P2D2
May 11-12, 2018
On-Air Questions and Songs
Unused questions are shown with gray text.
| Number | 1 |
| Realm | Across the g+A2:F32alaxy |
| Subrealm | Oh brother! |
| Question | Although not featured in the Star Wars movie franchise, R2-D2 comes from a large family. R2-D2 is by far the most illustrious of his siblings, to the great chagrin of his older brother. His older brother spends his time managing a garbage dump on Naboo. What is his older brother's name? |
| Answer | P2-D2 |
| Song | Hey Brother |
| Artist | Avicii |
| Note | P2 and D2 also refer to the second floors of two Mission Park sections, Pratt and Dennett, whence the hosts hail. |
| Number | 2 |
| Realm | Guts, gold and glory |
| Subrealm | Mostly just guts |
| Question | Early this year, a new organ was added to the human digestive system, making this the body's 79th organ. Name this organ. |
| Answer | Mesentery |
| Song | Upset Stomach |
| Artist | Stevie Wonder |
| Note | The mesentery is a continuous set of tissues that attaches the intestines to the abdominal wall. It used to be thought of as a bunch of separate structures, but in 2012 electron microscopy showed it was all one thing, so it was named an organ. |
| Number | 3 |
| Realm | Intertextuality |
| Subrealm | All fish want to be humans! |
| Question | In the Little Mermaid-esque tale Ponyo, Ponyo, a goldfish who becomes a little girl, is called Brünnhilde at home. This name, as well as the musical score of the movie, references what famous German composer? |
| Answer | Richard Wagner (Brunnehild is one of the leading roles in Wagner's Die Walkure) |
| Song | Part of Your World |
| Artist | Little Mermaid/Jodie Benson |
| Number | 4 |
| Realm | Intertextuality |
| Subrealm | This time the human wants to be a fish! |
| Question | Nothing is without significance in a movie as carefully crafted as Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water. For example, the movie playing in the cinema below Eliza's apartment centers on the same kind of love and devotion between Eliza and the creature. Name the movie playing at the cinema. |
| Answer | The Story of Ruth |
| Song | Perfect |
| Artist | Ed Sheeran |
| Note | The Shape of Water won the Oscar for Best Picture a few months before this contest. It's about a woman in the sixties in love with an amphibious humanoid. The Story of Ruth is a 1960 movie which is also about a woman in love with an outsider. |
| Number | 5 |
| Realm | Intertexuality |
| Subrealm | This time fish are fish and humans are humans |
| Question | Again, movies really like to refer to each other. In Finding Nemo, the music that plays when Darla enters the dentist's office is from a classic horror movie. From which movie does the score originate? |
| Answer | Psycho |
| Song | Another one bites the dust |
| Artist | Queen |
| Note | Darla, the dentist's niece, is known as a fish-killer. |
| Number | 6 |
| Realm | Quite the presidential appearance |
| Subrealm | What the president knows what about what? |
| Question | When appearing on NPR's Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me, Bill Clinton answered three questions correctly about a popular kids' show. What is this show? |
| Answer | My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic |
| Song | A Friend for Life |
| Artist | Equestria Girls |
| Note | Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me is an NPR quiz show, and one segment, called "Not My Job", always features a highly accomplished guest answering questions about something they know nothing about. |
| Number | 7 |
| Realm | Warning: Cavities Imminent |
| Subrealm | Obligatory plug for dental hygeine |
| Question | What does M&M's stand for? |
| Answer | Mars and Murrie |
| Song | This is War |
| Artist | Thirty Seconds to Mars |
| Note | (From Wikipedia) Forrest Mars, Sr., son of the Mars Company founder, Frank C. Mars, copied the idea for M&Ms in the 1930s during the Spanish Civil War when he saw soldiers eating British-made Smarties, chocolate pellets with a colored shell of what confectioners call hard panning (essentially hardened sugar syrup) surrounding the outside, preventing the candies from melting. Mars received a patent for his own process on March 3, 1941. Production began in 1941 in a factory located at 285 Badger Avenue in Clinton Hill, Newark, New Jersey. When the company was founded it was M&M Limited. The two "Ms" represent the names of Forrest E. Mars Sr., the founder of Newark Company, and Bruce Murrie, son of Hershey Chocolate's president William F. R. Murrie, who had a 20 percent share in the product. The arrangement allowed the candies to be made with Hershey chocolate, as Hershey had control of the rationed chocolate at the time. |
| Number | 8 |
| Realm | Threats to National Security |
| Subrealm | Toys R Us Implicated Here |
| Question | In 1999, a popular toy was banned the NSA's Maryland headquarters. The reason? They were worried that the toy might repeat national security secrets. What was the ever-so dangerous toy? |
| Answer | Furbies (The NSA was apparently worried that people would start taking them home and they would repeat classified information). |
| Song | Little Fury Things |
| Artist | Dinosaur Jr. |
| Note | Furbies were hamster/owl-like robotic toys that were all the rage when they were first released in 1998. They begin speaking their native language of Furbish, but gradually transition to English, in imitation of the way children learn language. But it's a myth that they listen to what is spoken around them; the English is pre-programmed into them. Thus the NSA's worries were misguided. They can, however, communicate with each other, using infrared ports between their eyes. So they might not be learning, but that doesn't mean they're not organizing. |
| Number | 9 |
| Realm | Gruesome imagery alert |
| Subrealm | Really not killing |
| Question | Disembowelment, bringing the intestines over the shoulder, slashed throat, removed uterus, missing heart, and others. To what notorious killer can these heinous acts be attributed? |
| Answer | Jack the Ripper |
| Song | Revolution |
| Artist | Whitechapel District |
| Number | 10 |
| Realm | Fictional fathers' problems |
| Subrealm | What's a sitcom without some juicy family drama? |
| Question | In How I Met Your Mother, Robin has an estranged relationship with her father. He disowned her, but for what reason? |
| Answer | She hit puberty, so he could no longer raise her as a son |
| Song | I'm Gonna Be (500 miles) |
| Artist | The Proclaimers |
