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Why I Love...QI

QI quizmaster Stephen Fry
  • Posted at 3:13pm
  • 13 March 2007
  • by ChrisSkeat-RT
  • 16 comments

Do you revel in being a mine of useless information? If so, QI could be worth a view.

As a presenter, Fry is always good value. He has a way of introducing questions, expanding on answers or just making conversation that seems thoroughly effortless and pleasantly enlightening.

As a quiz show, QI's clever, without being too clever, seems fresher than Have I Got News for You and more imaginative than 8 out of 10 Cats. One of the main reasons it works so well is because of Fry's interaction with the only ever-present guest, Alan Davies. It's a joy to behold.

Davies plays the part of the fall guy. Usually with a broad grin. It starts with the contestants' personalised buzzers, each noise designed specifically to make him/her stand out from the others. Recently, the three other guests all had suitably ghoulish fanfares to announce their desire to participate, and for Alan? - Always Look On the Bright Side of Life. He took it all in good spirits as his score descended rapidly.

You see, the points system is quite wacky too, since minus figures are generally achieved by most players. Unless you demonstrate a superb lateral intelligence, as was the case with Ronni Ancona, you're likely to end up with less than zero. The last show I watched was actually won by the audience.

Due to my abject lack of general knowledge (make that a bucket of useless information), I enjoy proceedings on the level of trying to guess the word or phrase that results in a large exclamation of derision from Stephen Fry and a ten-point penalty. If you think lemmings commit suicide by jumping off cliffs for instance, shame on you!

The actual subject matter, gleaned from ancient dusty tomes housed in the Bodleian Library by mad professors, I like to think, is pretty obscure. Do you know the song most people commit suicide to? No, me neither. Better to stick with Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

Other priceless nuggets of information from the show: swimming with dolphins can be a great cure for manic depression (unless, of course, you repulse them), and Trumpet of Death mushrooms are highly nutritious! Where else can one take on board such vital material?

The final round, ironically titled "general ignorance", comes, but by this time nobody really cares how clever or stupid they are, as long as they've had a good time along the way.

QI, basically it's AOK.

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Comments

  • Posted on 24 September 2009
  • at 9:21pm
  • by Dom

I enjoy it and I agree about Ronnie Ancona, in fact every woman who comes on with the exception, score really well. Perhaps thats why theres so few on. So my criticism is too many overweight middle aged white men, but then thats generally true of English TV.

  • Posted on 06 March 2009
  • at 7:16pm
  • by CW

Firstly, I would like to point that Jeremy Clarkson is actually rather intelligent. I'll give you unsubtle though.

I am glad that the switch to BBC1 hasn't affected QI's entertainment value. It hasn't gotten too big for it's boots, which was a fear for some fans of the show. I have to say though, the most impressive guest was Ben Miller. Rob Brydon is a consitently good guest too.

  • Posted on 11 February 2009
  • at 9:05pm
  • by AustinB

Sorry to be a little less positivr, but it seems to me that the content is less interesting and more of a double entendre competition than in earlier series. The likes of Rory McGrath ?? were inetersting and entertaining without resorting to all the toilet humour that seems to have become the main focus.

  • Posted on 11 February 2009
  • at 6:54pm
  • by Mike

QI

Great programme. Unfortunately, quality has deteriorated with the unfunny Phil Jupitus. He desperantly wants to be seen as a great wit, but he is boorish and mediocre

  • Posted on 06 February 2009
  • at 9:27pm
  • by the big cheese

Love QI please keep them coming, most disappointing guests for me are Vegas and Jupitus.

  • Posted on 06 February 2009
  • at 6:36pm
  • by Sandra

QI and Stephen Fry is fantastic. We never miss a show. Cannot understand the scorung system, but no one seems to care. Brilliant!!!!!!!!

  • Posted on 11 January 2009
  • at 10:14am
  • by MazY

"The only guest who I am always dissapointed to see on the show is the dreadful Jeremy Clarkson. He is so clearly out of his depth and comfort zone in the company of people who perform with such intelligence, wit, fluency, subtlety and refinement."

