A very odd title there to my post today....
Anyway, last night I re tried a quiz I had had a bad experience with a few weeks ago at the Black Bull in Peterlee. Its a Redtooth quiz and I know some people are not too keen on them but the main issue I had previously was the open cheating. Either way I am happy to say last nights was much better!
It was a close run quiz, we had played a good hand with each team member (this time the Fullard family team!) brining something to the table. We made a good start on the pictures, had some current affairs questions we all knew bar one and had two nice "list questions" followed by a strong round in the Trivia Trail. We played a bit too cautious on the Wipeout Round but with a solid score we thought we had a good sheet.
Then came MY mistake.....
One of the pictures was of a "famous" Nazi. Without even thinking I put Rommel, something in my mind tweaked. But as the quiz went on I doubted myself and at the last second changed it to Himmler.......every quizzer will know what happened next. Of course it was Rommel! We were second in the quiz by one point..............bad times!
The classic mistake I am sure most quizzers have made!
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Mock the Week Does Quiz Shows!
Something to have a giggle at. BBC show Mock the Week's usual "improv" round tackles quiz shows.
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Quiz Book Giveway Reminder!
Just a quick reminder, thanks to being provided with various quiz books in the Whittaker series to give away as prizes, TQA's first competition is drawing to a close. In case you have yet to enter the link to the page is HERE
All you need to do is leave a comment and you are in the hat!
Deadline is noon on 15th December with prizes posted that afternoon in time for Xmas!
All you need to do is leave a comment and you are in the hat!
Deadline is noon on 15th December with prizes posted that afternoon in time for Xmas!
Google Proof Quiz
Interesting reading here...
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1467609_quizmaster-devises-google-proof-questions-to-stop-pub-quiz-smartphone-cheats
Not meaning to start the whole phone-cheating debate again but I was interested in one quote from the quizmaster...."At first you used to get people sneaking Collins Encyclopaedias into the pub.".....Really? Did this happen? I have been going to quizzes only in the post-mobile phone world so Id be interested in stories on this.
It sounds like the guy hasnt really come up with an "ungoogleable" general knowledge quiz, but rather changed the quiz entirely to something different.
Thoughts?
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1467609_quizmaster-devises-google-proof-questions-to-stop-pub-quiz-smartphone-cheats
Not meaning to start the whole phone-cheating debate again but I was interested in one quote from the quizmaster...."At first you used to get people sneaking Collins Encyclopaedias into the pub.".....Really? Did this happen? I have been going to quizzes only in the post-mobile phone world so Id be interested in stories on this.
It sounds like the guy hasnt really come up with an "ungoogleable" general knowledge quiz, but rather changed the quiz entirely to something different.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Celebrity Eggheads - Episode 1
As is becoming an annual tradition for the BBC now, a new 10 part series of Celebrity Eggheads kicked off on BBC 2 at 6pm last night. I tend to enjoy Celebrity Eggheads more than other "Celebrity" versions of quizzes as they don't tend to dumb it down for the celebs.
In show one the Eggheads took on, and to be fair demolished, a team of ex sports stars including Willie Thorn, Peter Shilton and Paul Nixon. All in the name of fun of course but the Eggheads opponents showed some real gaps in their general knowledge and didnt really trouble the Eggheads.
I always tend to think that the Eggheads look much more focused against the Celebs than they do in normal shows....maybe a gritty determination not to be beaten off a footballer etc
Anyway the show seems to be airing 6pm every week night for the next two weeks, even if you don't like Eggheads normally this might be worth a watch!
UPDATE
The line up for the shows are as followers...
For anyone who is interested this is this years line ups....
From 12th December to 23rd December in 2011, including a show on Sunday 18th.
