New Scaratings

Unofficial standings for the first two weeks combined:

1 Teasers 57358 61929 119287
2 1048 Jazz & Blues 54707 60511 115218
3 Stewart's Brewing Co. 51910 56768 108678
4 Ben's Pourhouse 51669 56497 108166
5 Broadway Bar & Grill 55898 51439 107337
6 Esquire Club 53868 52727 106595
7 Buffalo Wild Wings Bloomingdale 51062 55228 106290
8 Buffalo Wild Wings Haribison 47724 56418 104142
9 Beef 'O' Brady's Prattville 49004 55029 104033
10 Big Guys 51187 52827 104014
11 Stumble Inn 46439 57349 103788
12 West Park Station 45163 58376 103539
13 Sweet Peas Public House 51037 52019 103056
14 Mad River Bar and Grille 48010 52281 100291
15 El Barril Mexican Grill 50058 49707 99765
16 Chicago Sams Cromwell 41966 56685 98651
17 Ram Restaurant Puyallup 16 48610 48611 97221
18 71st Street Depot 47554 47673 95227
19 Warwick Tavern 51518 42742 94260
20 B & B Lounge 42791 49730 92521

_________________
Merkin

Thanks, MERKIN. Two questions:

1) I went through the rules for the tournament and found no mention that only the top 10 sites would play in the tournament finals, which has been the case in the past. Have the rules changed?

2) I asked this question of MERKIN personally, but since I'm here I can ask it of a broader audience. Did anyone successfully run the Matching Round for Week 2? (I got buried. When I offered the other players at my table a wager on this question, there were no takers.)

From the rules, it appears the Smartest Bar emphasis this year is the cash for the top ten boards each week. It appears the Smartest Bar trophy, but no prize, will go to the winner of week six, regardless of the results of the first five weeks. Does anyone else have an analysis?

_________________
Merkin

That analysis appears correct. All 2000 or so locations are still eligible to win the official version of the title by just winning on September 25. It appears that Merkin will be operating an aggregate score leaderboard on his own (like the Mudee event) and I will be operating my usual bracket simulation on my own. So the concept is now a buffet.

There is this language embedded in the rules:

"Additionally, Contestants and any other persons with whom they communicate with (sic), or otherwise benefiting from (double-sic) may not use screen reader technology, bots, algorithms, or any other automated technological means to interpret, analyze, or gain information about a question or submit an answer to a question."

Scripts are mentioned in the same paragraph.

The trouble with promoting Smartest Bar with monetary prizes probably isn't a question of cheating, although it's unprecedented for Buzztime to acknowledge that cheating can be an issue (in my reading, at least).

Is Teasers protected by the Black Hand? That's the only conspiracy theory I support. Getting past MERKIN & Co. may cost a few lives, but, after all, it's only a game.

Unofficial rankings for the first three weeks combined. To make this list, a location must have registered in the top 20 in at least one of the three weeks. The Teasers team had to move to Walsh's for week 3 as the playmakers would not work at Teasers.

Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Tot
1 Teasers/Walsh's Chicago/Westmont, IL 57,358 61,929 62,480 181,767
2 Buffalo Wild Wings Bloomingdale Bloomingdale, IL 51,062 55,228 57,576 163,866
3 Ben's Pourhouse Avon, MA 51,669 56,497 55,290 163,456
4 1048 Jazz & Blues Montgomery, AL 54,707 60,511 47,709 162,927
5 Broadway Bar & Grill Nepean, ON 55,898 51,439 55,077 162,414
6 West Park Station Cleveland, OH 45,163 58,376 58,874 162,413
7 Mad River Bar and Grille New York, NY 48,010 52,281 61,103 161,394
8 Beef 'O' Brady's Prattville, AL 49,004 55,029 55,474 159,507
9 Esquire Club Sault Ste Marie, ON 53,868 52,727 48,554 155,149
10 Chicago Sams Cromwell, CT 41,966 56,685 55,416 154,067
11 Stewart's Brewing Co. Bear, DE 51,910 56,768 45,037 153,715
12 Stumble Inn Londonderry, NH 46,439 57,349 48,806 152,594
13 Big Guys Winnipeg, MB 51,187 52,827 47,430 151,444
14 Buffalo Wild Wings Haribison Columbia, SC 47,724 56,418 45,866 150,008
15 Warwick Tavern Somerdale, NJ 51,518 42,742 54,024 148,284
16 Sweet Peas Public House St. Paul, MN 51,037 52,019 43,946 147,002
17 El Barril Mexican Grill Marywille, TN 50,058 49,707 46,650 146,415
18 Ram Restaurant Puyallup, WA 48,610 48,611 46,077 143,298
19 71st Street Depot Tulsa, OK 47,554 47,673 46,621 141,848
20 Uncle Bear's Grill & Bar Mesa Mesa, AZ 40,818 50,781 48,328 139,927
21 B & B Lounge Spearfish, SD 42,791 49,730 45,201 137,722
22 Tequila Hoppers and Grill Upland, CA 45,523 43,944 42,580 132,047
23 J'S Bar Ft. Lauderdale, FL 41,712 40,171 49,203 131,086
24 Native Grill & Wings Tucson, AZ 35,606 40,053 55,103 130,762
25 Jumpin' Joe's Freeport, IL 38,623 50,443 35,770 124,836
26 Touch of Class Gaming Room Edmonton, AB 46,704 30,646 33,113 110,463
27 Mudrock Tap Louisville, CO 0 49,202 49,202 98,404
28 Scooters Las Vegas, NV 26,010 0 60,773 86,783

_________________
Merkin

Unofficial rankings for the first four weeks combined. To make this list, a team must have finished at or near the top 20 in any of the first four weeks or finished in the top 5 any week.

Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Tot
1 Teasers/Walsh's Chicago/Westmont, IL 57,358 61,929 62,480 59,436 241,203
2 Broadway Bar & Grill Nepean, ON 55,898 51,439 55,077 54,032 216,446
3 West Park Station Cleveland, OH 45,163 58,376 58,874 51,793 214,206
4 Buffalo Wild Wings Bloomingdale Bloomingdale, IL 51,062 55,228 57,576 48,946 212,812
5 Mad River Bar and Grille New York, NY 48,010 52,281 61,103 50,120 211,514
6 Ben's Pourhouse Avon, MA 51,669 56,497 55,290 47,556 211,012
7 1048 Jazz & Blues Montgomery, AL 54,707 60,511 47,709 45,507 208,434
8 Chicago Sams Cromwell, CT 41,966 56,685 55,416 47,734 201,801
9 Beef 'O' Brady's Prattville, AL 49,004 55,029 55,474 41,663 201,170
10 Stewart's Brewing Co. Bear, DE 51,910 56,768 45,037 47,155 200,870
11 Esquire Club Sault Ste Marie, ON 53,868 52,727 48,554 44,052 199,201
12 Stumble Inn Londonderry, NH 46,439 57,349 48,806 45,849 198,443
13 Buffalo Wild Wings Haribison Columbia, SC 47,724 56,418 45,866 47,263 197,271
14 71st Street Depot Tulsa, Oklahoma 47,554 47,673 46,621 53,492 195,340
15 Warwick Tavern Somerdale, NJ 51,518 42,742 54,024 45,562 193,846
16 El Barril Mexican Grill Marywille, TN 50,058 49,707 46,650 46,559 192,974
17 Sweet Peas Public House St. Paul, MN 51,037 52,019 43,946 45,907 192,909
18 Big Guys Winnipeg, MB 51,187 52,827 47,430 41,040 192,484
19 Uncle Bear's Grill & Bar Mesa Mesa, AZ 40,818 50,781 48,328 47,830 187,757
20 Ram Restaurant Puyallup, WA 48,610 48,611 46,077 38,699 181,997
21 Stavro's Calgray, AB 45,005 49,334 41,950 45,245 181,534
22 B & B Lounge Spearfish, SD 42,791 49,730 45,201 42,762 180,484
23 Tequila Hoppers and Grill Upland, CA 45,523 43,944 42,580 44,726 176,773
24 Boxcar Bar & Grill Santa Fe, NM 36,681 45,540 45,366 46,959 174,546
25 Jumpin' Joe's Freeport, IL 38,623 50,443 35,770 47,162 171,998
26 J'S Bar Ft. Lauderdale, FL 41,712 40,171 49,203 37,237 168,323
27 Rotolo's Saraland Saraland, AL 30,456 49,170 41,918 46,275 167,819
28 Native Grill & Wings Tucson, AZ 35,606 40,053 55,103 36,122 166,884
29 Boomerz Austin, TX 12,725 53,326 43,535 48,892 158,478
30 Mudrock Tap Louisville, CO 0 49,202 49,202 46,899 145,303
31 Touch of Class Gaming Room Edmonton, AB 46,704 30,646 33,113 29,766 140,229
32 Scooters Las Vegas, NV 26,010 0 60,773 45,925 132,708
33 Red Fox Cuyahoga Falls, OH 6,077 0 0 54,242 60,319
34 Rockin Crepes Huntington Beach, CA 0 0 0 59,931 59,931

