Nov 27 2009
TV Review: QI Season 7 (G Series) Episode 1, BBC1
In my opinion, QI’s been off the general public radar for an unfashionably long time now. Well, that’s technically incorrect, as there’ve been endless repeats of all six series up until this point on Dave, which is quite surprising considering that 98.4% of the channel’s programming consists of Top Gear ‘mashups’. For the uninitiated, they’re mutilated versions of the BBC broadcasts cut down to fit into 47 minutes of programming per hour, a bit like the syndicated versions in Oz and North America.
There are, however, no such cost-cutting measures in place on BBC1, Quite Interesting’s established home on the Beeb since, well, last series, actually. For the secret QI maniac such as I, it’s refreshing to finally see some new programming and obtain fresh fodder for idle chats down the pub, train station or wherever one feels the need to spout pointless yet irritatingly intriguing facts. You just hope your mates didn’t see the same episode, else you might have to resort to the ‘no cheese in cheese slices’ backup plan once again (stupid ‘Britain’s Most Disgusting Foods‘).
We’re now up to the seventh series, which can only mean one thing: a whole season of letter G-themed fact-based nuggets to tickle our geeky fancy. In the coming weeks we shall be treated to a veritable Pandora’s Box of interesting stuff to do with geometry, gadgets, gravity and the colour green amongst others. Last night, though, was the turn of both gardeners and grocers to take their place on the alphabetical merry go round that is QI.
Warning: Spoilers from this point onwards.
Yes, it was as though Stephen Fry and co. had never been off our screens (which, of course, they hadn’t, but I’ve already addressed that in the first paragraph) as David Mitchell, Dara Ó Briain, Rob Brydon and of course Alan Davies joined our resident QImaster to discuss such crucial topics as garden gnomes, Australian killer spiders and the best way to humanely dispatch a dying bee.
For example, did you know that it takes one and a half teaspoons of honey to revive a bee, yet the average drone will produce a little under one teaspoon of said substance in its lifetime? Yeah, I know that particular quip — from David Mitchell, I believe — was in all likelihood a load of codswallop, but it did provide a bit of mirth, at least at Retro Yakking towers.
Before you ask - yes, Rob made the obvious joke here.
Such humorous exchanges are the lifeblood of the programme, which, as ardent viewers will readily note, is more of an exercise in comedy and ‘witty banter’ — to borrow an overused (and possibly copyrighted) phrase — than a serious game show with prizes like speedboats and whatnot. These kinds of panel show are frightfully common in this day and age: 8 Out of Ten Cats, Have I Got News For You and Argumental just a few examples of a thriving genre that may well come to characterise Credit Crunch TV.
In a sea of faux-game shows, Quite Interesting has always stood out for me, mostly because of its more ‘intelligent’ sensibility. An integral part of this is British institution and Twitterholic Stephen Fry, who was last night on form in his usual schoolmaster/ringmaster persona in an attempt to rein in a slightly hyperactive Alan Davies.
He was largely unsuccessful, as many items of the set were damaged in an incident involving Mr. Davies and a nineteenth century walking stick-come-saw contraption - it truly was just like being at primary school again. Granted, a very expensive one, but it was all in the name of good fun.
A particular highlight for myself was a brief discussion on the incorrect placement of apostrophes in home-made grocery signs. Exactly where does it go? I’m not sure anyone really knows for sure, but I long for the day when nobody cares, not least over at the QI Forums where such discussions are just around the corner whatever day of the week you care to visit them.
In all, an enjoyable episode, if not an exceptional specimen of QIness, to kick off the new series. Those looking to tune in over the weekend for a special extended version may be disappointed to hear that the broadcast of QIXL has been held back until after Christmas. We are assured that subsequent rebroadcasts will mean we eventually get to see the 45-minute versions of these first few episodes, so hang in there and by New Year schedules will be back to normal again.
