Quiz shows

Pub quiz facts are fun. Ever watched the program ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’

I do, every week. I am a great fan of trivia shows and am often on the edge of my seat, just like the person in the hot seat!!!

After watching such shows for years, I have come to the fact that it’s more a case of good nerves than anything else. More often than not, the contestant knows the correct answer but, usually ends up either quitting the show or wasting a lifeline.

The hype and aura created in such trivia competitions is enough to throw anyone off the balance. The people who read a lot, books, magazines, reviews, watch TV frequently and are good in general knowledge usually score the highest in these quizzes.

I still remember the show in which an American guy became the first millionaire. He was on the last question and requested to use the lifeline, ‘phone a friend’. He called his dad and told him that he just called to let him know that his son was about to become a millionaire. He knew the answer and was confident that he was right. And to everyone’s joy, he was!!!

It takes cool nerves, clear and analytical thinking and logical reasoning to get to the right answers. Lifelines usually don’t tell you anything you don’t already know.

The difficult part is to remember your physic laws or the world map when half of America is watching you live. This sort of media attention and limelight is what most of us are not ready for.

So, along with burying ourselves deep in trivia books and encyclopedias, it would be a wise idea to polish our confidence as well. The bright lights, the audience and the anxiety of going back home as a loser are enough to throw us off track.

In short, winning at pub quiz facts requires knowledge, confidence, quick thinking and good nerves.