_________________
Merkin

Unofficial rankings for the first five weeks combined. Top 15 teams only:

1 Teasers/Walsh's Chicago/Westmont, IL 298,276
2 West Park Station Cleveland, OH 263,691
3 Broadway Bar & Grill Nepean, ON 263,142
4 Ben's Pourhouse Avon, MA 260,067
5 Buffalo Wild Wings Bloomingdale Bloomingdale, I 256,533
6 Mad River Bar and Grille New York, NY 256,266
7 1048 Jazz & Blues Montgomery, AL 254,897
8 Beef 'O' Brady's Prattville, AL 252,757
9 Buffalo Wild Wings Haribison Columbia, SC 244,822
10 Chicago Sams Cromwell, CT 243,919
11 Stewart's Brewing Co. Bear, DE 243,810
12 Esquire Club Sault Ste Marie, ON 243,783
13 Stumble Inn Londonderry, NH 240,477
14 Big Guys Winnipeg, MB 240,027
15 71st Street Depot Tulsa, Oklahoma 238,452

First place finishes: Teasers 5, Rockin Crepes 1

Cash:

1 Teasers/Walsh's 3,370
2 Rockin Crepes 900
3 Broadway Bar & Grill 220
4 Beef o Brady's Prattville 200
5 1048 Jazz & Blues 110
6 Boomerz 50
7 Mad River 50
8 Fat Daddy's Tucson 50
9 Rival's Waikiki 50
10 Scooters 25
11 Esquire Club 10
12 Old Chicago, Colorado Springs 10

_________________
Merkin

Final Totals, 2019 Smartest Bar:

Points:

1 Teasers/Walsh's Chicago/Westmont, IL 352,549
2 West Park Station Cleveland, OH 320,828
3 Broadway Bar & Grill Nepean, ON 308,921
4 Buffalo Wild Wings Bloomingdale Bloomingdale, IL 308,292
5 Mad River Bar and Grille New York, NY 307,623
6 1048 Jazz & Blues Montgomery, AL 306,931
7 Beef 'O' Brady's Prattville, AL 306,614
8 Ben's Pourhouse Avon, MA 297,308
9 Buffalo Wild Wings Haribison Columbia, SC 296,986
10 Chicago Sams Cromwell, CT 294,155
11 Esquire Club Sault Ste Marie, ON 293,560
12 Stewart's Brewing Co. Bear, DE 292,750
13 Big Guys Winnipeg, MB 291,394
14 Stumble Inn Londonderry, NH 290,048
15 71st Street Depot Tulsa, Oklahoma 279,083


