Transfer commands what where when. "What? Where? When?”: scandals and intrigues of the intellectual game (46 photos)

"What? Where? When?" - a popular intellectual game of the last forty years (the first game took place in January 1975). The TV quiz brought together people from different cities and professions at one table. Over the decades, the show has undergone many changes from its original version. We can confidently say that this quiz is a new intellectual brand. Players “What? Where? When?" have great way make money on your knowledge.

Receiving a diamond owl is very prestigious for any club member. Every year more and more experts come here and become full participants. Players “What? Where? When?" answer questions from viewers. A competition in erudition and ingenuity, an exciting brainstorming is a very exciting spectacle. This article talks about the most famous participants in the history of smart casinos.

Briefly about the rules of the game

Teams “What? Where? When?" each consists of six people. They are called by the last name of their captain (except for the prefabricated companies that are created by the hosts of “What? Where? When?”), for example, the team of Elena Potanina. TV viewers are playing against the experts, ordinary people who send their questions by mail or via the Internet. Players must answer these questions in a minute. After this time, the captain announces which member of his team will answer the question. The presenter announces the correct answer and awards a point to the team if it answered correctly, or to the viewer if the experts made a mistake. In addition to the prize point, the viewer also receives a prize - he is paid a monetary reward.

If experts do not find the answer in a minute, then the captain has the right to take a minute on credit or the club’s help to save his team from losing. The game is played to 6 points. At the end of each season, the results are summed up: the best player of the intelligent casino is selected, who is awarded a crystal owl, and the best TV viewer question. In between questions, in order to defuse the situation, the presenter can hold a tea or musical break.

Elena Potanina

Let's tell you who they are - the most famous players"What? Where? When?". Let's call her first. She is a lawyer by profession, born on November 20, 1987 in Novosibirsk. In addition to jurisprudence, he is also involved in producing television programs. Elena Potanina has been taking part in the game since she was 11 years old. "What? Where? When?" During this time it became a real home for her. In an interview, she says that she spends more time with club members than with her family.

During her school years she was a multiple champion in Ukraine. In the television version since 2006, and since 2007 - team captain. She became the club's best player several times. Elena Potanina, “What? Where? When?" for whom it is not a means of earning money, but the best hobby in life, the first participant in the history of the club to take one more minute to discuss the issue.

Alexey Blinov

Born in the winter of 1964. In his youth, he organized Blinov “What? Where? When?" in his hometown- St. Petersburg. In the TV version of the quiz show since 1991. Such famous players as Rovshan Askerov and others played under the leadership of Blinov. Alexey won the crystal owl several times. I haven’t received the Diamond Owl yet, but many players “What? Where? When?" note that Blinov is on the way to this.

Maxim Potashov

Maxim Potashov was born on January 20, 1969. He is engaged in mathematics, marketing and conducts business trainings. He is a master of the game and has won the crystal owl three times. He first played in the TV version in 1997. In 2014, Maxim Potashov joined the team of club elders, whose captain was Viktor Sednev. He brought undeniable benefits to the team. It was with his help that they became the best team of the year more than once.

Alexander Druz

One of the most experienced and influential players in the game. Born May 10, 1955. Repeatedly won the diamond and became the world champion in the sports version. In addition, he is the organizer of the united association of all smart casino clubs. Member of the club elders team from the first day of its formation. He also participated in many different intellectual and educational shows, in which he set records. A systems engineer by training.

Ilya Novikov

Born in the winter of 1982. A lawyer by training. His very first game took place at the beginning of the 2000s. Ilya won the crystal owl more than once. At the end of one of the seasons I received a diamond owl. Ilya is excellent at winning in “super blitz” type tours. Repeatedly won the “What? Where? When?" Russia and participated in the World Sports Championship. At one time he also took part in the “Own Game” quiz, in which he beat various grandmasters and received valuable prizes for this. Invited to play various television intellectual games. Teaches at the Law School educational institution, and is also a partner in one of the law firms.

Ilya Novikov is the lawyer of pilot Savchenko. "What? Where? When?" protests against her persecution.

Ales Mukhin

Born in September 1976 in the capital of the Republic of Belarus. An economist by training. He is engaged in entrepreneurship. He has been playing since childhood. In addition to playing himself, he also hosts a quiz show in his homeland, Belarus. Ales won the crystal owl several times.

Presenters "What? Where? When?"

During the entire existence of the television version of the game, there were not many presenters. Vladimir Voroshilov became its first presenter. He was at the very beginning, managing the casino when it was not yet of a purely intellectual nature.

He was replaced by Alexander Maslyakov, who took part in the game as a presenter only once. Afterwards, times came when there was no specific leader, but there were different voices behind the scenes. After some time, Voroshilov returned to his post again, and this time he stayed there until 2000, spending his last game on air on December 30.

After him, in 2001, the quiz was headed by who, in addition to being the host of the game, also produces the program.

Teams

Teams “What? Where? When?" are named after the captain's surname. But those that were created by the organizers of the game (for example, a team of elders) have a special name. The team consists of the best and most experienced players “What? Where? When?".

There are several sponsored teams, for example, the MTS team, whose players and captain were determined through a vote of club members.

Conclusion

“That our life is a game” is the motto of the club “What? Where? When?". The show gives the viewer a lot of positivity, a sense of excitement, interesting knowledge, and also a monetary reward for those who were unable to beat the experts.

This quiz is interesting, exciting, and addictive. Players “What? Where? When?" - real intellectuals, professionals in their field, the best minds of Russia, who gathered at the round table in an intellectual casino.

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This article describes the television version of the game. For information about tournaments and the sports version of the game, see.

What? Where? When?- an intellectual quiz, the most common in the Russian-speaking environment. It was created in the city by TV presenter Vladimir Voroshilov. The game very quickly became so popular that in addition to the original television version, a sports version of the game appeared. The essence of the game is confrontation teams of Experts(game team of six people) TV Viewers team. Experts must use brainstorming to find the answer to a question sent by a viewer in one minute. Typically, players are asked questions that can be answered using general knowledge and logic. For each correct answer, the Experts team receives one point; in case of an incorrect answer, a point is awarded to the TV Viewers team. The game is played to six points.

