Pointless (BBC)

[Dandy Forsdyke]

Talking about The Weakest Link passing it's sell-by date, has anone manage to see Alexander Armstrong new series, Pointless?



I've only seen a few episodes and I'm hooked already. I record every episode and play them in the evening when there's nothing on.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointless_(TV_series)



It's a bit like Family Fortunes, but the difference here is you have to think of the most obscure answers first. The winner has the least number of points - hence Pointless. See?

[Timmy_Lea]

This is the most appropriately named TV show ever!!

What a load of rubbish!

[Dandy Forsdyke]

Why is it rubbish?

[Timmy_Lea]

The format, which is just a reversal of the Family Fortunes top 100 answers thing.

The presence of TWO presenters! Armstrong assisted by some bloke who imparts information about the answers. Why? Armstrong could do this there is no need for a 2nd presenter.

The set design.

The whole thing is just a banal lazy formulaic daytime quiz.

Forgot the protracted running time, 45mins for gawds sake!!! The whole thing could be done in half the time!!

[GRAEME]

name='Timmy_Lea']The format, which is just a reversal of the Family Fortunes top 100 answers thing.

The presence of TWO presenters! Armstrong assisted by some bloke who imparts information about the answers. Why? Armstrong could do this there is no need for a 2nd presenter.

The set design.

The whole thing is just a banal lazy formulaic daytime quiz.

Forgot the protracted running time, 45mins for gawds sake!!! The whole thing could be done in half the time!!

You are wrong about the format - it is much more interesting than FF - it's about finding CORRECT answers that are more obscure than the general population would know. When, pray, on FF were we EVER treated to "name the most obscure tale from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales"?!



On FF if 40 morons though Hitchcock had made a film of The Mirror Cracked - that would be worth 40 points even though it is factually incorrect! On Pointless the answers have to be true.



I DO agree with you about the length - that's because they feel the need to explain the format at length every episode. It could easily be done in 25 minutes - and I usuall watch with one finger on the fast forward.

[Timmy_Lea]

The Pointless sidekick is Richard Osman, Creative Director of Endemol UK. . .who are responsible for the show!!!

[will.15]

So, uh, it sounds like another crappy game show (they're all crappy as far as I'm concerned) will be seen here in an American version.

[loudonsmum]

i really enjoy the show also.

very entertaining

[Dandy Forsdyke]

name='will.15']So, uh, it sounds like another crappy game show (they're all crappy as far as I'm concerned) will be seen here in an American version.

It's a QUIZ show!



How many countries beginning with 'S', how many with five letters - it's not easy!



And Countdown has a regular expert on board - dictionary corner, etc. I think ... 'It's good. Oh, it's VERY good!'

[ghughesarch]

I've managed to see it a couple of times, thanks to a recent bout of manflu, and it's not at all bad though the additional presenter is superfluous. Perhaps once the teething problems have been sorted it could find a better slot.

[Timmy_Lea]

name='Dandy Forsdyke']It's a QUIZ show!



How many countries beginning with 'S', how many with five letters - it's not easy!



And Countdown has a regular expert on board - dictionary corner, etc. I think ... 'It's good. Oh, it's VERY good!'

But there is NO expert on Pointless, there is the Creative Director of Endemol reading out facts from a screen & making pointless comments which could be done by the host.

In Countdown you have two experts, one who has mathematical skills. Is Mr Stelling supposed to get up from his chair move over to the numbers board then choose the numbers for the contestants, solve the sum then see if the contestants have solved it before revealing his answer then returning to his seat in the presenters chair?!?

[penfold]

name='Dandy Forsdyke']It's a QUIZ show!



How many countries beginning with 'S', how many with five letters - it's not easy!



And Countdown has a regular expert on board - dictionary corner, etc. I think ... 'It's good. Oh, it's VERY good!'

The last time i saw Countdown, it had three experts - or at least three with access to the answers - two in Dictionary Corner, and the looker with the numbers.

