University Challenge (also featuring Only Connect and other BBC quiz shows)

Unless they do a "The Unprofessionals" special series.

yeah watching this just thinking average of 30 a bit of a swizz and then they had all they anatomical questions and that too. a bit much

Joe Satriani in the music round- nice.

got every one of those questions (possibly first round where that was e'er true)

I only got the Neil Innes one, but was thrown by Paxman saying (or me mishearing) that the rip-off was from 1984.

Does Joe Satriani actually exist? I thought he was an archetype of self-indulgent masturbatory noodling invented by nervous indie fux to justify their lack of instrumental talent.

I thought the Satriani one was ripped off by Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader. Got the rest of them though.

wasn't that toploader song a cover of an old soul hit though?

Oh probably, I don't pay much attention to the career of Toploader tbh.

doubtless a wise approach!

posh kids struggling w/tube map :D

and pop music.

and barnes wallis

curses. the one tv show I can't seem to download from the US :( well, this and Only Connect.

Only Connect is so good, I love how it makes University Challenge feel like Deal Or No Deal

only connect not as smart as it thinks it is nowhere near as smart as victoria coren's voice is annoying

i wish i could find a youtube of the time they played derrick may "strings of life" and asked the contestant "what genre of music is this seminal track credited with creating?" and this geeky dude was like....."synth?" and an obviously exasperated paxman is like "techno!!!"

(i lied about him being exasperated)

coren would seem marginally less awkward if only connect had a studio audience.

Don't care, WS

she's the thinking man's thinking man's totty

Only Connect isn't as smart as it likes to think it is tho. I auditioned with a friend's team for this series - didn't get on :( but aren't that bothered tbh.

you never liked her anyway

(it was really inconvenient and I probly couldn't have made the recordings but I just mean that much as I enjoy the show it's not a life's ambition to be on it unlike University Challenge.)

ireland needs a UV i feel, but i dunno hve we a presenter with the necessary imposing manner.

http://cms.cbg.ie/imageupload/Article953_Gay%20Byrne.JPG

FTW

http://www.renefiles.com/OK/images/odo9.jpg

Gaybo was terrible doing our 'Millionaire' so I doubt he'd be able to refrain from giving hints at a higher level.

Pat Kenny, though. Maybe.

didn't ireland already have this anyway with kevin myers?

jeez did they? he'd be the right man alright.

yeah pretty sure i remember some 90s version. hard to believe rte didn't copy this.

was trying to think of the shitty name they gave it, it was called CHALLENGING TIMES

definitely needs a revival now...and an upgrade to CUNTY TIMES

MANAGEABLE TIMES

though it was funny in last night's show that the Canadian dude gave answers in Jeopardy format. wonder if that's a first.

Seen that done before, tbh I'd kick a dude under the table if he started that shit.

coren has 'sandi tokzvig' shoulders.

Coren's awkwardness on Only Connect endeared her to me! I feel I can empathise with making brilliant jokes that no-one gets. BTW I've been enjoying this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/onlyconnect/quiz/ although turn the sound off if her voice in any way irritates you.

my sad life of competing at University Challenge (or 'unichal' as I call it in a grimly futile attempt to ironically distance myself from the geekiness by playing it up) has become even sadder now that my quiz buddy has moved away. I got 19 questions right on Monday! Who else kept count???

I generally like quiz shows to flatter me so I have a strained relationship with Only Connect since it's actually difficult. I'm generally just about good enough to get through it without feeling dumb.

my 18-year-old self would be so pissed off at me not recognising Radiohead (who I've seen live three times) in last week's music round.

(p.s. I'm still sad. 22 right last week, haven't taken on this week's yet.)

I sometimes count but haven't recently. Got a fair few right this week, helped in part by one round being a) on someone I know a reasonable amount about, and b) ridiculously easy questions on said dude.

Terrible music round performance this week, no-one in either team recognised John Lennon, singing 'Just Like Starting Over'.

And then St Andrews person got visibly excited when the questions were on higher maths, proceeded to fluff the round.

^ that was brilliant. Music round was shameful, aye. I got LOADS right tonight. I must remember to count one week, I reckon I got over 30 tonight easy.

hey I only want to compete if I'm going to beat everybody.

we should have a liveblog-style competition #tragicnerd

UC is too serious to be on the computer while I'm watching it.

yeah, i'll watch films while internetting, but uc is serious business

Had to miss most of Only Connect tonight cos Mrs V. knew somebody on the Karaoke with Shane Ritchie show on Sky. Which is weird cos we also knew one of last week's Only Connect losers.

Actually competed against the mister and kept score tonight. 19 for me, which I'm pretty pleased with. Though it's probably nothing to you lot.

the ginger tony blair is about the most punchable individual on tv atm