| Number | 11 |
| Realm | A galaxy far far away |
| Subrealm | And a plotline just as far away |
| Question | Although with the movie revival this storyline is no longer canon, in the Star Wars extended universe, who was Luke Skywalker's wife and in what novel was she introduced? |
| Answer | Mara Jade; Heir to the Empire |
| Song | Empire State of Mind |
| Artist | Jay Z |
| Note | Mara was previously an agent of Emperor Palpatine. She and Luke had a son, Ben. |
| Number | 12 |
| Realm | Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday |
| Subrealm | That bwessed awangement |
| Question | Who gave Eleanor Roosevelt away at her wedding on Saint Patrick's Day in 1905? |
| Answer | Teddy Roosevelt |
| Song | Rough Rider |
| Artist | The English Beat |
| Note | TR was Eleanor's uncle, and was president at the time of her marriage to FDR. |
| Number | 13 |
| Realm | Sometimes the weirdest things can screw you up |
| Subrealm | Sticky Situation |
| Question | In January 1919, Boston witnessed a very special sort of disaster. 21 people were killed, 150 people were injured, houses were swept off their foundations, vehicles carried off, and horses drowned. Later, people said they could smell “toffee-apple” in the air for weeks. What happened? |
| Answer | Great Molasses Flood: A tank containing 2.5 million gallons of crude molasses exploded, creating a tsunami and flooding the town. |
| Song | Tsunami |
| Artist | DVBBS and Borgeous |
| Note | The molasses moved at an estimated 35 miles per hour. For decades afterwards residents claimed that on hot summer days the area still smelled of molasses. |
| Number | 14 |
| Realm | Murder! |
| Subrealm | Maybe it's justified? |
| Question | In the 2008 movie Taken, why does Liam Neeson's character kill 32 people? |
| Answer | To get his kidnapped daughter back |
| Song | I Want You Back |
| Artist | Jackson 5 |
| Number | 15 |
| Realm | The wide world of greek mythology |
| Subrealm | Not so nice gods and goddesses |
| Question | In Greek myth, the Sirens are creatures with beautiful singing voices that would lure sailors towards their death through shipwreck. In some imagery, Sirens are depicted with wings, yet in other places, they are without. Which Greek goddess is responsible for the loss of the Sirens' wings? |
| Answer | Hera |
| Song | The Cave |
| Artist | Mumford and Sons |
| Note | Hera persuaded the Sirens to enter a singing contest with the Muses. The Muses won the competition and then plucked out all of the Sirens' feathers and made crowns out of them. |
| Number | 16 |
| Realm | Painful experiences |
| Subrealm | Yep that's a bone through the skin |
| Question | Name the quarterback and the team which he played for who suffered a horrendous leg break in a 1985 Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants |
| Answer | Joe Theismann (Redskins) |
| Song | Red |
| Artist | Taylor Swift |
| Note | Lawrence Taylor was the one who hit Theisman, and he immediately called for the EMTs to come over. The injury was voted the NFL's "Most Shocking Moment in History" by viewers in an ESPN poll. The broken leg ended Theisman's playing career. He has never blamed Taylor. |
| Number | 17 |
| Realm | Clap clap clap |
| Subrealm | It's always fun to hate on Ross |
| Question | During the TV show Friends, Ross accidentally says the wrong name, Rachel, while standing at the altar getting married to another woman. Who was Ross's unfortunate bride? |
| Answer | Emily |
| Song | Wedding Bell Blues |
| Artist | The 5th Dimension |
| Number | 18 |
| Realm | Tricksey hobbitses |
| Subrealm | And one ring to rule them all |
| Question | In The Hobbit, Bilbo and Gollum engage in a game of riddles, which ultimately leads to Bilbo possessing the one ring. What is the answer to the first riddle that Gollum asks? |
| Answer | A mountain |
| Song | Mountain Sound |
| Artist | Of Monsters and Men |
| Note | The riddle is: "What has roots as nobody sees, Is taller than trees, Up, up it goes, And yet never grows?" |
| Number | 19 |
| Realm | Jersey Shore: Mysterious myths |
| Subrealm | With less spray tans and drama |
| Question | From the Flying Spaghetti Monster to Bigfoot, every area is populated with its mythical creatures. The Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey is supposedly home to what legend? |
| Answer | Jersey Devil |
| Song | Monster Mash |
| Artist | Bobby/Boris Pickett |
| Note | The legend of the Jersey Devil has been around since at least 1735, but hysteria reached new heights after several sightings in 1909. It is said to be a winged creature with hooves. |
| Number | 20 |
| Realm | Did we contradict ourselves? |
| Subrealm | Nah, I'm sure it will be okay |
| Question | Over the long and illustrious history of the Supreme Court, some rulings may seem to clash with previous rulings without directly overruling one. How does the 2014 case Town of Greece v Galloway seem to conflict with the 1962 case Engel v Vitale? |
| Answer | Engel v Vitale rejects state sponsored prayer---no prayer in public schools, but Town of Greece v Galloway allows it, at least in that administrative and legislative bodies can start their day with prayer. |
| Song | Livin' on a Prayer |
| Artist | Bon Jovi |
| Number | 21 |
| Realm | The best test subject is yourself |
| Subrealm | Drugs and needles are always a good idea |
| Question | What drug did opthamologist Karl Koller test drive as a local anesthetic by applying it to his eye and then pricking his eye with needles? |
| Answer | Cocaine (This made eye surgery much easier than it was before). |
| Song | White Lines |
| Artist | Grandmaster Flash |
| Note | Cocaine is still used as an anesthetic during eye surgery. |
| Number | 22 |
| Realm | The things friends do for each other |
| Subrealm | Especially when you both write epic novels |
| Question | Many Lord of the Rings fans know that J.R.R. Tolkien was inspired by C.S. Lewis's booming voice and manner in creating the Ent Treebeard. But, C.S. Lewis also created a character inspired by Tolkien. Name the character and the series of books in which he featured. |
| Answer | Ransom; Cosmic or Space Trilogy |
| Song | Space Oddity |
| Artist | David Bowie |
| Note | Ransom is a philologist and Cambridge don. |
| Number | 23 |
| Realm | Old white guys |
| Subrealm | AMURRICA |
| Question | As an extensive biographer, Ron Chernow has written several books on important American historical figures. Ford, Hamilton, Lincoln, Rockefeller, Adams, Washington, Grant. What three people in this list did Chernow not write about? |