Game show rules

IN television version Each correct answer to a question gives the team one point; an incorrect answer gives a point to the “team of spectators” (who, as it were, play together against the team of experts). When one team scores six points, it wins. This means that no more than eleven questions can be asked during one televised game. The rules of the TV game are constantly changing, but it always takes place (with the exception of the first few seasons) in the Hunting Lodge of Neskuchny Garden in Moscow. There is a special room equipped with a tape measure, on which there is a top with an arrow. The questions are in envelopes laid out on the table, signed with the names of the cities of the participants who sent the question. The spinning top is spun by the manager, and the question on which the arrow stops is chosen for the game. If the dropped question has already been played, then the next question clockwise that has not yet been played is selected.

The discussion lasts for one minute. At the end of the discussion, the team captain must name an expert who will give the answer. As a rule, the floor is given to the author of the version.

If, during the announcement of the question by the presenter, the expert understands the answer to it, he can give a sign (often this is a fist raised up thumb), after which the team captain can tell the presenter before the actual discussion of the question begins that the answer is ready. If the answer is correct, in addition to the expert point, the team has the opportunity to take an extra minute of discussion. The number of minutes depends on the number of correct answers given ahead of time, and a team can take more than one additional minute in a row.

A rule such as “club help” was also introduced. If the experts did not know the answer to asked question, they can turn to the experts in the room. The time that can be used for these purposes is 20 seconds. In 2007, this rule was slightly changed, after which help can only be taken if the score is not in favor of experts. Previously, there was such a rule as “masters’ help”, in which experts could be prompted by game masters within 20 seconds, but this rule was subsequently canceled.

Since the experts are not alone in the room, there is the potential for unauthorized tips. To prevent this, during a discussion of an issue, there is a manager in the room who, when he detects this, raises a red card. In addition, several operators are involved in the hall, which makes it possible to record the hint on video. If the rules are violated, the person who suggested the answer is, in most cases, removed from the room. The presenter has the right not to count the answer of experts.

Questions

General information

The game requires great education and a broad outlook in the field modern science, the ability to think quickly, originally and out of the box. From brief description game, one may mistakenly conclude that in order to play the game successfully, one must remember many facts. In fact, questions that require knowledge of certain facts are usually uninteresting; people try to avoid such questions. A good question should contain everything necessary for an answer; in addition, it may require knowledge at the level high school, attentiveness, observation, etc. Often some unnecessary word or grammatical subtlety that is not very suitable in a given context is a strong hint; puns, etc. play such a role, so questions are often untranslatable and presuppose knowledge of cultural studies.

The questions relate to different areas of knowledge and have different styles, so the best players will be the most erudite and well-read. A strong team should have harmonious cooperation between people with different ways of thinking, and, if possible, specialists in different fields. Much depends on training and the ability to understand each other within the team.

Types of questions

  1. Common question. Connoisseurs are asked in verbal form a question sent by mail from one of the viewers. The question is selected using a spinning top in standard form. One minute is given to discuss the question, after which experts must give an answer. The answer comes from one team expert. The captain determines the answer.
  2. Multimedia question. This is a question asked through video, audio, or drawings. In a game show, the video is simply shown on a monitor. In the sports version, a printout (also known as a “handout”) is placed on each table before the question is asked. Often before reading a question, in order to avoid tedious rewriting, long texts(for example, poetry).
  3. Question with subject. The team is shown an object and asked, for example, to guess what it serves (or served), use the object(s) to achieve a certain result, etc.
  4. Black box question. Here you need to answer what is in the black box in front of the players. In rare cases, this can serve as a kind of hint, since the size of the box is limited, and it clearly cannot contain anything abstract (although there were cases when the box was empty, and the absence of objects in the box was the correct answer, but this is rather an exception) . One time there was another black box in a black box (December 27, 2008). As a variant of this type of question, if the item does not fit into the black box, it is located behind the scenes, which in most cases is additionally reported to experts.
  5. Thirteenth sector. Connoisseurs are invited to ask a question asked by Internet users on the website 13.mts.ru during the broadcast of the game. The question is selected randomly by the computer. At the same time, the question is completely unpredictable and no one (even editors) knows the answer to the question until it is announced.
  6. Sector Zero. At the beginning of the game, three stylized playing cards with the sign "zero". If a sector fell out, the “intellectual casino versus experts” round was announced, after which the host Vladimir Voroshilov came out to the players and asked one of the questions on the cards. After the death of Vladimir Voroshilov, the sector was abolished.
  7. Blitz(simple). Consists of three more simple questions(compared to regular ones), but the team has only 20 seconds for each of them. A team gets a point for three correct answers. This type of question originally appeared in a game show and was later included in the sports version of the game. Despite the difficulty, "Blitz" is periodically won by experts (for example, the team of B. Kasumov in the summer series of 2008).
  8. Super blitz- complicated version blitz, the difference is that one player from the team participates in it; who exactly is decided by the team captain (in rare cases, the top is used for drawing lots). The round is extremely rarely won by experts (for example, A. Kozlov in the 2008 final, before that by M. Potashev in 1997).
  9. Decisive round. In the event that a team of experts has earned 5 points in their favor, but would like to increase the result of the game to a score of 6:0 in their favor, the team can take the decisive round. In this case, the strongest expert, in the opinion of the team, remains at the table, after which a question is selected in a standard manner using a top, which the expert must answer without anyone’s help. Wherein prerequisite is that there should be absolute silence in the hall and a complete absence of discussion of the issue. This type questions helps a team advance to the season finals if the previous teams of the season play more successfully.

