ENTER THE MONKMAN

April 10, 2017 10:37 AM

In but a few hours, after much hype and a high profile tournament the most eagerly awaited final of 2017 (after Eurovision) will take place. Balliol College, Oxford - led by Joey "whatever" Goldman - will play Wolfson College, Cambridge - led by Eric Monkman. Controversy over the all-male final, added to the viral nature and media profiles of the contestants, plus the lingering Cambridge vs Oxford rivalry make for much media print. Despite fandom, the Monkman of many talents remains modest. Let battle commence to see if legends are made and here's your starters for ten.
posted by Wordshore (49 comments total)

"Monk-man, Monk-man, Monk-man"
posted by essexjan at 10:39 AM on April 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

5. The mean population density of which other EU member state is closest to that of the United Kingdom?

This question will have to be rephrased in the future.
posted by Obscure Reference at 11:04 AM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

I've recently gotten into University Challenge and love it SO MUCH. And I have a minor crush on past year Peterhouse Cambridge team captain Woods - she comes across to me as kind of a posh malevolent version of Hermione.

This show is SO GOOD it's my go-to entertainment for chores and stuff. If I get 5 answers right on an episode I'm happy.
posted by lazaruslong at 11:19 AM on April 10, 2017 [3 favorites]

posh malevolent version of Hermione

what a great image.
posted by joyceanmachine at 11:53 AM on April 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

THREE MINUTES, PEOPLE - TO BBC2...
posted by Wordshore at 11:58 AM on April 10, 2017

A well-balanced team is always a joy, but on those occasions when you get a really dominant player who is maybe knocking out say a fifth of the questions alone, it's an extraordinary testament to learning. UC is a great, great institution.
posted by specialbrew at 11:59 AM on April 10, 2017

For those looking for a stream: filmon
posted by figurant at 11:59 AM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

Monkman D'Wally de Honk?
posted by scruss at 12:00 PM on April 10, 2017 [3 favorites]

Any chance someone has a link to the live stream that works in the US?
posted by lazaruslong at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2017

Early blood to Oxford...
posted by Wordshore at 12:03 PM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

THE MONKMAN HAS SPOKEN.
posted by Wordshore at 12:04 PM on April 10, 2017

My God I got an answer correct before him. Maybe I am a politics nerd after all.
posted by Wordshore at 12:07 PM on April 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

YES I'm in.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:09 PM on April 10, 2017

THE MONKMAN has BLOWN IT - five points deducted!
posted by Wordshore at 12:11 PM on April 10, 2017

Oh man, that was a funny set of bonuses on the kant-laplace theory
posted by lazaruslong at 12:13 PM on April 10, 2017

Oh man this is a cracker!
posted by lazaruslong at 12:17 PM on April 10, 2017

I'm rather surprised (pleasantly so) that nobody has posted a link to the Young Ones clip yet.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:17 PM on April 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

When Monkman fails his reaction is pitched somewhere between bewilderment and utter heartbreak.
posted by specialbrew at 12:18 PM on April 10, 2017 [4 favorites]

ISO codes and the Westphalia agreement? These questions are so MetaFilter.

Monkman is too over-excited and is losing his team points. Pope is the most dangerous player so far.
posted by Wordshore at 12:20 PM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

I'm rather surprised (pleasantly so) that nobody has posted a link to the Young Ones clip yet.
posted by Nerd of the North

I'LL DO IT and bonus actual UC answer from a young (and dashing!) Fry.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:20 PM on April 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

Oxford edging ahead with less than ten minutes to go...
posted by Wordshore at 12:22 PM on April 10, 2017

Monkman needs to calm down a bit.
posted by essexjan at 12:23 PM on April 10, 2017

Monkman loses yet another five points, with less than four minutes left. Time running out...
posted by Wordshore at 12:24 PM on April 10, 2017

Well, I got the Lou Reed question right anyway ...
posted by essexjan at 12:27 PM on April 10, 2017

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
posted by lazaruslong at 12:27 PM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

PROFESSOR STEPHEN FUCKING HAWKING!!!
posted by essexjan at 12:28 PM on April 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

Did our liveblogging and/or Monkman burnout briefly take down MetaFilter just then?

