The seal laugh returns - Big Fat Quiz of the Year

January 5, 2011 1:13 AM

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, an annual British trivia show featuring a panel of comedians, humorists, and celebrities, returns with its 2010 edition. Expect puns, rants, inside jokes, teasing, and at least a few UK-specific news stories that'll leave you scratching your head if you don't follow the Sun. (NSFW due to language)

This year's edition includes Jonathan Ross, Ruth Jones, Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr, Richard Ayoade, and Noel Fielding. As usual, it's hosted by the seal-laughing Jimmy Carr. For reference, here are links to past year's shows:

2009 - Jonathan Ross + Russell Brand / Rob Brydon + Claudia Winkleman / David Mitchell + Charlie Brooker
parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

2008 - Michael McIntyre + Claudia Winkleman / Sean Lock + James Corden / Dara Ó Briain + Davina McCall
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (rest of the show not found on YouTube)

2007 - Russell Brand + Noel Fielding / Rob Brydon + David Mitchell / Jonathan Ross + Lily Allen
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

25th Anniversay - Alan Carr + Jack Dee / Carol Vorderman + Frank Skinner / Richard Ayoade + David Mitchell
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

2006 - Russell Brand + Noel Fielding / Rob Brydon + David Walliams / Jonathan Ross + Cat Deeley
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

2005 - Sharon Osbourne + Jonathan Ross / Denise van Outen + David Mitchell / Gordon Ramsay + Rob Brydon
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

2004 - Simon Pegg + Liza Tarbuck / David Walliams + Rob Brydon / June Sarpong + Jonathan Ross
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

posted by jng (18 comments total)

For what it's worth, I'd recommend watching the 2009 show first. It has this over-the top inside joke, the aforementioned seal bit, Rob Brydon's classic small man in a box routine, Obama conspiracy theories, and David Mitchell and Charlie Brooker flatly refusing to dance.
posted by jng at 1:24 AM on January 5, 2011 [1 favorite]

Quite enjoyable. I know British TV is more lenient and it was obviously after the watershed, but I was surprised that they played the "Jeremy Hunt, Culture Secretary" audio unbleeped.
posted by bruzie at 1:54 AM on January 5, 2011

I tried to be amused by this year's one, but I struggled, even though I *heart* Richard Ayoade. I was also staggered by how little any of the contestants appeared to know about the year's events. I know their knowledge wasn't really the point of the show, but they genuinely seemed totally oblivious to so many of the year's news stories. (Particularly the really important ones. I mean, NONE of them appeared to have even heard of Paul the Octopus.)
posted by penguin pie at 4:58 AM on January 5, 2011 [1 favorite]

The 2006 version is still the best one ever. I can't count how many times I've watched it.
posted by elsietheeel at 5:58 AM on January 5, 2011 [2 favorites]

I also really struggle to watch it. It's so self-congratulatory and so on. However thanks for posting this - the shifting cast list shows (kind of) who was hot each year.

I think it was Jonathan Ross's idea, which is why he's (almost) always in it. Good concept, but I just hate the final show.

Now if HIGNFY were to do an hour long end of year show... That would be worth watching.
posted by DanCall at 6:15 AM on January 5, 2011

I know British TV is more lenient and it was obviously after the watershed, but I was surprised that they played the "Jeremy Hunt, Culture Secretary" audio unbleeped.
posted by bruzie at 9:54 AM on January 5

As has been observed here numerous times, British culture in general is more lenient about swearies. We get more offended by important things. Like the weather.
posted by Decani at 7:04 AM on January 5, 2011

Quite enjoyable. I know British TV is more lenient and it was obviously after the watershed, but I was surprised that they played the "Jeremy Hunt, Culture Secretary" audio unbleeped.

Radio 4 broadcast it unbleeped at 8 in the morning..
posted by salmacis at 7:07 AM on January 5, 2011 [1 favorite]

It sometimes seem like half of British TV is comedy panel quiz shows featuring a lot of the same core people (David Mitchell, Jimmy Carr, Rob Brydon, etc).

