Pointless (2009 - ) - TV series aired on BBC

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This TV show has a ridiculously simple premise but one that is very difficult to explain. Each category has been asked to 100 people and then the 8 contestants are trying to answer the same questions in the most obscure way possible in the hopes that none of the 100 people have said it. The number of people in that 100 who have is the number of points the player gets. At the end of the round the person with the highest points leaves.

The questions are brilliant because they span categories from the Oscars to types of lettuce to Olympic athletes. Every episode you can learn more useless information and also find out how many people know certain facts (for instance 100/100 people could finish this movie title: _______ I Shrunk the Kids.) The diversity of the possible questions makes every episode different and interesting.

The two hosts, Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman, are wonderful. They have good chemistry, because they are friends from before the show, and this makes everything appear more light-hearted. Furthermore they talk to the contestants in a friendly way and are able to bring out the best in them. Some times of game shows I find myself wanting the contestants to lose but I never have that feeling on Pointless.

This is perfect viewing for anyone who likes gentle TV shows, with a little suspense and a lot of useless knowledge.