Sample questions

  1. Here is an ancient Egyptian manuscript; it says about a certain slave: “He hears perfectly with both ears, is honest and obedient.” This text is considered to be one of the early copies of... what? (Answer: advertising.)
  2. The board of McDonald's believes that rumors that meat dishes McDonald's chains are prepared from earthworms, which is easy to refute by comparing them to meat. Question: by what criterion? (Answer: price. Worms cost much more.)
  3. According to the humorous calendar of Belyaev and Stalber, “If this statement were true, This wouldn't have this good taste" Guess what statement is being talked about and name it This. (Answer: wine, “Truth in wine.” The question is based on a comparison of the phrases “Truth in wine” and “Bitter truth”).
  4. Once, Mark Twain's friend, Harry Dumaine, borrowed $500, promising to return it in a month - of course, if he was still alive. Question: What did Mark Twain do when he didn’t receive what he was promised after a month? (Answer: Dumain's obituary was published)
  5. In Ambrose Bierce's fable, a deputy promises his constituents not to steal after receiving office. When it was revealed that he was stealing huge sums, voters demanded answers. The deputy replied that, yes, he promised not to steal, but he did not make another promise. Which one? (Answer: promises not to lie.)
  6. Jerome K. Jerome compared This with the government, since both are valued only as long as they are good. Name it. (Answer: weather)
  7. Russian humorist Mikhail Zadornov said that he was not angry with the communists, since they never deceived him. But why, according to him, did they not deceive him? (Answer: because he never believed them anyway)

TV version of the game

Vladimir Voroshilov, the creator of the game and its leader for a long time.

The birthday of the TV game is considered to be September 4th. That day there was one game, according to different rules, according to which two families played against each other (as in popular game"Lucky case"). The game consisted of two rounds, filmed at the home of each family. They got together for the sake of photography for the family archive.

The first questions were invented by V. Voroshilov himself, and later, when the game became popular, they began to accept questions from the audience. . It is known that bags of letters arrived every day, each of which had to be answered, the best questions selected, the accuracy of the facts presented checked, edited, prepared, if necessary, necessary items. Of course, one person cannot do such work, and Voroshilov was helped by his wife Natalya Stetsenko, who headed the department of correspondence with viewers for many years.

Initially, there was no special name for the players, but in 1979 the term “connoisseur” appeared, this word has now become familiar to describe the participants in the game, the club is now usually called the “connoisseur club”.

The details of the game rules changed frequently, but the main prize was always the books (which were hung during the final game on Christmas tree) and crystal owl.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the game changed from an “intellectual club” to an “intellectual casino” (although the location of the games did not change). The slogan of the game was the phrase “Intellectual casino is the only casino where you can make money with your own mind.”

Each question now has a certain “value”, which can be increased by placing the money you win on a certain playing field. Sponsors and lawyers appeared (Mikhail Barshchevsky). Since the experts have decided to stop playing for money, the value of the questions is determined using telephone voting by viewers. Since the year, the authors of questions to which the correct answer was not given receive payment in accordance with which of the unanswered questions their question was: the author of the first question not answered by the team receives 10 thousand rubles, the second - 20 thousand, and so on ; also, in the event of a defeat of a team of TV viewers in the first round, the losing TV viewer receives insurance of 10 thousand rubles, and each question not thrown (except for the 13th sector) receives compensation of 10 thousand rubles (in the case when a blitz or super blitz did not fall, the author of each blitz or super blitz question receives 10 thousand rubles). At the same time, in 2006-2007 they received 1 ruble for each vote “like the question” and -1 ruble for each vote “dislike the question”, which was more profitable (the last question also had a fixed rate of 60 thousand rubles).

After that, the game began to change, and these changes continue to this day. In 1991, a new sector appeared - zero (“zero”). If the pointer stopped on this field, then the presenter came out to the audience with three cards (later a single question was played), on which his own questions were written, and showed them to the team. He did this in his own manner, and once the players could not even understand where the introduction ended and the question began. Voroshilov called this version of the game “a casino game against experts.”

Many famous experts of the “What? Where? When?" took an active part in the filming of the television version of “Brain Ring”

In the television version of the game, pauses are provided mainly for the experts to rest. They come in two types:

  • Musical pause, when the team leaves the house in the direction of a stylized stage on which one of the stars (invited in advance) performs any of their own songs. Alternatively, it is also possible to invite a group or ensemble. Such a pause is announced by the leader after four rounds (with the exception of a score of 3:0).
  • Tea break, when the manager brings on a tray and places on the table six cups with already poured Ahmad Tea Limited Edition tea, as well as additional boxes of tea and sugar. Such a pause is announced by the leader after seven or eight rounds, depending on the progress of the game (naturally, if by that time none of the teams has won).

Live

A special feature of the game is that it takes place live. During live broadcast viewers can give an answer using MTS phones. However, the cost of a message has increased from 5-6 cents (according to the tariff plan) to 10 rubles.

Game show prizes and titles

Owls

Jackets

  • "Red jacket" is a sign "immortal member of the club", a person who can stay in the club even if his team loses. Received by the best player of the team who reached the final of the series, regardless of the result (but there was one game when it was awarded to the whole team). Currently abolished (after the story of the loss of the team of Kozlov (the jacket was also lost) and Blinov, with the jacket were Blinov, Druz and Dvinyatin). The rematch, won by Blinov's team on December 31, 1994, abolished the jackets and a general amnesty was declared at the club.

Shoulder strap of the best captain

  • This shoulder strap is given to the best captain, who is chosen once every 5 years. Its owners are Boris Eremin, Vladimir Lutovinov, Andrey Kamorin, Viktor Sidnev, Andrey Kozlov, Alexey Blinov and Ales Mukhin.

Masters

Music in a game show

The television game has become so popular that its music is now associated only with the game show. Some topics have gained enormous popularity and are used in local quizzes. For many people, these melodies, first heard in the game, remain forever associated with its atmosphere. The main melody heard in the game's intro is the introductory movement to Richard Strauss's symphonic poem Thus Spoke Zarathustra. In addition, at the beginning of the game, a fragment of Herman’s aria from the opera “The Queen of Spades” (“What is our life? A game!”) and other episodes from the same opera are heard. During the game between rounds, an arrangement of a fragment from “Rhapsody in Blue” by J. Gershwin, James Last’s composition “Ra-ta-ta” by the group “Rotations”, fragments of the songs “Crucified” and “Israelism” by the group Army of Lovers are sometimes heard. At the end of the game, Saint-Saëns' symphonic poem "Dance of Death" performed by Ekseption is played.

Sports version

Unlike the television version of the game, the sports version remains unknown to most Russians, since there is practically no popularization of festivals and games - mainly because they are less spectacular than the television version, since in the sports version the viewer has practically no opportunity to watch game process.

The game is known within a certain movement, and a person gets there by chance, through his friends, acquaintances, an ad accidentally seen or an institute club, which, like KVN clubs, regularly hold games for students.

