Should I go on the show?

Joseph Krol · Post by **Joseph Krol** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:09 pm

Hi,
I'd like to see your opinion on whether I should go on the show or not. Ideally, I would like to become a finalist as an octo, but I doubt I'll become a series champ (that would be nice though). Are there any things I should do, like watch a recording etc.? Also, how far do you think I would get?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:12 pm

You're currently averaging 6.8 maxes per game, which is a little low for an aspiring octochamp. I used to suggest 10 as a good target, although that's probably a bit on the high side; 8 - 9 would probably be sensible now. That ignores other factors like how good you are at handling pressure, which only you would know.

Ryan Taylor · Post by **Ryan Taylor** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:35 pm

I would say practice a little bit more just so you can be more confident of achieving what you want to achieve. But you don't want to leave it too long otherwise the whole kind of wow factor will be reduced the older you get even though you are tiny. I would say give it 6 months then apply.

Jon O'Neill · Post by **Jon O'Neill** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:44 pm

I would go in expecting nothing, remember there are 120? heats in a series, and maybe 6? octochamps on average, so the chances are quite high you'll run into an octochamp anyway and no matter how good you are you're probably going to lose. If you go in expecting to get to the finals you'll only regret it.

So I say, lower your expectations, then go on.

Soph K · Post by **Soph K** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:04 pm

Maybe wait 7 months-ish. Don't think you should wait more than 22 months. If you're 12 or 13 when you go on it, people would be like they were with, say, Eoin Monaghan - like, "OMG! That Joseph's only 13 and he's won 5 games!", considering that you win at least 3 games which I think is fairly likely. Even if you don't win any games, you tried your best, you plucked up the courage to go on - which is not pointless, I would bet you £90 that there's more than 10 reasons why it wouldn't be pointless to go on Countdown and not win any games. Don't really wanna sway your boat too much. Just my opinion. By the way, remember on Monday 21st, while watching countdown you wrote down what you would score against Ned - and you would have beaten him, and Ned's won about 3 games or thereabouts. Just remember, (I don't wanna be soppy or anything) that we'd all be behind you. Have a think.

Mark James · Post by **Mark James** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:23 pm

Soph K wrote:I would bet you £90 that there's more than 10 reasons why it wouldn't be pointless to go on Countdown and not win any games.

I have 4 so far;

You wouldn't have to lug a teapot around with you on your way home.
You wouldn't need to bring a change of clothes.
You get to stare at Rachel close up.
You get to find out how small Jeff really is.

Soph K · Post by **Soph K** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:25 pm

Mark James wrote:
Soph K wrote:I would bet you £90 that there's more than 10 reasons why it wouldn't be pointless to go on Countdown and not win any games.
I have 4 so far;

You wouldn't have to lug a teapot around with you on your way home.
You wouldn't need to bring a change of clothes.
You get to stare at Rachel close up.
You get to find out how small Jeff really is.

lol to the last 2

Mark James · Post by **Mark James** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:33 pm

Soph K wrote: lol to the last 2

I'm devastated Sophie. I thought all four of them were funny.

Soph K · Post by **Soph K** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:36 pm

Mark James wrote:
Soph K wrote: lol to the last 2
I'm devastated Sophie. I thought all four of them were funny.

ok EDIT TO THE LAST POST I DID:
lol loads at last 2 and lol quite a lot at the first 2
BASICALLY, the last 2 were funnier even though the first 2 were funny too

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:47 pm

I always say wait until you're as good as you're going to be, whether that's because you couldn't get any better or because you've reached a level where you don't want to have to get more and more obsessive to get that extra bit of performance. There's nothing worse than losing on the show and then a few months down the line kicking everyone's arse on Apterous.

Dan McColm · Post by **Dan McColm** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:48 am

You've got a fairly decent rating already. Give it 6 months or so and you'll be certain to win a few games!

