Universe Challenge

[Ben Paddon]

I now finally have an AVI of “Universe Challenge” sitting on my computer, thus completing my digital recreation of Red Dwarf Night.

It wasn’t as enjoyable a watch as I’d originally thought it to be. It just kind of plodded along, really.

Topic

[JamesTC]

I have VHS of the entire night somewhere. It cuts of half way through ‘Gunmen of the Apocalyse’ though.
I actually remember falling asleep with that episode on in the original night, I was rather young then.

[redhead85]

>I have VHS of the entire night somewhere. It cuts of half way through ?Gunmen of the Apocalyse? though. I actually remember falling asleep with that episode on in the original night, I was rather young then.

Ditto. *whimsical sigh*

[hummingbird]

I managed to get hold of it about 12 months ago and found it mildly entertaining, but probably only as it was the first time I’d seen it in years.

[Smeg4Brains]

Do we know why this was never released as a DVD extra?

[Danny Stephenson]

Something to do with the University Challenge game format being owned by someone who GNP couldn’t get the rights to at all. And something to do with only having the rights for a one time only broadcast. Or something…

I’m sure Andrew could explain it a lot more succinctly than I did, and probably correct me on one or nine levels…

[Seb Patrick]

Well, that’s basically it. BBC themselves don’t own the format, it’s originally from a US show called College Bowl. I’d imagine if it were just a BBC issue there’d have been no problem with the DVD, but those Yanks can be pesky, as evidenced by NBC charging extortionate rates to use tiny clips of something they don’t even want and would presumably rather forget existed…

[Andrew]

> NBC

You mean Universal.

[Ben Paddon]

Well technically it’s NBC Universal.

[Nick R]

Well, that?s basically it. BBC themselves don?t own the format, it?s originally from a US show called College Bowl.

A show that (according to Wikipedia) hasn’t even been broadcast for a very long time. Presumably the company that owns it is making steadier money selling the rights to international versions than they would making a programme themselves…

So yes, I was a bit annoyed at the absence of Universe Challenge on DVD. Although I watched my videotaped copy of Red Dwarf Night to death, so (like Can’t Smeg Won’t Smeg) I’d really only want it on DVD for completeness’ sake, rather than to watch it much.

I recently read this blog by one of the members of the University Challenge team that ended up the lowest-scoring of the Paxman era (they got demolished by Gail Trimble’s later-disqualified team). It’s an interesting read:

When we were waiting for the knockabout questions to start, I tried to talk things up in my head. I looked over at the Corpus Christi team “You can’t be that great, you look just like people to me.” This is in retrospect like an Amish Luddite threatening Terminator with a stick.

Differences between the show in life and at home.

It is harder. A lot, lot harder. And a lot more fun. If you want an idea, pick a team next time it’s on. In life you have no choice who you’re with, so you should probably flip a coin. Take something vaguely buzzer-shaped and place your finger on it. When a question is read out, push it when you want to answer and then answer within two and a half seconds. You must push it a *clear half-second before* Roger Tilling announces anyone’s name, else another player got there before you, and that’s you out. Also, if one of your chosen ‘team mates’ answers and happens to get it wrong, that’s you out. For extra spice only answer those bonuses that you or one of your ‘team mates’ get the starters to – so as to experience the frustration of hearing easy bonuses that the other team fails to get. ‘Playing at home’ is *comparatively easy*, you can hold back answering until Tilling’s voice kicks in. Figuring out for yourself when you’ve heard enough whilst listening to the rest of the question whilst assessing where the question is going whilst assessing your potential answers whilst wondering if one of the people next to you has a better idea, is a lot harder. If you end up guessing incorrectly more than two or three times, consider how much that would dent your confidence, and how much you’d be letting down the team. If you keep getting questions right despite all this, get on the show ASAP.

The ‘wild guesses’ that you can throw at the TV at home are generally a no-no in the studio. Twice on our episodes I would’ve guessed Tchaikovsky for starters because he’s one of the few composers I know. It would’ve been the right answer twice, I would’ve ‘got that’ at home. But on TV I wasn’t nearly confident enough to waste a potential chance for a team mate, and it was the right decision, I think, not to buzz.

I never really judged people that harshly before being on it, but now I’m all the more sympathetic to contestants on screen. It’s harder than it looks, and you have to be very good indeed to get more than 3 or 4 starters in an episode.

[John Hoare]

Universe Challenge is by far my favourite bit of Red Dwarf Night. I think it’s fantastic.

I remember reading a rumour that the BBC even got into trouble for the initial broadcast of the show, as there were rights issues even with that, but I have no idea how true that is.

[Carlito]

I just watched it for the first time in years. It’s pretty good. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.

[Andrew]

I still have the Universe Challenge nameplate Mel Bibby made up with ELLARD on it. (I was a reserve contestant for the show.) It now hangs over my bedroom door, in case I forget who sleeps there.

[ori-STUDFARM]

….or to act as a warning!

[Ben Paddon]

I thought only twelve year-olds had their names over their bedroom door.

[ChrisM]

Most twelve year olds don’t have a numberplate with their name on it.

Mind you, most over twelve year olds don’t either. ;)

[Andrew]

> I thought only twelve year-olds had their names over their bedroom door.

I thought only 12 year olds used constant repetition as a form of critical discourse, but there you go.

[The PerformingMonkey]

I thought only 12-year-olds liked Red Dwarf.

[Carlito]

I only think of 12 year olds.

[Carlito]

Shit, did I just TYPE that?

[Ben Paddon]

> I thought only 12 year olds used constant repetition as a form of critical discourse, but there you go.

Is your name Holly?

[peas_and_corn]

sarcasm

Is your name hol?

/sarcasm

[JamesTC]

I would have gotten a numberplate with my name on it but they were all out of Bort as usual.

[Author]

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