Uniquely curious (in both senses of the word)
October 14, 2015 12:59 PM Subscribe
After thirteen seasons, Stephen Fry has announced he is stepping down as host of the BBC panel show QI. He will be replaced by Sandi Toksvig.
i had wished he would've finished it because that would be an amazing and massive undertaking to get to the other side of, but i also feel like he had a good long run and the show is being left in amazing hands.
posted by nadawi at 1:07 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 1:07 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
It will be difficult to say goodbye to Stephen Fry but Sandi Toksvig is a great choice to follow up. Thanks for all the memories and laughter Stephen. You were a joy to watch.
posted by Fizz at 1:07 PM on October 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 1:07 PM on October 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
The only episode of QI I've ever seen was "Killers" featuring Sandi Toksvig and Trevor Noah (just to complete this whole host carousel), and I'm pretty sure that I found it through a link on Metafilter. I adore Sandi, so I will make a point of seeking out QI now.
posted by gladly at 1:10 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by gladly at 1:10 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Thirteen is the perfect place to switch; halfway through. I've seen every episode, thanks to Youtube. I even love it when they're wrong, which is fairly often.
The king is dead, long live the queen. Toksvig is going to be every bit as good as Fry, just in a different way.
posted by Fnarf at 1:15 PM on October 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
The king is dead, long live the queen. Toksvig is going to be every bit as good as Fry, just in a different way.
posted by Fnarf at 1:15 PM on October 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
Just how big are Fry's feet, anyway?
posted by skyscraper at 1:16 PM on October 14, 2015
posted by skyscraper at 1:16 PM on October 14, 2015
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Sandi is brilliant though)
"They say of the acropolis..." never fails to improve my day. Adore Stephen and wish him the best.
posted by Space Kitty at 1:22 PM on October 14, 2015 [11 favorites]
(Sandi is brilliant though)
"They say of the acropolis..." never fails to improve my day. Adore Stephen and wish him the best.
posted by Space Kitty at 1:22 PM on October 14, 2015 [11 favorites]
Wither the Women's Equality Party, though?
posted by boo_radley at 1:29 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by boo_radley at 1:29 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Just how big are Fry's feet, anyway?
Size 13. (UK 13 is about half a size bigger than US 13.)
posted by Iridic at 1:30 PM on October 14, 2015
Size 13. (UK 13 is about half a size bigger than US 13.)
posted by Iridic at 1:30 PM on October 14, 2015
Sandi is great too and I look forward to seeing her in the host chair, but Stephen brought a unique pizzazz to the show that I will sorely miss anyway. Change is hard, even when it's good.
I hope he at least shows up as a panelist now and then.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:31 PM on October 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
I hope he at least shows up as a panelist now and then.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:31 PM on October 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
I was surprised to hear this, given that Sandi left the News Quiz to help set up the Women's Equality Party. Maybe it was less about the time commitment and more about propriety, not having a founder of a political party hosting a news satire show? It's not like she ever hid her political leanings during her tenure, but maybe she (or the beeb?) thought that was a bridge too far?
Whatever the logic, it's great news. Terrible shame to lose Stephen, of course, but she'll be brilliant in his place. It'll be fascinating to see what dynamic she and Alan develop.
posted by metaBugs at 1:35 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Whatever the logic, it's great news. Terrible shame to lose Stephen, of course, but she'll be brilliant in his place. It'll be fascinating to see what dynamic she and Alan develop.
posted by metaBugs at 1:35 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think Fry and Toksvig are both top-notch, and I sure wish I knew a way to watch "QI" -- new episodes as well as old.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:39 PM on October 14, 2015
posted by wenestvedt at 1:39 PM on October 14, 2015
I am sure Sandi will be brilliant as always. Really excited about what Stephen will do next.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 1:39 PM on October 14, 2015
posted by Foci for Analysis at 1:39 PM on October 14, 2015
Those fretting about the Women's Equality Party may be overestimating just how much time it takes to be host of QI. A few days in the summer, I think,
posted by timdiggerm at 1:41 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by timdiggerm at 1:41 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
I sure wish I knew a way to watch "QI" -- new episodes as well as old.
