The Blame Game (radio)
Encyclopedia
The Blame Game is a weekly comedy
panel game
broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster
and BBC One Northern Ireland
. Started in 2005, it is hosted by Tim McGarry
(Give My Head Peace
). Regular panellists include comedians Colin Murphy
, Neil Delamere, and Jake O'Kane
.
, the "Stroke City" problem
and trick or treating. Tim McGarry passes the question over to a contestant who attempts to answer it, normally in a humorous off-topic manner.
In the second round ("Blame It on the Boogie"), a piece of music is played, and the contestants must try to figure out why it is being played.
In the final round ("What's the Story?"), Tim McGarry reads out a recent newspaper
headline and the contestants state their take on the headline.
The game ends with Tim McGarry telling the audience if they "blame (team) for winning, to cheer now".
The television version cuts out "Blame It on the Boogie", and the majority of the show consists of "Pass the Buck". With just a few minutes to go, Tim McGarry announces "There's just time to look at this week's news", before getting out a 'newspaper' from which he reads the headlines for "What's the Story?".
"Robert from Dundonald
, ever been to a GAA match? -Tim McGarry, to the member of the audience, obviously Protestant, who asked the question.
"I didn't quite get that, but I think I know what that is. Is it like saying, "Mervyn from Bangor
" ?" - Neil Delamere
Tim McGarry - " "Pass the sugar." "NEVER!" "
- Colin Murphy, on local radio stations
Colin Murphy- "Because you're trying to hurt us. Last week, it was The Corrs
."
Colin Murphy - "...as Buddha
is banned from the see-saw
.' "
attempted to assassinate members of Sinn Féin
at Stormont
in 2006, Tim McGarry joked that Stone would claim that this it was a work of performance art
. During his trial in 2008, Stone claimed that he had no intention of killing Gerry Adams
and Martin McGuinness
, and that it was all a work of performance art.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
panel game
Panel game
A panel game or panel show is a radio or television game show in which a panel of celebrities participates. Panelists may compete with each other, such as on The News Quiz; facilitate play by guest contestants, such as on Match Game/Blankety Blank; or do both, such as on Wait Wait.....
broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
and BBC One Northern Ireland
BBC One Northern Ireland
BBC One Northern Ireland is the national variation for BBC Northern Ireland of the network BBC One service broadcast by the BBC. The service is broadcast in Northern Ireland from Broadcasting House in Belfast...
. Started in 2005, it is hosted by Tim McGarry
Tim McGarry
Tim McGarry is an Irish actor and comedian from North Belfast in Northern Ireland.He is a member of the comedy group Hole In The Wall Gang, and played "Da", a fictional Sinn Féin spokesman, in the comedy series Give My Head Peace....
(Give My Head Peace
Give My Head Peace
Give My Head Peace was a satirical television comedy series on BBC Northern Ireland that pokes fun at political parties, paramilitary groups and the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland...
). Regular panellists include comedians Colin Murphy
Colin Murphy (comedian)
Colin Murphy is an Irish comedian. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland but now lives in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. He is best known for his television work hosting and co-writing The Blizzard of Odd, The Unbelievable Truth, and as resident panelist on The Panel for RTÉ and The Blame Game...
, Neil Delamere, and Jake O'Kane
Jake O'Kane
Jake O’Kane is a Belfast-based stand-up comedian, and a resident compère of Northern Ireland’s longest running comedy club, The Empire Laughs Back at The Empire Music Hall in Belfast....
.
Format
In the first round ("Pass the Buck"), individual members of the audience ask the contestants who they feel responsible for a topical issue, usually in the structure "Who do you blame for...?" Example issues include binge drinkingBinge drinking
Binge drinking or heavy episodic drinking is the modern epithet for drinking alcoholic beverages with the primary intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. It is a kind of purposeful drinking style that is popular in several countries worldwide,...
, the "Stroke City" problem
Derry-Londonderry name dispute
The names of the city, county, and district of Derry or Londonderry in Northern Ireland are the subject of a naming dispute between nationalists and unionists. Generally, although not always, one will find nationalists calling them Derry, and unionists referring to them as Londonderry...
and trick or treating. Tim McGarry passes the question over to a contestant who attempts to answer it, normally in a humorous off-topic manner.
In the second round ("Blame It on the Boogie"), a piece of music is played, and the contestants must try to figure out why it is being played.
In the final round ("What's the Story?"), Tim McGarry reads out a recent newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
headline and the contestants state their take on the headline.
The game ends with Tim McGarry telling the audience if they "blame (team) for winning, to cheer now".
The television version cuts out "Blame It on the Boogie", and the majority of the show consists of "Pass the Buck". With just a few minutes to go, Tim McGarry announces "There's just time to look at this week's news", before getting out a 'newspaper' from which he reads the headlines for "What's the Story?".
Quotes
- "Welcome to The Blame Game: the show with more cheap shots than a student unionStudent activity centerA student activity center is a type of building found on university campuses. In the United States, such a building is more often called a student union, student commons, or student center...
bar." -Tim McGarry
- "Over in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, when they say they're going out for a drink, they mean one drink. Over here, that could mean anything from three months imprisonment to..." - Jake O'Kane, on cultural differences between Northern Ireland and England.
