# The Weakest Link
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [April 17, 2001, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218 "2001-04-17T00:12:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2001, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/21 "2001-04-17T13:49:46Z")
More of Anne’s [barbs](http://www.mediaguardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,397942,00.html)
and the obligatory [fan site](http://www.twlonline.co.uk/)
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### Author:  [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/22 "2001-04-17T16:27:04Z")
The only thing I had a hard time with the show was that sometimes the music was so loud you couldn’t hear what they were saying.
Bur Chief, are up for an insulting, strong type woman, I could give it a whirl! 😉
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### Author:  [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/23 "2001-04-17T16:39:43Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \*
> \*\*You’ll probably find she’ll get increasingly critical as the series develops – by mid season she should be giving contestants a very thorough tongue lashing and, by the end, dishing out humiliation and abuse in huge dollops.
> \*\*
See, I just can’t bear the thought of watching this show. I do not get pleasure from abuse and humiliation being doled out for something as simple as a stutter in blurting out an answer. The entire idea of this show is antithetical to me. Of course, I hate reality TV shows, too, for some of the same reasons. If people want to be on these shows and are willing to take abuse, humiliation and downright ugliness on the chance of some $$$ and a few minutes of fame, then that’s up to them, but I won’t watch them do it.
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### Author:  [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/24 "2001-04-17T16:41:00Z")
I saw her and watched her misplaced arrogance. Am I the only person who thought she was a female Dieter?
It’s a sad commentary when the only reason to watch the show is for the insults and “post vote off” comments.
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### Author:  [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2001, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/25 "2001-04-17T20:37:22Z")
Edlyn and I thought it was pretty awful. There’s something terribly Readers Digest about it. There is not enough character development for the Survivor type aspects, and not enough individual control for the Millionare type aspects. Plus, the Bitch is yawningly predictable. I dunno, we kept flipping back to the magic show with Whatsisname.
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### Author:  [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/26 "2001-04-17T22:14:02Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Libertarian \*
> \*\*There is not enough character development for the Survivor type aspects, and not enough individual control for the Millionare type aspects. \*\*
Thats sort of what got me going off it. Its worth an occasional flick to see her slag someone off but its more fun watching Chris Tarrant walk someone through Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Dunno why but my mates and I really end up wanting these guys to walk away with the cheque.
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### Author:  [@Equality\_7-2521](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equality_7-2521)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2001, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/27 "2001-04-18T02:44:24Z")
As hard as this is to admit in public, I watched. Horrible. Horrid. Hideous. Just plain stupid. My suspicions have been confirmed.
> [@](#):
>
> Didn’t watch. Saw the promos, and I found the idea of investing my time watching a fugly inbred looking brit insult my fellow countrymen with that pompous accent totally unappealing. But if you guys think it was good, maybe I’ll check it out next week-if it’s still on.
I found the MC’s black maternity trench coat particularly disturbing. If you like this show, you are the missing link. Goo’bye.
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/28 "2001-04-18T03:28:14Z")
I didn’t find it that exciting. I mean, I knew how it would work out, and all the answers besides. 🙂
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### Author:  [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2001, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/29 "2001-04-18T04:01:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Wastrel \*
> \*\*
> Personally, when I saw the ad, I thought of another show where the host is rather abusive. Can anyone guess it? It may or may not be well-known, though. \*\*
Could you be thinking of “The Inquizition”?
We love that show in our house. and the host can be quite sarcastic at times. Of course it’s made funnier by the implication that if the contestants lose, not only do they have to leave, they will be shot. It drives me crazy just looking at the back of the Inquizitor’s head though. Have they **ever** shown his face?
As far as The Weakest Link, I thought the questions ranged from quite easy to very difficult all in the same round.
I love the host though. She doesn’t even try to hide her disdain for the players who are playing poorly. The look on her face when they screw up is as if they actually smell bad or something.
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### Author:  [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/30 "2001-04-18T05:24:12Z")
I watched only the last half-hour, and I was astonished. It’s a nasty, ugly show designed to expose and encourage the nastiest, ugliest sides of all involved. Never again.
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### Author:  [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2001, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/31 "2001-04-18T05:41:14Z")
but I do have a question for the Brits: do they ever make the unbroken chain? It doesn’t look very likely that they will ever manage to bank really big bucks…
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### Author:  [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2001, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/32 "2001-04-18T07:11:51Z")
The questions were generally far too easy for this type of show. The contestants’ snide comments about one another looked like they were rehearsed lines. The host must have said “Weakest Link” over 100 times. The contestants that got bounced often were not the ones who answered the most questions wrong. Personally, if I were in the final three, I would vote to eliminate the one who seems to be the more intelligent of my two remaining opponents. It’s a lot better to have an ignoramus as your final opponent.