They seem to make their way to YouTube with a briskness once they have been broadcast. I think the first of Series M is in BBC tomorrow night, so keep your eyes peeled to see when it shows up on YT.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:43 PM on October 14, 2015
They seem to make their way to YouTube with a briskness once they have been broadcast. I think the first of Series M is in BBC tomorrow night, so keep your eyes peeled to see when it shows up on YT.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:43 PM on October 14, 2015
The glut of QI on UK Netflix is our Saturday night staple round these parts. Now if only they would load up WILTY on there...
posted by Kitteh at 1:44 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 1:44 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
I've seen every episode despite living in the US (They usually show up on Youtube, but don't always stay very long)... It won't be the same without Stephen, but Sandi is a great choice and I look forward to seeing her episodes.
And since I was reminded I'll just link to this: They say of the Acropolis where the Parthenon is...
posted by mmoncur at 1:46 PM on October 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
And since I was reminded I'll just link to this: They say of the Acropolis where the Parthenon is...
posted by mmoncur at 1:46 PM on October 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
every single episode of WILTY is on youtube tho
posted by poffin boffin at 1:47 PM on October 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 1:47 PM on October 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
oh yes
posted by poffin boffin at 1:49 PM on October 14, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 1:49 PM on October 14, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'll miss Fry in the chair, but oh man, I absolutely adore Sandi Toksvig.
posted by northernish at 2:00 PM on October 14, 2015
posted by northernish at 2:00 PM on October 14, 2015
QI, The News Quiz, Would I Lie To You, and No Such Thing as a Fish are merging into one show called Q? Would I News To You As a Fish.
posted by miyabo at 2:03 PM on October 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by miyabo at 2:03 PM on October 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
Those fretting about the Women's Equality Party may be overestimating just how much time it takes to be host of QI. A few days in the summer, I think,
It's not a huge difference in number of episodes, but you're probably right that having them clustered in the summer makes life easier. QI records 16 episodes over 5-6 weeks, while The News Quiz has 24 episodes split into three series spread through the year. A recording of QI is longer than a recording of the News Quiz, but not by much IIRC (I used to go along when I was living in London), and presumably the writing and other prep time isn't too different. I mean, obviously she has a plan that works for her, I'm just nosy.
posted by metaBugs at 2:07 PM on October 14, 2015
It's not a huge difference in number of episodes, but you're probably right that having them clustered in the summer makes life easier. QI records 16 episodes over 5-6 weeks, while The News Quiz has 24 episodes split into three series spread through the year. A recording of QI is longer than a recording of the News Quiz, but not by much IIRC (I used to go along when I was living in London), and presumably the writing and other prep time isn't too different. I mean, obviously she has a plan that works for her, I'm just nosy.
posted by metaBugs at 2:07 PM on October 14, 2015
Just how big are Fry's feet, anyway?
I know this was already answered, but it did actually come up on an episode of QI. Plus, now I know what feet are measured in and why you should be careful who you play poker with.
posted by Copronymus at 2:12 PM on October 14, 2015
I know this was already answered, but it did actually come up on an episode of QI. Plus, now I know what feet are measured in and why you should be careful who you play poker with.
posted by Copronymus at 2:12 PM on October 14, 2015
Maybe it was less about the time commitment and more about propriety, not having a founder of a political party hosting a news satire show? It's not like she ever hid her political leanings during her tenure, but maybe she (or the beeb?) thought that was a bridge too far?
