However, I suspect it will be hard to top the debut episode, as I'm a big fan of the house musician and the celebrity guest.
It was also fun to
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I first heard of Jonathan Coulton a few years ago when I attended a Yale Spizzwinks(?) concert and heard a song that he wrote for the group (back when he was a member himself). Liked it so much I bought the CD.omgwheelhouse wrote:I've listened to all the episodes so far. My favorite part has been the contributions of house musician Jonathan Coulton, who I'd somehow never heard of before. I hope they continue to write rounds that take advantage of his talents -- a good example is a round where he sang parts of the song Flagpole Sitta with new lyrics giving clues that indicated a country of the world.
zakharov wrote:NPR shows don't have big budgets, especially when they're brand new. If a ringing bell can do the job for cheap, they'll use it. I think the show's biggest expense it its light-up APPLAUSE signs.
-That said, they need to clarify the rules regarding whether you can buzz in early. There was a lot of confusion over this at the show I attended. I'd hope they would have it Jeopardy style and not quiz bowl style.
Yeah, probably. I'm guessing this show has pretty much no budget at all.omgwheelhouse wrote:zakharov wrote:NPR shows don't have big budgets, especially when they're brand new. If a ringing bell can do the job for cheap, they'll use it. I think the show's biggest expense it its light-up APPLAUSE signs.
-That said, they need to clarify the rules regarding whether you can buzz in early. There was a lot of confusion over this at the show I attended. I'd hope they would have it Jeopardy style and not quiz bowl style.
Right. It seems like if someone wants to buzz in early (even after 5 words), they'll still read the entire question. (I believe one contestant even said before competing "if I've learned anything, it's ring early"). Other times both contestants will buzz in right at the question's end. Admittedly I don't remember a time when they've been completely stumped as to who was first, but there are plenty of times where to me it just sounds like two bells ringing on top of each other. It might be a nice touch if the buzzers had different sounds so you could tell who was buzzing by the sound.
The cost for 2 buzzers has got to be a drop in the bucket for them, no? They have "national" in their name. I guess maybe I'm naive about this.
I had the good fortune of being a contestant (along with two other Jeopardy! alumni) on Ask Me Another a few months ago and I spoke briefly with Art Chung and Jonathan Coulton after the show. Art acknowledged that the nonlockoutable bells were less than ideal, but that lockout buzzers were even worse for radio due to their not so radio friendly tones.omgwheelhouse wrote:Another small gripe.. can they spring for an actual lockout buzzer system? Are they seriously just using like... those hotel check-in bells?
then? when?Rex Kramer wrote:Um . . . much fewer awkward?
Rex
Check your local NPR listings, or download the podcast which goes up on Friday afternoons.Johnblue wrote:When does this thing air?