Ian Fitzpatrick · Post by **Ian Fitzpatrick** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:56 am

Gavin Chipper wrote:I always say wait until you're as good as you're going to be, whether that's because you couldn't get any better or because you've reached a level where you don't want to have to get more and more obsessive to get that extra bit of performance. There's nothing worse than losing on the show and then a few months down the line kicking everyone's arse on Apterous.

Just ask James Robinson

Thomas Carey · Post by **Thomas Carey** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:45 pm

Joseph Krol wrote:Hi,
I'd like to see your opinion on whether I should go on the show or not. Ideally, I would like to become a finalist as an octo, but I doubt I'll become a series champ (that would be nice though). Are there any things I should do, like watch a recording etc.? Also, how far do you think I would get?

You should go on the show, but the stupid form won't let me vote.

Yes, you should go on the show.

Soph K · Post by **Soph K** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:48 pm

Soph K wrote:By the way, remember on Monday 21st, while watching countdown you wrote down what you would score against Ned - and you would have beaten him, and Ned's won about 3 games or thereabouts.

Plus, on Tuesday 22nd, you did that again and said you'd beat Ned Pendleton by 12 points or something, if on the show against him. That's pretty good! There will probably be quite a few people about his level of goodness when (/if) you go on, and by then, you'd probably be even better and maybe be rated, say, 1505 then the likelihood would be that you won a few games.
P.S. Just a little question - are you allowed to go on Countdown more than once?

Soph K · Post by **Soph K** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:50 pm

Thomas Carey wrote:
Joseph Krol wrote:Hi,
I'd like to see your opinion on whether I should go on the show or not. Ideally, I would like to become a finalist as an octo, but I doubt I'll become a series champ (that would be nice though). Are there any things I should do, like watch a recording etc.? Also, how far do you think I would get?
You should go on the show, but the stupid form won't let me vote.

Yes, you should go on the show.

Yeah it won't let me vote either; whenever I click one of the options, it just says 'Error Occured' blah blah blah... Annoying.

Thomas Carey · Post by **Thomas Carey** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:53 pm

Mine's just workde now; but the posts look completely different. Maybe it didn't work because they were changing the look of the site.

Thomas Carey · Post by **Thomas Carey** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:53 pm

Soph K wrote:
Thomas Carey wrote:
Joseph Krol wrote:Hi,
I'd like to see your opinion on whether I should go on the show or not. Ideally, I would like to become a finalist as an octo, but I doubt I'll become a series champ (that would be nice though). Are there any things I should do, like watch a recording etc.? Also, how far do you think I would get?
You should go on the show, but the stupid form won't let me vote.

Yes, you should go on the show.
Yeah it won't let me vote either; whenever I click one of the options, it just says 'Error Occured' blah blah blah... Annoying.

Mine's just workde now; but the posts look completely different. Maybe it didn't work because they were changing the look of the site.

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:55 pm

Ah voting works for me now too after the prosilver change. I voted "other" and I will now specify as requested: "Practise a bit more". I nearly voted for "Practice a bit more" but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Even now "Practise" has got that red squiggly error underline thingy, so I suppose Americans don't use that spelling or something.

I don't think it's necessary to watch a recording. If your first broadcast date is not a Monday, you'll have the opportunity to watch a recording before you sit in the hot seat yourself. If it is a Monday, you won't get that chance but it shouldn't be a problem as they explain everything to you and it really isn't that complicated.

Thomas Carey · Post by **Thomas Carey** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:14 pm

Soph K wrote:
Soph K wrote:By the way, remember on Monday 21st, while watching countdown you wrote down what you would score against Ned - and you would have beaten him, and Ned's won about 3 games or thereabouts.
Plus, on Tuesday 22nd, you did that again and said you'd beat Ned Pendleton by 12 points or something, if on the show against him. That's pretty good! There will probably be quite a few people about his level of goodness when (/if) you go on, and by then, you'd probably be even better and maybe be rated, say, 1505 then the likelihood would be that you won a few games.
P.S. Just a little question - are you allowed to go on Countdown more than once?