Melvyn Bragg moved from the political Start the Week to the general-interest In Our Time when he was ennobled (and started sitting in the House of Lords), so you may be on to something here.
posted by Johnny Assay at 2:21 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Melvyn Bragg moved from the political Start the Week to the general-interest In Our Time when he was ennobled (and started sitting in the House of Lords), so you may be on to something here.
posted by Johnny Assay at 2:21 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Let me add yet another so sad to see Stephen Fry go, and so glad that it's going to Sandi Toksvig.
posted by conic at 2:38 PM on October 14, 2015
posted by conic at 2:38 PM on October 14, 2015
Apparently the epidemic of my favorite hosts leaving their shows has now spread overseas. When will this madness end?
I figured Fry would host that show until he retired. He seemed to take such delight in it.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 2:40 PM on October 14, 2015
I figured Fry would host that show until he retired. He seemed to take such delight in it.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 2:40 PM on October 14, 2015
And probably this will bring with it some less token female representation on the panel. Once I noticed that there was almost never more than one woman, I couldn't not notice how laddish it was.
posted by wotsac at 3:07 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by wotsac at 3:07 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sad news, but Sandi should do a fine job.
I wouldn't mind them replacing Alan Davis either - I think in thirteen seasons I've seen all the best parts of him, and some not very nice parts.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 3:15 PM on October 14, 2015
I wouldn't mind them replacing Alan Davis either - I think in thirteen seasons I've seen all the best parts of him, and some not very nice parts.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 3:15 PM on October 14, 2015
News Quiz has just not been the same without her--I'm in the US and I still like it but not nearly as much. It feels, given the way international politics go, like a good idea to actually know things like "who Jeremy Corbyn is", and it's easy to get in podcast form, so it's not like I'm going to stop listening... but I didn't realize what a delight she was until she was gone, it feels like. This is very exciting.
posted by Sequence at 3:20 PM on October 14, 2015
posted by Sequence at 3:20 PM on October 14, 2015
I have a weird crush on Alan Davies. Jonathan Creek shouldn't have thrown me into such a tizzy but it sure did.
posted by Kitteh at 3:24 PM on October 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 3:24 PM on October 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
I wouldn't mind them replacing Alan Davis either
Well, I hear Jeremy Clarkson's out of a job...
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:38 PM on October 14, 2015
Well, I hear Jeremy Clarkson's out of a job...
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:38 PM on October 14, 2015
<3 Sandi Toksvig
Fry is great and I'm sure this isn't him bowing out of the public eye. . . .
posted by erlking at 3:48 PM on October 14, 2015
Fry is great and I'm sure this isn't him bowing out of the public eye. . . .
posted by erlking at 3:48 PM on October 14, 2015
Yay! I love Stephen Fry of course, and it won't be the same without his indulgent schoolmaster approach, but I've missed Sandi from The News Quiz.
I too would be ready to say goodbye to Alan Davies, who is...not really that funny anymore? Susan Calman is almost too predictable as a replacement, but I can hope. Maybe Sue Perkins?
posted by kalimac at 4:20 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I too would be ready to say goodbye to Alan Davies, who is...not really that funny anymore? Susan Calman is almost too predictable as a replacement, but I can hope. Maybe Sue Perkins?
posted by kalimac at 4:20 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
SUE PERKINS IS POSSIBLY MY FAVORITE
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:26 PM on October 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:26 PM on October 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
I enjoy Alan Davies, but whatever dynamic develops between him and Sandi will only serve to make me wistful for Stephen as host again (even though I'm sure Sandi will be a brilliant host in her own right.) I think replacing Alan with Sue Perkins (as kalimac suggested) would be a very wise move, she'd be fabulous in his place, and this would also ensure gender equality on the panel (which was a real problem for the show, particularly in their earlier seasons).
