tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post884380135173996907..comments2024-03-12T12:54:32.926-07:00Comments on Life After Mastermind: TV Watch - University ChallengeLondiniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871325359167581176noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-24914564516831007982010-10-25T14:34:56.691-07:002010-10-25T14:34:56.691-07:00If you're going to chat away about the program...If you're going to chat away about the programme it would be lovely if got people's names right. It's MARK Wilson. That is all.Facelinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10661161217986157558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-38353587653279656882010-10-15T11:07:00.822-07:002010-10-15T11:07:00.822-07:00Hi Jack,
I don't disgree with you at all - Ca...Hi Jack,<br /><br />I don't disgree with you at all - Cardiff v. Oxford Brookes was a fantastic match.There's every good chance that the second round should be fascinating.<br /><br />DaveLondiniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871325359167581176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-67378583878234075132010-10-14T08:06:38.834-07:002010-10-14T08:06:38.834-07:00Sorry, I'm a bit late this week Dave. I went a...Sorry, I'm a bit late this week Dave. I went away for the week and I've just got back.<br /><br />Great match though, one of the best of the first round! The best match of the round would have to be Cardiff vs Oxford Brookes for me, but feel to disagree.<br /><br />Looks like we won't be seeing Balliol (or hearing their noisy supporters) again then. Ironically, St John's Cambridge is Balliol's sister college.<br /><br />I was actually able to work out that the losers of the match would beat Balliol's score, when the Cardiff-Exeter draw for Monday came out. I've had a look at the stats, and for the last few years, the highest scoring losers of the first round have played the fourth lowest. This pointed to Merton or St John's making the repechage.<br /><br />So, if the first round is anything to go by, this should be a great series. I look forward to the rest!Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06254840979557920582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-50637070023192121542010-10-13T14:53:36.357-07:002010-10-13T14:53:36.357-07:00Hi IanJC
Yes, I did. I preordered it from Amazon ...Hi IanJC<br /><br />Yes, I did. I preordered it from Amazon and had it delivered the day it was published ! Sad.<br /><br />Its the biggest UC quiz book of the 4 I know about. Format is very similar to the 2001 book - nothing wrong with that. There are 3,500 questions. I have only skimmed over it so far, but what I've found is that I'm recognising some of the questions that have actually been asked in this year's series - again, nothing wrong with that - it certainly isn't all the questions. I don't think any fans of the series will be disappointed with the book at all.<br /><br />DaveLondiniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871325359167581176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-9323040704212758562010-10-13T12:12:43.131-07:002010-10-13T12:12:43.131-07:00Hi Dave
Did you get a copy of the new UC quiz boo...Hi Dave<br /><br />Did you get a copy of the new UC quiz book?<br /><br />I was hoping to look it over last weekend, but couldn't find anyone selling it.IanJChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15973624068543234646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-84020569783106934562010-10-13T08:41:03.455-07:002010-10-13T08:41:03.455-07:00Hi Des, Hi Gareth,
Des, I was so impressed that t...Hi Des, Hi Gareth,<br /><br />Des, I was so impressed that they got any of the tube bonuses that I miscalculated ! <br /><br />I know what you mean about JP's Tchaikovsky comment , but then I'm afraid amplifying why an answer is wrong is something I am all too guilty of myself as a quiz master too.<br /><br />Hi Gareth<br /><br />As you say, this is something that's always going to draw comment for as long as University Challenge lasts.<br /><br />I can't claim that I have any greater knowledge about UC's selection criteria than any other person in the street and I don't want to rehash old lines of argument. I do know that collegiate Universities were given the option of entering together or as seperate colleges - hence Oxbridge and London enter as seperate colleges, while Durham as one entity. That's not a choice which is just beneficial to Oxbridge - its also of benefit to London too.<br /><br />I always feel that the best teams , regardless of where they come from, should be the ones we get to see in the show. Now, for all I know that may be what does happen now. We don't know, because the production team don't make their choices of who gets on the show in public. But then I don't really know any show that does.<br /><br />Sorry if I seem to be sitting on the fence here, but I can kind of see both sides.<br /><br />DaveLondiniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871325359167581176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-78123929208270166692010-10-13T08:34:44.744-07:002010-10-13T08:34:44.744-07:00May as well do my own breakdown of this year's...May as well do my own breakdown of this year's 28:<br /><br />* As Gruff has pointed out, 12 Oxbridge teams (six each from Oxford and Cambridge).<br /><br />* Two London teams (UCL, Imperial).<br /><br />* Two Old Scottish universities (Edinburgh, St Andrews).<br /><br />* One Welsh university (Cardiff).<br /><br />* Three "traditional" redbrick universities (Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield) and four other universities established between 1800 and 1960 (Durham, Newcastle, Exeter, Southampton).<br /><br />* One 1960s university (York).<br /><br />* Two specialist institutions, both making their UC debuts (Royal College of Music, University of the Arts London).<br /><br />* And one 1992 university (Oxford Brookes).<br /><br />There definitely are more Oxbridge teams this year than might be considered usual - most 28-team series since the first one in 1998/9 have featured 10 or 11. However, the 2006/7 series also featured a full dozen.<br /><br />The total number of teams from C19th and early C20th universities also feels greater than normal, while seeing just the one 1960s university is a big surprise - as is the fact that they've been outnumbered by the specialist institutions.<br /><br />Two institutions that are or have been part of the University of London is reasonably normal, though. Two Old Scottish universities is definitely normal, though it's the fourth year running that Edinburgh and St Andrews have been the two in question. One Welsh university is also the norm - and, of course, one 1992 university is always the way.<br /><br />Manchester is of course the biggest name missing; Warwick is also a notable absentee.<br /><br />And the Open University still hasn't been seen since winning the aforementioned 1998/9 series.Des Elmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17386363933499184036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-34414566938047600462010-10-13T05:01:45.383-07:002010-10-13T05:01:45.383-07:00At the end of the 1st round it is time for me to m...At the end of the 1st round it is time for me to make my annual comment:<br /><br />Why are there so many Oxbridge teams?<br /><br />12 out of the 28 teams were from Oxbridge this year. Not that many of them were special enough to justify preferential treatment, and some were downright poor.Gruffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248577840110150085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-39161905209407446682010-10-12T15:41:46.532-07:002010-10-12T15:41:46.532-07:00I don't disagree that this was a good contest ...I don't disagree that this was a good contest between two good and evenly matched teams - and well worth the extra week's wait in the end.<br /><br />(The TV guide in the Irish Times somehow failed to take the postponement into account, though - saying that this week's match would be between Cardiff and Exeter, thus letting it slip that both Merton and St John's would play again! Gaaaaah!!!)<br /><br />However, if I'm being quite honest, the music starter left a slightly sour taste in my mouth. I don't intend in any way to be mean or disrespectful towards Al-Hourani here, and if I am, I do apologise - but she did say the name of the song before she said the artist and film.<br /><br />And with Merton going on to win by five, it's all too easy to feel that this moment affected the result...<br /><br />That aside, there were two other good Paxo moments - the first being when he said something along the lines of "1983? Good heavens, no" in response to Merton's guess as to what year the UK joined the EEC (as it then was), and the second coming during the bonuses on people who died in 1910, when St John's guessed "Tchaikovsky" and he did some showing off: "He died at the end of the 19th century."<br /><br />And if I could just make a correction as regards the Tube map bonuses Dave - St John's got 2 of the 3, zagging on the last one with Edgware Road instead of zigging with Paddington.Des Elmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17386363933499184036noreply@blogger.com