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Dumb Answer of the Week
What Happens When You Speak
Before You Think
May 20th - May 27th, 2012
Text by: Jim Williams This week's Dumb Answer of the Week comes from
Challenge's "All New Blockbusters" and serves two
purposes. The first purpose, obviously, is to highlight
a dumb answer.
We're at the start of a new match between defending
champions (and 2 of 3 identical triplets) Jonathan and
Stuart and solo challenger Neil.
As you can see, Jonathan & Stuart have claimed the first
hexagon of the game and have chosen the letter "J".
The question posed by host Simon Mayo went as follows:
What "J" was the full first name of the FBI's J. Edgar
Hoover...
Neil buzzes in.
"Jefferson?"
Not the right answer, so the full question goes to
Jonathan and Stuart.
The full question: What "J" was the full first name of
the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover as played on film by Leonardo
DiCaprio?
Stuart buzzes in.
"Jefferson?"
"(Neil) just said that. It was wrong then. It's still
wrong."
Kind of a miniscule DAotW, I know, but it also allows me
to mention something that isn't dumb: the show from
which this moment came.
"Blockbusters" has been revived a couple of times since
the original Bob Holness version ended its run in the
mid-1990s. And, the effort put forth by Challenge to
update the legendary quiz show is one that should be
lauded.
Yes, the stakes are still £5 per correct answer in the
front game (£10 for each correct answer in an
unsuccessful Gold Run), and the Gold Run prizes are a
bit better than in versions past (electronics,
experiences, and even trips). But, UK "Blockbusters" was
never about the money or prizes. It was about the
competition between the contestants.
It's tough to imagine anyone but the late Bob Holness
quizzing "Blockbusters" contestants, but Simon Mayo does
a fine job as host. He plays things straight and lets
the contestants and game shine. You can't ask for
anything more out of an emcee, can you?
Initial ratings for "All New Blockbusters" have been
record breaking for Challenge, and I, for one, wish the production staff
of the show many more series to come.
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