Famous game show experts

Alexander Druz

Many players, mainly the TV version players, were very popular in the Soviet Union, and later in Russia. The most outstanding ones receive various honorary prizes, such as crystal owl, title immortal player What? Where? When?, Red jacket. In some seasons we received cars and large sums money (mainly if there were famous sponsors).

The most famous and famous participants in this game:

  • Some bookmakers accept bets on the outcome of the game (recipient of the Crystal Owl, the score of the game, etc.), which indicates a lack of agreement and manipulation of the game results.
  • In the eighties, the video monitors located above the round table in the broadcast studio were Yunost color TVs, apparently the Ts-440 model, in red cases. In the nineties, they were replaced by foreign-made televisions, and currently LCD monitors are used.
  • In the early nineties, the program's management conducted an experiment in voting among viewers. A frequency meter, made on the basis of a DVK-2M computer, measured the frequency of the supply network. First, all viewers were asked to turn off their televisions, then only viewers voting for the first team, and then only viewers voting for the second team. Unusual way The voting was based on the fact that with a sharp decrease in the load on the power grid, the frequency of the current increases. Efficiency this method is in question because, firstly, power plants have systems automatic regulation, which do not allow the frequency to “float away” when the load changes beyond the established limits, and secondly, televisions various models differ from each other in power consumption, so, when turning off the Rubin-714 TV, the load on the electrical network will decrease by 250 W, and when turning off the Yunost-406D TV - by only 30 W. These days, voting of this kind is carried out using SMS.

Versions of the game in other countries

see also

Other mind games

Notes

Links

Video

  • "What? Where? When?" Season 2008. Final of the year. 27/12/08 + ,
  • "WHAT? WHERE? WHEN?"- Spring series 2009. - Game one (04/04/2009) on Yandex.Video


"What? Where? When?"- an intellectual quiz created by a TV presenter Vladimir Voroshilov, has been around for 42 years.

Game history What? Where? When?

September 4, 1975 is officially considered the game's birthday. What? Where? When?" On this day, the family quiz “What? Where? When?". Two teams took part in the program - the Ivanov family and the Kuznetsov family from Moscow. The program was filmed in parts - first visiting one family, and then visiting another. Each team was asked 11 questions. The two stories were combined into one using photographs from the family albums of the Ivanovs and Kuznetsovs.

In 1976, the game What? Where? When?“has already changed a lot and has received the name “television youth club”. True, the first release of the game was not Vladimir Voroshilov, A Alexander Maslyakov, which later revived the KVN project. The first players were MSU students, who talked loudly and smoked while discussing the issue; there was no minute limit; everyone played for themselves, and not in a team.

December 24, 1977 game " What? Where? When?” finally took its final form: a top showing a question and a one-minute limit for the time the question is discussed. In 1977, its first symbol appeared in the game - Fomka the eagle owl.

Who hosted the program “What? Where? When?" “on the other side of the screen” remained a mystery for television viewers for a long time. And for Vladimir Voroshilov the nickname “Incognito from Ostankino” was firmly established. The name of the game host will be heard for the first time on April 23, 1980, when the broadcast ends with the words: “The broadcast was hosted by Vladimir Voroshilov.”

In 1982, the form of the game “What? Where? When?". A new rule has been introduced: the game continues until six points. Until this moment, the score of the game was always different - as many questions were asked as the timing allowed. The presenter’s signature phrase appears: “The score is 0:0. TV viewers versus experts. First round."

From the memoirs of V.Ya. Voroshilova: “Once I went to the Toy House to buy something as a gift for my three-year-old friend. I saw a top with a jumping horse and bought two at once, the second one for myself. I played without leaving the house for ten days...

From 1975 to 1991, the program aired on the First Program of the USSR Central Television. From 1992 to 1994 “What? Where? When?" was filmed on Ostankino Channel 1, then the film crew moved to ORT (Channel One). In 1999–2000, the program aired on NTV.

Currently, ChGK games are broadcast on Channel One.

Many comedy shows have repeatedly featured parodies of “What? Where? When?". In particular, the hosts of the show “ProjectorParisHilton” Garik Martirosyan, Ivan Urgant and Alexander Tsekalo joked about the program.

Rules of the game What? Where? When?

Team of experts " What? Where? When?", consisting of six people, must answer the question with one minute for discussion. Questions for the program “What? Where? When?" those that can be answered using logic and not too specific knowledge, usually basic school knowledge, are selected, although over time they become more and more difficult. For each correct answer, the team receives one point. For an incorrect one, a point is awarded to the spectator team.

All questions are created by viewers. Game “What? Where? When?" ends when one team scores six points. In the center of the gaming room there is a roulette wheel with a spinning top installed. The spinning top is spun by the manager, and the question on which the arrow stops is chosen for the game. If the dropped question has already been played, then the next question clockwise that has not yet been played is selected. The discussion lasts for one minute. At the end of the discussion, the team captain must name an “expert” who will give the answer. As a rule, the floor is given to the author of the version.

If experts answer early, the minute remains at their disposal for later use. If experts do not know the answer to a question, they can turn to experts in the room. Help from the audience must be provided within 20 seconds, and this help can only be taken if the score is not in favor of the experts. The game takes place live.

Types of questions in the quiz What? Where? When?

Blitz - in addition to the usual questions, which are given a minute to answer, blitz questions were introduced. This question consists of three easier questions, but the team has only 20 seconds for each of them. A team gets a point for three correct answers.

Super blitz is the same, but not the whole team responds, but only one player.

Multimedia questions are questions asked using video or audio recordings, or using pictures.

Question with an object - the team is shown an object and asked, for example, to guess what it serves (or served), or to use the object(s) to achieve a certain result.

Black box question - requires answering what is in the black box in front of the players. Based on the size of the box, you can approximately guess the size of the item you are looking for. Decisive Round - If a team of experts has earned 5 points in their favor, but would like to improve the result of the game to a score of 6:0, the team can take a decisive round. In this case, there is only one player left at the table, and he must answer without anyone's help.

Prizes and titles of the game show What? Where? When?

Owls

"Owl Badge" - was awarded to the best player of 1981, who was recognized as Alexander Byalko.