The teams are:
Sporting greats featuring Willie Thorne, Peter Shilton, Geoff Capes, Paul Nixon and Joe Egan
Ladies who Twitter featuring Sian Lloyd, Annabel Giles, Wincey Willis, Jeni Barnett and Sarah Greene
Former EastEnders actors featuring Shobu Kapoor, Derek Martin, David Spinx, Carol Harrison and Jane How
Reality TV stars featuring Andy Abraham, Lembit Opik, Hannah Waterman, John McCririck and Yvette Fielding
Former footballers Frank Worthington, Alan Kennedy, Kerry Dixon, Alan Rough and Tony Currie
Famous faces from Ireland featuring Henry Kelly, Mike Nolan, Zoe Salmon, Shauna Lowry and Linda Nolan
Experts from Antiques Road Trip featuring Anita Manning, James Braxton, Mark Stacey, Thomas Plant and David Barby.
A team from That's Life, featuring Esther Rantzen, Adrian Miles, Gavin Campbell, Bill Buckley and Robin Bextor
TV presenters Toby Anstis, Pat Sharp, Joel Defries, Cerrie Burnell and Sarah-Jane Honeywell
A team of TV scientists featuring Johnny Ball, Marty Jopson, Adam Hart-Davis, Kate
Bellingham and Ian Johnson
Monday, 12 December 2011
Mastermind Debate.....My view
Over at the excellent Life After Mastermind Blog HERE former Champion David Clark and other quizzers are having a debate about Mastermind and the current place it holds on TV, the draws and put off's and the state of the show in general and although David of course has more grounds for his opinion than mine I thought Id add my opinion....
One of the issues raised is the place of Mastermind in the current world of quizzing and tv quizzing? David raises an interesting point in stating that Mastermind has its followers and a very loyal set of followers they are indeed. Because Mastermind is one of the few elite quizzes left on TV and certainly one of, if not the only, elite tv quiz with such a prestigious history it will always have its followers. Someone has suggested maybe Mastermind has had its day? I would say that day is far away yet...
The BBC have been on a push lately to save money and the cheaper they can make the programmes the better. Doctor Who and all the main hitters have had budget cuts galore and creative ideas round this have had to be devised. Mastermind is a prime time Friday night show on its second channel and in terms of most other BBC produced shows on prime time weekend slots....its very cheap to make. Even when considering how cheap it is to make compared to other prime time quiz shows say, A Question Of Sport...it gives the BBC value for money. For the viewer ship Mastermind gets it still is economical for the BBC to produce it. Although I believe the BBC have a serious interest in keeping Mastermind as an elite quiz and avoiding dumbing it down, and as long as it keeps viewers and as long as it remains cheap to make it will still hold its place in the line up regardless of anything else.
So what about the big debate on the SS round? Is it pushing viewers away? Its a very good point and one that demonstrates well in my household. I am the only one who will watch the SS rounds and thats only because a) I want to see the scores and b) I want to see what if anything I know about sometimes obscure facts. I often find in the SS rounds I surprise myself with what I didnt know I knew.
But the other members of my household....who love the GK rounds...will switch off during the first 15 minutes of SS....read a book, flick through the paper, chat. Its evidence to me that even for fans of quiz shows as my household are, the SS rounds are just too alienating. Im not saying for one minute that this means the round should be removed. It wouldnt be Mastermind without it but we cannot deny this is a huge issue with the show. Since the big money quizzes of WWTBAM, Million Pound Drop et al I think it is going to be so very very hard for a Quiz like Mastermind to climb up the ratings.
Back in the day, long before I was born, when the number of channels could be counted on one hand, Mastermind would have been more noticed. I tend to get the feeling that amongst the youth or today....by youth I mean under 30's such as myself, Mastermind doesnt really have the presence or image it once may have had. I make no bones to friends in my quizzing circles that my ambition is to appear on Mastermind by the time Im 40 and it would be the one show I would love to do. But I feel the show, tucked away on BBC 2 at a time when the youth will either be a) Out on the town b) Watching the Soaps or b) Relaxing after a busy week at work doesnt do itself any favours.
I think a simple change of timing could make up a lot of viewers. Im no expert in viewing figures but if the show went out earlier in the evening, say 7pm on a Thursday night against little competition and a time when maybe the full family haven't yet settled down, it could reign in more viewers.
