# You are the Weakest Link.......... goodbye. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2001, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284 "2001-02-13T10:49:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/1 "2001-02-13T10:49:16Z")
Be prepared to hear this phrase alot. After the UK exported WWTBAM, the next game show to go your way in the US is a gameshow called “The Weakest Link”. It will begin to be shown on NBC in April. Whats more, it will be hosted by Anne Robinson, who presents the UK version. Guys and Gals, if your tired of your gameshow hosts pandering to the dimrods that appear on their show, fret no longer. Anne Robinson is a bitch, and prepare to love her for it. for more information on the show, and some sounds of Anne Robinson demeaning the idiots who appear on her show go to [http://www.twlonline.co.uk](http://www.twlonline.co.uk) Let me start by saying just how much I love this show… and I know you are going to love it too… remember who introduced this incredible programme to you when you are laughing your head off at this programme… ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/2 "2001-02-13T11:10:56Z")
News of the spread of the latest British disease to even more distant shores came a month ago: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=55955](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=55955) It might go down pretty well in the States. Don’t know about you Twisty but with that attitude and all the black designer kit I could almost…………nah, that’s just too much. Seems a long way from ‘Watchdog’. Of topic, I know some merkins enjoyed the 1900’s House. If you haven’t yet seen its successor, the 1940’s House, it’s a comin’ ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/3 "2001-02-13T11:15:24Z")
Okay, most of the website was under construction or just couldn’t be loaded easily. Can you 'splain a bit for us on the other side of the puddle? Is it a tag-team quiz show? “Jeopardy”? “Beat the Clock”? ([sub]ohmygodIamold![/sub]) The voice clips are hysterical, though. I could picture Judge Judy as the American emcee. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/4 "2001-02-13T11:15:34Z")
Well, I think I must volunteer to be the weakest link, as I was just about to post pretty much what **London Calling** just posted. Well, I can live with that, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/5 "2001-02-13T11:24:57Z")
**screech-owl** It’s basically a quiz show, the supposed twist being that the host is quite unpleasant, but it’s more fully described in the thread to which **London\_Calling** to which gave a link. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/6 "2001-02-13T11:27:17Z")
L\_C, Ane Robinson… in that way? She’d be bloody disparaging throughout… “That was a pathetic round” “You managed to bank nothing there!” and when its all over, “You are the weakest link, goodbye” Screetch… The show has 10 contestants to begin with. They answer questions in rotation to accumulate money as a group. At the end of each round, the contestants vote off who they believe to be “the weakest link”. In the early rounds, they vote of the weakest link, towards the final rounds, they each attempt to vote a person who could be a threat to them in the final round, if they get there. The genius of the show is the vox pops they do with each contestant that has been voted off the show. They either take it in good nature and smile o they bitch about the other contestants. All the way through Anne Robinson treats the contestants like idiots. It can be annoying, but it makes for great television. ---
**Author:** ![DarkJudicator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@DarkJudicator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkJudicator)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/7 "2001-02-13T11:55:48Z")
We’ve had the pleasure of seeing this one in Australia… and surprisingly, it’s pretty darn cool. Hmmmmmmm, how do I explain the concept? I guess it’s sorta a cross between Survivor and Who Wants to be a Quiz Show Weenie - sorry, Millionaire. Bitchy chick asks questions, money goes up exponentially (WWTBAM style), people are eliminated (Survivor style). The coolest part is definitely the catchphrase mentioned in the OP. That “goodbye” is soooo cold. Can’t remember the name of the woman who hosts it here, but I swear every time I hear that voice I’m taken back to every single bitchy librarian I ever had in primary school who scared the bejeebers outta me. And when they’re trying to decide who to get rid of, her constant badgering “… but YOU got more questions wrong than he did… but YOU forgot to bank the money…” is truly harsh. Dark"irrational fear of middle-aged bitchy librarians"Judicator ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/8 "2001-02-13T12:00:05Z")
I always thought that Anne Robinson needed a riding crop and a German accent to complete the effect: “You arrrr ze **veakest link** …unt ein **dumkopf** as vell. Goodbye! \” ---
**Author:** ![DarkJudicator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@DarkJudicator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkJudicator)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/9 "2001-02-13T12:01:44Z")
Damn simulposts. Of course, **TwistofFate** posted while I was composing my thoughts and expressed things far more eloquently than I could’ve… Cool nick BTW, Twisty. 🙂 I -so- would’ve had that if you hadn’t taken it… grrrr. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/10 "2001-02-13T12:51:57Z")
