posted by davidt on Monday June 30 2003, @09:00AM
UncleSkinny writes:

Hello everyone.

As a hopeless Smiths/Morrissey nut, one who even plays the songs in pubs and clubs, I thought it would be a lark to enter the new BBC Mastermind series with The Smiths as my subject. I felt sure they would reject it, but I was able to point to several good books on the subject (Goddard, Rogan), and bless 'em, they accepted it.

So, off I went to Manchester to record the program; John Humphrys in the chair, intimidating atmosphere......

The other folks' subjects were Charlie Chaplin, Classic Cars and the Roman Empire - and here I am with The Smiths. Yikes.

Anyway, on we go, I get through my round on The Smiths (I don't think too many of the questions will trouble hardcore Smiths fans), and in the middle Mr Humphrys accuses The Smiiths of being depressing, so, I thought, here we go again, same old accusation, so I told him there was loads of pathos and emotion in the lyrics, so I quote from The Queen Is Dead to him, and he seems suitably impressed.

On we go to the general knowledge, and it's closer than anyone could have thought at the end...

On BBC2, Monday July 7th, 8.00pm. It's the very first of the series.

---
Update: 07/08 03:22 GMT:

Steve writes:

Mastermind is returning to the BBC and according to this article, one of the contestants will be specialising in the music of The Smiths. Full story at the BBC Take our Mastermind quiz.
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough:
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • Good stuff-I'll be watching that one!
    Sid -- Monday June 30 2003, @09:08AM (#67177)
    (User #7212 Info)
  • for entering and doing so well!
    Tingle
    Anonymous -- Monday June 30 2003, @09:15AM (#67178)
  • Sounds like great fun.
    carnal artist -- Monday June 30 2003, @09:41AM (#67187)
    (User #7076 Info)
    • Masterful by SundownPlayboy (Score:1) Monday June 30 2003, @11:21AM
  • I'll defininetly be watching that one.
    Spineless Swine <[email protected]> -- Monday June 30 2003, @01:22PM (#67230)
    (User #4968 Info)
    Leave your future behind you.
  • I have thought about that for years.

    Hat off to you and I'll be watching.
    Anonymous -- Monday June 30 2003, @03:26PM (#67245)
  • There’s always something fascinating in Morrissey being mentioned in the mainstream media and this sounds very appealing.

    I trust your conversation re. TQID didn’t take place during your questions or it would seriously eat into your time. Will it be left in? – I don’t remember Magnus going in for casual chatting re. the contestants’ subjects - It would be nice if it was.

    Like others that have commented, I’ve often thought it would be great to have someone choose this as a specialist subject on a quiz show, good on you for getting out there and doing it.

    This should get a few million viewers, particularly as it’s the first of the series.

    If you go forward to the next round is it still the case that you have to have a new subject? – if so do you think you could get away with Morrissey’s solo career, I presume you tried if you got through.

    I’d wish you good luck if you hadn’t taken part already – but I’ll be cheering you on - perhaps you should have announced your intentions in advance on this board and we could have all suggested possible questions.

    Here’s a question, which I think has a definitive answer, but I’m sure I’ll be corrected if wrong.

    “Which is the only Morrissey/Smiths single that shares its title with a different song that was also a UK hit”
    Benton -- Monday June 30 2003, @05:07PM (#67251)
    (User #7241 Info)
  • Oooh Uncle Skinny I hope you're gonna have a quiff when you go on
    JiltedJim -- Tuesday July 01 2003, @03:34AM (#67279)
    (User #7728 Info)
  • Would you please provide us with the qs? I'm dying to know if I could have answered them myself!
    Anonymous -- Tuesday July 01 2003, @07:11AM (#67289)
  • So you DID win and are going through to the final? Hence you can't pick the same subject twice?

