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Scoring system in QI

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SurreyGuy | 12:34 Sat 08th Nov 2008 | Film, Media & TV
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Whilst I thoroughly enjoy this programme (it's both funny and informative), I have no idea how the scoring system "works".

I used to think that Stephen Fry just made up random scores, but I noticed in last night's credits that it said "Scoring System by Lumina".

Does anybody actually know/understand how the scoring works?
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It looks like Lumina make the equipment, not the rules.

http://www.luminadisplays.co.uk/

From my recollection, you lose thousands of points for obvious, but incorrect answers, gain a small number for good answers or anything else that Stephen Fry chooses, which makes the whole thing a lottery, but then who cares.
You have to remember that the 30 minute "show" we watch is edited down from the original recording of say 45 minutes or more (never been to a live recording of QI).

So some of the questions and answers (and scores) given we do not even see.

This is more obvious when you buy the DVD of the show and see all the outtakes.

This makes the final score somewhat irrelivant.

I seem to remember that if you give an obvious but wrong answer (when the klaxon goes and the screen flashes) you lose 20 or 25 points.

For a right answer you get a few points, and Stephen often says "take five points" for all sorts of random reasons.

As BigDave44 says, in many ways the final score is not very important, it is the fun we all have watching the show that is important.
Little bit of trivia about the show.

You may wonder why Stephen Fry is the host, and Alan Davies is always on one team, but there is no regular on the other team.

The original plan was to have a "bright" team (with Stephen Fry as captain) and a "dim" team (with Alan Davies as captain).

They wanted the host to be Michael Pailin (clever but funny).

Michael did not want to do the show, and when they came to record the pilot show they still did not have a host so Stephen Fry "sat in", and the rest is history.

You can see the pilot show on the series ONE DVD box set (it is AWFUL)
John Lloyd, QI's creator, has admitted that not even he has any idea on how the scoring system works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QI
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Thanks all - it's still a brilliant prog, though! :o)
Went to a live recording of a series 3 prog and it was 90 minutes of pure laughs, and a lot was cut (obviously). As has been said who cares about the score really. It has become a cracking must see programme.
it seems the more interesting the answer or statement that is relevant to the question asked the more points and it seems no more than 10. interesting questions can also be given points. more points can be earned if a joker, elephant in the room or nobody knows card or any other bonus is then normally 10 points are awarded. Points are also taken away when incorrect predictable answers are given. special episodes also introduce gimmick rewards such as sweets delivered by toy train or insect sweets.
Type Your Answer Here...it seems the more interesting the answer or statement that is relevant to the question asked the more points and it seems no more than 10. interesting questions can also be given points. more points can be earned if a joker, elephant in the room or nobody knows card or any other bonus is then normally 10 points are awarded. Points are also taken away when incorrect predictable answers are given. special episodes also introduce gimmick rewards such as sweets delivered by toy train or insect sweets.

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