OK, the play-offs. The eight teams who are not either eliminated on through to the semis play off, and whoever wins goes to the semis. Playing the first play-off were the Cluesmiths, Mick Hodgkin, Richard Heald and John Tozer, who defeated the Operation Researchers but lost to the Yorkers, and the Mixologists, Chris Beer, Sam Swift and Ewan MacAulay, who lost to the Spaghetti Westerners but recovered to defeat the Collectors.
Round 1. The Cluesmiths kicked off the match with Eye of Horus: 'Matthew Bannister's show, BBC World Service', then 'an entry in the dictionary', then 'your flexible friend'; they offered 'access', which wasn't right. The Mixologists saw the final clue, 'Venue for London 2012 boxing', but didn't get it. The clues represent 'Outlook', 'Word', 'Access', 'Excel', so Microsoft Office programs is the link. Good one! The Mixologists chose Two Reeds, and got the picture set: we saw a bassoon and Grampa Simpson, then a flute and an Angry Bird, then a clarinet and Top Cat and finally a French Horn and the wolf from Shrek. They didn't get it, the Cluesmiths did: they are representations of characters from Peter and the Wolf and their instruments. Another good one. For their own question, the Cluesmths chose Water: '99 & 44/100 %', then '.ci', then Epithet for Mary'; they offered 'islands', which was not right. The Mixologists saw 'Tickled en masse by Liberace', but didn't see it. The last clue was a bit of a giveaway: 'Ivory' is the link. The Mixologists chose Twisted Flax: '216 Evil', then '376 Education of women', then '308 Polygraphy' and finally '134 Mesmerism & Clairvoyance'. They didn't get it, nor did their opponents. It's the Dewey Decimal system, and categories of it that are no longer in use. The Cluesmiths chose Lion next: 'Hapu (downward arrow) Amenhotep', then 'Sam (downward arrow) David Berkowitz'; they offered 'Son of...' at this point, and were correct for three points. Left with Horned Viper, the Mixologists got the music set, and heard Wizard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day', then John Denver, then Jessie J. with 'Domino' and neither of us recognised the final track. Neither team knew it, and I'm not surprised: the link is Bond girls, 'Christmas', 'Solitaire' (by Mr Denver), 'Domino', and the final track ''Strawberry Fields' Forever'. At the end of a tough first round, the Cluesmiths led 4-0.
Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Cluesmiths kicked off with Two Reeds: 'Bottom: -17.777... 0', then 'Bottom: 0 32', and then 'Top: 35.555... 96'. They didn't offer anything, nor did their opponents. 'Top: 100 212' is the answer; the link is the marker points of Celcius to Fahrenheit. The Mixologists chose Eye of Horus next: 'General Grievous (Revenge of the Sith)', then 'Captain America (Easy Rider)', and then 'Del Boy (Only Fools and Horses)'. They spotted the link to be drivers of vehicles with an increasing number of wheels, and offered 'Batman', which was accepted for two points. The Cluesmiths chose Twisted Flax next: 'Sant'Antioco', then 'Elba', and then 'Sardinia'; they offered 'Corsica', which was not right. Their opponents offered 'Sicily', which was right. They are the largest Italian islands. For their own question, the Mixologists chose 'Horn-ed' Viper, and got the picture set: we saw a glass of red wine, then the late great Sir Patrick Moore, and then two images of American actress Cybill Shepherd; they didn't get it, nor did their opponents. This was another very clever question that was just too hard: 'Red', 'Sky at Night', 'Shepherds', so 'Delight' completes the set! Brilliant! But too hard! For their final choice, the Cluesmiths chose Lion, and got a music set: we heard 'Don't You Love Me' by the Human League, then some track I barely recognised, as they buzzed in immediately and answered Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas'. Three points! They are the Christmas No 1s for 1981, 82, 83 and 84. (Save Your Love was 82, Only You, which we didn't hear, was 83) Left with Water, the Mixologists saw 'Lucy the Valiant', and immediately offered 'Peter the Great'; not right! The Cluesmiths saw 'Edmund the Just' and 'Susan the Gentle', but couldn't get it. As both teams knew, they are the Pevensie childrens' titles in the Narnia chronicles, but 'Peter the Magnificent' is his title. At the end of a barely any easier second round, the Cluesmiths led 7-3.
On to the Walls. The Mixologists went first, and chose to tackle the Lion wall. After spotting some links, they isolated 'Enter', 'Function', 'Control' and 'Caps lock', which are computer keyboard commands. A second group followed: 'Gatsby', 'Chakalaka', 'Bunny chow' and 'Biltong', which are South African cuisine items. The final groups slotted in pretty comfortably after that: 'Portrait', 'Serving', 'Defence' and 'Esteem' can all follow 'Self', while 'Waldo Pepper', 'Dictator', 'Rock 'n' Roll Swindle' and 'Escape' are films titles when 'The Great' precedes them. A perfect wall, so ten points.
The Cluesmiths were thus left with the Water wall. They too spotted some links, and soon had their first set: 'Pointless', 'The Chase', '15 to 1' and 'Perfection' are daytime quiz shows. They soon had a second set too: 'Opium', 'J'Adore', 'Shalimar' and 'No 5' are perfumes. They spent the rest of the time trying to unravel what was left, and looked set to either run out of lives, or time, or both, until they resolved it with just seconds to go. They had the links for the remaining groups: 'Frontier', 'Score', 'Countdown' and 'Fantasy' can all follow 'Final', while 'Lady Godiva', 'Tanner', 'Bob' and 'Bag of sand' are slang terms for money. Another perfect ten there meant they led 17-13 going into the final round.
Once again, then, Missing Vowels would be the decider. 'Tablets' went to the Mixologists 3-1. Film titles decreased by one', such as 'SNOW WHITE AND THE SIX DWARFS', went to the Cluesmiths 3-(-1). 'Top 20 of 'The Nation's Favourite Poems' only managed one clue, which the Mixologists unluckily got wrong, allowing the Cluesmiths to pick it up. And that was that. The Cluesmiths won 22-14.
Another great match. Unlucky Mixologists, but well played throughout the series. Well done Cluesmiths though, and best of luck in the QFs!
Next week's match: the annual Children in Need celebrity special. Haven't decided whether I'll cover that here or not yet.
And, yes, Series 1 will, someday, be finished. For now, though, I'm starting a new series of posts marking Deal or No Deal's Tenth Birthday, which I hope to start tomorrow.
I love the space here. I attended an amazing event here and I ate more than I should. I had bread pudding, apple crisp, waffles and strawberries and cream. The main floor at event space Chicago is very large and good size without being overwhelming, also there's tons of bar space too to order drinks.
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