Superlatives - clichTd journalism
Superlatives - clichTd journalism
(OP)
The UK just benefited from some new digital freeview channels, amongst them is Quest.
Ok, its a sort of poor man's nature channel, or so it seems, but given the paucity of anything to watch on any of the 50-60 channels, we gave it a go.
I caught the tail end of some program about a guy looking for Nile Hipos - at night, so most of the program segment was in green night vision.
Within a very few minutes SO and self were hooting at the screen every time the presenter said "Incredible" and "Unbelievable". We were going to keep a tally but decided not to bother.
The program that followed was much the same.... we gave up 10 minutes in and decided to talk to each other instead.
Is this the new standard of TV? some cut price safari with some over-enthusiastic commentator who has nothing really to say about what is being shown but what is said is peppered with superlatives?
Does anyone else find this annoying or have any other pet hates?
Ok, its a sort of poor man's nature channel, or so it seems, but given the paucity of anything to watch on any of the 50-60 channels, we gave it a go.
I caught the tail end of some program about a guy looking for Nile Hipos - at night, so most of the program segment was in green night vision.
Within a very few minutes SO and self were hooting at the screen every time the presenter said "Incredible" and "Unbelievable". We were going to keep a tally but decided not to bother.
The program that followed was much the same.... we gave up 10 minutes in and decided to talk to each other instead.
Is this the new standard of TV? some cut price safari with some over-enthusiastic commentator who has nothing really to say about what is being shown but what is said is peppered with superlatives?
Does anyone else find this annoying or have any other pet hates?





RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
There is a program on the Discovery Channel called Destroyed in Seconds. The writers seem to like the word "decimate".
"That tank farm was decimated!"
My copy of Lord Woodhouselee's Universal History (2nd Ed MCCMXXXV) starts off referring to "sacred and profane" historians. It turns out that "profane" historians are people like Herodotus. There were so many possibilities there!
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - Robert Hunter
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
(for others – you can pick your own eccentric sports announcer and develop a similar game)
The Brent Musburger Drinking Game
WARNING!
Play at your own risk. It is conceivable your whole party will be passed out with 8 mins remaining in the 1st quarter.
*Note: Partner is spelled "Pardner," because that's the way Brent says it.
Rule #1: "The Pardner" A person is picked to be the Pardner at the beginning of the game. The first time Brent says "Pardner," the Pardner has to take 1 drink, and then picks someone else to be the Pardner. The next time Brent says it, the new Pardner has to take 2 drinks, and then pick a new Pardner, and so on and so on. The Pardner must wear a special "Pardner" hat.
Rule #2: "Folks" Everyone drinks 1 when Brent says "Folks." However, if Brent says "Hold on Folks", everyone must drink once but the first person to drink has to finish their drink for not holding on.
Rule #3: "It's a foot race!". Whenever Brent says "It's a foot race" everyone has to finish their drink. The first one done becomes "That Man" and gets to punch the Pardner in the arm.
Rule #4: "There's that man again". After someone becomes "That Man," they get to give away 3 drinks to someone of their choosing the next time Brent says "That Man." That person then becomes "That Man." If Brent says "That Man" before "It's a footrace," The Pardner becomes That Man. If The Pardner becomes That Man first, he gets to punch the new That Man in the arm twice after giving away the 3 drinks. There must also be a special hat for "That Man."
Rule #5: "Dr. Pepper". Every time Brent says "Dr. Pepper" everyone has to yell out "I'M A PEPPER!" and take 2 drinks. Afterwards, each person must give out a satisfied "AAAAAAAHHHHH!", as if in a Dr. Pepper commercial. Anyone who fails to do so must drink again.
Rule #6: "Jack Arute". Whenever Brent says "Our ol' buddy Jack Arute" everyone has to say "AROOOOOOT!" Last one to do it has to do a shot. If everyone does it simultaneously, the Pardner must do a shot.
Rule #7: "In the college game". Whenever Brent says this little gem, everyone must say "Shut the **** up Brent", drink 2, and punch the Pardner in the arm.
Rule #8: Mentioning a Big 10 school during a Big 12 game. Whenever Brent does this, the first person who names the Big 10 school's mascot gets to make somebody drink for 11 seconds, since there's 11 schools in the Big 10.
