Infuriating Pub Quiz Questions

[samkydd]

I go to a regular pub quiz and the landlord/quizmaster gets his questions from somewhere but he doesn't check his bloody answers. An example last night was:

"Which of these sitcoms has never had a feature film spin-off; Dad's Army, Are You Being Served, or On The Buses?"

My answer was of course none. They've all had films made of the series, but apparently not, Are You Being Served was the correct answer. So he could have checked on IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075696/ beforehand to see that Are You Being Served had a film made of the series in 1977, but no!

A few weeks ago we had "Which character did Spike Milligan play in The Goons?"

Well he played many characters in The Goons but the most famous one was Eccles.

No, apparently not, Spike Milligan played Little Jim, so anyone who put down Eccles scored nil points. What he should have said was "Who played the character of Little Jim in The Goons?" but no, what is printed on his bit of paper stands, whether it's right or wrong!

Does anyone else have to put up with ineptitude of this magnitude in the local pub quiz? Examples please.

Also, any knowledgeable types, where do pubs get their quiz questions from? Is is an internet thing or does the brewery supply them from somewhere, or does the landlord make them up?

[Fellwanderer]

(samkydd @ May 22 2006, 08:33 AM) I go to a regular pub quiz and the landlord/quizmaster gets his questions from somewhere but he doesn't check his bloody answers. An example last night was: "Which of these sitcoms has never had a feature film spin-off; Dad's Army, Are You Being Served, or On The Buses?" My answer was of course none. They've all had films made of the series, but apparently not, Are You Being Served was the correct answer. So he could have checked on IMDB Are You Being Served? (1977) beforehand to see that Are You Being Served had a film made of the series in 1977, but no! A few weeks ago we had "Which character did Spike Milligan play in The Goons?" Well he played many characters in The Goons but the most famous one was Eccles. No, apparently not, Spike Milligan played Little Jim, so anyone who put down Eccles scored nil points. What he should have said was "Who played the character of Little Jim in The Goons?" but no, what is printed on his bit of paper stands, whether it's right or wrong! Does anyone else have to put up with ineptitude of this magnitude in the local pub quiz? Examples please.

I think you need to find a new regular watering hole.

All the best
FELL

[Arthur Sultan]

I know what you mean Sam - I've entered quizzes like that.

I used to think the question masters in pub quizzes were very clever and thought up the questions themselves but it sounds like he probably subscribes to a "Quizzing" type website...they supply reams of Pub Quiz questions and answers every weekend, a mixture of the topical and general knowledge.

The only problem with our local pub is if you are lucky enough to get through the seemingly endless rounds and
emerge victorious (after paying to enter and buying ten rounds of drinks), you still have to choose what's under the right cup of three on a tray to win £100. But people always seem to choose the one that contains only a fiver! Funny that.

Here's a right/wrong question for a proposed new website "makesurenobodywinsyourpubquiz.com"

Q: Who played "Grandad" in Only Fools and Horses?
A: Buster Merryfield

[Steve Crook]

(Fellwanderer @ May 22 2006, 09:41 AM) I think you need to find a new regular watering hole. All the best FELL

Or at least a new quiz master.
That's about as bad as that Robinson woman in The Weakest Link. If your answer isn't exactly what she's got on the card then she says you've got it wrong. She doesn't know any of the answers, she's just there to insult people.

Steve

[Fellwanderer]

(Steve Crook @ May 22 2006, 09:13 AM) Or at least a new quiz master.

But in Sam's case it was the landlord/quizmaster - which might cause some problems!

That's about as bad as that Robinson woman in The Weakest Link. If your answer isn't exactly what she's got on the card then she says you've got it wrong. She doesn't know any of the answers, she's just there to insult people. Steve

About two minutes of that once was enough for me. I do not find gratuitous insults funny or entertaining - although I must admit to finding the odd quip here raises a wry grin

All the best
FELL

[Marky B]

