The show became one of Norway's most popular TV productions though it was the center of criticism due to controversial episodes such as Bård Tuft Johansens "Chicken stunt", involving the then Norwegian Labour Party leader Thorbjørn Jagland.
The 36.9 ultimatum refers to the 1997 ultimatum by then-Prime Minister of Norway, Thorbjørn Jagland, that his government would resign if the Norwegian Labour Party gained less than 36.9% of the votes (the percentage gained by the Labour Party in 1993 under Gro Harlem Brundtland) in the parliamentary election, no matter what the parliamentary situation would be.