| Answer | Ford, Lincoln, and Adams |
| Song | Who Lives Who Dies Who Tells Your Story |
| Artist | Lin Manuel Miranda or Hamilton |
| Note | Chernow's biography of Hamilton was an inspiration for the musical, and he served as a historical consultant to the production. |
| Number | 24 |
| Realm | Agressively beating France |
| Subrealm | There's some history to this question |
| Question | A three point play. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup, two nations achieved victory over the eventual runners up France. Name the two nations. |
| Answer | Tonga and New Zealand |
| Song | Kiwi |
| Artist | Maroon 5 |
| Number | 25 |
| Realm | Self-referential trivia questions |
| Subrealm | Traditions older than we are |
| Question | In this distinguished competition, what tradition began with a possibly competition defining missed answer in December 1986 |
| Answer | Having a Tonga question |
| Song | In the year 2525 |
| Artist | Zager and Evans |
| Number | 26 |
| Realm | Four point play here |
| Subrealm | Sports players defying expectations |
| Question | Basketball players are generally known for being quite tall. However, this is not always the case. Who was the shortest NBA player? For an extra point each, name his height and position. |
| Answer | Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues (5'3; point guard) |
| Song | Low |
| Artist | Flo Rida |
| Number | 27 |
| Realm | Strange commonalitities |
| Subrealm | Between random authors |
| Question | What do Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis have in common? |
| Answer | They died on the same day |
| Song | Heaven |
| Artist | Kane Brown |
| Note | In fact, they died the same day that John F. Kennedy was shot. |
| Number | 28 |
| Realm | More commonalities |
| Subrealm | With words! |
| Question | What do the phrases HIV virus, DC Comics, DC Current, ATM Machine, and PIN number have in common? |
| Answer | They are all redundancies |
| Song | Redundant |
| Artist | Green Day |
| Number | 29 |
| Realm | Record setting events |
| Subrealm | Now including men in tights! |
| Question | We like three point play questions. What Super Bowl tied or broke the records for most total field goals in a game, most total first downs in a game, most touchdown passes, fewest sacks allowed, most career touchdown passes in the Super Bowl, fewest total punts in a game and most total yards in a game? Also give the name of the team that won this Super Bowl. |
| Answer | Super Bowl 52; The Philadelphia Eagles |
| Song | We are the Champions |
| Artist | Queen |
| Number | 30 |
| Realm | Making other people feel inadequate |
| Subrealm | At the age most of us were watching cartoons |
| Question | What composer started composing at age six, and between the ages of six and fifteen toured Europe, especially England? |
| Answer | Mozart (His parents took him and his sister, who was also a musical prodigy, all around Europe in what was known as the Mozart family grand tour) |
| Song | Rock Me Amadeus |
| Artist | Falco |
| Number | 31 |
| Realm | Really epic stories |
| Subrealm | Written in the most labor intensive ways possible |
| Question | What epic poem did the author dictate for the entirety of its creation? |
| Answer | Paradise Lost |
| Song | Another Day in Paradise |
| Artist | Quinn XCII |
| Note | John Milton was blind at the time he wrote Paradise Lost, so dictation was a necessity. However, according to ne Milton scholar consulted by your archivist, one part of the poem, Satan's speech upon meeting Adam and Eve, was originally part of another work and was written before the author lost his sight. The sequel, Paradise Regained, was also dictated. |
| Number | 32 |
| Realm | It ain't what they call you |
| Subrealm | It's what you answer to |
| Question | Give the female name that means joy or strong and its male version. (Yes this is another three point play) |
| Answer | Caroline and Charles |
| Song | Sweet Caroline |
| Artist | Neil Diamond |
| Number | 33 |
| Realm | The truth is out there |
| Subrealm | Or there's just a lot of blood and gore |
| Question | What horror movie franchise originated as an unproduced script written by Jeffrey Reddick for the X-Files TV series? |
| Answer | The Final Destination |
| Song | 50 Ways to Say Goodbye |
| Artist | Train |
| Note | The Final Destination is a movie about teenagers who get off a plane before it explodes, but can't escape dying anyway. It spawned 4 sequels. |
| Number | 34 |
| Realm | Strange traditions |
| Subrealm | Deck the halls with farm animals! |
| Question | What farm animal is memorialized in sizes ranging from large statues to ornaments around Christmas time using straw and red ribbon in Scandinavian and Northern European countries such as Sweden? |
| Answer | A goat |
| Song | G.O.A.T. |
| Artist | Eric Bellinger |
| Note | The Yule goat's origins go back to ancient Pagan festivals. Also, Thor rode in a chariot drawn by goats. So there's that. |
| Number | 35 |
| Realm | Fancy cars |
| Subrealm | And sad deaths |
| Question | What famous celebrity was killed in a Mercedes S280 driven by Henri Paul? |
| Answer | Princess Diana |
| Song | Candle in the Wind |
| Artist | Elton John |
| Note | The version of the song played was the one Elton John sang and recorded in the aftermath of Diana's death. |
| Number | 36 |
| Realm | Skeptics |
| Subrealm | Not Dana Scully |
| Question | What phrase did Entertainment Weekly use when they originally covered the premiere of The X-Files in their 1993 fall preview? |
| Answer | This show's a goner |
| Song | Gone, gone, gone |
| Artist | Phillip Phillips |
| Note | EW owned up to its mistake in a 2012 article. |
| Number | 37 |
| Realm | Alternative facts |
| Subrealm | What could have been |
| Question | What role in a popular musical did Happy Days star Henry Winkler, the Fonz, turn down for fear of being typecast? |
| Answer | Danny Zuko |
| Song | Nasty Dan |
| Artist | Johnny Cash |
| Note | Danny Zuko is John Travolta's character in Grease. Henry Winkler was initially selected for the role in the 1978 film, but since he'd already been playing a 1950s leather-jacket-wearing pseudo-hoodulum on TV since 1974, he decided he'd like to leave open the option of doing something else eventually. |
| Number | 38 |
| Realm | Another universe |
| Subrealm | You never know |
| Question | When the Princess Bride was nearly made into a movie in the 70s, what then unknown actor was considered to play Fezzik? |
