A Scare at Bedtime

Infobox Television
bgcolour =
show_name = A Scare at Bedtime


caption =
format = Comedy
camera =
picture_format = PAL (4:3)
audio_format = Stereo
runtime = ~10 minutes
creator = Ciaran Morrison
Mick O'Hara
developer = Ciaran Morrison
Mick O'Hara
executive_producer =
starring = Ciaran Morrison (Rodge)
Mick O'Hara (Podge)
narrated =
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = Ireland
language = English
network = RTÉ Two (then Network 2)
first_run =
first_aired = 1997
last_aired = 2006
num_episodes = 150
website = http://www.rte.ie/tv/podgeandrodge/
imdb_id = 0424700
tv_com_id =

"A Scare at Bedtime" (also known as "Podge and Rodge: A Scare at Bedtime") was an Irish television show, produced by Double Z Enterprises and broadcast by RTÉ, featuring the two puppets Podge and Rodge as the hosts of a spooky tales and urban myths comedy show. It ran from 1997 until January 2006.

"A Scare at Bedtime" was originally commissioned by RTE to fill a ten minute gap that was left before the 23:00 News due to the short running times of American shows that preceded it. This show took its name from the nightly RTÉ 1 show called "A Prayer at Bedtime", which overlaid the text of a Roman Catholic prayer over serene images with choral music playing. "A Scare at Bedtime", first aired in 1997, is close to being the polar opposite of this, with extremely adult content, lewd jokes and slightly obscene anecdotes being related by the two puppets and 'Tales of Caution' acted out in live action segments. Podge's origins on "The Den" is ignored, as the backstory gradually established on "A Scare at Bedtime", presents Podge and his identical twin brother Rodge to be both in their sixties, and living in Ballydung Manor, a converted insane asylum for most of that time, with a lunatic nurse that they call "Granny" who practices the dark arts(since she is dating Satan, whom they refer to as the "quare fella" throughout the series) . They were also then given full names also: Padraig Judas O'Leprocy and Rodraig Spartacus O'Leprocy.

Each episode follows the same pattern: Rodge, the dumber of the two, arrives home. Originally the pair would get into bed but in later seasons they sat at the kitchen table. They talk about what Rodge was doing, with Podge usually insulting him. This leads Podge on to telling a story (acted out by live actors) about some people (whose names are usually sexual innuendos, e.g. Chris Peacock, Ulick McGee, Neil Down, Mickey Scratcher and Inspector Bush) who inevitably come to an unpleasant end. Rodge interrupts the story with stupid comments and/or reference to masturbation. It ends with Podge punishing Rodge for no reason.

Podge and Rodge have mimicked Foster and Allen. The characters are called "Fester and Ailin'" and have been seen on "A Scare at Bedtime" satirically arguing with Foster and Allen, with each claiming the other copied their act. Fester states: "Ailin' here came out of the womb with that accordion on him". Fester and Ailin' also claim that Foster and Allen's song "Bunch of Thyme" was in fact a stolen copy of their original work "Bunch of Lesbians". Fester and Ailin's other songs include "Tropical Diseases", "The Monkey Song" and "Doing the Wife's Sisters on the Sly" as well as the classic yuletide number "Dead Man Up The Chimney".

The show has run for eight series as of January 2006, with the Five Complete Series on sale on DVD. The programme has aired in both the UK and Ireland on RTÉ Two, Tara TV, UK Play and the Paramount Comedy Channel. "A Scare at Bedtime" was nominated in the Best Entertainment Programme category of the Irish Film and television Academy Awards in both 1999 and 2000. Winning the IFTA for Best Entertainment Programme in 2000.

Episode List

Season One

Season Four

Season Seven

References