- "There'll be a national stadiumStadiumA modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
and you'll be getting calls from a ClonesClonesClones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
number saying, "Hello? There's a bomb...big bomb...huge bomb...car bomb...no, not a car bomb...more like a lad on a bike with a banger...Sunday, at half three, that's when it'll go off. (pause) You don't have a match on Sunday? Ah...when's good for you?" - Neil Delamere, on plans to build a national stadium in Northern Ireland.
- "You have to have a completely depressed announcer. Have you ever been to a GAAGaelic footballGaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
match?" - Neil Delamere
"Robert from Dundonald
Dundonald
Dundonald is a large settlement in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies east of Belfast and is often deemed to be a suburb of the city. It includes the large housing estate of Ballybeen, and many new housing estates have emerged in the past ten years....
, ever been to a GAA match? -Tim McGarry, to the member of the audience, obviously Protestant, who asked the question.
"I didn't quite get that, but I think I know what that is. Is it like saying, "Mervyn from Bangor
Bangor, County Down
Bangor is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a seaside resort on the southern side of Belfast Lough and within the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Bangor Marina is one of the largest in Ireland, and holds Blue Flag status...
" ?" - Neil Delamere
- I think there's someone in the Falls Road saying, (strong Belfast accent) "National stadium? I'll have you know that it would be more accurate to call it a "regional" stadium." " - Jake O'Kane
- Jake O'Kane - "Can you imagine breakfast in the PaisleyIan PaisleyIan Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
household?"
Tim McGarry - " "Pass the sugar." "NEVER!" "
- "Shankill FM. Did anyone actually know Shankill that had its own radioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station? Community radio. I mean, how "community" do you need? I mean, that's local radio taken to an extreme. That's like, individual houses. (puts on strong Belfast accent) "Sammy, your tea's ready. Sammy!" "
- Colin Murphy, on local radio stations
- Tim McGarry - (after playing a song by crooner Brian KennedyBrian Kennedy (singer)Brian Edward Patrick Kennedy is an Irish singer-songwriter and author, known for his ballads, and has represented Ireland at Eurovision 2006. He is the younger brother of musician Bap Kennedy.-Personal life:...
) "That was the voice of choirboy Brian Kennedy. But why are we listening to him this week?"
Colin Murphy- "Because you're trying to hurt us. Last week, it was The Corrs
The Corrs
The Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea ; Sharon ; Caroline ; and Jim .The Corrs came to international prominence with their performance at the...
."
- Tim McGarry - (reading newspaper headline) " 'Call for end to religious imbalance..."
Colin Murphy - "...as Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
is banned from the see-saw
See-Saw
See-Saw is a Japanese pop duo originally from Tokyo, Japan. Its members include Chiaki Ishikawa and Yuki Kajiura; former member left the group in April 1994 to pursue a writing career...
.' "
- "It's the coldest winter in more than twenty years. So the I.R.A.Provisional Irish Republican ArmyThe Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
must be really annoyed: they've finally decommissioned and they've no balaclavas!" - Neil Delamere
- "I was talking to a lad from Offaly the other day and as he was leaving he said, 'keeping it real'. Keeping it real. In Offaly. He's from LeinsterLeinsterLeinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. He's not Ice TIce TTracy Marrow , better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American musician and actor.He was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved to the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles when he was in the 7th grade. After graduating from high school he served in the United States Army for four years...
from L.A., he's more like choc ice from TullamoreTullamoreTullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
. His house is made of turf. His family crest is a picture of a man hitting a bullock with a shovel." - Neil Delamere
- "I live in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, not AmericaUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the way, so this was like a real short flight for me. And because I live in London, I know how to keep my head down, I don't speak loudly in public, I'm not obese, I can pronounce the word "LeicesterLeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
" but I still like saying "aluminumAmerican and British English differencesThis is one of a series of articles about the differences between British English and American English, which, for the purposes of these articles, are defined as follows:...
" just to wind you people up." - American comic Dave Fulton
Trivia
In the episode that aired after loyalist Michael StoneMichael Stone (loyalist paramilitary)
Michael Stone is a Northern Irish loyalist who was a volunteer in the Ulster Defence Association . Stone was born in England but raised in the Braniel estate in East Belfast, Northern Ireland. Convicted of killing three people and injuring more than sixty in an attack on mourners at Milltown...
attempted to assassinate members of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
at Stormont
Stormont (cricket ground)
Stormont is a first-class cricket ground in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is situated in the grounds of the Stormont Estate, the seat of government in Northern Ireland, and is the home of Civil Service North of Ireland Cricket Club....
in 2006, Tim McGarry joked that Stone would claim that this it was a work of performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
. During his trial in 2008, Stone claimed that he had no intention of killing Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
and Martin McGuinness
Martin McGuinness
James Martin Pacelli McGuinness is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and the current deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. McGuinness was also the Sinn Féin candidate for the Irish presidential election, 2011. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland....
, and that it was all a work of performance art.