Rule #9: Calling a touchdown before the player actually scores. For example, during an interception return, Brent says "It's a touchdown!" before the player actually scores. In this case, everyone must start drinking and continue to drink until the player actually does score. If by some odd event, the player does NOT score, everyone must finish their drink.
Rule #10: "Gary, my man". Whenever Brent says "Gary, my man", the Pardner gets to choose someone to be Gary. From that point on, that person must be referred to as "Gary, my man" until the game is over. "Gary, my man" gets to give away 5 drinks the rest of the game any time Brent says "Gary, my man". If someone talks to "Gary, my man" without calling him that, they have to do a shot. If there is someone playing the game actually named Gary, that person is automatically "Gary, my man".
Rule #11: "The Major". If Brent has a pet nickname for one of the players during the game, for example calling Major Applewhite "The Major", everyone must drink 5 anytime Brent uses this nickname. However, "Gary, my man" does not drink but gets to give away 5 drinks since this person already has a nickname of their own.
Rule #12: "John Saunders". The first time Brent quips with John Saunders, everyone must drink 1. The next time, everyone must drink 2, and so on and so on.
Rule #13: In the booth. Whenever there's a camera shot of Brent in the booth, the Pardner must make a toast to Brent. After the toast, everyone must drink 1.
Rule #14: "My Friend" Every Pardner gets to choose a "Friend." The friend must always get up to get the Pardner another drink (since the Pardner will be doing quite a bit of that). However, when Brent utters "My Friend" the friend gets to punch the Pardner in the arm for making him get up so much.
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
That's hilarious!
They should have one for John Madden too!
V
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
"This is a superlative performance..."
- Steve
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
I think it got quite a bit of media coverage at one point.
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
Actively & deliberately engaging in non essential conversations with your SO only increases the liklihood of saying something wrong and the inevitable consequences of that.
Stop it, stop it now.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
Failure to engage in non-essential conversations is equally fraught with dangers, e.g.
"Your're not listening to me!"
"Yes I am."
"What did I just say?"
"You're not listening to me?"
"No, Before that."
"Er,.... that woman looks fat in that outfit?" (A guess but since most TV is lost due to the running commentary on trivia and that is mostly fashion related, one with a 30/70 chance of delaying execution a few more moments - and it is this commentary which usually leads to the "What's happening? Why did they do that?" question from SO, to which the answer "I don't know, someone keeps talking all through the important bits of dialogue." is a poor and even potentially Darwinian award winning) response.)
I can't say when I last had an essential conversation with the SO - essential as agreed by both sides. I might think it essential she stop buying shoes and say so (if I'm feeling suicidal) but SO won't think this essential and may even treat it as hostile.
Nodding the head, saying "uh huh", and "yes dear" at intervals, no matter what the conversation is that the SO is conducting, will usually get me out of trouble for a fair period of time, for as long as the SO is prepared to let me get away with it, and not because SO is fooled into thinking I am listening, but because she wants to challenge only when she Knows damn well I wasn't listening - hence every so often I tune in long enough to make a contextually appropriate but non-committal comment.
Of course, in the conversational stakes there is no equal to the SO talking with another woman....I'd swear they can both talk at the same time like Parisians on speed and know what each other is saying.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
"we gave up 10 minutes in and decided to talk to each other instead."
Implied mutual consent of conversation to me. Now if you actually meant she started a conversation fair enough but if you played a part in starting/maintaining it (beyond the uh huh's and yes dears) then that's a newbie error.
As to defining non essential, I was thinking more along the lines of any she didn't start.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
Poor opening gambits include;
"Are you ready yet?"
"What's for dinner?"
etc etc.
When do they stop being "Newbie" errors?
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
Maybe a newbie error isn't fair. But still, sitting back in the cold light of day, it's obvious they're errors, but at the time, so easy to make.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
When you are put in your box my friend, when you are put in your box.
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
On Fox on Saturday night Tim McCarver and Joe Buck were announcing. If I drank a shot/slug of beer every time Derek Jeter was mentioned/shown in every half inning. It's a love fest fro the guy....The Yankees have 24 other players on the team AND there's another shortstop having a great series too.
drawn to design, designed to draw
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
Best Baseball team money can buy though, probably fair.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Superlatives - clichTd journalism
drawn to design, designed to draw