But I would never change the format, even if it does promote short term recall.....If I go on Mastermind, hopefully when I go on Mastermind, I will choose subjects I have had a broad knowledge on for years, subjects from my hobbies etc. If Short term recall is the way people choose to play it then so be it but I firmly believe that even with the best cramming in the world, the best short term recall in the whole contest and the narrowest specialist subject you cannot possibly win Mastermind without an exceptional elite level of general knowledge and that for me, and may others, will always be the attraction!
One of the issues raised is the place of Mastermind in the current world of quizzing and tv quizzing? David raises an interesting point in stating that Mastermind has its followers and a very loyal set of followers they are indeed. Because Mastermind is one of the few elite quizzes left on TV and certainly one of, if not the only, elite tv quiz with such a prestigious history it will always have its followers. Someone has suggested maybe Mastermind has had its day? I would say that day is far away yet...
The BBC have been on a push lately to save money and the cheaper they can make the programmes the better. Doctor Who and all the main hitters have had budget cuts galore and creative ideas round this have had to be devised. Mastermind is a prime time Friday night show on its second channel and in terms of most other BBC produced shows on prime time weekend slots....its very cheap to make. Even when considering how cheap it is to make compared to other prime time quiz shows say, A Question Of Sport...it gives the BBC value for money. For the viewer ship Mastermind gets it still is economical for the BBC to produce it. Although I believe the BBC have a serious interest in keeping Mastermind as an elite quiz and avoiding dumbing it down, and as long as it keeps viewers and as long as it remains cheap to make it will still hold its place in the line up regardless of anything else.
So what about the big debate on the SS round? Is it pushing viewers away? Its a very good point and one that demonstrates well in my household. I am the only one who will watch the SS rounds and thats only because a) I want to see the scores and b) I want to see what if anything I know about sometimes obscure facts. I often find in the SS rounds I surprise myself with what I didnt know I knew.
But the other members of my household....who love the GK rounds...will switch off during the first 15 minutes of SS....read a book, flick through the paper, chat. Its evidence to me that even for fans of quiz shows as my household are, the SS rounds are just too alienating. Im not saying for one minute that this means the round should be removed. It wouldnt be Mastermind without it but we cannot deny this is a huge issue with the show. Since the big money quizzes of WWTBAM, Million Pound Drop et al I think it is going to be so very very hard for a Quiz like Mastermind to climb up the ratings.
Back in the day, long before I was born, when the number of channels could be counted on one hand, Mastermind would have been more noticed. I tend to get the feeling that amongst the youth or today....by youth I mean under 30's such as myself, Mastermind doesnt really have the presence or image it once may have had. I make no bones to friends in my quizzing circles that my ambition is to appear on Mastermind by the time Im 40 and it would be the one show I would love to do. But I feel the show, tucked away on BBC 2 at a time when the youth will either be a) Out on the town b) Watching the Soaps or b) Relaxing after a busy week at work doesnt do itself any favours.
I think a simple change of timing could make up a lot of viewers. Im no expert in viewing figures but if the show went out earlier in the evening, say 7pm on a Thursday night against little competition and a time when maybe the full family haven't yet settled down, it could reign in more viewers.
But I would never change the format, even if it does promote short term recall.....If I go on Mastermind, hopefully when I go on Mastermind, I will choose subjects I have had a broad knowledge on for years, subjects from my hobbies etc. If Short term recall is the way people choose to play it then so be it but I firmly believe that even with the best cramming in the world, the best short term recall in the whole contest and the narrowest specialist subject you cannot possibly win Mastermind without an exceptional elite level of general knowledge and that for me, and may others, will always be the attraction!
TV Quizzing at Christmas!
Have just been viewing the Radio Times TV Guide, and essential part of my xmas, and I have noticed to my delight a brand new series of Celebrity Mastermind is returning for the festive period as well as a Celebrity Eggheads which I think is also new!
Good times!
Good times!
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Classic Wrong Answers #4
THE WEAKEST LINK
Anne Robinson: In traffic, what "J" is where two roads meet?