“Crystal Owl” - a prize introduced in 1984, awarded to the best player from the team of experts and the best player from the team of television viewers.

“Diamond Owl” - it is awarded to the best player based on the results of the year. The prize was founded in 2002.

Jackets

The "red jacket" is the sign of an immortal club member, a person who can remain in the club even if his team loses. Received by the best player of the team who reached the final of the series, regardless of the result. Currently abolished.

Shoulder strap of the best captain - the shoulder strap is given to the best captain, who is chosen once every 5 years.

Masters- since 1995, in each anniversary season of the game, one of the experts is awarded the title of Master. Currently this title is held by: Alexander Druz(since 1995), Maxim Potashev, (since 2000), Victor Sidnev(since 2005).

The most famous and famous participants in the game What? Where? When?

1. Alexander Druz, master, owner of the “Crystal Owl”, a red jacket and the title of lifelong member of the club, software engineer, works on television (St. Petersburg).

2. Maxim Potashev, master's degree, mathematician, works in an insurance agency (Moscow).

3. Fyodor Dvinyatin, philologist (St. Petersburg).

4. Boris Burda, journalist, writer, bard, cook (Odessa).

5. Rovshan Askerov, journalist, historian (Moscow).

6. Elena Orlova (Moscow).

8. Mikhail Moon, mathematician (St. Petersburg).

9. Anatoly Wasserman, journalist, political consultant (Moscow).

Over time, two more versions of “What? Where? When?" - sports, without the involvement of television, and “Brain Ring” - in this version, two teams answer the question, the correct answer deprives the opponent of the right to his answer.

The host of the television version of “Brain Ring” is Andrey Kozlov. The program was filmed by the Igra television company from 1989 to 1999.

Interesting facts about the game What? Where? When?

Vladimir Voroshilov was forbidden to appear on camera, so Alexander Maslyakov became the first host of the game. He played only one game. The program aired on April 24, 1976.

In 1977, for the first time, the spinning top pointed to viewers' letters rather than to the responding player. A minute of discussion appears in the game.

In 1977, the club began a tradition of presenting a prize to a TV viewer for best question. A living symbol of the program “What? Where? When?" - Fomka the eagle owl. In 1977, one game was played at the club - on December 24.

Since 1978, games in the television club “What? Where? When?" become traditional and permanent. In 1978, 9 games were played.

In 1979, participants in the program “What? Where? When?" are first called experts. The first musical pause appears in the game.

In the game dated April 23, 1980, the name of the presenter “What? Where? When?”: “The program was hosted by Vladimir Voroshilov.”

The black box first appeared on the game “What? Where? When?" December 6, 1983. This was the very first “black box” on Soviet television.

The black box contained hundreds of different objects: soap, a conductor's baton, a skull, toilet paper, Wedding Dress, feather bed fluff, spurs, brick, a head of cheese, a head of cabbage, a bikini swimsuit, a jar of urine, an alarm clock, a live butterfly. Several times throughout the history of the game, the black box was empty.

In 1984, the players of “What? Where? When?" During a minute of discussion, it is allowed to use reference books: TSB, dictionaries of Ushakov, Ozhegov and Dahl, Philosophical Encyclopedic Dictionary, Geographical Encyclopedic Dictionary, Physical Encyclopedic Dictionary, Chemical Encyclopedic Dictionary, Soviet Encyclopedic Dictionary.

In 1984, the first Crystal Owls appeared.

In 1987, they were held for the first time international games"What? Where? When?".

In the winter of 1991 gaming table program “What? Where? When?" money appeared for the first time. An intellectual club becomes an intelligent casino. The presenter began to be called the croupier. For the first time, the phrase appears: “Intellectual casino is the only place where you can make money with your own mind.”

In 1991, the title of Immortal Member of the Elite Club was also introduced.

In 2001, after the death of Vladimir Voroshilov, the first two episodes named the new host of the game “What? Where? When?" was kept secret, and the voice was specially processed using a computer. Later, information about the new presenter ceased to be a secret, but still the players in the program only address the presenter this way: “Mr. Presenter!”

In 2001, experts stopped playing for money.

In 2002, a new honorary prize for the game “What? Where? When?" - “Diamond Owl”. “Diamond Owl” is the main prize of the year. Awarded in the final game to the best player of the winning team.

Prize "Diamond Owl" - self made, it is made of silver and crystal using the “diamond cut” technology. 70 rubies were used to decorate the owl. The Diamond Owl weighs more than 8 kilograms.

Since 1990, all games of the elite television club “What? Where? When?" take place in the Hunting Lodge in Neskuchny Garden.

Hunting lodge- an architectural monument of the 18th century, part of the pleasure estate of Prince Nikita Yuryevich Trubetskoy. Built between 1739 and 1753.

What? Where? When? and TEFI award

1997 Game “What? Where? When?" - winner of the competition in the “Entertainment Program” category.
2001 Program “What? Where? When?" - winner of the competition in the “Television Game” category.

Vladimir Voroshilov - prize “For personal contribution to the development of domestic television” (posthumously).
Alexander Fuks - winner of the competition in the “Operator” category (posthumously).

2002 Program “What? Where? When?" reached the finals of the “Television Game” nomination.
2003 Natalia Plutalova - winner of the competition in the Sound Director category.
2004 Program “What? Where? When?" reached the finals of the “Television Game” nomination.
2005 Program “What? Where? When?" reached the finals of the “Television Game” nomination.

September 2017 marked 42 years since the release of the first episode of the program “What? Where? When?". All this time, a team of experts is looking for answers to viewers’ questions. We invite you to meet the brightest experts on “What? Where? When?"!

History of the game show

The first episode of this program was released in 1975. Then the bar of the television center in Ostankino was chosen as the location for filming. Seven years later, the unique intellectual game “moved” to Herzen Street, 47. Later, the game was broadcast from Bulgaria - three times. From 1988 to 1989 The experts gathered at Krasnaya Presnya, and then moved to the Hunting Lodge in Neskuchny Garden, where, by the way, they still meet to this day.

The author of the television project is Vladimir Voroshilov. He was born in December 1930. His mother, Vera Borisovna Pellekh, was a seamstress and worked at home, and his father, Yakov Davidovich Kalmanovich, first held the position of head of the rationalization bureau, and later became the chief engineer of the People's Commissariat of Light Industry. After graduating from the Moscow Secondary Art School, Vladimir entered the Moscow Art Theater School and studied at the Higher Directing Courses.

