Jo Maxi, named after Dublin slang for a taxi, was an Irish teenage entertainment show which would report on teenage issues. The presenters would discuss issues relating to teenagers through reports and studio discussions. They would also review books, movies and other TV shows. Gig Guides and job/study information was also reported each night. It was broadcast on Network 2 as part RTÉ's redevelopment of its second channel from October 1988. It was first presented by Ray D'Arcy, Clíona Ní Bhuachalla and various other presenters and reporters.
Format.
"Jo Maxi" was presented from the RTÉ Studios in Donnybrook. It was broadcast each weeknight at 6 o'clock. Various reports were made by different presenters around the country with link-ups to different individuals telling viewers of events coming up in their areas. New bands and music videos were also showcased.
In 1993 "Jo Maxi" was revamped; this revamp did away with the Jo Maxi brand but the end credits would state that it was a JMTV Production, and would also use the Petrol Pump logo. The relaunch followed on from the successful redesign of Friday's JMTVshow, originally a pop video show, as 'Rocks The Garden' presented by Colin Murnane. It was a wide ranging arts and music magazine show, shot in Temple Bar with live music performed in The Rock Garden Dublin.
The new look "Jo Maxi" had a different show each weekday. Monday’s was an arts review show called "Brash" presented by Niamh Walsh, Tuesday’s was a chat show called "Hullabullu", Wednesday’s was presented by Gemma Hill called "Get a Life" it was a job/study guide, Thursday’s was presented by Eileen O’Reilly and was a debate show where different schools would debate a topic in a debate competition, it was called "Babel" and Friday’s was called "Plastic Orange", an alternative pop music show presented by Colin Murnane. Each of the new shows (bar "Brash") were presented from RTÉ; "Brash" was presented around Dublin City. "Plastic Orange Crush" was a late night spin-off screened in the summer and highlighted by "Hot Press" Magazine as one of the TV Highlights of the year.
Initial idea.
In October 1988, RTÉ 2 was revamped as Network 2. This revamp involved a new logo and brand but also a brand new schedule. The schedule would move most of RTÉ's sports, children's and Irish language programming to Network 2.
As part of this new station RTÉ extended its children's programming starting with "Bosco" at 14:30 and "Dempsey's Den" at 15:00 until 18:00, effectively Network 2's afternoon schedule was a children's channel. "Jo Maxi" would air each week night at 18:00 following "The Den". It preceded the Australian teenage soap opera "Home and Away". It was aimed at a teenage audience as a lead into "Home and Away", and all these changes were brought to air on the day the newly-branded channel was launched - October 3, 1988. This was a month later than the usual traditional TV season launch of September due to the 1988 Summer Olympics, which had ended the day before and which had been covered on the formerly-named RTÉ 2.
In 1994 "Jo Maxi" was replaced by the children's TV Show "Echo Island", the 6 o'clock slot would host various shows mainly imported children's TV including "Garfield and Friends" and "Are You Afraid of the Dark?", but ultimately it was replaced by "The Simpsons".
References.
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