Alison/Susie?

StusyBaby · Post by **StusyBaby** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:41 pm

I mentioned this on the old yahoo mailing list thing, but now I can do a poll!

Susie will no doubt be back on the screen soon, but what will happen to Alison?!

I sure know what I'd like to see...

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:46 pm

Two lexicographers is unnecessary but it would be a shame if we didn't see Alison on the show again when Susie returns.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:55 pm

My vote goes to Susie permanently.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:06 pm

Susie is the best in so many ways. I love how gently she tells contestants that their words are misspelt/capitalised/not in the selection (or all three) and how she is still excited to declare a 9.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:17 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:Susie is the best in so many ways. I love how gently she tells contestants that their words are misspelt/capitalised/not in the selection (or all three) and how she is still excited to declare a 9.

Also forgot to add Susie started to do a segment of word origins, which I found quite interesting too.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:07 pm

Susie is clearly superior - I don't know if it's just because Alison is new, but she seems to check a lot of words that are pretty clearly going to be in the dictionary.

Plus it's just not the same when someone spots 'erotica'...

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:58 pm

I don't dislike Alison, but I just don't think she is a good fit for Dictionary Corner. Yes, I agree with Soo that a lexicographer should be very reserved and not have too much personality. Not to get too far off topic, but I would vlove to hear how she is doing with her new baby when she gets back from maternity leave. She has a right to talk about that, and honestly I think she is just as much fun as Des and Carol.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:42 pm

Back in the olden days, they had lots of different lexicographers, but then decided to settle upon Susie. I actually quite liked the variation. I think Susie was chosen because she was popular, but I don't think she was necessarily any better at the job than anyone else. And I've seen errors over the years.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:10 am

I'll take Susie all day long.

No matter what the question was.

Howard Somerset · Post by **Howard Somerset** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:20 am

Corby wrote:I'll take Susie all day long.

Only the day? What about the night?

In my case I've voted for alternating them. They've very different, but each of them seems to add something to the programme.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:27 am

Would most of the people who watch "Countdown" today know who these alternate lexicographers are?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:22 am

Yes, I agree with Soo that a lexicographer should be very reserved and not have too much personality.

Well, I said the opposite of that, but I appreciate the thought.

Harry Whitehouse · Post by **Harry Whitehouse** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:10 am

Alison doesn't have Susie's depth of knowledge, and I find Susie's occasional other-worldliness quite endearing. She will sometimes explain the meanings of words, but have no idea how to pronounce them, despite the fact that they are not excessively obscure.

Heather Phillips · Post by **Heather Phillips** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:50 am

I think that Susie should be given the option to job-share if she so desires. A working mother with 2 children needs to have flexibility in her work life.
It may come as a welcome break from parenthood though.

I look forward to seeing Susie back and would be more than happy to see Susie and Alison on a job-share basis.

Heather

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:37 pm

harry wrote:Alison doesn't have Susie's depth of knowledge, and I find Susie's occasional other-worldliness quite endearing. She will sometimes explain the meanings of words, but have no idea how to pronounce them, despite the fact that they are not excessively obscure.

I have also seen Susie mispronounce words. You were talking about Alison mispronouncing I take it, being a pro-Susie post?

Depth of knowledge is not really required for the job, since pronunciation of words is given, so in that sense there is no "excuse" for anyone.

I have also seen Susie (and probably others) say whether a word is allowable before the second contestant even gives their word. I have always found this back-to-front. They should wait for both declarations.

I've said this elsewhere before, but the actual job of determining whether a word should be allowed is something that anyone could do, with a small amount of training. There is no particular skill involved. So it comes down to how someone comes across on the television and that they don't annoy too many viewers.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:36 pm

I'll rephrase my question. How many of the people who watch "Countdown" today would know about the old lexicographers?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:19 am

I have no idea who the other lexicographers are (bar Mary from the first ever show. Now she was a stunner!), or that Alison had been on before. I'd certainly like to know who they were.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:29 am

I do like Susie very much though, and I'll be glad to see her back!

