Pointless

So I'm a Pointless-fan from Sweden. Pointless is without a doubt my favorite game show. Its concept is different from other game shows. You're supposed to give an answer that as few (of those 100 people they've asked before the show) as possible have answered. You're looking for the obscure answers.. The more obscure, the better.

The show is hosted by Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman. They're both excellent hosts. I love their friendship bromance that they've got going on. Richard is very funny.

To summarize: This show always cheers me up when I'm feeling low. The concept, the hosts, the contestants, the trivia, the guests.. I love everything about this show!

On the programme shown on the Monday 23rd of January 2012 two teachers from Scotland reached the final and their final question for £6250 was- Name an Australian Tennis player that won a Wimbledon tennis title either singles or doubles from 1980 to the present day. The finalists went for Mark Phillippousis,Mark Woodford and Todd Woodbridge. There first answer was Mark Phillippoussis which was 100 pointer meaning it was a wrong answer. Bong.

Mark Phillippoussis won the Wimbledon Junior Mens doubles championship title with Ben Ellwood in 1994. If I were one of the contestants I would be after my prize money.

Alexander is a tremendous host, he's funny, but he's smart and down to Earth, I really like him, but I really do miss Richard Osman, it's just not quite the same anymore.

The format still works, and it's always great to see people scoop the prize. Somehow it needs a different kind of knowledge, sometimes the questions leave you absolutely stumped.

As of 2025, there's still no permanent replacement for Richard Osman, a shame, some have worked well, some are just out of place.

I've also noticed now that episodes have someone signing, BBC please could you give us an option to switch it on or off? I just can't watch it, I understand about inclusivity, but give us the choice, it's made me switch off.

7/10.

I love this show! For Americans, I'd describe it as a blend of Jeopardy (you do need to know your stuff) and an anti-Family Feud (as you are trying to find the answer the studio audience previously knew least, not most). Contestants are rewarded most if their knowledge is deep on some subject, but one must also have broad knowledge because any one question could trip them up and eliminate them from play that day.

The presenters are perfect (I'd already loved Osman from QI, but Armstrong was new to me.) I laugh at myself for my total lack of knowledge of snooker and rugby (really not things here in the US, though I did play snooker one weekend in Canada), and I enjoy the heck out of knowing all the answers to the word and literature questions and most of the plant ones. I've been surprised at how much Brits know about American politics and how little about literature. I'm pleased at how different our favorite desserts and childhood games are. We are cousins, but we are not identical. All of that is wonderful, for it increases my knowledge of our similarities and differences, and also makes me want to bone up on my knowledge of UK politics! Turn about is, after all, fair play. I wish my streaming subscription carried more seasons, back to the beginning, but I'll hunt more down somehow on the interwebz. I'm addicted.

It's a good show and I like it, Alexander's goofy yet whimsical personality and the questions can be very interesting.

However, it's not as good as the old days! I saw an old episode recently and the chat between Alexander and Richard where they play off each other was much better, the contestants were more chatty. Now everything seems a bit wooden even between the contestants and them and Alexander. Also the rotation of guest hosts because no one wants to do it permanently now. Also Richard was more class - he was authoritative with his knowledge and didn't need to keep reading off the computer like the other new guest hosts! He would just say it from memorising or whatever.

I sometimes tune in for the Celebrity version nowadays but that's about it. I suggest you see some old eps on the PointlessTV channel on YouTube and you'll see what I mean.