Have you developed a selective deafness towards the usually crass and out of place retorts from Jo Brand? Or does her discussing her sanitary towel on QI fit with your idea of intelligence, wit, fluency, subtlety and refinement?

  • Posted on 09 January 2009
  • at 6:56pm
  • by Michael

Came late to QI, but have really enjoyed the repeats on that other channel. Now I regard it as the most unmissable and reliably entertaining show on TV. Especially so now that NTNON is beginning to get a bit stale. The only guest who I am always dissapointed to see on the show is the dreadful Jeremy Clarkson. He is so clearly out of his depth and comfort zone in the company of people who perform with such intelligence, wit, fluency, subtlety and refinement.

  • Posted on 09 January 2009
  • at 8:43am
  • by Mark

I don't know if it's scripted, or to what extent. Personally I don't think the majority of it is (although there are admittedly some bits that you can't help but see through, even with the most forgiving eye). I don't think Ronni Ancona's responses were scripted (call me naive); I think she was just brilliant on the show. If they WERE scripted, I can't think of any reason why the writers would want to make her specifically look brilliant over and above any other member of the panel (and God knows, there have been a few who could have done with a lot more help than Ronni Ancona).

The thing is though, I don't care. It's entertainment; it entertains me; that's all I ask of it. If I watch the X Factor (I do say 'if'), I don't question the extent to which the results are pre-decided (well, you couldn't, could you?) : I just watch it and accept it for such entertainment value as it provides. Whether QI is scripted or not, it's great entertainment, and kudos to Stephen Fry and the panel for providing it. Roll on series F!

  • Posted on 19 December 2008
  • at 8:00pm
  • by E

@swedeyhead - that wasn't Hiscox who wrote that - it was Rob.

I don't think they are scripted, because they sometimes go off on such weird tangents that if just one of them had forgotten their line, it would have been an absolute disaster.

  • Posted on 08 December 2008
  • at 6:30pm
  • by swedeyhead

I have no idea what Hiscox is on about. Ronnie Ancona's stuff didn't seem at all scripted. I think he's assuming that any guest showing a bit of knowledge or intelligence must have had it written by someone else.

  • Posted on 15 November 2008
  • at 12:42pm
  • by Martin

'H - I'm happy to inform you that Series F of QI was recorded in May and June, and should be back on our screens in September.'

Apparently not. What's the hold up, BBC?

  • Posted on 24 August 2008
  • at 3:04pm
  • by Miss P

H - I'm happy to inform you that Series F of QI was recorded in May and June, and should be back on our screens in September.

  • Posted on 15 August 2008
  • at 5:29pm
  • by H

QI is simply brilliant. A good friend of mine introduced me to it and initially I didn't like it. Next time round though I was hooked - nothing else like it on TV. You watch, listen and laugh, and also pick up some great facts along the way!!

Who knew if all you ate was rabbit you would die due to an accumulation of poison??

Only annoying thing about it is the repeats...when will the next series come out???

  • Posted on 11 July 2008
  • at 9:06pm
  • by Rob

@Hiscox - Ronnie Ancona made no effort to disguise the fact her answers were scripted which really put me off. I know the whole show is vaguely scripted but most guests at least seem to be ad-libbing.

  • Posted on 18 April 2008
  • at 7:14am
  • by Hiscox

It's interesting to note the extent to which the other guests can influence the tone of each show. Hugh Laurie said almost nothing on his appearance, but what he did say was perfectly timed and very funny. Rich Hall brings a blend of new world innocence and post - colonial cynicism, whilst the dreadful Jeremy Clarkson is one of those who helps bring the level of humour down to a somewhat laddish lout level.

Most interesting of all guests was Ronnie Ancona - one of the few women to have appeared and she romped away with all the correct answers whilst being brilliantly entertaining.

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