In 1966, Voroshilov was invited to work on television. Initially, he was involved in filming television plays and documentaries. Vladimir Voroshilov released his first major television project called “Auction” in 1969. True, only six episodes saw the light of day, after which the program was taken off the air, and its author was transferred to the category of freelancers. Despite this, in September 1975, Voroshilov released the first game “What? Where? When?". By the way, for the first few years the author’s last name was not indicated in the credits; the editor of the program, Natalia Stetsenko, marked on the folders that she submitted to the broadcast that there was no presenter.

At the end of 2000, Vladimir Yakovlevich played his last game. And in March 2001 he passed away. In the same year, Voroshilov posthumously received the TEFI award. In 2003, at the grave of the first president of the International Association of Clubs “What? Where? When?" a black granite cube was installed - a symbol of a black box. The author of the project is Nikita Shangin, a participant in the TV game.

Maxim Oskarovich Potashev

Muscovite Maxim Potashev was born in January 1969. He graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. And his first game at the club took place in 1994.

It was this expert who in 2000 was recognized as the best player of the “What? Where? When?" for 25 years of existence of this project! Maxim Oskarovich has four “Crystal Owls”, and he received two of them in 2000 in the anniversary series of games. In addition, he is the owner of the diamond star of the Master of the ChGK. The secret of success is simple: according to Potashev, in order to win the game, you need the ability to play for the team, and not for yourself.

Maxim does not like to talk about himself; it is known that he is well versed in sports and science fiction. He prefers the poetry of Pasternak, Blok, Gumilyov. I even tried to write poetry. Maxim Potashev cannot stand boiled onions, bad poetry, cats and stupid women. Maxim is married and has two sons.

Andrey Anatolyevich Kozlov

Another Master of the Game is Andrey Kozlov. He was born in December 1960 right on the plane that was flying from Germany to the Soviet Union.

Andrei's childhood dream was to work on television. Therefore, after graduating from school, he went to Moscow to enroll in the Shchukin Theater School. The young man passed the entrance tests, but took the documents and, at the insistence of his parents, returned to Donetsk. Here Andrey entered Donetsk State University. Kozlov chose chemistry as his specialty. Andrei Anatolyevich wrote a letter to the editors of the club of experts. Passed right away qualifying round. In 1989, he took part in an elite club game. It is worth noting that Andrei Kozlov plays exclusively as a team captain. Among the awards this connoisseur receives is a “Diamond Owl” and three “Crystal” ones. In addition, Andrei Anatolyevich is the holder of the honorary title “Best Captain”.

By the way, Kozlov’s childhood dream came true: since 1990 he has lived in Moscow and worked on television. It was he who became the director of such television programs as:

  • "Brain Ring".
  • "How to spend a million."
  • "Life is Beautiful".
  • "Program Guide".
  • "Songs of the 20th century".
  • "Cultural Revolution".

Alexander Abramovich Druz

It is difficult to find a person who has never heard the name of this expert “What? Where? When?". Alexander Abramovich is a master of the game, his list of awards includes six “Crystal” and one “Diamond Owl”, and the Order of the “Diamond Star”.

Alexander was born in May 1955, his homeland is the city of Leningrad. Here he graduated from the Institute of Railway Transport Engineers, and received a diploma with honors. The only “B” in the diploma was given by the teacher of the political economy of socialism. When asked what brought him to the elite club, Alexander Druz answers simply - curiosity. It was out of curiosity that he wrote a letter to the editor of the game, and from it he decided to play a couple of games. However, he could not stop - since 1981, Druz has been playing to this day. Other experts call the master nothing less than the “Great Combinator,” because he is able to calculate absolutely everything. Club members also note Alexander Abramovich’s special love for jokes: he can tell them on a certain topic, for a while, and even for an argument.

Alexander Druz is married, his other half does not play in the club, saying that there should be at least one normal person in the family. But Alexander’s daughters Inna and Marina (we’ll tell you more about them a little later) are passionate lovers of the game, each of them has an “Owl”.

By the way, Alexander has a secret for raising smart children. The expert is sure that intelligence can only be developed until the age of 18, and therefore during these years you need to have time to read as many books as possible to your child. It is also important to answer all the children’s questions. Alexander admits that if he doesn’t know something, he does not hesitate to look into dictionaries and reference books.

Alexander Andreevich Byalko

Alexander Byalko was born in the late summer of 1952. MEPhI is behind him. Alexander Andreevich - Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. The main thing this expert understands is - nuclear physics. My first game in the club “What? Where? When?" he played in 1979. It was Alexander who became the first owner of the “Sign of the Owl”. Alexander Byalko has a daughter and a son. Maria is a talented journalist, and Dmitry is good with computers.

Ales Vasilievich Mukhin

Ales's homeland is the city of Minsk. He was born in September 1976. It is worth saying that Ales is a history and English teacher; he graduated from the history department of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University.

Fans of the game "ChGK" first saw Ales (some are closer to another version of this name - Oles) Mukhin in 2001. This expert plays only as a captain. Ales has one gaming sign: if his wife is present in the hall, the game will be successful. This rule bears fruit - Ales has a “Crystal Owl”. Mukhin also has two children - son Anton, born in 1996, and daughter Dasha, who was born in 2004.

Now Ales lives in Minsk, works on television. Little is known about the expert. For example, he loves classical music and often attends organ concerts. He also likes the work of Boris Grebenshchikov.

Boris Oskarovich Burda

In 1990, a new player appeared at the club - Boris Burda. In what? Where? When?" he did not come of his own free will. In an interview, Burda admitted that he was blackmailed by the Komsomol authorities: if he had not headed the Odessa club “ChGK”, he was in danger of serious trouble.

Boris Oskarovich talks about many other things. For example, his hobbies include badminton and cooking. It is worth noting that in 1999, a book by this club connoisseur entitled “Boris Burda Treats” was published. Two years later, a sequel to the book appeared. Favorite hobby Boris - reading. By the way, he learned to read on his own. From the age of four, his parents left him alone with his ABC book. Among Boris Burda's hobbies are conversations with smart people, game “Heroes-3”, playing six-string guitar and piano. The connoisseur writes songs and takes part in art song festivals. By the way, at the very beginning of the 70s of the last century, Boris took part in another famous game - KVN.

