Gift Grub

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Gift Grub is a series of short comic pieces broadcast on weekdays on the breakfast show of Irish commercial radio station Today FM since 1999. The characters in the pieces are based on real people, generally local and international celebrities and political figures, and are voiced mainly by mimic Mario Rosenstock.

The title is a remnant of the original format of the pieces, in which the character of Bertie Ahern, Ireland's former Taoiseach (prime minister), would introduce the listening public to favourite ("Gift") meals or food items ("Grub"). The portrayal of Ahern as blustering and inarticulate but infinitely shrewd set the tone for the future. Ahern is still the main star, but other frequent appearances are made by impersonators of Roy Keane, Gerry Adams, Colin Farrell, Ronan Keating(Fair play), Bill Cullen'(Oh be de hokey cokey I am n'dat...!) Michael D. Higgins, Keith Duffy(THE BOX!), Daniel O'Donnell, Niall Quinn, Ben Dunne(Are you listening......?), Steve Staunton(You tell me...), Bobby Robson, Rafa Benitez (Jes), Joe Duffy(Me screen is shakin violently here..!), Paul O'Connell(The fear o' God!), Conor Deasy and many others.

The popularity of the show has generated a number of spin-off compilations and merchandise and catchphrases that have caught on in the general public, such as Bertie's "Infacta", "Jaysus" and "Ya Spanner", and some may claim that the sketches' portrayal of Mr Ahern as street-wise, human and funny has arguably boosted the approval rating of Mr Ahern and his government.

[edit] Notable sketches

A big part of the success of the series has been the ability of the writers to respond quickly to current news and events with withering satire. The most famous episode involved the re-writing [1] of the song "Dry Your Eyes" by UK act The Streets, with Roy Keane singing to David Beckham, consoling him on England's loss to France in Euro 2004.

In 2005 Rosenstock played the lead role in the stage musical I, Keano, in which the feud between Roy Keane and former team manager Mick McCarthy is transported to Ancient Rome.

In Summer 2005, a sketch entitled "José and his Amazing Technicolor Overcoat [2]", mimicking Chelsea boss José Mourinho, caught the attention of football fans in the UK on a number of forums and message boards. Rosenstock was invited by Mourinho to attend a match at Stamford Bridge. This track, along with "I Sign a Little Player or Two", based on Aretha Franklin's "I Say a Little Prayer", have proven so popular with listeners to London's Capital Gold radio station, that breakfast DJ Mick Brown was quoted in the October 24, 2005 edition of The Sun as saying that the two tracks may be released in the UK as a Christmas novelty song.

On December 16, 2005 a parody of Will Young's song Leave Right Now[3] relating to the events surrounding Roy Keane's dismissal from Manchester United was released as a charity single in the Republic of Ireland. It went straight in at the number 1 position on the Christmas chart. José and his Amazing Technicolor Overcoat was released in the UK on February 20, 2006.

In March 2007, the real Roy Keane met with Ian Dempsey to promote the Irish Guide Dogs Foundation and was introduced to the Gift Grub Roy. Previous special guests who were invited on the show to meet their Gift Grub equivalent included Hector Ó hEochagáin, Eddie Hobbs and Ronan Keating. José Mourinho's sudden departure from Chelsea, in September 2007, and his falling out with owner Roman Abramovich, became the subject of yet another Gift Grub parody [4].