StusyBaby · Post by **StusyBaby** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:33 am

Ben wrote:Two lexicographers is unnecessary

Agreed, I just quite like the idea of them both in the corner getting SLATHERED and then GRAPPLING.......

David Roe · Post by **David Roe** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:24 pm

Bring back Catherine Clarke! Even though she did disallow "unplaited"!

(I remember Richard Samson - I think he emigrated to New Zealand, didn't he? - but came back for 1 week as a special.)

Harry Whitehouse · Post by **Harry Whitehouse** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:44 pm

Gevin-Gavin wrote:
harry wrote:Alison doesn't have Susie's depth of knowledge, and I find Susie's occasional other-worldliness quite endearing. She will sometimes explain the meanings of words, but have no idea how to pronounce them, despite the fact that they are not excessively obscure.
I have also seen Susie mispronounce words. You were talking about Alison mispronouncing I take it, being a pro-Susie post?

Yes, it was a pro-Susie post, but I was referring to Susie mispronouncing.

Stewart Scott · Post by **Stewart Scott** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:29 pm

As much as I like Alison (Alison being in DC during my recording and me not getting to meet Susie) and what she has brought to the show in Susie's absence, I do feel that Susie will always be what I associate with Dictionary Corner and she should come back permanently.

Martin Smith · Post by **Martin Smith** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:22 pm

Alternating might be good for Susie, especially when filming five weekdays in succession as they did recently. The variety would be nice. Susie is better at the job - very natural, and good at learning and explaining very complex words. Alison is a stunner though, very slim.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:41 pm

Does anyone have a rough idea when Susie is likely to be back in DC?

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:53 pm

I think she is due back after the break for the races. I think the show breaks from Wed onwards but I cannot tell for certain.

Martin Smith · Post by **Martin Smith** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:30 pm

That sounds right. The first 25 episodes of this series were filmed in five successive weekdays in December, but they aren't returning to film again until this week (I think), which would make Susie's baby about 3 months old, so she's probably ready to return for the odd day.

Damian E · Post by **Damian E** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:36 pm

Susie comes back on-screen tomorrow, Weds Feb the whatever.

Julian Fell · Post by **Julian Fell** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:18 pm

Damian will you be having Alison back? I mean, more than once every 5 series or so? I do think Susie is excellent but I also think Alison brings something to DC which Susie doesn't, and it's always nice to have variety...

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:22 pm

Yes, Susie has been back now.

Were you all prepared for your favorite softie when the time came?

mackenzie · Post by **mackenzie** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:53 am

I'm glad Susie's back. While both are fine as lexicographers, Alison seems to enjoy saying "very good" (with vigorous nodding) and giving definitions for 5 or 6-letter words, which I find a bit patronising as the words are never obscure and there are 7s and 8s available.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:09 am

I should give Susie a very alliterative nickname. I shall call her "Susie the Surrey Softie" from now on. (Try saying that 5 time fast!)

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:21 am

At what point did that seem worth posting?

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:34 pm

I wanted to show my sense of humor.

James Turner · Post by **James Turner** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:05 pm

First of all, Susie is a Goddess and therefore has to be included in some capacity.

Personally I would bring back Alison for DC and move Susie to the main presenters chair. Let's face it, it's time to pension Des off. I bet he's still using the same old joke book that he used when he was a redcoat at Butlins and the jokes probably weren't funny even then. The only thing you can say for him is that he is infinitely better than Des Lynam but that's not saying a lot. That guy was terrible.

I would also get rid of the guests in DC. After all, you get fed up of hearing the same recycled old stories from the same old faces. It is obvious that new guests like James Whittaker are far from the answer. Channel Four would probably save themselves a lot of money by these measures with little detriment to the program. It's true that they would save a hell of a lot more money by getting rid of Carol but I don't think the program would work without her.