Wins:

1 Teasers/Walsh's 4
2 Rockin Crepes 2

Money:

1 Rockin Crepes Huntington Beach, CA 4,600
2 Teasers/Walsh's Chicago/Westmont, IL 3,370
3 West Park Stattion Cleveland, OH 600
4 Broadway Bar & Grill Nepean, ON 220
5 Beef o Brady's Prattville Prattville, AL 200
6 1048 Jazz & Blues Montgomery, AL 110
7 Red Fox Cuyahoga Falls, OH 100
8 Boomerz Austin, TX 50
9 Mad River New York, NY 50
10 Fat Daddy's Tucson Tucson, AZ 50
11 Rival's Waikiki Honolulu, HI 50
12 Scooters Las Vegas, NV 25
13 Esquire Club Sault Ste Marie, ON 10
14 Old Chicago, Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO 10

_________________
Merkin

Thanks, MERKIN! Unfortunately for us, you have Red Fox and West Park switched—WP won $600 and RF won $100.

And while we’re talking about winners, congrats to Rockin’ Crepes for the win and to our friends at West Park Station for the silver. You are indeed the smartest bars!

_________________
Anon
"He may seem like Mr. Rogers but a dark spirit lies beneath."

Thanks for the catch, money totals corrected.

As for the true Smartest Bar, who is the winner? The team that dominated the six week contest, the team that won the final week or maybe even the team that did not play each week but might have won if they had?

_________________
Merkin

While I was referring to the fact that those two teams had gone 1-2 and 2-1 for the Smartest Bar trophy the past two years, your point is well taken. Congrats to Walsh's/Teaser's for being the most consistently excellent throughout the tournament!

It does seem odd--and even un-tournamenty--that a team can sit out most of the competition and still vie for the championship on the last week. I know that the money was the big draw rather than the trophy, but it seems that there ought to be some sort of trophy or recognition for the team that actually did the best over all six weeks.

Of course, I'm hoping the $3,370 will ease the injustice for your team a bit. Heck, you could make your own trophy that costs more than the $200 one that Rockin' Crepes gets.

_________________
Anon
"He may seem like Mr. Rogers but a dark spirit lies beneath."

you can't really call this year's smartest bar a tournament. i would call it six different contests and teaser's/walsh's won 4 out of 6 of the contests and a very nice piece of change.

It's hard to quibble with IDJIT's assessment. With no cumulative score at stake, it was, more accurately, six individual tournaments.

There is no obvious reason why Buzztime chooses to provide a white background to the questions in Smartest Bar, when their ordinary Six graphics provide better depth of perspective. There's no particular reason why the Six scores recorded in Smartest Bar shouldn't be rolled into our individual Six resumes, rather than kept distinct. Nor why accessing the gameplay statistics for this quiz should be exponentially more difficult when studying the results for Smartest Bar.

And how did that progressive money work out?

Just fine for Rockin' Crepes, not so good for Buzztime. Game participation, courtesy of CVAVRA's page:

Week 1: 1640 PP+ participants
Week 2: 1627 (I actually showed up for that one)
Week 3: 1618
Week 4: 1533
Week 5: 1443
Week 6: 1463

The bigger the money, the less public interest. Apart from the three frustrations identified above, what else might have contributed to this dismal result? Buzztime has advertised the face of a millennial with a razor beard and a hipster beanie, who appears to be smiling into his phone. Where is the charm in this? And concomitantly, Buzztime's offering only special topics which require the most up-to-date information? All of the advertised topics, for each category over the six-week test, might appeal to a much younger player than most of us could attempt to recruit, without risking our reputations.

Back in the '80's, I used to kidnap children so that I'd have an excuse to watch animated cartoons on the big screen. Having a kid with you, you could pass muster. And the kids were invariably grateful. Else they'd be stuck with their mothers, shopping for turnips.

Thirty years have passed. This late in the day, shouldn't Buzztime stop shopping for turnips?