Trivia Q&A: October 27

We had a huge crowd in for Trivia Night last night, and 22 teams took part. Many folks were in for the Celtics opener in Cleveland. We debuted our "New and Improved Trivia Night" and I must say it was a resounding success.

"Q Are You?" debuted as a recurring category, and most people really seemed to get into the three facts nature of it. The scores were generally good, and it will return again in the next few weeks.

"Audio Movie Clips Trivia" was fun to do, as we gave the folks 10 short movie lines, and most did well in that too. (We actually had to hold off a few minutes to start as the Celtics game was in its final moments.) I talked to a few regulars afterwards and they liked the idea of having some audio clues. The sound wasn't the best, but it did OK and hopefully it will be even better next time. We will be bringing the audio trivia back on a semi-regular basis.

We also debuted the revamped General Knowledge category with a different point scale, and that was well-received also. We had a good race into IQ Trivia, and the team of Old Friends, New Lovers and The Disabled pulled a great come-from-behind win, getting four of the five correct and winning by a single point. Congrats to the on capping off a memorable night of Trivia.

Current Events
1. The official church of this European nation announced last week they will begin performing same-sex marriages.
2. Five deaths from cholera in this African country last week have sparked fears a new epidemic that killed thousands last year could happen.
3. This female Hollywood star sold a kiss to a lucky fan in a charity auction in San Francisco last week, and a woman bid $140,000 and won a 20-second smootch with her.
4. This legendary comedian died last Wednesday at the age of 83, and his obituary said he took more than 20,000 pies to the face during his illustrious career.
5. The number of bank failures in the US for 2009 topped this milestone number last Friday, and its the most in the US since 1982.
6. This British rock singer collapsed on stage as he was beginning a concert in Swindon, England on Saturday night and had to be rushed to a hospital.
7. This small country's three McDonald's restaurants will all close next weekend, as the franchise holder had heavy debts due to the collapse of the nation's currency.

Answers: 1. Sweden; 2. Zimbabwe; 3. Charlize Theron; 4. Soupy Sales; 5. one hundred; 6. Morrissey; 7. Iceland.

Q Are You?
1. This man was born in Englewood, NJ in 1954. He was twice nominated for an Oscar as Best Actor, in 1977 and 1994. He had a number one single in 1978 as part of a duet from one of his films.
2. This man was born in Brighton, MA in 1942. In 2009, his wealth was estimated at $16 billion. He's never lost a political election.
3. This man was born in Middlesex, England in 1947. He's had 56 Top 40 singles in the US, including the best selling single of all time. He's also been the owner and chairman of the Watford Football Club of England.
4. This woman was born in Greenwich, CT in 1947. She's won 3 Tonys, 4 Emmys, an Obie and 2 Golden Globes, and she's been nominated for 5 Oscars but has never won. Her most memorable character's name is Alex Forrest.
5. This man was born in Anchorage, AK in 1966. He's a three-time World Series winner, with best winning percentage of any pitcher in the postseason (with 10 decisions). He's eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2013.
6. This woman was born in Inglewood, CA in 1973. She's hosted her own reality show as well as talk show. She was the first black model chosen for the cover of the Victoria's Secret catalog.
7. This man was born in Sheffield, England in 1943. He's best known for his comedy writing and acting in TV and movies, and was awarded the Commander of the British Empire in 2000. Today he's best known for his new career as a travel writer and documentarian.

Answers: 1. John Travolta; 2. Michael Bloomberg; 3. Elton John; 4. Glenn Close; 5. Curt Schilling; 6. Tyra Banks; 7. Michael Palin.

Audio Movie Clips Trivia
Answers: 1. Caddyshack; 2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; 3. The Godfather; 4. Back to the Future; 5. 2001: A Space Odyssey; 6. Full Metal Jacket; 7. Cocktail; 8. Airplane!; 9. The Princess Bride; 10. Apocalypse Now.

General Knowledge
1. The island of Malta can be found in what sea? ( 1 point)
2. A solo performance in an opera is called what? ( 1 point)
3. Olympic Airlines is the national airline of what country? ( 1 point)
4. In what country did the Boer War take place? ( 2 points)
5. What is the largest gland in the human body? ( 2 points)
6. What member of the British royal family wrote the book "The Old Man of Lochnagar?" ( 2 points)
7. How many black keys are there on a standard piano? ( 3 points)

Answers: 1. Mediterranean; 2. aria; 3. Greece; 4. South Africa; 5. liver; 6. Prince Charles; 7. thirty-six.

IQ Trivia
1. Ishihara is a test to determine what? ( 4 points)
2. In what South American country would you find Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world? ( 5 points)
3. The nations of Australia and New Zealand are separated by what body of water? ( 4 points)
4. The eagle on the Great Seal of the United States grasps the right talon with an olive branch bearing how many olives and leaves each? ( 3 points)
5. On which Hawaiian island is Pearl Harbor located? ( 4 points)

Answers: 1. color blindness; 2. Ecuador; 3. The Tasman Sea; 4. thirteen; 5. Oahu.