Among the achievements in the elite club are three “Crystal Owls” and one “Diamond” owl. The club calls him a “walking encyclopedia.”

Lyudmila Avgustovna Gerasimova

Speaking of experts, “What? Where? When?" It’s worth mentioning about Lyudmila Gerasimova. This Owl owner appeared on the game show in 1981. Then she was still studying at the Faculty of Chemistry of the Udmurt State University. The debut turned out to be successful - Lyudmila answered two questions correctly, and at the end of the game she became the best expert. Until 1995, Gerasimova played in the women's team, captained by Valentina Golubeva. Afterwards, Lyudmila began organizing a school movement of experts. On Yekaterinburg television she hosted the Erudite Club program.

Inna Alexandrovna Druz

The eldest daughter of the expert “What? Where? When?" Alexandra Druzya, owner of the “Crystal Owl” Inna was born in 1979 in Leningrad. Already at the age of 12 she took part in the game “What? Where? When?". Then she played in Vilnius. Inna joined the elite club when she turned 15 years old.

Behind Inna Aleksandrovna’s background is the Physics and Mathematics Lyceum of St. Petersburg, and the State University of Economics and Finance. She also graduated from Paris-Dauphine University. Inna Druz knows German, English and French languages. In addition, her hobbies include photography and reading.

Marina Aleksandrovna Druz

In December 1982, a daughter, Marina, appeared in the family of Alexander Abramovich. She went to school a year earlier than her peers. Marina studied at the Physics and Mathematics Lyceum of St. Petersburg, and her certificate only had four “B’s.” It is also worth mentioning that she speaks Spanish, French and English languages. Marina Druz - winner All-Russian Olympiad on literature.

Marina first took part in ChGK at the age of eight. Today she has "Crystal Owl". This connoisseur reads a lot and prefers Western classics. Her interests include hiking and various competitions.

Yulia Valerievna Lazareva

Yulia Lazareva has three “Owls” at once. She was born in 1983 in Moscow. And in 2001 she played her first game. When the girl was studying at the Moscow Law Academy, she was offered to take part in the selection for the game “What? Where? When?". The girl agreed without hesitation, because she had previously taken part in various intellectual games. By the way, Yulia recalls that to some extent the decision to play was influenced by the example of 16-year-old Inna Druz. By the way, it was Lazareva who was recognized five times as the best player and expert of the ChGK club.

Yulia Valerievna willingly communicates with journalists. He talks about how he loves to travel, attend various exhibitions and concerts. Among musical genres he prefers jazz. He cannot imagine his life without friends. After participating in the intellectual game “What? Where? When?" Yulia was also invited to other projects, such as “Children’s Pranks” and “The Smartest”.

Asya Ilyinichna Shavinskaya

Among the experts “What? Where? When?" and graduate State University St. Petersburg Asya Shavinskaya. Among Asya's prizes are one crystal and one diamond “Owl”. She first appeared in the ChGK club at the end of 2003. Then she passed the telephone round of the game and became part of the MTS team. The second game in 2004 brought Asya the title of best player on the team.

This expert club member loves leisure. Her hobbies include horseback riding, billiards, ballroom dancing and gymnastics. Asya Shavinskaya willingly goes on hikes and takes part in tourist rallies.

Elizaveta Sergeevna Ovdeenko

Speaking of famous experts “What? Where? When?”, one cannot fail to mention Elizaveta Ovdeenko. She was born in Odessa in 1980. Elizabeth has two higher education: She is a mathematician and a bank worker. The reason for moving to Moscow in 2010 was a successful personal life, and the girl was brought to ChGK by her love for reflection. In addition, Elizabeth simply loves games with words, for example, “Scrabble.” It is worth noting that Ovdeenko is the owner of two “Crystal Owls”.

Vladimir Grigorievich Belkin

It is worth noting Vladimir Belkin, an expert on the game, a member of the ChGK club and the board of the International Association. He was born in January 1955 in Moscow. Vladimir studied at technical university named after Nikolai Ernestovich Bauman. Graduated from the Faculty of Automation and Mechanization of Production. For fifteen years he worked at the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering Technology.

In 1989, Vladimir Belkin defended his dissertation and became a candidate of technical sciences. The list of his works includes 15 certificates for a variety of inventions.

He first heard about the intellectual game in 1979. I watched several episodes and wrote a letter to the editor. There was no answer for a long time; Vladimir managed to forget that he had sent an application to participate in the game. However, a year later they called him and offered to come to Ostankino. The interview with the editor lasted three hours. After Vladimir Grigorievich was invited to the selection. The man did not pass the first qualifying stage, but Voroshilov remembered it. And so, after another year, he was invited back to the game. Belkin joined the club in 1982.

On television you don’t often see programs of such a level as the intellectual casino “What? Where? When?” His games have been of constant interest for many decades. But even among intellectuals there are scandals and intrigues.

On March 5, 1950, Boris Oskarovich Burda, bard, connoisseur, and culinary specialist, was born. Among his other hobbies is visiting nudist beaches. Some members of the intellectual club "What? Where? When?" They have an explosive temperament, are distinguished by strange preferences, and sometimes even break the law. Ring gag, bare breasts, strippers, verbal altercations and accusations of rape... We present to your attention the most notorious scandals and intrigues of an intellectual casino.


Boris Burda owes increased media attention to his unusual hobby: going to a nudist beach.


“I was brought to my current beach almost twenty years ago. Then adherents of yoga, Eastern teachings, poets and creative people in general gathered there,” the expert recalled in an interview.


“It was indecent to behave differently from everyone else... Over time, I got so accustomed to the beach that they began to attract me to perform public duties. Sometimes some idiot from the provinces comes to the beach with a video camera. And he starts asking: where is the general, where is Prosecutor, where is Burda?"


Burda also said that at the beginning of his career as an “expert” he was subjected to real discrimination from the presenter. “Unfortunately, from the very beginning Voroshilov tried to pass me off as a person who knows a lot, but is very poor at thinking...