Anyway, well done Oxford.
posted by Wordshore at 12:35 PM on April 10, 2017

Glad to see UC preserving the fine British tradition of rewarding the victorious team, at the end of a numbingly difficult competition, a piece-of shit trophy. To share amongst themselves.
posted by rongorongo at 12:36 PM on April 10, 2017 [7 favorites]

Hey, they also got a few minutes in the presence of Earth's Smartest Human so that's pretty solid.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:39 PM on April 10, 2017 [3 favorites]

Toxteth O'Grady, USA.
posted by delfin at 12:42 PM on April 10, 2017 [5 favorites]

On the gender balance front, the Only Connect final was 2/3 female this year; perhaps that makes up a little for the UC final? (I have a strong suspicion that OC contestants are still predominantly male, but haven’t actually counted them...)
posted by pharm at 12:52 PM on April 10, 2017 [4 favorites]

I once got an Only Connect second round question right ON THE FIRST CLUE!! It was 'Plight your troth x 5' and I said 'Abba songs'. I did a little dance round the living room.
posted by essexjan at 12:55 PM on April 10, 2017 [5 favorites]

If I get a single OC question right then I’m pretty much convinced that I’m a genius for the rest of the day essexjam.

Those starters for 10 are *hard*. 1) must be Photoshop, 2) Cocaine (oceanic), 6) is XXXVIII I think. After that I’m a bit stumped without looking things up. 10 == Tm?
posted by pharm at 1:03 PM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

UP SCUMBAG!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:19 PM on April 10, 2017 [5 favorites]

On the gender balance front, the Only Connect final was 2/3 female this year; perhaps that makes up a little for the UC final?

Thanks for the spoilers!
Grumble, grumble
posted by splen at 2:42 PM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

I can only hope that The Monkman uses this great theme music from The Other Monkman.
posted by lagomorphius at 3:07 PM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

Sorry splen! The last semi-final was 10 days ago though.
posted by pharm at 3:14 PM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

By the way, something I mentioned at a meet-up some time ago - we really need to field an Only Connect Mefites team. Or preferably two, one for each pronunciation. OC is probably the only quiz show that would go for it.

I am mildly obsessed with the idea, yes.
posted by Grangousier at 3:18 PM on April 10, 2017 [12 favorites]

My sole IMDB credit is as a writer for Only Connect. I had 1.25 questions in season...3? I think?

(Of course I'm bragging. Why would you even ask? :) )

The Honda Campus All-Star Challenge finals were today too. (Quiz bowl for HBCUs.) Not televised, but they streamed, I believe. Many more women in that contest.
posted by themanwho at 3:32 PM on April 10, 2017 [8 favorites]

I have no idea what you all are talking about, and I think I'm enjoying your comments all the more for it.
posted by msalt at 10:56 PM on April 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

That was so good! Monkman lost the run of himself! And the wee comb marks in his hair I can't even. But he looked so genuinely pleased for Balliol and like he might actually burst to be in the presence of Stephen Hawking. He is the actual best.
posted by billiebee at 5:37 AM on April 11, 2017 [3 favorites]

Oh also please can I join the OC Mefite team? I have a crush on Victoria Coren Mitchell, mainly through my love of poker but also her general brilliance, and I'm really good at the mssng lttrs rnd.
posted by billiebee at 5:38 AM on April 11, 2017 [3 favorites]

OC is probably the only quiz show that would go for it

"...united by an interest by things that are twenty dollars, same as in town, they are the Mefites. They hope to leave a dot for the team on my left...."

I keep thinking an American version would kick butt, then I realize it would be dumbed down etc, etc, and I get sad knowing it won't happen. The second round would be the last 4 Fast and the Furious movies, etc. ::sigh::

(still, I'd sign up in a microsecond)
posted by splen at 7:20 AM on April 11, 2017 [2 favorites]

I like the Balliol team's responses to requests from Daily Mail journalists:
posted by Myeral at 10:28 AM on April 11, 2017 [5 favorites]

Oh Myeral thank you for sharing that, it's made my day (and I even got a job today)!
posted by billiebee at 11:23 AM on April 11, 2017 [7 favorites]

I liked it too. And congratulations, billiebee!
posted by Myeral at 12:28 AM on April 12, 2017 [1 favorite]

Just because nobody seems to have mentioned it, University Challenge was based on a US quiz show called College Bowl.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 12:36 AM on April 12, 2017 [1 favorite]

Good Final! I'd been missing the recent episodes due to work (spit!) preventing me from watching with my preferred sparring partner, but we managed to sync up tonight to see the final on iPlayer. No offence to Melvin Bragg or whoever else they've dug up to award the trophy in previous years, but despite losing MONKMAN was beaming for a justified true reason when Stephen Hawking did the presentation.
posted by comealongpole at 2:24 PM on April 12, 2017

Best moment of this series: E14, blank faces and complete failure to identify Ozzy (singing Crazy Train).
posted by Wolfdog at 3:00 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]