The worst thing that happened to Countdown was when it moved to a 45 minute slot. Too Long. With less rabbiting time, because of the above measures, you would only have to drop about three rounds to move it back to a 30 minute slot. Just right.

So, we are left with Carol, Susie and Alison, all easy on the eye, and the game can flow better with less interruptions. Problem solved.

M. George Quinn · Post by **M. George Quinn** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:52 pm

Wasn't Damian the expert in DC, on and off, for quite a while?

I think he had to quit that when his suit rejected him.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:53 am

Absolutely.

I think Des O'Connor is much better than Des Lynam also, but we all miss Richard Whiteley.

I like Susie, but I don't think she would be a good fit as host of Countdown. However, Meredith Vieira, our host of Millionaire in daytime here in the US is also a woman. So, I don't have anything against female game show hosts.

But, it really does seem awkward to have a woman as the host of Countdown. Also, Susie has a lot of knowledge of words and origins of words so she might as well use it in Dictionary Corner.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:48 am

James Turner wrote:First of all, Susie is a Goddess and therefore has to be included in some capacity.

Personally I would bring back Alison for DC and move Susie to the main presenters chair. Let's face it, it's time to pension Des off. I bet he's still using the same old joke book that he used when he was a redcoat at Butlins and the jokes probably weren't funny even then. The only thing you can say for him is that he is infinitely better than Des Lynam but that's not saying a lot. That guy was terrible.

I would also get rid of the guests in DC. After all, you get fed up of hearing the same recycled old stories from the same old faces. It is obvious that new guests like James Whittaker are far from the answer. Channel Four would probably save themselves a lot of money by these measures with little detriment to the program. It's true that they would save a hell of a lot more money by getting rid of Carol but I don't think the program would work without her.

The worst thing that happened to Countdown was when it moved to a 45 minute slot. Too Long. With less rabbiting time, because of the above measures, you would only have to drop about three rounds to move it back to a 30 minute slot. Just right.

So, we are left with Carol, Susie and Alison, all easy on the eye, and the game can flow better with less interruptions. Problem solved.

I hope you're being ironic. This is the worst set of ideas I've ever read, and I've read Mein Kampf.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:22 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:I hope you're being ironic. This is the worst set of ideas I've ever read, and I've read Mein Kampf.

Me In Camp F? Is that Hitler's coming out story

James Turner · Post by **James Turner** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:34 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
I hope you're being ironic. This is the worst set of ideas I've ever read, and I've read Mein Kampf.

I hope you're being ironic, comparing ideas about a television game show with ideas expressed in an infamous book written by an evil dictator, war criminal and mass murderer.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:49 am

James Turner wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:
I hope you're being ironic. This is the worst set of ideas I've ever read, and I've read Mein Kampf.
I hope you're being ironic, comparing ideas about a television game show with ideas expressed in an infamous book written by an evil dictator, war criminal and mass murderer.

I think the word you are looking for is "funny", not ironic.

James Turner · Post by **James Turner** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:29 am

Kirk Bevins wrote:
James Turner wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:
I hope you're being ironic. This is the worst set of ideas I've ever read, and I've read Mein Kampf.
I hope you're being ironic, comparing ideas about a television game show with ideas expressed in an infamous book written by an evil dictator, war criminal and mass murderer.
I think the word you are looking for is "funny", not ironic.

Whatever word I was looking for, I can assure you it wasn't the one that you suggest.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:09 am

James Turner wrote:Whatever word I was looking for, I can assure you it wasn't the one that you suggest.

Hi. You seem nice.

M. George Quinn · Post by **M. George Quinn** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:15 pm

Oh dear, Reductio ad Hitlerum. Godwin's law broken, argument over.

Whenever I hear the word irony misused I always think of Ed Byrne's set about the Alison Morrisette song. 10,000 spoons, hilarious.

George

Should Alison be kept on in some capacity when Susie comes back? If so, how?