Thursday, March 29, 2007

Question > Music

At the age of 14, Paul McCartney played songs for John Lennon as an impromptu audition. McCartney sang the lyrics all the way through, which impressed John Lennon since he could never remember lyrics and often made up his own. McCartney even wrote out the lyrics for two songs, and showed Lennon the chords. As a result of this meeting, Lennon asked McCartney to join his band, The Quarry Men. What were these two songs?

UPDATE: Answer: Be-Bop-A-Lula by Gene Vincent and Twenty Flight Rock by Eddie Cochran

Monday, March 26, 2007

Kids' Jeopardy

Having taken the online qualification test for adults this year, I think that this reporter might be doing something slightly against the rules... This Hagerstown, Maryland reporter writes about her son's attempt at the Jeopardy online qualifying test for 10 to 12 year olds.

When my son heard about the test, he was all for trying to be on the show.
After all, it was just 30 questions, 20 seconds allowed for each - 10 minutes, and you're done.
If all tests were this fast, scores would be golden.
Well, maybe not. There is something to be said for the value of reflection.
My son had two words to describe the test.
Hard. Fast.


She then goes on to list 20 of the 30 questions. I wish I would have had some of these questions when I took the test. I've been accused of storing some useless knowledge, but apparently it's the wrong useless knowledge as I missed the typical qualifying score by about 4 questions, from what I could remember.

These 20 questions, though, are a nice little mix of typical kids-level Jeopardy stuff. Have fun!

Questions > Music

Last week ended up being all about sitcoms. How about a new theme this week? Let's try Rock n' Roll.

What early rock n' roller from St. Louis created a new version of the traditional tune called "Ida Red", renamed it, and had it go to number 5 on the Billboard charts?

UPDATE: Answer: Chuck Berry rewrote the song and called it "Maybellene"

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Question > Television

What song played during Ross and Rachel's romantic escapades at the museum?

UPDATE: Answer: "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak

The couple were trying to spend their first intimate evening together, but Ross was called in to help fix an exhibit. He saved the night by taking her to an auditorium/planetarium in the museum, putting on the star show, and Chris Isaak. They ended up waking naked in the prehistoric man exhibit in front of a visiting class of school children.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Question > Television

Continuing the theme of classic sitcoms, why did Jim Caldwell change his last name to Ignatowski?

UPDATE: Answer: He thought is was "Star Child" backwards.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Animation trivia quizes!

The Animation World Network posts weekly trivia quizzes on animation topics. These are pretty tough, which I suppose is only fair since they come from a trade-specific group. This week's quiz is about Pixar. Other quizzes accessible through the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page include TV, Disney, and Claymation, among many many others.

Answer the questions, and then click submit. You'll get results and a chance to answer the one's you got wrong again. When the correct answers are shown, you get more information on that question. Great stuff!

Question > Television

What was the original name of the sitcom that became "The Dick Van Dyke Show"?

UPDATE: Answer: Head of the Household

Carl Reiner wrote the scripts for what he intended to be his own show. He starred in the initial rejected pilot. Reiner did appear in the series as Alan Brady, the star from whom Van Dyke's Rob Petrie wrote. The series' end saw Alan Brady considering leaving his show to star in his own sitcom, based on Petrie's autobiography!

Monday, March 19, 2007

Question > Television

What vaudeville performer performed a skit while working with Lucille Ball which may have been an inspiration for her "Vitameatavegamin" scene?

UPDATE: Answer: Red Skelton

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Question > Music

What singer/songwriter had two actor brothers, a director father, and once played with a band called "The Pull"?

UPDATE: Answer: Michael Penn

Monday, March 12, 2007

Question > General Trivia

What author and former Star Trek actor has performed in several comedy and improv groups, including one named "Earnest Borg 9"?

UPDATE: Answer: Wil Wheaton

His blog, where he relates his experiences as an actor, writer, and step-father, has been an internet favorite for years.

Friday, March 09, 2007

Question > General Trivia

What nation was the first to adopt a Daylight Savings Time in 1916?

(U.S. folks: REMEMBER to set your clocks ahead Sunday night / Saturday morning. DST is earlier this year!)

UPDATE: Answer: Germany

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Question > Movies

What movie and comic book character is primarily portrayed as hidden behind a Guy Fawkes mask?

UPDATE: Answer: V, from V for Vendetta

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Question > General Trivia

What is a puggle?

UPDATE: Answer: A baby monotreme (echidna, platypus, etc)

Monday, March 05, 2007

Question > Movies

What does Stingo read aloud at the end of the 1982 film Sophie's Choice?

UPDATE: Answer: Emily Dickinson's "Ample Make This Bed"

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Question > Music

What member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers left the band in the 1980s only to return in 2002?

UPDATE: Answer: Ron Blair