...Once at a press conference he was asked what intelligence is. He said something for a long time, and then suddenly pointed his finger at me and said: “In general, Boris, erudition interferes with intellect.” A year later, there is another press conference... Voroshilov is asked what is the difference between a simply educated person and a player in “What? Where? When?” And the grandfather answers again: the difference is like between Dvinyatin and Burda."


But members of the intellectual club Andrei Kozlov and Rovshan Askerov became famous for their explosive temperaments. One day they got into a verbal altercation right during a television broadcast of the game of the team that won the Crystal Atom prize.


Askerov furiously claimed that he saw Kozlov give a hint to the players at the table, after which, as an answer to the question, a version was given that was not even discussed at the table.


“Mr. presenter, there was a hint and it’s open. I will not remain silent under any circumstances. Mr. Kozlov, everyone else, and even me, saw it when you said the word “books”. It was, have the courage to admit,” said Rovshan Askerov.


The presenter did not see this, since the game managers did not pay attention to it, and therefore could not judge the dispute.


Kozlov called Askerov a scoundrel and compared him to the tiger from the sketch by Gennady Khazanov, who was not reported to. “And I won’t be silent here either. Rovshan, you’re a scoundrel. What can I do, you’re a scoundrel. Rovshan is just jealous that the guys are playing, but he’s not. Rovshan, I won’t talk to you anymore,” Kozlov said.


Shortly before this, Askerov had a row with Alexander Druz, the most recognizable “expert”. The stumbling block in this conflict was the tomato, the question about which Askerov’s team answered.


The players were given two salads - fruit and vegetable - and a tomato. They were asked to explain how British journalist Miles Kington used these dishes to explain the difference between knowledge and wisdom.


The presenter considered Alena Blinova’s answer incorrect, but still awarded the team a point. Many experts present were outraged by this decision.


The friend even stated that Askerov, who came to Blinova’s defense, lost his reputation in front of millions of viewers, to which he retorted: “A friend can go to hell!”


“I don’t care at all about the opinion of Master Alexander Abramovich Druz regarding my reputation, because my opinion regarding his reputation is that he has no reputation at all. So what? I don’t care at all! The person who changed the answer for the sake of a point has no right to me say nothing at all. I saw their opinion in the grave! " - he said.


Askerov had a conflict with Maxim Potashev last year, but not during the game, but on Facebook. Rovshan posted a post in which he expressed his displeasure that the program “What? Where? When?” not broadcast live.


At the same time, the “expert” addressed his claims to Maxim Potashev, to which the latter hastened to respond in the comments.


Maxim did not mince words.


Team captain Alena Povysheva attracted everyone's attention not with her scandalous behavior, but with her original decoration.


Alena appeared on the show wearing a leather jewelry reminiscent of a gag ring for BDSM.


Internet users found similar accessories in sex shops. In BDSM, they are put on the head, and the ring is placed in the mouth to prevent the jaw from closing.


A lot of memes and comments about this appeared on the network: “Alena Povysheva was in such a hurry to the game “What? Where? When?" that I didn’t have time to take off my BDSM choker."


Another scandal erupted around political views player Ilya Novikov, a lawyer involved in the case of Nadezhda Savchenko.


The host and producer of the show, Boris Kryuk, in an interview with Moskovsky Komsomolets, said that the player had to make a choice in this case.


"With all my good attitude to Ilya, he had to choose first what was more important for him - the Club or political career, and then deal with Savchenko. Understand, if you defend Savchenko and you are a “ChGK” player, then it means that “ChGK” is also for Savchenko. "ChGK" is out of politics. And if you decide to get involved in politics, you need to say: thank you, I will do this,” Hook commented.


After this conflict, Novikov really did not participate in the spring series of games, but this was explained by the fact that he did not have the opportunity.


Singer Ani Lorak, who represented Ukraine at Eurovision in 2008, also performed in front of “experts” during a break in the program.


The performance was not without embarrassment: Anya’s lush breasts jumped out of her tight dress, which pleased both the audience and the players of the “What? Where? When?” club.


In another episode of "What? Where? When?" a couple of dancers performed a candid dance to Serge Gainsbourg’s hit “Je t’aime… moi non plus” in front of connoisseurs.


Moreover, the brave dancers had to perform the number at a temperature of almost -20°C, which can be seen from the steam emanating from the stripper’s mouth


When the “musical break” was close to completion, the girl exposed her breasts in front of the unsuspecting “experts.”


The intellectual club players demonstrated a variety of reactions.


In 2007, the court sentenced the player "What? Where? When?" Georgiy Zharkov to 4.5 years of suspended imprisonment.


According to the prosecution, Zharkov raped a 19-year-old resident of Nizhny Novgorod, who suffered from mental retardation.


The “expert” met a guy looking for an overnight stay at the Vladimirsky station and invited him to his apartment.


There, Georgy kept the guy locked up for several days, forcing him to perform oral sex.


In the end, the young man managed to escape through the balcony of the tenth floor, making a rope out of clothes and bed linen, but fell around the fifth. Fortunately, he did not suffer any serious injuries from the fall.


Georgy Zharkov himself never admitted his guilt. On February 28, 2016, the “expert” died after an illness.


In the 90s, in addition to "What? Where? When?" the same “experts” participated in another similar show called “Brain Ring”.


It was in one of the episodes of the program that the emotional Rovshan Askerov truly lost his temper for the first time when the presenter counted his essentially correct answers as incorrect.


Askerov literally “barked” at Andrei Kozlov, and young Anatoly Wasserman also came under his arm.


At the same time, a certain magnificent lady from the team tried to stop him with Askerov’s kisses. It was after this release that it became clear to everyone that it was better not to mess with Rovshan.


But the legendary presenter "What? Where? When?" In the 70s, Vladimir Voroshilov hosted a program called “Auction,” in which Soviet goods were “promoted.”


In one of the episodes, the Minister of Fishing Industry Ishkov personally rolled up tin can an amber necklace with crabs and promised that tomorrow this jar will appear on one of the shelves.


All the canned crab was sold out the next morning, but the then guardian of morality, Mikhail Suslov, was outraged by this episode: the program was closed, and Voroshilov was fired, forbidden to appear on television for a long time.

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