Contestant: Jool carriageway.
Contestant: Jool carriageway.
Anne Robinson: Which Italian city is overlooked by Vesuvius?
Contestant: Bombay.
Contestant: Bombay.
Robinson: What insect is commonly found hovering above lakes?
Contestant: Crocodiles.
Contestant: Crocodiles.
Robinson: Wh...?
Contestant (interrupting): Pass!
Contestant (interrupting): Pass!
Anne Robinson: In olden times, what were minstrels, travelling
entertainers or chocolate salesmen?
Contestant: Chocolate salesmen.
entertainers or chocolate salesmen?
Contestant: Chocolate salesmen.
Robinson: The Bible, the New Testament. The Four Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and...?
Contestant: (long pause) Joe?
Contestant: (long pause) Joe?
Friday, 9 December 2011
Classic Wrong Answers #3
JAMES O’BRIEN SHOW (LBC)
James O’Brien:
How many kings of England have been called Henry?
Contestant:
Er, well, I know there was a Henry the Eighth … ER. ER . Three?
So good it deserves a place of its own!
Quiz book Giveaway!
Just a quick reminder, thanks to being provided with various quiz books in the Whittaker series to give away as prizes, TQA's first competition is drawing to a close. In case you have yet to enter the link to the page is HERE
All you need to do is leave a comment and you are in the hat!
Deadline is noon on 15th December with prizes posted that afternoon in time for Xmas!
All you need to do is leave a comment and you are in the hat!
Deadline is noon on 15th December with prizes posted that afternoon in time for Xmas!
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Classic Wrong Answers #2
THE WEAKEST LINK (BBC2)
Anne Robinson:
Oscar Wilde, Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Archer have all written books about their experiences in what: – Prison, or the Conservative Party?
Contestant:
The Conservative Party.
UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE
Bamber Gascoyne:
What was Gandhi’s first name?
Contestant:
Goosey?
Site Recommendation
Its full of quizzes, challenges and tournament's, its well designed easy to use and is starting to build a good community. I would definitely suggest if you have a spare ten minutes check this site out, but be warned it becomes addictive.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Classic Wrong Answers #1
Just to give everyone something to have a chuckle at I am going to put up some of my favourite ever wrong answers given in quiz shows over the next few weeks starting with these classics -
LATE SHOW (BBC MIDLANDS)
Alex Trelinski:
What is the capital of Italy ?
Contestant:
France
Trelinski:
France is another country. Try again.
Contestant:
Oh, um, Benidorm.
Trelinski:
Wrong, sorry, let’s try another question. In which country is the Parthenon?
Contestant:
Sorry, I don’t know.
Trelinski:
Just guess a country then.
Contestant:
Paris.
Only Connect Online
I am sure many of you may be aware of this but for any quiz fans who arent, there is an excellent online version on Only Connect on the BBC Website. You can find it HERE
A really good version of the wall, that is very very addictive.
Also don't forget the specials of Only Connect due to air in the next week or so with the first being 8.30pm on Monday night.
And for any fans of presenter Victorian Coren her blog can be found HERE
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
News Quiz - Tuesdays Questions
Here are the latest batch of questions in my daily quiz of the latest news -
First off here are Mondays Answers :
1) HSBC
2) Tian Tian/Yang Guang or Sunshine/Sweetie
3) Lie in
4) Northern Ireland
5) Martin O Neil
6) Leeds
7) United Russia
Tuesdays Questions:
Tuesdays Questions:
1) Scientists claim to have discovered a planet they are stating could be “Earths Twin”. What is its name?
2) Which former Manchester United player was jailed for 15 months this week?
3) Who won the 2011 Turner Prize this week?
4) And what is the name of the spoof “Tuner Prize” awarded in Somerset each year?
5) Which former driver, who died this week, holds the record for the narrowest ever race win at 0.01 seconds over Ronnie Peterson in Monza, 1971?
6) Barack Obama revealed this week he had a secret crush on which film star?
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