It was a tense test of intellect and street smarts. All bets were initially on Brigitte but it all came down to the line in an impressive preface to the Olympics. This competition had everyone on the edge of their seats!
“It’s a battle of the dumbest HMs,” Nobbi yelled as Travis and Brigitte took their seats. The rivalry had been building all day and the time had now come. Who would uncover their genius within and whose IQ would be closer to their shoe size?
Terri was the first ringmaster yielding questions on life skills. Both Travis and Brigitte knew a rotten egg would float, but were stumped by her other tricky trivia. Animal questions from Alice revealed that Travis thought a cow had 7 stomachs but Brigitte knew the inside of a Jersey Cow’s digestive system. Scores were tied and the tension was palpable as both Brigitte and Travis struggled to get their cerebral cogs turning.
Rory asked general knowledge questions from a ‘bloke’ angle. His first brain teaser- “How many cans of beer are in a slab or a carton?” Brigitte's hand shot up but Trav wasn’t so sure. Translating ocker to English was the last challenge from Rory. His phase to decipher: “No wuckers mate, I’m heading down to the watering hole for a cold one.” Travis answered this one correctly, relaying that Rory was going tell a friend he was going to the pub for a beer. Brigitte, however, thought Rory was going to the pool for a swim!
It was even stevens still - but with Math master Nobbi stepping up to the plate with some basic sums it was all about to change. “What is the square root of 49?” Nobbi posed to the giggling duo. “Actually, I know it, I know it!” Travis screamed - and he did. “Four thousand?” Brigitte offered. The HMs roared with laughter as the blonde beauty tried to explain her reasoning multiplying 49 by 49 to find her answer (FYI: 49 x 49 = 2401). “That’s not basic maths. That’s like what I learned in year 12!” yelled Brigitte. The next question was what was 45 x 9? Travis thought 81, very wrong, and using all her fingers and toes Brigitte still couldn’t find an answer.
The test continued with Nate offering the next bout of tantalizing trivia. “If my number plate said I was in the ‘place to be’ which state would my car be registered in?” Nathan asked. Brigitte said Queensland and Travis guessed Victoria - over the moon when he was declared correct. But it was Brigitte not Travis who knew the Great Barrier Reef was one of the seven natural wonders of the world. They were neck a neck and the tension was building.
David took centre stage with his category - celebrity gossip. Dave’s first question, “Who’s Harold’s best friend in Neighbours?” Brigitte and Travis respectively answered Kuma and Stan - obviously this pair were not Neighbours fans! At the end of the round, after Travis had revealed he thought Angelina and Brad’s kids were named Apple and Orange, he was ahead in the scores - but only by the skin of his teeth.
Ben’s category was music, Bianca’s geography and politics and Dixie questioned their sports smarts. From Shane Warne to American presidential candidates, quartets and continents Travis and Brigitte fought a tough fight but Travis kept his head just in front. That was until Renee fired general knowledge questions about girl stuff. Rightly so Brigitte stormed ahead, and it was all down to the bonus question.
“An electric train is travelling north at 40kms an hour and the wind is blowing west at 20km an hour. Which way will the steam from the train be blowing?" Nathan asked. Brigitte jumped out of her seat. “Who would know that! We’re dumb people! It should be like what colour is a Barbeque Shapes packet,” she shouted. Travis said the wind would be blowing east at 20km per hour, and the HMs yelled he deserved a minus point. Nathan repeated the question for Brigitte. A light bulb went off above her head - it was to be a pivotal moment that just might change the way the House sees Brigitte forever.
“Nowhere … because there is no steam!” she hollered at the top of her lungs. “Yeah Bridgey – see, you’re not dumb!” yelled Nathan.
The scores were in, the results tallied. The final score tragic Travis on 17, steam rollered by brilliant Brigitte on 23! Brigitte was stoked she was smarter than someone who when to Uni - while Travis was gracious in his defeat, congratulating the victor.
Travis then had to pay the price, his loss meant Brigitte and Bianca could go to town lathering make up all over his face. Like a kid who had discovered mum’s treasure trove of make up, Travis sported a colourful and somewhat scary look when they were done. He just prayed that he didn’t have to meet Kyle and Jackie O on stage looking like ‘the Joker’!
Watch a video of the epic battle!
