Space Cadets

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Maybe they could suggest things ever so slightly as the days go by, like having a hot air baloon fly by with the channel 4 logo on it or something.

According to last night's program they'll try convince them there is such a constellation as the 'hazelnut cluster'.

I wonder if the actors will manage that with a straight face.

As it was, a couple of times last night you could see some of them having difficulties with that.

But it seemed that whatever doubts some of them may have had, their surroundings were sufficiently like their expectations of a Russian military installation to quell those doubts - for now.

---------- Post added at 08:25 ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 ----------

Originally Posted by david.ewles

The launch is going to be hard to get around, the noise and G forces are hugh

The most that many people know about this is what they've seen in the cinema. And since they're using cinema special effects, it's likely that the experience will live up to expectations.

Originally Posted by david.ewles

If had had applied for this I would have failed along the way,
A) I have a interest in Space.

Even then, how sure would you be of yourself to risk making an idiot of yourself - knowing it's being recorded for TV?

In last night's show the commander mentioned the 'motto' - something about adventurers. But he used the word 'rakette' - Russian for rocket. Yet the motto didn't have the word rocket in it. They're taking chances early on - it doesn't require a full working knowledge of Russian to spot that one.

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by Millay

I think it is hilarious, I can only hope it is a wind up on our part.

come on anyone who knows anything would be sceptical about a british man being employed to run a russian base...

Thats the point, they were selected because theyre thick!

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

What about the planted "actor" who almost stumped the lecturer with his dumb question. He justified it by saying "he really thought he was going into space". Wouldnt it have been easier and cheaper to get Paul MKenna to hypnotise the lot of them?

Originally Posted by Millay

Come on anyone who knows anything would be sceptical about a british man being employed to run a russian base...

These days that is entirely possible.

Although he did quite clearly say he'd left the airforce to join S.T.A.R. (A commercial enterprise) so why did he initially appear in uniform?
But that wicked RAF moustache etc. - I think it's very funny.

Shame it's fronted by Johnny Vaughan - he's such a prat. But at least he's not a Geordie...

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

I think at the end of this show, channel 4 are going to put a whole heap of questions to the 'winners' along the lines of whats being asked in this thread..... eg) Didnt you notice . etc etc etc. Hopefully they will start their questions with "Are you so stupid not to realise....."

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by handyman

Did it say how long they where flying for? could have been several hours?

That plane could only stay up in the air for 3 hrs of so before running out of fuel.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

One of the contestants actually made a comment of how fast they had got to russia.

[Bursar]

According to a quick Google, flight time from London to Moscow is about 3h45m. I think they were supposed to have landed in Krimsk which is a bit nearer to the UK, so a 3 hour flight is probably about right.

But they also had their watches removed, and were rather excited about the prospect of going into space, so they're not likely to actually know how much time had elapsed.

And for those questioning the massive forces generated during take-off, the ex-RAF bloke said that their 'shuttle' would take off and land like a traditional aircraft which is rather handy, as I think even the Ch4 boffins would have struggled to fake a rocket launch.

I'm quite looking forward to seeing how far they can push it before some of the contestants start to think that something's not quite right.

Interesting article on BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4509946.stm

Which includes this quote from comedian Arthur Smith:

"The greatest experience of your life wiped from under your feet, and you've been laughed at for weeks. I'm not saying I wouldn't want to see their faces, especially if they're irritating, but it's like a public execution - grimly fascinating, but that doesn't mean you think it should happen."

I think he might have a point there.

But I also liked this quote:

"One theory of comedy holds that we joke to make ourselves feel superior, and laughing at those we find stupid, avaricious, unpleasant or gormless serves this function. Most reality TV contestants fall into this catch-all category. And there's an element of 'there but for the Grace of God' about enjoying practical jokes."

Specially the description of the qualities of a TV contestant.

[MovedGoalPosts]

This program just gets better and better, or sillier and sillier. I don't care about the conspiracy theories that the viewer is the one being had. It's the funniest thing I've seen for a loooooooong while.

[Bursar]

I don't proclaim to be any kind of expert on space, but please, the Hazlenut Cluster? It's almost like they've been brainwashed. They're so focuessed on the goal that they can't seem to see anything else.

[daz300]

i like the way they are doing home work :@) as if that will help them .

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

I wonder if the actors will manage that with a straight face.

As it was, a couple of times last night you could see some of them having difficulties with that.

Thankgoodness I wasnt employed on that show. I'd have blown it before it even began, laughing my head off.

All that stuff about that monkey in space lol.
They are completly crazy. The actors in there must be having so much fun.

Originally Posted by Halcyon

...As for the weightlessness issue, they have been told some kind of nonsense about them reaching pre-orbit or sub orbit or something like that where gravity will not be a problem...

They were told that they would only be orbiting in "near space" (100km), so they wouldn't feel the effects of weightlessness.

I take it, that the first ones they weeded out, were the ones who had ever had a physics lesson at school then!

AHA!

I suggest you start watching the adverts more closely!

I just watched an advert for the Blood Donor Service - the one that starts with Martin Kemp.

Just before the end there is a bloke in the advert, and I'd swear he's the ginger affro haired bloke from Space Cadets!

So maybe there are more actors that we were made aware of...