Spike and me were catching up with this week's edition of University Challenge earlier tonight when one question - or rather the lack of a correct response to it - made our jaws drop. None of the eight contestants were able to identify James Stewart from the picture on the right (or one very much like it). Not a one of 'em. Eventually, after being chivvied along for an answer by Jeremy Paxman, a couple of guesses were proferred: Cary Grant and Robert Redford (Robert Redford!). OK, so they may have correctly answered lots of far more complicated and convoluted questions during the course of the show, but come on. What's wrong with these people?!Sonic Youth - Superstar mp3
Get The Shop Around The Corner (ie the James Stewart flick in the above clip) on DVD. Alternatively, it's there for the whole world to see (albeit in 11 bite-sized chunks) on the wonder that is YouTube.
I watched the very same show whilst ironing...and I think James Stewart might have been the only correct answer I had. I obviously knew the others....but I was giving the contestants a chance..;)
ReplyDeleteI struggle to understand the questions a lot of the time, let alone formulating an answer. (at least we know our film legends, though, eh, mg?)
ReplyDeleteSame for us - we could not believe they didn't know this. I tell you what, you might bloody know what the square co-efficient of sine plus x expressed as a bloody integer is or some such tosh but if you can't spot bloody Jimmy Stewart when you're asked YOU ARE THICK in my book, so there.
ReplyDeletePS: I will probably go yet another Christmas without watching our DVD of 'It's A Wonderful Life' because I find it too, too emotionally traumatic.
You'd find it even more traumatic this Christmas if you were a banker. All of a sudden it's become strangely topical.
ReplyDeleteNice ranting, BTW! Couldn't agree more.
Oi! Who are you calling a banker?
ReplyDeleteOh I know this one... Is it Stephen Merchant?
ReplyDeleteOh I know him. Don't tell me. Andy and Jackie's brother. No conferring. Moira's uncle. Fedora. Worried look. Funny voice. People take him off. Come on .. come on ..
ReplyDeleteAnd there goes the gong! Bugger.
Who'd wanna be the man who knew too much anyway?
sorry...
ReplyDeleteyou can't reference University Challenge to me without my defaulting back to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj36uQ0De6I
oh, and Wooster as Lord Monty...y'know, before he perfected the American accent and turned curmudgeonly medical.
It's a classic, for sure.
ReplyDelete"Rah! Rah! Rah! We're going to smash the oinks!"
*buzzes in* I know this one too, Dick! Leslie Banks?
ReplyDeleteOh I get it. There go another five points.
Yes speechless in our house too that none of them knew.
ReplyDeleteThis episode of UC made my brain ache.Some of the questions were so long by the time Jeremy had finished asking them I was completely lost - what did he ask: who, which, where what, why?
when?
ReplyDeleteI think the questions get more difficult as the rounds progress. Certainly seems that way anyway.
ReplyDelete