| Answer | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| Song | I'll Be Back |
| Artist | Beatles |
| Note | Schwarzenegger was far too expensive by the time the film was greenlighted. |
| Number | 39 |
| Realm | You shall not pass! |
| Subrealm | Or take the part |
| Question | Although many now cannot imagine Gandalf as anyone but Ian McKellen, the Grey Wizard could have turned out very differently. Sean Connery was originally offered the part and a considerable portion of the profits, but turned it down. What reason did he give for this decision? |
| Answer | He didn't understand the script |
| Song | Someday (I will understand) |
| Artist | Britney Spears |
| Number | 40 |
| Realm | Successful states |
| Subrealm | Must be something in the water |
| Question | In the 2016 Rio Olympics, only four countries won as many gold medals as what US state? |
| Answer | Maryland |
| Song | Mary |
| Artist | Kings of Leon |
| Note | Maryland had 14 gold medals in the 2016 Olympics: 5 for Michael Phelps (swimming), 4 for Katie Ledecky (swimming), 1 each for Helen Maroulis (wrestling), Matthew Centrowitz (running), Kyle Snyder (wrestling), Angel McCoughtry (basketball), and Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony (basketball). |
| Number | 41 |
| Realm | More tricksey hobbitses |
| Subrealm | One ring still rules them all |
| Question | In their game of riddles in Gollum's cave, what does Bilbo ask Gollum that stumps Gollum so that Bilbo can escape from the cave? |
| Answer | What have I got in my pocket? |
| Song | Pocket Full of Sunshine |
| Artist | Natasha Beddingfield |
| Note | Of course, Bilbo had The Ring in his pocket. |
| Number | 42 |
| Realm | A lack of original ideas in Hollywood |
| Subrealm | New twists on old ideas? |
| Question | Three point play again. Some reboot movies put twists on old characters? |
| Answer | Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Alice Through the Looking Glass |
| Song | Alice |
| Artist | Avril Lavigne |
| Note | This question was clearly missing its middle. |
| Number | 43 |
| Realm | Horrible song quartet imminent |
| Subrealm | Impressive stamina |
| Question | While filming the Rugrats, E.G. Daily, the voice of Tommy Pickles, went through what major medical event while recording lines, even though she insisted on staying to finish the episode before going to the hospital? |
| Answer | She went into labor |
| Song | Baby |
| Artist | Justin Bieber |
| Note | To quote Ms. Daily: 'The engineer was like: “Your contractions are coming really quickly now.” And I was like: “No, I'm fine.” Very soon after that, I had my daughter.' |
| Number | 44 |
| Realm | Scientist sass |
| Subrealm | Poor Rudyard Kipling |
| Question | Along with just generally being better than Edison, Nikola Tesla had quite the sense of humor. After dining with Rudyard Kipling, he wrote a note to a friend, asking “what was the matter with inkspiller Kipling? He actually dared to...” Finish the quote |
| Answer | invite me to dine in an obscure hotel where I would be sure to get hair and cockroaches in the soup. |
| Song | Dirt Road Anthem |
| Artist | Jason Aldean |
| Number | 45 |
| Realm | Is this a random list of cities? |
| Subrealm | Or maybe a list of dance groups? |
| Question | What do the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs all have in common? |
| Answer | “The Original Six” - They are the six original teams of the National Hockey League |
| Song | The Hockey Song |
| Artist | Stompin Tom Connors |
| Number | 46 |
| Realm | Wild Crimes |
| Subrealm | Maybe not so wild |
| Question | Crazy things happen during the filming of TV shows. During the filming of Star Trek, William Shatner would steal what other cast member's bicycle in order to get a jump on the cafeteria line? |
| Answer | Leonard Nimoy's |
| Song | Ballad of Bilbo Baggins |
| Artist | Leonard Nimoy |
| Number | 47 |
| Realm | Movie changes that got fans mad |
| Subrealm | They never stay true to the book! |
| Question | In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Harry breaks the elder wand and throws it away. However, that's not what happened in the book. What did Harry do with the Elder Wand at the end of the book? |
| Answer | Used it to repair his original wand and then put it into Dumbledore's tomb |
| Song | Fix You |
| Artist | Coldplay |
| Number | 48 |
| Realm | A few rugrats walk into a bar |
| Subrealm | to meet Doug |
| Question | Vanessa Coffey was instrumental in developing Nickelodeon's original Nicktoons block of programming, Doug, Rugrats, and Ren&Stimpy. What analogy did she use when describing the block of programming? |
| Answer | It was like a meal (Doug broccoli, Rugrats spaghetti and meatballs, Ren&Stimpy dessert) |
| Song | Hungry like a Wolf |
| Artist | Duran Duran |
| Number | 49 |
| Realm | AHHHHHHHHHH |
| Subrealm | AHHHHHHHHH |
| Question | Characters in horror movies often have unfortunate fates, especially the nice wholesome ones. How does Kevin Bacon's character die in 1980's Friday the 13th? |
| Answer | He gets an arrow to the throat |
| Song | Arrows |
| Artist | Fences |
| Number | 50 |
| Realm | Important percentages in life |
| Subrealm | Calcium now added |
| Question | There is 1% milk, 2% milk, and ambiguous whole milk. What percentage is whole milk? |
| Answer | 3.2-3.5% |
| Song | Three Little Birds |
| Artist | Bob Marley |
| Number | 51 |
| Realm | Musical instruments |
| Subrealm | With a little redundancy thrown in for kicks |
| Question | What instrument is the exact same as the violin, but is called by a different name when played in different genres, especially folk music? |
| Answer | The fiddle |
| Song | Devil Went Down to Georgia |
| Artist | Charlie Daniels |
| Number | 52 |
| Realm | Indecisive TV writers |
| Subrealm | Too many possibilities! |
| Question | TV shows may go through several iterations before the final product we see on TV. What popular medical show was called Doctors, Surgeons, and then Complications before settling on its final name? |
| Answer | Grey's Anatomy |
| Song | How to Save a Life |
| Artist | The Fray |
| Number | 53 |
| Realm | A double hitter |
| Subrealm | Or a few really great swings |
| Question | Some people are lucky (or talented enough) to keep up success for more than one year. Who was the first golfer to win the Masters tournament two years in a row? |
| Answer | Jack Nicklaus |
| Song | Happy Jack |
| Artist | The Who |
| Number | 54 |
| Realm | Weird words |
| Subrealm | English really delivers |
