More Word Association from the “Pretend Writer” Live Journal community:
- laughter : …the best medicine (a favourite section in Reader’s Digest)
- looking : glass
- oh : ah
- pot : kettle
- finish : “I’ve started so I’ll finish…”
- type : shadow
- hair : brained
- flicker : candle
- banana : -rama (“It’s a cruel, cruel summer…”)
- spurt : ketchup
The British quiz show “Mastermind” has a history going back 32 years. The famous black leather chair was literally transported all over the country as the show was filmed in a variety of imposing locations all over the UK. As much as “Who wants to be a millionaire” can be tough on the nerves, it can’t hold a candle to the original “Mastermind”, who’s stripped down interrogation style was inspired by its creator’s experiences of being interrogated by the Gestapo during World War II! Contestants were given two minutes to answer rapid fire questions on a specialist subject in the first round, and general knowledge in the second. Moments stretched into infinity and sweat beaded the brow for both viewer and contestant alike. Tension was raised as there was never any indication of remaining time, no visible count-down. If the 2-minute buzzer sounded as the host, Magnus Magnusson, was speaking he would utter the famous catchphrase, “I’ve started so I’ll finish” giving the contestant the opportunity to answer the interrupted question. Examples of specialist subjects include:
- History and Genealogy of European Royalty
- The Life and Works of Gilbert & Sullivan
- The Moomin saga by Tove Jansson
- The History of Lancashire County Cricket Club
- The Life-cycle and Habits of the Honey-bee
- The Buddhist sage Niciren
Talk kept to an absolute minimum: the host asking contestants only their name, occupation and specialist subject before launching into the questions themselves.
For more information, take a look at the BBC “Mastermind” History page.