tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post8508804186649048410..comments2024-03-12T12:54:32.926-07:00Comments on Life After Mastermind: University Challenge: Semi Final Two: Merton, Oxford v. NewcastleLondiniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871325359167581176noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-90486262744663116292018-04-23T14:38:51.905-07:002018-04-23T14:38:51.905-07:00An excellent review, as always, but I think you...An excellent review, as always, but I think you're a bit unkind to Paxman in objecting to his confirming the answer to the Spiegel im Spiegel question by correctly pronouncing Arvo Pärt's surname.<br />If he'd laboured it by saying something like 'Well, actually it's pronounced "Pehrt", but I'll let you have the points, since you obviously at least know how to spell the name', I'd agree with you that it would have been unnecessary and patronising.<br />However, in an analogous situation with popular music, what would you have him say if a team, asked which band had had hits with 'Save A Prayer', 'Rio' and 'A View To A Kill', gave 'Durren Durren' as the answer? I'd be very surprised if anybody objected to his responding with 'Yes, Duran Duran' - and his response about Arvo Pärt seemed to me no worse than doing that.KentishManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00357574060962728240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-57017082738881106062018-04-22T00:25:28.390-07:002018-04-22T00:25:28.390-07:00Here's the most complete report I've so fa...Here's the most complete report I've so far seen about the Aaron Copland debacle:<br /><br />http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5624731/University-Challenge-fan-reveals-semi-final-thrown-chaos.html<br /><br />Perhaps you could incorporate some of this into your review. It clearly had an effect on the final score, if not the result per se.Stephen Followshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241893861868075325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-85601366180306566462018-04-21T05:13:07.205-07:002018-04-21T05:13:07.205-07:00I can't disagree with you both, I am looking f...I can't disagree with you both, I am looking forward to this match in a way I didn't last seasons, after the Monkmania hype.<br /><br />I'd love a John's win, in spite of being an Oxford man. For me, I can't ignore the fact though that Merton have two lightning buzzers. I also suspect Merton will do well on STEM questions, although Devine Stoneman might have a better overall view of the matter compared to conventional physicist Woodland.<br /><br />On the flip side, John's will want that trophy and have shown they can invoke their 'dark side' with their clinical demolition of Corpus and Edinburgh. If the questions favour McKeown god help the Mertonites.<br /><br />I thought Merton looked a bit vulnerable for a while last monday, which may hint at a good final. Let the end times battle commence!Aethelstanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00941291511056658074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-73047874402248442982018-04-21T03:20:08.414-07:002018-04-21T03:20:08.414-07:00Another good win for Merton, but Newcastle certain...Another good win for Merton, but Newcastle certainly have nothing to be ashamed of there. Both teams were excellent on the bonuses, Merton 23/33 and Newcastle 14/18, so it was Merton's better buzzing that saw them through to, what is as you say, a very hard to call final.<br /><br />I wonder Dave if you are aware of the unseen controversy during the music round. Apparently, when introducing the final music bonus, Paxo mistakenly gave the answer away during his preamble to it. The producers thus felt forced to scrap the music round and start a whole new round, much to protests from both teams and the audience. Thankfully, a replacement bonus was found, and the show was able to carry on.<br /><br />An unfortunate incident, which some speculate may have robbed Newcastle of the momentum they seemed to be building, and maybe caused Ms Nielsen's unfortunate pair of errors (hence Paxo's apology the second time it hsppened), but I don't think any major criticism is due.<br /><br />So, the final. Like you, I seriously cannot call it. These are two seriously good teams, and either would be very worthy winners. The fact that a Twitter poll I set up asking who'd win is split 50-50 at the time of writing just shows you how close this is. Best of (retrospective) luck both teams, hopefully a great end to the series!Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06254840979557920582noreply@blogger.com