I'm not entirely sure; but I don't think so unless it is later found out you would have won but you had a real word disalowed or something, but as I said I'm not entirely sure.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:14 pm

Adam Gillard wrote:"Practise a bit more". I nearly voted for "Practice a bit more" but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Even now "Practise" has got that red squiggly error underline thingy, so I suppose Americans don't use that spelling or something.

PRACTISE is the correct spelling of the verb. The noun is PRACTICE (UK) or PRACTISE (US).

Ryan Taylor · Post by **Ryan Taylor** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:56 pm

Adam Gillard wrote:Ah voting works for me now too after the prosilver change. I voted "other" and I will now specify as requested: "Practise a bit more". I nearly voted for "Practice a bit more" but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Even now "Practise" has got that red squiggly error underline thingy, so I suppose Americans don't use that spelling or something.

I don't think it's necessary to watch a recording. If your first broadcast date is not a Monday, you'll have the opportunity to watch a recording before you sit in the hot seat yourself. If it is a Monday, you won't get that chance but it shouldn't be a problem as they explain everything to you and it really isn't that complicated.

Grammar Nazi.

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:04 am

Ryan Taylor wrote: Grammar Nazi.

Oh dear Ryan! Grammar is quite separate from spelling, which is what I commented on. Now I'm commenting on your semantics. I hope this is informative (and transparently condescending).

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:18 am

Adam Gillard wrote:Now I'm commenting on your semantics.

Moar like semitics!

Ryan Taylor · Post by **Ryan Taylor** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:14 am

Adam Gillard wrote:
Ryan Taylor wrote: Grammar Nazi.
Oh dear Ryan! Grammar is quite separate from spelling, which is what I commented on. Now I'm commenting on your semantics. I hope this is informative (and transparently condescending).

I don't really care. I just wanted to use the word Nazi jew see.

Thomas Carey · Post by **Thomas Carey** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:29 am

Mark James wrote:
Soph K wrote:I would bet you £90 that there's more than 10 reasons why it wouldn't be pointless to go on Countdown and not win any games.
I have 4 so far;

You wouldn't have to lug a teapot around with you on your way home.
You wouldn't need to bring a change of clothes.
You get to stare at Rachel close up.
You get to find out how small Jeff really is.

Fifth one: Free water.

Soph K · Post by **Soph K** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:24 pm

Thomas Carey wrote:
Soph K wrote: Yeah it won't let me vote either; whenever I click one of the options, it just says 'Error Occured' blah blah blah... Annoying.
Mine's just workde now; but the posts look completely different. Maybe it didn't work because they were changing the look of the site.

Yes; it is working now for me all the time since just after the site was changed slightly.

Keith Bennett · Post by **Keith Bennett** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:14 pm

I've thought in the past that one or two talented young players went on the show a year or two too soon, and missed out on winning the series as a result. Andrew Perry was one if I remember correctly. In the last series Eoin was brilliant - but Jack was brilliant too and just that vital bit older, more experienced.

First or second year Uni would seem to me a good time for someone to go, when your brain's probably as sharp as it will ever be. (I would imagine for anyone at school or Uni it's better to go on a second-half of the year series, otherwise you could be practicing and recording in the run up to the spring/summer exams.) Not sure how old you are now JK, but I'd recommend leaving it to then.

Soph K · Post by **Soph K** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:24 pm

Keith Bennett wrote:Not sure how old you are now JK, but I'd recommend leaving it to then.

He's 12, my big bro!!!!!!! BTW, if you ever wanted to know, he farts a lot. Ok, well, maybe not a lot. He does fart though. Well I suppose everyone does. I do love him, though, he is my brother. To be honest, he's a brilliant brother, but I wouldn't want to say that to loads of people! That's why I'm writing in size 25.

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