In short, sorry to see Stephen go, yay for Sandi Toksvig, and let's get Sue Perkins to replace Alan Davies.
posted by namewithoutwords at 5:05 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
In short, sorry to see Stephen go, yay for Sandi Toksvig, and let's get Sue Perkins to replace Alan Davies.
posted by namewithoutwords at 5:05 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
alan davies on twitter :
What's happening? A Dane you say? We'll all have pastries and jumpers and it'll be shot in black & white. Bye @stephenfry you did very well xposted by nadawi at 5:38 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
A couple of weeks with a sobbing supply teacher would have been nice but no, a warm welcome to the brilliant @sanditoksvig
SUE PERKINS IS DEFINITIVELY MY FAVORITE
(in other Sue Perkins related news Great British Bake-Off is FINALLY on American Netflix yaaaaaaaay)
posted by Sara C. at 5:40 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
(in other Sue Perkins related news Great British Bake-Off is FINALLY on American Netflix yaaaaaaaay)
posted by Sara C. at 5:40 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Great British Bake-Off is FINALLY on American Netflix yaaaaaaaay
Yes but WHY is it called Great British Baking Show WHYYYYYY?
Man, nobody thinks Americans are stupid the way Americans think Americans are stupid.
posted by tzikeh at 5:47 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yes but WHY is it called Great British Baking Show WHYYYYYY?
Man, nobody thinks Americans are stupid the way Americans think Americans are stupid.
posted by tzikeh at 5:47 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't know the specifics, but I'd guess that someone else already has a trademark on the word "Bake-Off" for a US cooking show, and PBS did it to avoid any confusion and/or future legal issues.
posted by Sara C. at 5:57 PM on October 14, 2015
posted by Sara C. at 5:57 PM on October 14, 2015
In the USA, "Bake-Off" is a registered trademark of Pillsbury.
Now, if anyone would care to explain the British title's lack of hyphenation...
posted by Sys Rq at 9:34 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Now, if anyone would care to explain the British title's lack of hyphenation...
posted by Sys Rq at 9:34 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sequence: News Quiz has just not been the same without her
Yeah, it's better.
posted by Gyan at 10:10 PM on October 14, 2015
Yeah, it's better.
posted by Gyan at 10:10 PM on October 14, 2015
I sure wish I knew a way to watch "QI" -- new episodes as well as old.
They seem to make their way to YouTube with a briskness once they have been broadcast.
Daily Motion has a vast archive that I plowed through a while back. If you search on Google for QI and then click on the "videos" tab, you'll get a whole lot of results. You can also search for individual series to narrow your results.
Basically, I watched A-L over a series of about 2 months, and they all seem to still be around. You have to exercise a bit of google-fu, and get away from YouTube, but they're there to be seen.
Also, Acorn might carry the series. I haven't paid for that yet so I'm not sure exactly what all it carries and how much historical archives are available there.
posted by hippybear at 12:44 AM on October 15, 2015
They seem to make their way to YouTube with a briskness once they have been broadcast.
Daily Motion has a vast archive that I plowed through a while back. If you search on Google for QI and then click on the "videos" tab, you'll get a whole lot of results. You can also search for individual series to narrow your results.
Basically, I watched A-L over a series of about 2 months, and they all seem to still be around. You have to exercise a bit of google-fu, and get away from YouTube, but they're there to be seen.
Also, Acorn might carry the series. I haven't paid for that yet so I'm not sure exactly what all it carries and how much historical archives are available there.
posted by hippybear at 12:44 AM on October 15, 2015
Just going to leave this potted history of QI here in case anyone missed it.
posted by davemee at 2:05 AM on October 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by davemee at 2:05 AM on October 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
You know you have a rad marriage when before you both fall off to sleep at night, you talk about how awesome a host Sandi Toksvig is going to be and how that one time Jack Whitehall nearly wet himself with terror at the sight of Mr Blobby on Big Fat News Quiz is still hilarious. Plus, drowsily affirming ourselves that we want to be besties with David Mitchell.
posted by Kitteh at 5:58 AM on October 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 5:58 AM on October 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
Sandi Toksvig? Bloody hell, I never knew people liked her so much. She's been on TV & Radio all my life and I just can't get excited. She's not bad but she's not some kind of unsung comedy genius. All avuncular asides and raised eyebrows.