Yeah, you’re right Twisty and jr8. She’d want the full 45 minute show or it would be “ze piano vire” Screech-Owl – I posted the way the show works in the thread I linked to (above) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/11 "2001-02-13T13:21:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > **If you haven’t yet seen its successor, the 1940’s House, it’s a comin’** Okay, I’ll take the bait. Presuming this program is real, is this about a family seeing what life was like for Grannie and Gramps, with blackouts, rationing, an unexploded bomb in the basement, and an American flyer impregnating the oldest daughter? ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/12 "2001-02-13T13:25:33Z")
Yes, **Dropzone** , pretty much, tho’ I _think_ they stopped short of actual bombs and pregnancies. I can’t be certain of that though! ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/13 "2001-02-13T13:59:11Z")
Many thanks for the info and the links ( **London\_Calling** , you posted that while I was composing; I did not get a chance to read it til I got into work). Sounds fascinating. But I still like Ben Stein. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/14 "2001-02-13T14:36:01Z")
Yep, **dropzone** , as **Celyn** says the 1940’s show is real and finished here about 3 weeks ago. The family were located in suburban London (West Wickham), quite close to the old RAF airfield at Biggin Hill. They grew crops, slept in the Anderson shelter they built in the garden and suffered the same regularity of air raid sirens as was common in 1940. I didn’t see too much of the 1900’s series and only the last couple of the 1940’s successor but I did think it pretty good in some area’s. For example, I had no idea that the collective sleep deprivation went on for so long (because of the bombing). It was also very good on the contribution women made not only directly to the war effort but also in keeping the home front reasonably in order in times of incredible hardship. I can quite see how a wife at home could easily spend 16 hours a day maintaining the home, cooking (what she could) while also working outside the house in some capacity. It was exhausting before trying to sleep in holes in the garden while bombs were dropping all around. It also addressed the war from the point of view of the children and young single women as well as the problems of rationing everything from food to clothes to personal hygiene products. I found it to be a valuable insight. BTW, when the parcels started arriving from well-wishers in the US they were very, **very** welcome. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/15 "2001-02-13T15:03:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > Okay, I’ll take the bait. Presuming this program is real, is this about a family seeing what life was like for Grannie and Gramps, with blackouts, rationing, an unexploded bomb in the basement, and an American flyer impregnating the oldest daughter? \*\* Yep. A family had to live as if they where in the 40’s. A area of a shop was set aside for them and their ration books, they did jobs that they would have done during wartime. They even had speakers set up in the house so the have their own personal airraid siren which goes off several times a night ( in the time period relating to the Blitz ) and of they run to the Anderson Shelter that they built in the garden. Good programme. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/16 "2001-02-13T15:26:03Z")
Ah, yes. I seem to remember that when I returned from vacation last October, I said we needed to import this show (The Weakest Link). Nice to know that _someone_ listens to me. Thanks for the news Twist. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/17 "2001-02-13T16:48:23Z")
I’m glad you will get to see Anne Robinson presenting it. I doubt there is anyone else that could carry it off. British Cold Hearted Bitches seem to differ from their Yank counterparts. I mean, could you see Cathy Lee Gifford presenting the US version? ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/18 "2001-02-13T17:29:10Z")
You are so right. Who have we got for evil bitches? Roseanne? Courtney Love? Forget it. BTW, thanks for the link to the sound page. One of those will be going on my computer later tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/19 "2001-02-13T19:19:48Z")
When I saw _The Weakest Link_ on the Beeb, I figured it was only a matter of time before it appeared on US TV. We steal all the good shows. (Anyone seen _Bob the Builder_, American version, yet? They do it with _American accents_. What, didn’t they think American kids could understand a British accent? Dumbing down–be very afraid.) Anyway, about a host–I agree they wouldn’t be able to find an American equivalent to Anne Robinson. (Roseanne, maybe? She could certainly do “mean,” but I wouldn’t want to see her in black leather.) I guess an alternative might be to find someone **really, really** annoying. I’m sure Gilbert Godfrey is sick of _Hollywood Squares_…maybe they could get one of those guys off _Jackass_… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-the-weakest-link-goodbye/54284/20 "2001-02-14T09:51:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duke \* > When I saw _The Weakest Link_ on the Beeb, I figured it was only a matter of time before it appeared on US TV. We steal all the good shows. (Anyone seen _Bob the Builder_, American version, yet? They do it with _American accents_. What, didn’t they think American kids could understand a British accent? Dumbing down–be very afraid.) Yes, but they redubbed _Teletubbies_, for crying out loud. Like “eh-oh!” really changes that much. :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > Anyway, about a host–I agree they wouldn’t be able to find an American equivalent to Anne Robinson. (Roseanne, maybe? She could certainly do “mean,” but I wouldn’t want to see her in black leather.) I guess an alternative might be to find someone **really, really** annoying. I’m sure Gilbert Godfrey is sick of _Hollywood Squares_…maybe they could get one of those guys off _Jackass_… Gilbert Gottfried? Oh sweet Jesus, no…