I exactly know what you mean,Sam. I go to a quiz regularly on a Wednesday night,but the quizmasters take turns each week. One of them asked a question last year:"Who was the first black actress to win an Oscar" and of course most of us put down Hattie McDaniel in [i]Gone With The Wind",but when he announced it was Halle Berry ,there was an uproar . I went up and told him that Hattie McDaniel won the best supporting actress and Halle Berry had won the best actress,but he wasn't specific on the category.
Thankfully,he learned his lesson from this and his quizzes have improved and I think he must do a bit more research now.
However,his mate,who does the alternate weeks,is getting worse. Last week for example,he asked "What does the runner up get in Ready Steady Cook[i]?". All of us put "hamper",but he said "wooden spoon". We didn't protest as we knew it would be pointless.
As one who compiled quizzes for a number of years,I've had my share of a chorus of disapproval.
"What is the name of the family in High Chapparal"? I gave out the answer as Cameron (I must have been thinking of Cameron Mitchell,who played Buck,as I was writing down the answer) and then I was greeted with chants of "Cannon","Cannon".... Unusually for me I came out with a quick quip:"Cannons to the left of me,Cannons to the right of me",but conceded I was wrong and promptly corrected my markings.
Another time I stuck to my guns:"Who was the last Prime Minster of a LIBERAL GOVERNMENT",emphasising the last two words for a reason. The answers I mostly got was David Lloyd George,but when I said Herbert Asquith,I quickly explained that David Lloyd George,though a Liberal,was Prime Minister of a Coalition government. Asquith's government was Liberal. I still got a few moans "you could have given us Lloyd George".
Another one:TRUE OR FALSE:Tony Blair is the only Prime Minister of the 20th centruy whose constituency is in the North East?
A lot of people put false,thinking of Harold MacMillan,but when he was PM,he was not MP for Stockton,so the answer was true. One more that caught people out:"Who was the first child born to Queen Elizabeth II". Of course people put Prince Charles,but having highlighted QUEEN ELIZABETH II,it was Prince Andrew,as Charley boy was born to Princess Elizabeth.
Yes,it may sound a bit harsh,but is unfair to those who have put down the correct answer if I ceded to protests.
I have made a lot of mistakes compiling quizzes,particularly in sport,as this is not my strong point and I have depended on reference books and the answers in quiz books.
I am still itching to write quizzes again,and in fact once upon a time I was going to consider making a career out of it,as a mate of mine does,but I lack business inititive.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[samkydd]

I used to set quizzes and crosswords for a company magazine a few years ago and it was good fun, and also devised a couple of board games which was really enjoyable. Unfortunately if you don't have the nouse to do anything with your ideas commercially then it's disappointing. These days I suppose a subscription web site for pubs and clubs to download quiz sheets on all manner of topics is probably the most practical business to get going, but there are probably many of these around already, I don't really know I haven't looked. Radio 4 type quizzes/panel games are also an area where imaginative ideas could produce an entertaining format but its the 30+ odd year old traditional favourites which have stood the test of time whereas some of the newer efforts tend to fall by the wayside after one or two series.

[Marky B]

As it said at the bottom of the quiz sheets that each team got:THE QUIZMASTER'S DECISION IS FINAL - SO THERE
Actually,it all boils down to the wording of a question - if I know it might smelt some controversy,I emphasis the key words to train the attitude of the question. I wasn't like that all the time - just now and again to see if they are awake .
Ta Ta
Marky B

[samkydd]

We always protest at his stupid answers but he always states that what's on his sheet is correct even if it's something blatantly wrong! It's unfortunate that this is my nearest walking distance pub otherwise I'd go elsewhere!

[Marky B]

(samkydd @ May 22 2006, 05:23 PM) We always protest at his stupid answers but he always states that what's on his sheet is correct even if it's something blatantly wrong! It's unfortunate that this is my nearest walking distance pub otherwise I'd go elsewhere!

Sometimes,when I did the quiz,if I was expecting some controversy,I would say "I am only accepting the answer I have written down here",but only when I have checked with up to three independent reference sources to back my answer. Yes,Sam I have been in your position when the quizmaster has clearly not done any research.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[foha80]

(Marky B @ May 22 2006, 12:22 PM) One more that caught people out:"Who was the first child born to Queen Elizabeth II". Of course people put Prince Charles,but having highlighted QUEEN ELIZABETH II,it was Prince Andrew,as Charley boy was born to Princess Elizabeth. Ta Ta Marky B

Hello Marky B
If you are ever doing this question up here in Scotland be sure to amend it to
Queen Elizabeth I,we boo particularly loud here
Cheers

Terry

[Marky B]

(foha80 @ May 22 2006, 07:03 PM) Hello Marky B If you are ever doing this question up here in Scotland be sure to amend it to Queen Elizabeth I,we boo particularly loud here Cheers Terry

Roger that
Ta Ta
Marky B

[JamesM]

Sam, if you get an opportunity to do the quiz, as an additional prize, present a DVD of Are You Being Served - the Movie.

I have been in pubs where Clint Eastwood has been the son of Stan Laurel, Nigeria has increased to a size bigger than Sudan and the Polar Bear has been smaller than the Brown Bear.

[Steve Crook]

(Fellwanderer @ May 22 2006, 10:31 AM) About two minutes of that once was enough for me. I do not find gratuitous insults funny or entertaining - although I must admit to finding the odd quip here raises a wry grin All the best FELL

And apparently some do manage to come back with some funny comments that insult her - but they are all edited out. Quelle surprise.

I don't only dislike her because she's rude about the Welsh.

Steve

[samkydd]

(Steve Crook @ May 22 2006, 07:25 PM) And apparently some do manage to come back with some funny comments that insult her - but they are all edited out. Quelle surprise. I don't only dislike her because she's rude about the Welsh. Steve

I think she started believing her own publicity when The Weakest Link was popular, but to me she's always been average bordering on mediocre in terms of personality, and she's sadly lacking in charisma. The show itself is boring as well and so they seem quite well suited to each other!