British Expatriate Network

Did anyone watch it?

There were a couple of kids from our district that made it to the nationals. We are a small school district so I get the impression that this is a great achievement.

What do you think of such competitions?

I didn't watch it but I understand that not only do they need to know the spelling of a word but the definition too.

Apparently this is the first time in a number of years (since 1999) that a female won.

Should it be treated as a sport? The ages of the children (4th to 8th grade) should they really be put on live primetime TV?

I like the idea of the competition but I'm hesitant over thinking that putting these kids on primetime TV is a good thing.

I actually watched part of round 10, there were 7 kids left and the first one up got his word wrong.
The kids really do seem to handle it well when they don't know the answers.
I'm sure they are upsetbut manage to hold it back while on camera.
I was pleased with myself as I got one word correct and even knew what it was before they gave the definition and origin.

Not sure it's a bad thing to put it on primetime tv, they worked hard and deserve national recognition.
Wether any one watching tv other than schools involved, families and friends watches the whole thing, I seriously doubt it.

Just goes to show what complete dross they will televise.

Some TV exec probably figured they could cash in on the "My child is an Honor Roll student" bumper-sticker-types.

I file shows like this in with southern beauty pagent etc.

Keep it on the local public access cable channels, as with high school football and other non-events.

I disagree, it has the tension of a sporting event, and it's "real", without the fakery. You know that these children are giving it all they have to give, and not being overpaid for it.

It may be the only genuinely "real" contest on the box.

Then we clearly need more shows on this theme

How about "Coloring Book Championships"?

Or "All-In Fire Drill!"?

"World Series Show and Tell"?

"Celebrity Child-Actor Naptime"?

I'd probably be bored to watch these kids at the local middle school but you go along, show willing and support your own. It's pushing it to expect this to be entertaining and apparently, this is to cover in the absence of "American Idiot" - oops, I meant "Idol".

I guess they could rescue the spelling bee by having a play-off with a celebrity for the winner. I'd pay good money to see 20 rounds between the 13 year old winner and President Bush.

Hopefully, the kids and the TV execs can all spell "CANCELLED". wink

I thought Weltschmerz was pretty easy. Can't believe she got it wrong...

Ben mentioned in her post that they need to know the definition of the word but I don't think so as they are allowed to ask the definition, in order to attempt to spell the word.

Someone should sponsor a prize for the researcher who can sneak a naughty, British word in there one year.

Yeah!

Can I have a definition for 'Plonker' please?

What is the origin of the word 'Pillock'?

They have to define the word but they learn the definition when studying the spellings. I think it is supposed to help with remembering the spelling. I just don't know if they HAVE to learn the definitions as well or whether it is choice.


Pilgrim, your attitude regarding the Spelling Bee - is that because it is on live primetime TV or just another competition for children? I can't quite make out why you seem so against it?

Personally I don't see the abilities of children any less important to the achievements of adults and their competitions or a child being in the top of their class to an adult getting a promotion at work. My only concern is the ages of these children and it being live on TV. My daughter is in 8th grade and while her and her friends enjoy performing, to get something wrong in front of millions of people - well, I know if Katy was ever capable of being in such a thing the thought of doing it in front of so many people would put her off trying.

I know there is this belief that Americans show their children off and are never allowed to be disappointed but the children on this have a good chance of being disappointed for getting it wrong in front of all those people. This is very different to a beauty pagent. There is no skill or brains needed to be considered beautiful. These kids have worked hard for a number of years and should be proud of their achievements.

They'll be filming people playing cards next.....wait a minute ???

I have nothing against children competing, although I think sometimes they can be overly-competitive. I used to coach kids soccer and I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly.

So yes, my attitude reflects the fact that I won't accept any old garbage on primetime TV and this spelling bee is included. It fills the "American Idol" slot that is currently vacant and reflects some of the same lowest-common denominators - cheap to make, cheap, unpaid cast, tugs on the heartstrings, breaks-your-heart-when-they-fail etc. However, it really needs a Simon Cowell type adjudicator there to really put the knife in when the kids fail to be in quite the same league as "American Idol".

As far as spelling goes, it's important but not to this extreme. I'd wager that a kids edition "Jeopardy" winner is probably smarter than a spelling bee champ but so what? There are smart kids at varying levels wherever you care to look but do we need to see them on national TV to enjoy and celebrate this and the questions really boil down to what right does anyone have to make cheap entertainment out of any kids and why are you putting up with it?

I didn't watch the thing, but I noticed at work last night (we have CNN Headline news running on a tiny TV most of the time) that the news seemed to be trumping news of investigations in Iraq, seven killed in Indianapolis etc.

Is it meant to be a feelgood story before the nasty stuff?

I also wonder if it's meant to be the anti sport sort of competition for more acedemically minded kids.

If you think of the culture of over emphasis on sports in school in the US, maybe it is a good thing for those that aren't so good at them?

rotfpmsl :lol: :lol:

p.s. Thor wins!

The Spelling Bee thing is totally bizarre, but I have looked at getting Hebe into it because she'd love it. lol Televising? I wouldn't watch it unless it was Hebe, but a lot of people seem to be into that stuff. They wouldn't put it on Primetime if it didn't sell advertising spots, surely. What pays stays.

American TV is crap, but that's because that's what people like to watch. If they turned off or over, the advertisers would depart and the shows would be dropped.

There is a darker side though.

There's a word in there that I would highlight if I could :lol: