A League of Their Own
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James Corden '"referees" this comedy panel quiz, as team captains Jamie Redknapp and Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff and their guests put their sports knowledge to the test. | James Corden '"referees" this comedy panel quiz, as team captains Jamie Redknapp and Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff and their guests put their sports knowledge to the test. | ||
| - | The first round sees each team being shown clips of three famous sports people. Following this, they are given a category, and must rank the three sports people according to the category. These categories tend to have little to do with sport however, with categories featured including ranking which of the three sports people has the most tattoos, or which of the three sports peoples wives charges the most for their perfume. In common with other comedy quizzes, the questions are often disregarded for a time in favour of banter between the panellists. These diversions are welcome however, with the banter between the host and the panellists delivering numerous moments. Once the teams have got around to ranking their three sports people, one point is given for each sports person ranked in the correct position. | + | The first round sees each team being shown clips of three famous sports people. Following this, they are given a category, and must rank the three sports people according to the category. These categories tend to have little to do with sport however, with categories featured including ranking which of the three sports people has the most tattoos, or which of the three sports peoples wives charges the most for their perfume. In common with other comedy quizzes, the questions are often disregarded for a time in favour of banter between the panellists. These diversions are welcome however, with the banter between the host and the panellists delivering numerous funny moments. Once the teams have got around to ranking their three sports people, one point is given for each sports person ranked in the correct position. |
| - | The second round is the Guest List. Here a famous sports person has been asked to list their three favourite things about doing the job they do, and the teams have to attempt to guess the | + | The second round is the Guest List. Here a famous sports person has been asked to list their three favourite things about doing the job they do, and the teams have to attempt to guess the three things. Again, there are lots of humorous responses and exchanges before the answers are given. One point is on offer for each correct answer. |
The final round sees two members of each team given a series of quickfire categories to which they must provide answers. For example, categories could be, ‘Name three league football teams that end in County’, or, ‘Name the last three Summer Olympic host cities’. Each category correctly answered in full scores a point. The length of time each team has to answer is determined by how long their third team member can hold a certain sporting position – for example how long they can hold their head above a chin-up bar. After each team has had their turn, the scores are revealed, and the winning team is announced. | The final round sees two members of each team given a series of quickfire categories to which they must provide answers. For example, categories could be, ‘Name three league football teams that end in County’, or, ‘Name the last three Summer Olympic host cities’. Each category correctly answered in full scores a point. The length of time each team has to answer is determined by how long their third team member can hold a certain sporting position – for example how long they can hold their head above a chin-up bar. After each team has had their turn, the scores are revealed, and the winning team is announced. | ||
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The first episode stretched to an hour, and while very funny throughout, the quiz element seemed to get lost at times, and it became just a bunch of comedians and guests exchanging banter. The subsequent 30 minute episodes work better, offering a good balance of comedy and quiz. | The first episode stretched to an hour, and while very funny throughout, the quiz element seemed to get lost at times, and it became just a bunch of comedians and guests exchanging banter. The subsequent 30 minute episodes work better, offering a good balance of comedy and quiz. | ||
| - | James Corden, who, generally speaking can be a bit Marmite is good as the host, offering jokes and interjections of his own, but while also being a good quizmaster. Freddie Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp are great choices for team captains. Each knows a sufficient amount about sport in general to help them when answering questions, but are also quite witty. They are also sporting enough to accept regular ribbing about themselves, specifically Flintoff’s alcohol-fuelled exploits, and Redknapp’s injury-prone career, which have both become recurring jokes. | + | James Corden, who, generally speaking can be a bit Marmite, is good as the host, offering jokes and interjections of his own, but while also being a good quizmaster. Freddie Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp are great choices for team captains. Each knows a sufficient amount about sport in general to help them when answering questions, but are also quite witty. They are also sporting enough to accept regular ribbing about themselves, specifically Flintoff’s alcohol-fuelled exploits, and Redknapp’s injury-prone career, things which have both become recurring jokes. |
The regular panellists, ''Sky Sports News'' presenter Georgie Thompson and comedian John Bishop are also good choices, with Thompson delivering more on the sports knowledge side of things, and Bishop contributing on the comedy side of things, and he does deliver, with several laugh-out-loud quips each episode. | The regular panellists, ''Sky Sports News'' presenter Georgie Thompson and comedian John Bishop are also good choices, with Thompson delivering more on the sports knowledge side of things, and Bishop contributing on the comedy side of things, and he does deliver, with several laugh-out-loud quips each episode. | ||
Revision as of 18:05, 21 March 2010
Contents |
Host
James Corden
Co-hosts
Team Captains: Jamie Redknapp and Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, Stuart Broad (unaired pilot)
Regular panellists: John Bishop and Georgie Thompson
Broadcast
CPL Productions for Sky1, 11 March 2010 -
Synopsis
James Corden '"referees" this comedy panel quiz, as team captains Jamie Redknapp and Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff and their guests put their sports knowledge to the test.
The first round sees each team being shown clips of three famous sports people. Following this, they are given a category, and must rank the three sports people according to the category. These categories tend to have little to do with sport however, with categories featured including ranking which of the three sports people has the most tattoos, or which of the three sports peoples wives charges the most for their perfume. In common with other comedy quizzes, the questions are often disregarded for a time in favour of banter between the panellists. These diversions are welcome however, with the banter between the host and the panellists delivering numerous funny moments. Once the teams have got around to ranking their three sports people, one point is given for each sports person ranked in the correct position.
The second round is the Guest List. Here a famous sports person has been asked to list their three favourite things about doing the job they do, and the teams have to attempt to guess the three things. Again, there are lots of humorous responses and exchanges before the answers are given. One point is on offer for each correct answer.
The final round sees two members of each team given a series of quickfire categories to which they must provide answers. For example, categories could be, ‘Name three league football teams that end in County’, or, ‘Name the last three Summer Olympic host cities’. Each category correctly answered in full scores a point. The length of time each team has to answer is determined by how long their third team member can hold a certain sporting position – for example how long they can hold their head above a chin-up bar. After each team has had their turn, the scores are revealed, and the winning team is announced.
The first episode stretched to an hour, and while very funny throughout, the quiz element seemed to get lost at times, and it became just a bunch of comedians and guests exchanging banter. The subsequent 30 minute episodes work better, offering a good balance of comedy and quiz.
James Corden, who, generally speaking can be a bit Marmite, is good as the host, offering jokes and interjections of his own, but while also being a good quizmaster. Freddie Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp are great choices for team captains. Each knows a sufficient amount about sport in general to help them when answering questions, but are also quite witty. They are also sporting enough to accept regular ribbing about themselves, specifically Flintoff’s alcohol-fuelled exploits, and Redknapp’s injury-prone career, things which have both become recurring jokes.
The regular panellists, Sky Sports News presenter Georgie Thompson and comedian John Bishop are also good choices, with Thompson delivering more on the sports knowledge side of things, and Bishop contributing on the comedy side of things, and he does deliver, with several laugh-out-loud quips each episode.
On the whole, A League of Their Own is pretty good, and although perhaps not really breaking any new ground, it has enough going for it to make you want to tune in the next week.
Catchphrases
‘You’re in a league of your own’
Trivia
Stuart Broad was Jamie Redknapp's rival team captain for the unaired pilot episode. When the programme started a full series, his position was taken by fellow cricketer Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff.
See also
They Think it's All Over
The Umpire Strikes Back