| Question | What is special about the two words aerious and phragelliorhynchus? |
| Answer | The shortest and longest words respectively that have vowels in alphabetical order |
| Song | Vowels |
| Artist | Capital Cities |
| Number | 55 |
| Realm | Seattle Grace |
| Subrealm | Or Chicago grace? |
| Question | Grey's Anatomy was originally set in Chicago, Shonda Rhimes's hometown. But, they ended up changing it to Seattle. Why? |
| Answer | E.R. is set in Chicago |
| Song | Emergency |
| Artist | Icona Pop |
| Number | 56 |
| Realm | Extended Universes |
| Subrealm | A four point play heavy-hitter |
| Question | Name the premise of the TV show Legends of Tomorrow and the two other shows where several of the key characters first appeared |
| Answer | They travel through time, defending it from various villains (Arrow, Flash) |
| Song | Year 3000 |
| Artist | Jonas Brothers |
| Number | 57 |
| Realm | Our oh so distinguished mascot |
| Subrealm | Purple cows, purple cows everywhere |
| Question | In Summer 2010, Ephalia the Purple Cow became the first Division III college mascot to appear alongside other college mascots from UPenn, Texas Tech, Ohio State, Oregon, and Florida in a commercial for what television show? |
| Answer | ESPN College Football GameDay |
| Song | For the First Time in Forever |
| Artist | Frozen/Anna/Kristin Chenoweth |
| Number | 58 |
| Realm | A clean sweep |
| Subrealm | Movie magic |
| Question | What movie shares the record for the most Academy Award wins, and is the only one out of the three that won every award for which it was nominated? |
| Answer | Return of the King |
| Song | Single Ladies |
| Artist | Beyonce |
| Number | 59 |
| Realm | Trying another tactic |
| Subrealm | Because failure can happen to anyone |
| Question | Sometimes instead of overt military action, the United States government has tried to take more subtle approaches to international affairs. Operation Mongoose was one such operation that took place after what military failure? |
| Answer | Bay of Pigs |
| Song | (Sittin on) the Dock of the Bay |
| Artist | Otis Redding |
| Note | Operation Mongoose aimed to remove communists from power in Cuba, the straightforward approach to doing so having failed at the Bay of Pigs. |
| Number | 60 |
| Realm | Strange properties of the English language |
| Subrealm | And what you do for babies! |
| Question | What is special about the word spoonfeed? |
| Answer | It is the longest word in the english language with its letters in reverse alphabetical order |
| Song | Backwards |
| Artist | Rascal Flatts |
| Number | 61 |
| Realm | Maybe education isn't quite so necessary after all |
| Subrealm | At least if you are award winning rockstars |
| Question | What musical skill did the Beatles lack? |
| Answer | They couldn't read or write traditional music. |
| Song | If you're reading this |
| Artist | Tim McGraw |
| Number | 62 |
| Realm | Jingle bells, batman smells |
| Subrealm | Joker lays an egg |
| Question | Three point play up for grabs here! What tune was altered in order to create the popular Christmas carol Jingle Bells and what holiday was the tune originally associated with? |
| Answer | One Horse Open Sleigh, Thanksgiving |
| Song | Thnks fr the mmrs |
| Artist | Fall Out Boy |
| Note | "One Horse Open Sleigh" was the original title of Jingle Bells, but they were never two separate songs. |
| Number | 63 |
| Realm | Drifting back and forth |
| Subrealm | Nowhere to be, nowhere to go |
| Question | Continental drift can occur at different speeds depending on the situation. In certain instances, continental plates can move as fast as the rate of growth of what body part? |
| Answer | Your fingernails (Between 200 million years ago to 189 million years, the plates containing North America and Africa accelerated until they were moving at approximately 20 mm a year, the average rate of fingernail growth) |
| Song | Hands to myself |
| Artist | Selena Gomez |
| Number | 64 |
| Realm | Strange preferences |
| Subrealm | And overbearing men |
| Question | Scientists can be quirky, but sometimes their so-called quirks can go a little overboard. For example, Nikola Tesla wouldn't talk to women if they were wearing a certain thing. What was it? |
| Answer | Pearls. (He is rumored to have sent his secretary back home one day when she was wearing some!) |
| Song | Black |
| Artist | Pearl Jam |
| Number | 65 |
| Realm | Creative court arguments |
| Subrealm | Using religious freedom in unconventional ways |
| Question | Another three point play! In 2015 court case, a woman sued the state of Missouri, arguing that the ultrasound requirement and enforced 72 hour waiting period violated her freedom of religion. What religion did she practice and what principle of said religion did she argue was violated? |
| Answer | Satanism; bodily autonomy |
| Song | Sympathy for the Devil |
| Artist | Rolling Stones |
| Note | Under questioning, Missouri's Solicitor General was forced to state that the law did not require an ultrasound, only that the opportunity to view an ultrasound be given. |
| Number | 66 |
| Realm | Obscure medical conditions |
| Subrealm | Short-circuiting brains |
| Question | There are numerous ways that your brain can go haywire. What occurs in Charcot-Wilbrand syndrome? |
| Answer | You lose the ability to dream |
| Song | I dreamed a dream |
| Artist | Les mis/ fantine/ anne hathaway |
| Number | 67 |
| Realm | Tricksey elves and dwarveses |
| Subrealm | Stumping wizards |
| Question | In The Fellowship of the Ring, the Fellowship comes to the Doors of Durin at the entrance to Moria, which read Pedo Mellon a Minno. This translates to "speak friend and enter". This is a riddle that stumps Gandalf for a time. What is the answer (in Elvish)? |
| Answer | Mellon (It means friend) |
| Song | You've Got a Friend in Me |
| Artist | Randy Newman |
| Note | The full inscrition, in Feanorian characters according to the mode of Belerian, was "Ennyn Durin Aran Moria: pedo mellon a minno. Im Narvi hain echant: Celebrimboro Eregion teithant i thiw hin." Gandalf translates that as, "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbror of Hollin drew these signs." He was delayed by inferring the wrong punctuation. |
| Number | 68 |
| Realm | Asking the hard questions |
| Subrealm | About meat |
| Question | Now a common catchphrase used to question the substance of an idea, in what medium and in what year did the phrase “Where's the beef” originate? |
| Answer | A Wendy's commercial in 1984 |
| Song | Wendy |