I'm not so optimistic about QI surviving to Z. The show was so much about Fry and his dynamic with Alan Davies. Very similar to Mitchell/Mack on WILTY.
Davies becomes much less charming without Fry around to patronise him. Add Jupitus into the mix and it becomes TV Hell.
posted by Brian Lux at 7:32 AM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not so optimistic about QI surviving to Z. The show was so much about Fry and his dynamic with Alan Davies. Very similar to Mitchell/Mack on WILTY.
Davies becomes much less charming without Fry around to patronise him. Add Jupitus into the mix and it becomes TV Hell.
posted by Brian Lux at 7:32 AM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think one of the elves should host it, preferably Anna Ptaszynski. Totally serious. She's hilarious on No Such Thing as a Fish.
posted by hoist with his own pet aardvark at 9:38 AM on October 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by hoist with his own pet aardvark at 9:38 AM on October 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think Fry and Toksvig are both top-notch, and I sure wish I knew a way to watch "QI" -- new episodes as well as old.
In the US Hulu has some, but not the newest or the oldest seasons, and not the XL versions. Which all seems rather half-assed and is a bit of a quandary for me: I'd rather stop pirating it, but it's bullshit that it's not being properly imported.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:29 AM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
In the US Hulu has some, but not the newest or the oldest seasons, and not the XL versions. Which all seems rather half-assed and is a bit of a quandary for me: I'd rather stop pirating it, but it's bullshit that it's not being properly imported.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:29 AM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Add Jupitus into the mix and it becomes TV Hell.
Nope, sorry, I think Phil's hilarious. Not as funny as Johnny Vegas (who is apparently from a completely different planet), but still very good.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:41 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Nope, sorry, I think Phil's hilarious. Not as funny as Johnny Vegas (who is apparently from a completely different planet), but still very good.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:41 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Greg_Ace: Nope, sorry, I think Phil's hilarious. Not as funny as Johnny Vegas (who is apparently from a completely different planet), but still very good.
I haven't been able to look at Johnny Vegas since he molested a teenage audience member on stage back in 2008 during a routine that was basically Rape Culture's Greatest Hits. I skip any episodes of QI with him in them now--it's an automatic no-go in our house if he appears.
posted by tzikeh at 3:50 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
I haven't been able to look at Johnny Vegas since he molested a teenage audience member on stage back in 2008 during a routine that was basically Rape Culture's Greatest Hits. I skip any episodes of QI with him in them now--it's an automatic no-go in our house if he appears.
posted by tzikeh at 3:50 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
goddamnit johnny vegas.
posted by nadawi at 4:37 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 4:37 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Whoa. I did not know that. Yikes.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:40 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:40 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ugh, wow. I already disliked Johnny Vegas for more "not my cup of tea" and "is his style of comedy really a good fit for QI?" reasons (he especially seems to always have dull nerd-punching responses to things and generally violates the "yes and" spirit of comedy), but, yeah, now I have real permission to hate that guy.
posted by Sara C. at 4:46 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Sara C. at 4:46 PM on October 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
As an alternate "from another planet" fellow, may I suggest Ross Noble?
(Go google "Ross noble QI ewoks methane" for funnies.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:52 PM on October 15, 2015 [5 favorites]
(Go google "Ross noble QI ewoks methane" for funnies.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:52 PM on October 15, 2015 [5 favorites]
I like Ross Noble too*, but his stuff doesn't come from quite so far out of left field. I'll say this: as a replacement for Alan, he'd make a great team with Toksvig!
*I could listen to him say "Toblerone-Rolo combo" all day long
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:17 PM on October 15, 2015 [5 favorites]
*I could listen to him say "Toblerone-Rolo combo" all day long
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:17 PM on October 15, 2015 [5 favorites]
A couple of the Daily Motion links, notably "Humans" and "G-Animals" had me howling once they got rolling. Facts or not, that is some good stuff.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 3:37 AM on October 16, 2015
posted by halfbuckaroo at 3:37 AM on October 16, 2015
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