I have to say Pointless is pretty good - decent standard of questions - and you win by having the most obscure right answers; and Alastair Armstrong is an engaging host without being too knowitall - that's the other guy's job. For my money it's the best new quiz format since Millionaire....and for my money it deserves a primetime slot.

[Timmy_Lea]

name='penfold']The last time i saw Countdown, it had three experts - or at least three with access to the answers - two in Dictionary Corner, and the looker with the numbers.

I have to say Pointless is pretty good - decent standard of questions - and you win by having the most obscure right answers; and Alastair Armstrong is an engaging host without being too knowitall - that's the other guy's job. For my money it's the best new quiz format since Millionaire....and for my money it deserves a primetime slot.

You must have money to spare!! This show has daytime schedule filler written all over it! Its on a level with Shafted. One wonders why Armstrong wanted to do it? Money I suppose. . .

[GRAEME]

name='penfold'] I have to say Pointless is pretty good - decent standard of questions - and you win by having the most obscure right answers; and Alastair Armstrong is an engaging host without being too knowitall - that's the other guy's job. For my money it's the best new quiz format since Millionaire....and for my money it deserves a primetime slot.

Well said!



And some excellent film and TV questions on this one. Where else can people win points for knowing the names of really obscure Alfred Hitchcock movies, for example?



I do wish they'd stop ex[plaining the rules though - it isn't rocket science!

[Dandy Forsdyke]

name='Timmy_Lea']But there is NO expert on Pointless, there is the Creative Director of Endemol reading out facts from a screen & making pointless comments which could be done by the host.

In Countdown you have two experts, one who has mathematical skills. Is Mr Stelling supposed to get up from his chair move over to the numbers board then choose the numbers for the contestants, solve the sum then see if the contestants have solved it before revealing his answer then returning to his seat in the presenters chair?!?

Who is suggesting that?



I like the idea of Alexander's 'pointless friend' who can impart bits of trivia and gen. knowledge. He also has a dry sense of humour - as has Alistair when the contestant gets a bit lost and give an obvious answer.



The questions are really tricky too - 'Name US Presidents before the 20th Century'. Hardly 'rubbish'!



I believe Alexander was up for the Countdown job, so probably jumped at this when Jeff Sterling was chosen.



There is a long preamble before the quiz takes off, I agree, but so did Eggheads before it got established - the introductions ("Hello I'm Judith Keppel and I was the first person to win a million pounds on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", etc) have all gone.

[Timmy_Lea]

name='Dandy Forsdyke']Who is suggesting that?



I like the idea of Alexander's 'pointless friend' who can impart bits of trivia and gen. knowledge. He also has a dry sense of humour - as has Alistair when the contestant gets a bit lost and give an obvious answer.



The questions are really tricky too - 'Name US Presidents before the 20th Century'. Hardly 'rubbish'!



I believe Alexander was up for the Countdown job, so probably jumped at this when Jeff Sterling was chosen.



There is a long preamble before the quiz takes off, I agree, but so did Eggheads before it got established - the introductions ("Hello I'm Judith Keppel and I was the first person to win a million pounds on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", etc) have all gone.

You initially drew comparison with Countdown. I was simply demonstrating how that comparison was, it simply doesn't hold water.



The content of the questions is a given really, any quiz needs ones that are challenging but they need to be combined with an interesting format that doesn't spend half its running time with Pointless waffle.

[CaptainWaggett]

I do agree that the waffle goes on to long - hopefully that can be cut down gradually (presumably they're still on the first recording block?) but the concept is absolutely brilliant and there are very few quizzes that you can genuinely play at home. And I like the fact that there isn't much irritating made-up banter with the contestants. Thanks for drawing my attention to it, Dandy as I wouldn't have noticed it otherwise.

[Dandy Forsdyke]

Good to see this back for a second series. I think the new 'options' section is very handy, but am pleased they've not messed with the format too much.

[Monkeymanbob]

I enjoyed what I saw of the first series. Is currentlt on? What day/time?

[Torquemada]

I like Pointless, but there is way too much waffle between wounds. But if ever there was a completely pointless 'quiz' show it has to be Deal Or No Deal.