"Mastermind" BBC2 7 November 2014 7pm

[144man]

Members in the UK might be interested in testing their knowledge in this Friday's edition of "Mastermind" as one of the contestant's specialist subjects is the Tamla Motown label.

This week's edition is of special interest as another contestant is answering questions on the life and music of Dusty Springfield.

[westgrandboulevard]

I wonder if the contestant is a member here.

And if not, why ever not....

[144man]

The general knowledge round is difficult enough to put me off entering.

[westgrandboulevard]

Me too, although I do feel you would be a strong contender. And those lights look very hot, as is the pace.

It only needs one distracting thought - like "did I leave that gas burning on the hob - ?" - and you're out...

[144man]

Thread bumped as a reminder that the programme airs tonight.

[snakepit]

Wasn't a similar theme/ contestant on about 3/4 years ago?

[mowsville]

thanks 144man...just put tv on.

[mowsville]

oh dear lol...my score was top marks tho lol

[copley]

The guy was an embarrassment! As much a Motown expert as I am about football!

I nearly wet myself when he said Gladys Knight instead of Martha Reeves in connection with the Vandellas. As for the Marvelettes, he came up with a complete nonsense name for Gladys Horton. Of course I’m sure it’s not so easy under the lights etc but there was no excuse for not knowing the Primettes/Martha/Four Tops questions.

There was also a glaring mistake in a question which should not have been asked.

Q. Who replaced Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks as lead singer of the Temptations from My Girl till 1968.

A. The answer was David Ruffin which is not factually correct. Eddie sang lead on Get Ready. Both David and Eddie sang lead on You're My Everything. All of them sang on [[Loneliness Made Me Realise) It's You That I Need.

[bradburger]

I agree with you copley!

As you say, it must add extra pressure in a studio with an audience, lights etc., but most of these questions where ones that even non diehard Motown fans should, and would know!

Good point about the David Ruffin question as well.

I thought the best question was the Mynah Birds one though!

He stood no chance with that!

That said, his 'Specialist' topic was Tamla-Motown, so maybe it should have been restricted to stuff released on that label! [[It would have been better to drop the Tamla bit and just use Motown IMHO).

Cheers

Paul

[copley]

No one in the UK that I know of, and I am of that 'certain age', uses the term Tamla Motown these days. It's just Motown. I think that was the first clue that all was not going to go well :[[ Having slated the guy I'm sure that the pressure in the studio has to make you nervous.

[144man]

You can't underestimate the pressure. I was at my sister's blurting out the answers as quickly as possible, but when it came to the Marvin Gaye question, my brain said "Drums" yet my mouth said "Piano".

[westgrandboulevard]

And that happened to you! You, who is so fast on the Word Association thread?

If that's the case, it sounds as if sitting at your sister's could put ANYONE under pressure.

She's not known as Hyacinth Bouquet, is she...?? LOL

[robb_k]

8639
Most of us could have made some money on that programme [[at least in THAT category). I'm also very solid in a few other categories. But I know virtually NOTHING about "normal" things,-what the average Joe knows from popular culture. I wouldn't get past the screening test to become a contestant.

[144man]

And that happened to you! You, who is so fast on the Word Association thread?

If that's the case, it sounds as if sitting at your sister's could put ANYONE under pressure.

She's not known as Hyacinth Bouquet, is she...?? LOL

She may well be. Even when eating on her own, she insists on putting her bread into a basket before transferring it onto her plate. When I asked why she did this, she said that she had standards to maintain.

Am I right in thinking that the questions on Dusty Springfield were fairly easy? I'm no expert yet managed to score the same number as the contestant.

[robb_k]

And that happened to you! You, who is so fast on the Word Association thread?

If that's the case, it sounds as if sitting at your sister's could put ANYONE under pressure.

She's not known as Hyacinth Bouquet, is she...?? LOL
8644
That should be spelt: "Bucket", despite being pronounced "Bouquet".

[westgrandboulevard]

You're quite right, Robb! Nice to know you knew, and spotted the difference.

I originally typed 'Bucket' as an attempt at accuracy, but decided it just looked wrong. As the name is very often written as Bouquet, and certainly pronounced as such, I changed it simply to reinforce the point.

A marvellous comedy creation. Watched some of it the other day, and it still seems absurdly funny, yet true to life.