Although the host was arrogant, I do think that the contestants on the first night were not exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer…like the woman who thought that Wimbledon was played on clay. Either these contestants are not as bright as your typical Jeopardy contestant, or they’re so scared of the host that they forget how to answer incredibly easy questions. It could be some of both. And I still think they were all working from a script when each contestant had their interview after getting knocked out.
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### Author:  [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2001, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/33 "2001-04-18T09:35:57Z")
Kneel before me, son of Tyrell! Kneel before Zod!!!
what did I say? did I or did I not proclaim for you all the greatness of this show?
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=59742](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=59742)
Glad to hear that it is going down so well over in the US.
For a start, I have never seen anyone get the full amount in one round.
It is also great to see that there is a gameshow that has stopped pandering to idiot contestants.
Vive la revolution.
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### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2001, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/34 "2001-04-18T10:37:48Z")
Personally I hate the show, although I’ve been known to watch it for the questions. And yes, I saw a group last week get the maximum amount one round. It’s not very easy.
**Anne Robinson:** I liked her on Watchdog (a consumer advocate/warning program), but find her annoying on TWL. Maybe a black leather catsuit, a riding crop and a German accent would help. (But then I find Chris Tarrant annoying too. And I definitely don’t want to see him in a catsuit.)
**Favorite abusive game show host:** Jeremy Paxman, _University Challenge_
**Favorite Paxman gibe:** “We’re plumbing some previously unsuspected shallows here.”
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### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2001, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/35 "2001-04-18T13:46:37Z")
Well I watched the Tuesday night show.
What a bunch of idiots! (except for Kevin) They were all the weakest link. I didn’t think she was that rude. David Letterman, or Ben Stein would be better. Of course the best host would have been Sam Kennison.
YOU"RE A MOROOOOONNNN! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUUUUUUUUT!
I would be great to watch the show with a group of smart people as the contestants.
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### Author:  [@Estrella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estrella)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/36 "2001-04-19T17:23:40Z")
HA HA HA!!!
That’s brilliant. Now I will only wistfully watch the show and pine for what could have been.
I watched but if I hear that- that _phrase_ again- and I know I will,…so help me God. Argh.
And what’s with the freakin’ lights and the da-da-daaa! sound effects? Jeez, people come up with a different idea. Just for kicks I think ABC should sue NBC over using their Millionaire-esque lights ala CBS suing Fox over “Boot Camp”.
Overall, it was an ok show, I liked the questions (and I got answers wrong to stuff I knew cause I was trying to beat the clock) but the voting off, the lights dimming, the Dramatic! music was just so obviously borrowed that it detracted.
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### Author:  [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/37 "2001-04-19T17:41:16Z")
This show would be so much better if they kicked off the _actual_ weakest link instead of having the contestants vote someone off. As someone said earlier, towards the end, they just try to eliminate their toughest competition. That sucks because the people who don’t perform the best end up winning. (I’m **real** into being fair!)
Also, I hate the interviews. What else are they going to say besides, “I am so disappointed and so-and-so should’ve been voted off instead of me.”
The host is ok, but she says “the weakest link” waaaaaaay to many times. And in the exact same manner. Gets real old real soon.
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### Author:  [@Wastrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wastrel)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2001, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/38 "2001-04-21T05:44:03Z")
**The Mermaid**
Yeah, that’s the right show. I watch it when I can; the host is so sarcastic and such a bastard that you end up WANTING one of those poor fools that are contestants to lose.
Nobody told me they get shot…that’s a damn shame. Some of those guys are too smart…as if they sit at home and memorize Jeopardy! questions.
And no, they never show the front of his head. And may I draw attention to the fact that his head is overly and suspiciously large?
As far as The Weakest Link goes, I kinda like it, the questions are too easy, and Ann isn’t as caustic as I thought. But when she says “Let’s play The Weakest Link”, it’s like she’s saying “Let’s play Theweakestlink”, really fast! Cracks me up every time.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2001, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/39 "2001-04-21T06:58:13Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by TroubleAgain \*
> \*\* I do not get pleasure from abuse and humiliation being doled out for something as simple as a stutter in blurting out an answer._\*
You don’t? I thought that was the best part of the show.
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### Author:  [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2001, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-weakest-link/62218/40 "2001-04-21T07:36:05Z")
I watched a couple of episodes. It wasn’t very entertaining. At least the host is very, very sexy.
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