Maarten van Rossem thinks it makes no sense that Tina Nijkamp makes the link between the viewing figures of De Slimste Mens and the knowledge level of the candidates. “I really don’t believe in that.”
There has been a lot of controversy over the past week about the disappointing level of knowledge of some candidates in the current season of De Slimste Mens. TV professor Tina Nijkamp noted last week that the ratings have stagnated somewhat and wondered: “Would viewers start to get tired of the fact that the candidates really know little?”
Not a bastard
Jury member Maarten van Rossem thinks that is really nonsensical, he says in his own words Maarten podcast. “Yes, whether that is also based on serious research, I don’t believe it, to be honest. Because when you see it, you first see that there is a kind of slight wave movement throughout the week due to the viewing figures.
He continues: “Of course we lost Friday, maybe that also plays a role. We were not really satisfied with that either, with those developments. What you see over the years is that there is a fairly constant growth.”
Above 3 million
The Smartest scores have only increased since the move to NPO 1, says Maarten. “You always have two different types of viewing figures, namely an average viewing figure and a top viewing figure. That has been in place for a year or so. Half of the top is often above 3 million on weekdays.”
The move has therefore done the program good, says Maarten. “I think that is the influence of Netherlands 1.”
Dumb candidates
Not only Tina, but also AD diva Angela de Jong has touched on the knowledge level of the Smartest candidates. She has one spicy column written about. Maarten: “Look, those ‘stupid candidates’… If you read it back from previous years, you know that every year the theme is: how stupid are those candidates, there are no more intelligent Dutch celebrities!”
He concludes: “That is mainly written by people who do see themselves as intelligent celebrities or who have participated themselves and have done reasonably well. So the ‘unprecedentedly stupid candidate’ is a fixed theme.”