| Artist | Beach Boys |
| Note | The "Where's the Beef" commercial features a customer, played by 81-year-old Clara Peller, who is unimpressed by the bun-to-patty ratio of a rival chain's burgers. She was supposed to say "Where is all the beef?", but shortened the phrase because she had emphysema. The commercial became an immediate hit, and many sequels and promotional items followed (even a board game!). |
| Number | 69 |
| Realm | The years before death |
| Subrealm | And how one chooses to use them |
| Question | Albert Einstein spent his last decades on a scientific inquiry that he ultimately couldn't finish. What was he looking for? |
| Answer | A unified field theory (He wanted to combine gravity and electromagnetism and to explain the semi-paradoxical implications of quantum mechanics.) |
| Song | Defying Gravity |
| Artist | Wicked/Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel/Elphaba and maybe Glinda |
| Number | 70 |
| Realm | Slash fic |
| Subrealm | Vampires and Werewolves not included |
| Question | Your fanfiction.net entry might just end up a multi-million dollar book and movie franchise. What series originated as a fanfiction of the Twilight series? |
| Answer | Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy |
| Song | Love me like you do |
| Artist | Ellie Goulding |
| Note | Indeed, the main charaters were orignally Edward and Bella. |
| Number | 71 |
| Realm | Scary historical facts |
| Subrealm | That make you want to never leave the house |
| Question | During the Atlanta murders of 1978-1981, sometimes known as the Atlanta child murders, at least 28 children, adolescents, adults were killed. What evidence did the police use to eventually convict Wayne Williams for two of these murders and then later attribute the rest to him? |
| Answer | Police theorized that Williams had killed Cater, and that his body was the source of the "loud splash" they heard as his car crossed the bridge. Williams subsequently failed three polygraph tests, and hairs and fibers retrieved from another victim's body were found to be consistent with those from his home, car, and dog. Co-workers told police they had seen Williams with scratches on his face and arms around the time of the murders which, investigators surmised, could have been inflicted by victims during a struggle. (Score correct if they have some configuration of most of the information, read out all the information on air) |
| Song | Love the way you lie |
| Artist | Eminem |
| Number | 72 |
| Realm | Strange things movie produces have to do |
| Subrealm | Also who starts a fire during a fight? |
| Question | The Princess Bride producers had to bail out one of their stuntman after he started a fire during a fight with his wife. What role did they desperately need him to play? |
| Answer | To play the rodent of unusual size that tackles and then fights with Westley (Cary Elwes) |
| Song | Kung Fu Fighting |
| Artist | Cee Lo |
| Note | Not many actors were small enough to fit inside the R.O.U.S. suit. |
| Number | 73 |
| Realm | Not quite Star Trek |
| Subrealm | If you squint maybe it looks like it? |
| Question | Every great character needs a catchphrase. What catchphrase does Alan Rickman's character in Galaxy Quest use when playing an alien on a Star Trek-like TV series? |
| Answer | By Grabthar's hammer, by the Sons of Warvan, you shall be avenged! |
| Song | Roman's Revenge |
| Artist | Nicki Minaj |
| Note | And what a savings! |
| Number | 74 |
| Realm | Gold Medal Winners |
| Subrealm | Doing strange things |
| Question | Bobby Pearce won his rowing race by 30 seconds in the 1928 Olympics held in Amsterdam. But, during his race, he slowed down for a period. Why? |
| Answer | To let a family of ducks pass by in the water |
| Song | We are family |
| Artist | Sister Sledge |
| Number | 75 |
| Realm | International Relations |
| Subrealm | Not America First |
| Question | Every year, the Institute for Economics and Peace releases the Global Peace Index, which ranks states and territories based on their peacefulness. In 2017, Iceland was ranked first. For how many years has Iceland held the title of most peaceful state? |
| Answer | 10 |
| Song | Give Peace a Chance |
| Artist | John Lennon/ The Plastic Ono Band |
| Note | Iceland has actually held the title 9 of the 11 years that the index has been published: from 2008-2009 and 2011-2017. Norway was first in 2007, and New Zealand was first in 2010. |
| Number | 76 |
| Realm | Self-prophecy |
| Subrealm | With a twist |
| Question | Carrie Fisher published one request for the reporting of her death (at least as written in her books). What did she want her obituary to say? |
| Answer | That she drowned in moonlight, strangled by her own bra |
| Song | Dancing in the Moonlight |
| Artist | King Harvest |
| Number | 77 |
| Realm | Video game fun |
| Subrealm | Spicing up your virtual life |
| Question | Added in the Sims 2, this feature causes firework effects in the Sims 2 and hearts in the Sims 3 and 4. Give the name of this feature |
| Answer | Woohoo (Before in the Sims Livin' Large, sims can only "play in bed" as an allusion to WooHoo) |
| Song | Pony |
| Artist | Ginuwine |
| Number | 78 |
| Realm | Yeeah, we through another one in here |
| Subrealm | This time it relates to book publishing! |
| Question | Europa Editions released an imprint starting in 2010 in which books are chosen by contemporary authors. The first released under this label were Alexander Maksik's You Deserve Nothing and Ian Holding's Of Beasts and Being. What is the name of this imprint? |
| Answer | Tonga Books |
| Song | Library Magic |
| Artist | The Head and the Heart |
| Number | 79 |
| Realm | Facts of life |
| Subrealm | We're all molecules guys! |
| Question | Name the three hexose sugars that are very important for storing and using energy in the body |
| Answer | Glucose, fructose, and galactose |
| Song | Enter galatic |
| Artist | Kid Cudi |
| Number | 80 |
| Realm | EVERYone is beautiful |
| Subrealm | But will still want to make money off you |
| Question | One of the first of its kind, similar advertising is now very popular across the beauty market. This company started this program in the 2004 in response to a report that only two percent of women considered themselves beautiful. What is this company and the campaign? |
| Answer | Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty |
| Song | When Doves Cry |
| Artist | Prince |
| Number | 81 |
| Realm | Creative ways to protest |
