The TV Quiz Show Thread

[Blue Maverick]

I was on Mastermind in the 70s at a time when most of the contestants were crusty old university professors or spinster teachers. At that time sport and pop music were specifically not allowed as specialist subjects. On the other hand one contestant originally chose orthopaedic bone cement as his specialist subject but was refused when the only reference the researchers could find on the subject was written by the contestant himself!

He shouldve won it just for that lol

 

[Blue Maverick]

Maybe in the 80s those in charge based those who got into the show purely for their knowledge while now they are looking for other things. But the level of general knowledge especially from those in their youth appears to be very poor from looking at modern quiz shows.

My wife is 40 and her GK is awful, I remember as a kid a lot of the stuff on tv was educational to some degree, the world at war etc, in fact the schools would tape stuff to put in the classroom. Now it’s a reality bollocks and there is that much choice kids don’t watch in my opinion the right stuff. National Geographic, discovery would’ve been a wet dream for me as a kid, I love watching the History channel and stuff on wars, lots can be learned from war documentaries, from geography to politics, even to what people eat in those countries.
Nowadays the attention span of many is less than 20 mins and if it doesn’t involve some stupid dance they seem disinterested. I try with my daughter to give a bit more substance to the stuff she learns at school but I’m fighting a losing battle against cheerleading at the moment!

 

[threespires]

Whilst true, even the best teacher can only go as quickly as their poorest student, unless they were sent to SEN measures, then it becomes as quick as the next poorest student.

My grandma was a teacher from 1947-83. She blames the comprehensive system and curriculum for dumbing down of the education system.

She may be wrong, but she’d still fight you and she’s now 95!

It's actually a really interesting and nuanced area. Not wishing to get on the wrong side of your nan but most of the research shows that whether it's selective or comprehensive schools, actually not much changes in terms of outcomes or social mobility. The determining factors seem to be broader/more fundamental than the educational model itself, like the underlying level of deprivation in an area etc. In reality a lot of classes are 'setted' in comprehensive schools so pupils are often in with pupils of the same abilities. That said, one of the modern expectations of teachers is that pretty much in 'real time' they will deliver differentiated teaching to the pupils in their classes. Which even means recognising that Timmy is struggling with the new maths topic despite having smashed the last one and that Bob who you had to put extra work for previously had completely grasped the new lesson. It's really challenging given the class sizes and teachers deserve our admiration for their attempts and ability to do this. Smaller class sizes will probably help at primary school level but the evidence is weak above that. Bit of a moot point until we get a government that takes education seriously. What you probably can say is appointing a revolving door of ideological driven dickheads or nonentities as SoS isn't helping anyone.

 

[dronefromsector7G]

One thing i have noticed watching old quiz shows is how well read and clever people were say in the 80s compared to today. Bullseye for example was a real working class quiz show but those you went on were generally very bright.

I sometimes see Bullseye repeats and some of the easy questions they got wrong was astonishing but I agree it seems worse now

 

[DrBlueBob]

My wife is 40 and her GK is awful, I remember as a kid a lot of the stuff on tv was educational to some degree, the world at war etc, in fact the schools would tape stuff to put in the classroom. Now it’s a reality bollocks and there is that much choice kids don’t watch in my opinion the right stuff. National Geographic, discovery would’ve been a wet dream for me as a kid, I love watching the History channel and stuff on wars, lots can be learned from war documentaries, from geography to politics, even to what people eat in those countries.
Nowadays the attention span of many is less than 20 mins and if it doesn’t involve some stupid dance they seem disinterested. I try with my daughter to give a bit more substance to the stuff she learns at school but I’m fighting a losing battle against cheerleading at the moment!

I read that as your wife is a poor goalkeeper at first.

Regarding your uphill battle, well, you've been here long enough to know the rules.

 

[Blue Mist]

My wife is 40 and her GK is awful, I remember as a kid a lot of the stuff on tv was educational to some degree, the world at war etc, in fact the schools would tape stuff to put in the classroom. Now it’s a reality bollocks and there is that much choice kids don’t watch in my opinion the right stuff. National Geographic, discovery would’ve been a wet dream for me as a kid, I love watching the History channel and stuff on wars, lots can be learned from war documentaries, from geography to politics, even to what people eat in those countries.
Nowadays the attention span of many is less than 20 mins and if it doesn’t involve some stupid dance they seem disinterested. I try with my daughter to give a bit more substance to the stuff she learns at school but I’m fighting a losing battle against cheerleading at the moment!

@Blue Maverick Sorry bud but I got bored early on, could you shorten your post a bit ?
When I say shorten, a precis will do...... but if it doesn't mention Celebrity Google box don't bother.

 

[dronefromsector7G]

@Blue Maverick Sorry bud but I got bored early on, could you shorten your post a bit ?
When I say shorten, a precis will do...... but if it doesn't mention Celebrity Google box don't bother.

Sorry Misty could you shorten your post something something

 

[give it to gordon]

I dont like all these American questions on uk quiz shows. Theres way to many.

 

[threespires]

I dont like all these American questions on uk quiz shows. Theres way to many.

To unwind, I use a site called sporcle.com which has lots of interesting quizzes but is American and so unsurprisingly very US centric. If I get on a quiz show and the big money question is 'in what county is the state capital of Idaho?', I'm laughing teacakes. Failing that I'm not too sure what the fuck I will do with the increasingly large amount of irrelevant shit I know about the US it's geography, history and sitcoms.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

If I get on a quiz show and the big money question is 'in what county is the state capital of Idaho?

Same answer as who did Michael Jackson take to bed, I think.