted 'The Late Late Show' had been off the air for almost four months before adding in a veiled reference to the political storm over the previous host Ryan Tubridy's salary: "Well, I say off air, it's been on 'Morning Ireland,' 'Prime Time,' 'Liveline'...

"What a treat it is to have 'The Late Late Show' on after the news.."

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In a nice pop at RTE's dodgy expense accounts, the new host introduced his band as "Grant Thornton and the Flip Flops".

He landed another good laugh at the expense of RTE.

"We are trying out a brand new format on the show where the host gets to ask the questions instead of having to answer them at the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament)."

If anyone had any doubts about what it meant to Kielty to be the fourth host of the world's second longest running chat show (only NBC's 'The Tonight Show' has lasted longer), the tremor in his voice gave it away as he explained what an honour it was to present the show from Studio 4 in Donnybrook.

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In a slightly trimmed down format - the live show still runs for a whopping 100 minutes - Kielty played it relatively safe by bringing on a fellow comedian as one of his first guests.

Okay. It was safe as it could possibly be when that guest was Tommy Tiernan who appeared alongside his hit 'Tommy, Hector and Laurita' podcast co-hosts Hector O hEeochagain and Laurita Blewitt.

Tiernan was quick to remark how Americanised the show felt, although Kielty was equally quick to retort that this being RTE, it was Americanised with no money.

The interview that followed about the trio's podcast, Laurita Blewitt's family connection to US President Joe Biden and how Tiernan almost featured in a Netflix documentary about mental health lacked fizz.

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Things surprisingly livened up when former Irish President Mary McAleese joined Tiernan, O hEeochagain and Blewitt, with the Belfast academic and broadcaster talking about the GAA and also recent remarks by the Irish Prime Minister, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar about a united Ireland in his lifetime.

As for the other guests, Tipperary comedy podcasters the Two Johnnies were a bit ho hum - although Kielty handled an interview with Wrexham and Republic of Ireland footballer James McClean pretty well in which the Derryman talked about autism and threats made to his family over his refusal to wear a Remembrance Day poppy in football matches.

Some 'Late Late Late Show' traditions never die, though and there was, of course, "one for everyone in the audience" who were gifted a collection of Tipperary crystal.

There was an underwhelming Irish trad musical act Chasing Abbey - prompting another Wolfe Tones joke about them going down a storm at the Electric Picnic. 

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But where the show really scored was when Kielty interacted with the studio audience during a competition for tickets to see Ireland at the Rugby World Cup.

There was also an amusing live link up with the Dundrum Inn in the comedian's native town where customers had been promised a free drink every time he mentioned its name.

This prompted images of glum looking customers when he avoided mentioning Dundrum.

Later, he returned to them and relented, mentioning Dundrum 12 times and sparking wild celebrations in his local.

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As debuts go, it was a pretty encouraging start.

Kielty paid respect to his predecessors and the show's heritage while giving it a new twist.

As an interviewer, he let his guests talk and didn't interject too much or grandstand.

Even with the new lick of paint, though, this version of the 'Late Late Show' will be dependent on the quality of its guests.

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Kielty will need them to rise to the occasion just as much as Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny and Ryan Tubridy's versions did.

That will be especially important in the long dark winter months, halfway through its run.

However there is no doubt Kielty's Northern background has already added a different dimension to the show.

If initial social media reaction is anything to go by and if RTE allows Kielty to also indulge his comedy instincts, they might have hit on a formula that proves there's life in the old owl yet.

('The Late Late Show' is broadcast on RTE 1 on Friday nights at 9.35pm)