| Subrealm | You didn't expect to see British people in such compromising positions |
| Question | In late 2014, British people gathered to protest a new December law by mimicking sexual acts, such as quote en quote face sitting and singing from Monty Python. What were the changes in the law that caused such outrage? |
| Answer | New UK Pornography regulations that greatly restricted the acts that could be shown in internet pornography |
| Song | Internet is for Porn |
| Artist | Avenue Q |
| Number | 82 |
| Realm | Historical landmark turned geek paradise |
| Subrealm | King Arthur, Dougal MacKenzie, and Sansa Stark might just share a bathroom... |
| Question | Three point play here! Movies and TV shows may use actual historical castles to create a sense of authenticity. But, since these come in limited quantities, this means the same castle could show up in multiple places. Name the castle and its country of origin that has served as Castle Leoch in Outlander and Winterfell in Game of Thrones and featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. |
| Answer | Duone Castle, Scotland |
| Song | Castle |
| Artist | Halsey |
| Number | 83 |
| Realm | Censorship |
| Subrealm | Book banning all over the world |
| Question | What novel, considered today to be a classic by many, was banned in several places across the United States for its quote en quote communist leaning, but was also briefly banned in the Soviet Union, because their Communist Party was concerned about the portrayal that even the poorest of Americans could afford a car? |
| Answer | The Grapes of Wrath |
| Song | Dust Bowl Dance |
| Artist | Mumford and Sons |
| Number | 84 |
| Realm | Catty fights from the founding fathers |
| Subrealm | Franklin v the Senate |
| Question | Yes, here's another three point play. When Ben Franklin died in 1790, he was honored by the U.S. House of Representatives but not the U.S. Senate. This was a result of the personal grievances two senators had against Franklin. Who were these two senators? |
| Answer | John Adams and Richard Henry Lee |
| Song | The Lees of Old Virginia |
| Artist | 1776 (Richard Henry Lee) |
| Number | 85 |
| Realm | Really weird things |
| Subrealm | Reall really really weird things |
| Question | There are all types of museums in the world. What museum includes exhibits such as innovations in spinal surgery, a corpse covered in adipocere, and 2,374 inhaled or swallowed bodies that one doctor removed for patients? |
| Answer | The Mütter Museum |
| Song | I need a doctor |
| Artist | Dr. Dre |
| Note | The Mütter Museum is in Philadelphia. |
| Number | 86 |
| Realm | Important career shifts |
| Subrealm | Multi-purpose muscles |
| Question | After competing as a bodybuilder, including training with and competing against Arnold Schwarzennager, Lou Ferrigno went on to what role that makes sense for the strongman and which he continues to contribute to as recently as 2015? |
| Answer | The Hulk (his voice was used in composite for the hulk in the most recent avengers movies) |
| Song | Whatta man |
| Artist | Salt-n-peppa |
| Note | Lou Ferrigno played The Hulk in the 1970s Incredible Hulk TV series. |
| Number | 87 |
| Realm | Baldness is a sore spot |
| Subrealm | Or spots |
| Question | Another Horrible song quartet is imminent! Yes, we decided to do two. A travelling man is teased by some boys for being bald. He curses them. Two bears come out of the woods and maul 42 of them. He then continues on his journey without much concern. |
| Answer | The Bible |
| Song | Drop Kick Me Jesus |
| Artist | Bobby Bare |
| Number | 88 |
| Realm | Planets better than Earth |
| Subrealm | Even though they might be extremely dangerous |
| Question | In Anne McCaffrey's book series set on the planet Pern, what do the characters develop in order to fight off a threat known as the Thread? |
| Answer | Genetically engineered dragons |
| Song | Puff the Magic Dragon |
| Artist | Peter, Paul, and Mary |
| Number | 89 |
| Realm | Nostalgia sells |
| Subrealm | With a little bit of fan persistence |
| Question | This cereal had been discontinued by General Mills in 2006, but was brought back in 2014 after fans begged and begged for its return. What is this cereal? |
| Answer | French Toast Crunch |
| Song | Toast |
| Artist | Heywood banks |
| Number | 90 |
| Realm | BILL BILL BILL BILL |
| Subrealm | Bill nye the science buy |
| Question | Bill Nye has been an integral part of many a science class. His catchy nickname first originated when he performed in a Seattle comedy show called Almost Live! Who came up with the nickname, “The Science Guy”? |
| Answer | Ross Shafer (Bill Nye as the Science guy was a reoccurring segment on Ross Shafer's show Almost Magic) |
| Song | She Blinded Me with Science |
| Artist | Thomas Dolby |
| Number | 91 |
| Realm | You never know how things are going to turn out |
| Subrealm | Don't judge till the end |
| Question | What successful Broadway musical that eventually ran 1,000 performances and had a hit movie adaptation plus two revivals only had 15,000 dollars in the bank at the day of opening? |
| Answer | The Pajama Game |
| Song | Let Me Be Your Star |
| Artist | Megan Hilty/Smash |
| Number | 92 |
| Realm | The rumor mill |
| Subrealm | Legal language |
| Question | Although the story of Nancy Kerrigan's smashed kneecap and Tonya Harding's involvement has been mythologized to the extent that there are many different stories floating around, for what offense was Tonya Harding actually prosecuted? |
| Answer | Hindering the prosecution for the attack. (Harding's then husband Jeff Gilooly and his accomplice were the ones prosecuted for the attack.) |
| Song | Devil Woman |
| Artist | Cliff Richard |
| Number | 93 |
| Realm | Random TV premises |
| Subrealm | Maybe not so random? |
| Question | A historian, soldier, and scientist travel through time to prevent the antagonist from changing history, four women own and run an interior design company, a family with a talking dog live life, including raunchy humor, a teenage girl lives a double life as a spy with the help of her best friend and his naked mole rat. These are all premises of TV shows that have what characteristic in common? |
| Answer | They were all canceled and then went on to have further seasons after fans protested |
| Song | Whatever it takes |
| Artist | Imagine Dragons |
| Note | The series are Timeless, Designing Women, Family Guy, and Kim Possible. |
| Number | 94 |
| Realm | Random TV titles |
| Subrealm | again, hint hint, not so random |