Not that there's anything wrong with that.
posted by kmz at 7:13 AM on January 5, 2011

Yes, 'cunt' isn't quite as rude over here, but still very rude. 'Spaz', on the other hand, will not be heard on a comedy show.

I'm still amused at the Glaswegian swears Groundskeeper Willie comes out with, as for a different accent and vernacular 'I've tested the noo tractors - and they're all shite!' is unlikely to inspire a double-take from US viewers. It got cut here.
posted by mippy at 7:14 AM on January 5, 2011

I think my favorite thing about the 2006 episode is how, despite being a silly quiz show, it manages to form a fairly compelling narrative, most of which concerns the building tension between the newly acquainted "Goth Detectives," (Russell Brand and Noel Fielding) and a man who had recently swum the English channel (David Walliams.) To the point where, on occasions when I'm showing this episode to someone for the first time, I won't actually tell them anything about what happens for fear of "spoiling" them.

I realize it's silly to imply that no-stakes celebrity quiz show requires spoiler warnings, but what can I say? Sometimes these things take on a life of their own, apparently.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 8:26 AM on January 5, 2011 [2 favorites]

Love Big Fat Quiz of the Year but wasn't as funny as before.

Bring back Sean Lock :)
posted by Newcott at 10:42 AM on January 5, 2011 [1 favorite]

The "you get no points for swimming the channel" quip always slays me. Agree with Narrative that 2006 was amazing for the sheer drama (sounds laughable, but so true!). And as for the ignorance on display, at least for Noel, it's (you would hope) put-upon most of the time. You sometimes get the sense that it's a sort of sort of defense mechanism, a whole "I gave you a ridiculous answer because I don't want you to know whether I really don't know the answer (because I'm ignorant) or whether I'm pretending not to know in order to give you all a good laugh (because I'm awesome)." It was fresh the first couple times, but definitely got annoying this time around.

And seeing them pull up the prepared photo of Johnathan Ross at Hogwarts was a downer--definitely punctured the illusion that this is all 100% improvised (though I still think most of it is still off-the-cuff). You always kind of figured the panelists were fed some of the topics beforehand, but I enjoyed thinking that everyone in Britain just happened to be that witty and quick on their feet.
posted by jng at 11:28 AM on January 5, 2011

Trust everyone who has recommended the 2006 show - it is utterly, utterly brilliant.
posted by Jody Tresidder at 12:13 PM on January 5, 2011

Thank you! I can't wait to watch this! I assume Richard Ayoade is with Noel Fielding. I hope so.. I recall Richard and David Mitchell, and there was something kind of awkward about that pairing (and, for the first time, not in a good way)!
posted by Mael Oui at 7:58 PM on January 5, 2011

Also, 2005 = most annoying year EVER (with the exception of poor David Mitchell, who was apparently being punished that year)
posted by Mael Oui at 10:11 PM on January 5, 2011

Thanks - this was new to me and made me laugh. If this year's edition isn't considered all that good, I'm especially looking forward to watching the older episodes.

A question though: where are the women on these sorts of shows? Most of the panels are very male-dominated (I count 11 over eight years). I've noticed this in other UK TV like QI, even though Britain's got a great history of funny women. Can those of you more familiar with pop culture there offer any suggestions?
posted by une_heure_pleine at 4:08 AM on January 6, 2011

Stand-up here is still very male-dominated. Most of the comedians on these shows rose to prominance on the stand-up circuit - a lot of the female comedians that get to TV here tend to be character comedians and I wonder if there's a reason for there being fewer female stand-ups on TV. I remember Jo Brand having her own stand-up show, but I struggle to think of other female comedians who have done the same - mostly they do sketch shows.
posted by mippy at 7:55 AM on January 6, 2011

You also have to be very aggressive to be heard on these shows. The women who are regulars would probably be described as "brassy".
posted by smackfu at 8:20 AM on January 6, 2011