    WELL DONE!! and why didn't you enter the competition to be the Ultimate Smiths Fan? *teehee*
    Excellent, can somebody tape this for me, as i'll be on me hols :D and the TV probably henceforth won't work :(
    Girl_Unafraid -- Tuesday July 01 2003, @01:36PM (#67316)
    (User #7534 Info)
  • Why not fox em and say your next subject will be

    The Life and Music Of Johnny Marr 1982 - 1987 ???
    Anonymous -- Wednesday July 02 2003, @01:57AM (#67349)
  • You started something, so you'll finish!
    Georgethetwentythird -- Wednesday July 02 2003, @06:10AM (#67386)
    (User #8698 Info)
    Judge not, lest ye be judged...
  • Nice one Skinny! You've done what loads of people have just thought of doing.
    Isn't this the first series of Mastermind without Magnus as quizmaster? If it is it'll get a lot of press attention as they compare John to Magnus, and it'll be in loads of papers last nights TV, and what's on today bits in the Sundays. I bet they mention the Smiths contestant as the other categories are very traditional.
    Of course it'll also be watched by loads of people. You can't get much more prime time than 8pm on Sunday night on BBC1 in a new series.
    Hope you win (won).
    paulybob <[email protected]> -- Wednesday July 02 2003, @09:04AM (#67414)
    (User #2426 Info)
  • Congratulations, Skinny. Wouldn't have expected anything different from a Smiths-fan, really. Some of the questions were a bit tough though. But in general pretty much general knowledge for Smiths/Moz fans.
    What's your next specialist subject going to be. The music of Morrissey?

    Cheers!
    Spineless Swine <[email protected]> -- Monday July 07 2003, @01:11PM (#67881)
    (User #4968 Info)
    Leave your future behind you.
  • We watched it and it was fantastically exciting! Well done to you for doing so well. Can't wait to see you in the quarter finals. It was amazing to have to support someone so passionately!!!
    gladioli <[email protected]> -- Monday July 07 2003, @01:22PM (#67884)
    (User #786 Info | http://www.bfi.org.uk/)
    Gor'blimey... Did you know there's more to life than books, but not much more...
    • Re:Fantastic! by uncleskinny (Score:1) Monday July 07 2003, @02:09PM
  • I've just got back off hols!! Are there any repeats of the show?
    Anonymous -- Monday July 07 2003, @04:06PM (#67907)
  • Skinny, I love you, you were wonderful, are you single??!!!
    Anonymous -- Tuesday July 08 2003, @02:41AM (#67950)
  • Well done Skinny. My total score came to 16 correct answers throughout the whole of the programme, but then I am a retard. I thought the bloke whose specialist subject was Rome between such and such dates was going to pip you. But he didn't.

    By the way I'd have you on my pub quiz team anytime.

    What is your next specialist subject? May I suggest The Wedding Present or The Life and Times of Mark E Smith.
    Anonymous -- Tuesday July 08 2003, @03:55AM (#67958)
  • Ive been looking forward to watching the show for ages, and guess what!?I only went and missed it didnt i?what a dope!If anyone has a tape of the show, e mail me, please, pretty please, pretty please with sugar lumps on the top!I'll be forever in your debt!I'm kinda getting desperate here folks!Please help if you can!
    HAZYJANE5 -- Tuesday July 08 2003, @08:11AM (#67979)
    (User #4318 Info)
  • i forgot to tell ya my e mail address is [email protected], please contact me if you can help, cheers xxxxxx
    HAZYJANE5 -- Tuesday July 08 2003, @08:14AM (#67981)
    (User #4318 Info)
  • Nice one Uncle Skinny....not only did you play a blinder, you put Mr Humphries' rather predictable comments down with aplomb. It's the first time I've cheered during Mastermind and for that I applaud you......
    shazam -- Tuesday July 08 2003, @08:51AM (#67984)
    (User #8750 Info)
  • Some dumb arse presenter on Morning TV turned his nose up at the Smiths as a specialist subject on the morning of the broadcast..... but he did alert me that you'd be on which I thought was great news. I knew Humphreys was going to have a dig on the miserable front as soon as the program got going - well defended by the way! Also nice one for winning that night!!
    Auric Goldfinger -- Monday July 14 2003, @01:48AM (#68642)
    (User #3416 Info)
    Do my eyes deceive me, or is Senna's Lotus sounding rough?


[ home | terms of service ]