| Question | What do these titles have in common? Insomnia Cafe, Friends like Us, Across the Hall, Six to One. |
| Answer | There were all proposed titles for what became the TV show Friends |
| Song | I Love New York |
| Artist | Madonna |
| Number | 95 |
| Realm | People we can all learn from |
| Subrealm | With a special gift for expression |
| Question | Maya Angelou was well known for her inspirational wisdom, expressed especially in her books and poems. This extended far beyond what she wrote. For example, when asked in an interview about what she would like to have on her tombstone, what did she say? |
| Answer | I did my best, I hope you do the same |
| Song | I Try |
| Artist | Macy Gray |
| Number | 96 |
| Realm | Anagrams make translations difficult |
| Subrealm | It's hard to take a villain named Trevor seriously |
| Question | In Harry Potter, Tom Marvolo Riddle is an anagram of I am Lord Voldemort. Trying to preserve the anagram has led to some interesting changes in various translations of the books. For example, one translation has Lord Voldemort's name as Trevor Delgome in order to preserve the “I am Lord Voldemort” anagram. In what language does this occur? |
| Answer | Icelandic (In France, Voldemort's name is Tom Elvis Jedusor.) |
| Song | Ice Ice Baby |
| Artist | Vanilla Ice |
| Number | 97 |
| Realm | Everyone wants to remember their inner child |
| Subrealm | Cough cough no new ideas exist |
| Question | Three points play again. Nostalgia makes bank these days. Out of this list of classic movies or TV shows, which two have not had a reboot, revival, or restart? X-Files, Family Matters, Twin Peaks, The Mummy, Will and Grace, Boy Meets World, Full House, Jumanji, Breakfast Club, Jurassic Park, Magic School Bus, and Gremlins |
| Answer | Family Matters and Breakfast Club |
| Song | Good Old Days |
| Artist | Macklemore (and Kesha) |
| Number | 98 |
| Realm | Some seriously hard heads |
| Subrealm | And some possible brain damage |
| Question | Nowadays, it would be very difficult to imagine playing hockey without a helmet. But, it did happen! Name the last professional hockey player to play without a helmet. |
| Answer | Craig MacTavish |
| Song | Survivor |
| Artist | Destiny's Child |
| Note | MacTavish retired in 1997. |
| Number | 99 |
| Realm | Things that sound shady |
| Subrealm | Peole who don't really exist |
| Question | The Nancy Drew novels are credited to the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. What does this pseudonym represent? |
| Answer | The Stratemeyer Syndicate (Edward Stratemeyer hired writers who would write the various Nancy Drew books, but had to give up all rights to the novel) |
| Song | Hey Nancy Drew |
| Artist | Price |
| Note | At least 13 authors have written books as Carolyn Keene. |
| Number | 100 |
| Realm | Very long names |
| Subrealm | United States Edition |
| Question | Some states have longer official names than what they are colloquially known as. What is the longest official name of a US state? |
| Answer | State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
| Song | The Long Way Around |
| Artist | Dixie Chicks |
| Number | 101 |
| Realm | Small island nations |
| Subrealm | Interesting sources of income |
| Question | Revenue from the use of the internet domain .tv makes up a significant source of income for what small island nation that is seriously threatened by sea level rise? |
| Answer | Tuvalu |
| Song | Web |
| Artist | The Roots |
| Number | 102 |
| Realm | Stealthy maneuvers |
| Subrealm | Joudini would be proud |
| Question | In 1932, an inmate from L.A. in prison for robbery escaped from the prison by creating a dummy using his own hair and a plaster of paris face. This successfully fooled the guards for several hours. From what prison did he escape? |
| Answer | Folsom Prison |
| Song | Folsom Prison Blues |
| Artist | Johnny Cash |
| Number | 103 |
| Realm | Superhero comics without best-selling movie franchises |
| Subrealm | Another three point play |
| Question | The comic book series Watchmen takes as its premise an alternative history in which superheroes emerge in the 1950s and 60s, changing the outcomes of two very key points in American history. What are those changes? |
| Answer | America wins the Vietnam War, and the Watergate scandal was never exposed |
| Song | All Along the Watchtower |
| Artist | Bob Dylan |
| Number | 104 |
| Realm | High school throwback |
| Subrealm | Important book plots |
| Question | In Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, what is the incident that prompts Catherine to spend five weeks at the Grange, growing into a proper young lady under the tutelage of Mrs. Linton and complicating her relationship with Heathcliff when she returns? |
| Answer | She was bitten by a dog |
| Song | Wuthering Heights |
| Artist | Kate Bush |
| Number | 105 |
| Realm | Technological Innovation |
| Subrealm | Nikola Tesla would be proud |
| Question | Three point play available here! November 1896 marked the first time alternating current was transmitted over long distance. Name the power plant and source from which Buffalo received the electrical power. |
| Answer | Adams Power Plant, Niagara Falls |
| Song | Waterfalls |
| Artist | TLC |
| Number | 106 |
| Realm | Success breeds success |
| Subrealm | Hollywood dynasties |
| Question | Alexander Skarsgard, Enrique Iglesias, Angelina Jolie, Ben Stiller, Carrie Fisher, Chris Evans, Charlie Sheen, Diggy Simmons, Kiefer Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz. Name the one star in this list that does not have a parent who is also famous |
| Answer | Chris Evans |
| Song | Famous |
| Artist | Kanye West |
| Number | 107 |
| Realm | Catchy catchphrases |
| Subrealm | Everyone needs one |
| Question | What famous person has the catchphrase You can't see me? Where did it originate? |
| Answer | John Cena--a taunt from his wrestling days |
| Song | Such a tease |
| Artist | Eric Bellinger |
| Number | 108 |
| Realm | Science fiction canceled too soon |
| Subrealm | Angels can be just as much jerks as the rest of us |
| Question | In Syfy's short-lived drama Dominion that carried on the story of Legion, three archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel are major players in the turmoil that envelopes humanity after God's disappearance. Raphael is mentioned, but absent. What explanation is given for her absence? |
| Answer | She has not been seen since God's disappearance |
| Song | Angel with a Shotgun |
| Artist | The Cab |