Fab Four Trivia This Week

Trivia returns to Professor Thom's this Wednesday night, May 31st at 8:30 PM, with "Beatles Trivia" as the Special Category, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the release of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album this week. It will be seven questions about the career of rock's greatest band. The Q Train lightning round will be "Comedy Movie Characters Trivia." I will give you 10 names of famous comedy movie characters down through the years and you have to tell me what film that character was in.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:

"In what sport would one use a shuttlecock in?"

We are back on the main floor of Professor Thom's for good for Trivia, as the Celtics' playoff run just came to a close. Hope to see many of you for Trivia this Wednesday night!

Trivia Q&A: May 24

It was nice to be back on the main floor of Professor Thom's for Wednesday Night Trivia last night. We had a good turnout of 14 teams, and also had some audio problems through the first round, but my friend Neeru managed to find a mic from upstairs and we had smooth sailing through the rest of the night. Thanks to all of you who beared with us through that difficult first round. Next week should be a lot better.

We had a three-team race to the finish, and they were separated by just four points going into IQ Trivia. But the amazing team of DIMS pulled out yet another win, getting four of the five questions right to end with 48 points. Congratulations to them and their continued remarkable run.

Second place went to Book Hockey with 45 points and third place went to Should've Aimed For Elmo with 41 points.

We will be back on the main floor again for sure next week, as even if the Celtics make it to the NBA Finals, there is no game next week, as the Finals begin next Thursday. There would be a conflict on June 7th, which is a Wednesday and Game 3, but we'll see what happens with the Celtics, who are currently down 3-1 in their series with Cleveland.

Best Team Name: The Queue To Dump on Trump's Desk Starts Behind Me.

Current Events
1. Chris Cornell, the lead singer of what 1990s rock band, died last week at the age of 52 in what was determined to be a suicide?
2. The mayor of what Midwest city apologized to his police department last Friday after his office inadvertently issued a proclamation honoring a cop killer?
3. What Democratic politician spoke at a conference in Las Vegas last week, saying that "upon further reflection, Hillary Clinton wasn't a great candidate for president.'?
4. Hassan Rouhani was re-elected president of what Middle Eastern country by a wide margin this past weekend?
5. What cable TV news host surprised a colleague on his show last Friday, who was a Trump defender, by saying, "If he took a dump on his desk, you would defend him"?
6. The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that what southern state's redrawing of two congressional districts violated the Constitution by relying too heavily on race to redraw them?
7. Pope Francis named Bishop Anders Arborelius as a new cardinal and he becomes the first person born in what Protestant-dominated European country to become a cardinal?

Kennedy Family Trivia
1. What number president was John F. Kennedy?
2. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in what city in 1968?
3. Ted Kennedy ran for president once and failed to get the Democratic nomination. Who did they nominated instead?
4. JFK Stadium, which closed in 1992, was located in what city?
5. Who succeeded JFK as a congressman from Massachusetts' 11th district and served 34 years?
6. What position was Joseph Kennedy, JFK's father, forced to give up in 1940 after he made some controversial remarks that cost him his dream of running for president?
7. True or False: JFK is the youngest man ever elected US president.

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. Michael Collins, command module pilot of Apoolo 11, actually suffered an epileptic seizure during his time alone in the command module.
2. The son of Alexander Hamilton was, like his father, killed in a duel.
3. The city of Washington DC was designed by a French engineer.
4. Tiger Woods' real first name is Edward.
5. Canada is the second largest country in total land mass.
6. "Dreamt" is the only word in the English language ending in "mt."
7. Louis Armstrong gained fame by playing the saxophone.
8. Mick Jagger once attended the London School of Economics.
9. Horse racing is sometimes called "the sport of kings."
10. Brazil has the largest number of Christians in its population, more than any other country.

General Knowledge
1. What color was PacMan in the classic video game? ( 1 pt)
2. Which vowel (A, E, I, O, U) does not begin the name of any US state? ( 1 pt)
3. The Ryder Cup is awarded to countries that compete in what sport? ( 1 pt)
4. The city of Sydney is located in what Australian state? ( 2 pt)
5. From what Caribbean country does Bacardi Rum originate? ( 2 pt)
6. If you just made a sternutation, what did you just do? ( 2 pt)
7. What organization has a candle surrounded by barb wire as its emblem? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What US city re-entered the top 50 in US population in 2015 after leaving that list ten years earlier? ( 4 points)
2. "The Father of the Constitution" was the nickname of which of the American Founding Fathers? ( 3 points)
3. Who is the only artist who has been inducted  into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on three separate occasions? ( 4 points)
4. Vaduz is the capital of what small European country? ( 4 points)
5. Garrett's Farm was the site where which infamous American figure was shot dead? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Soundgarden; 2. Cincinnati; 3. Joe Biden; 4. Iran; 5. Anderson Cooper; 6. North Carolina; 7. Sweden.

Kennedy Family Trivia
1. 35; 2. Los Angeles; 3. Jimmy Carter; 4. Philadelphia; 5. Tip O'Neill; 6. UK ambassador; 7. true.

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. false; 2. true; 3. true; 4. false, Eldrick; 5. true; 6. true; 7. false, trumpet; 8. true; 9. true; 10. false, USA.

General Knowledge
1. yellow; 2. E; 3. golf; 4. New South Wales; 5. Cuba; 6. sneeze; 7. Amnesty International.

IQ Trivia
1. New Orleans; 2. James Madison; 3. Eric Clapton; 4. Liechtenstein; 5. John Wilkes Booth.

Know Your Kennedys On Wednesday

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, May 24th at 8:30 PM, with "Kennedy Family Trivia" as the Special Category, in honor of John F. Kennedy's 100th birthday next Monday. I will ask you seven questions not just about the former president, but also about other famous members of his family. (And no, Arnold Schwarzenegger will not be a part of this quiz.) The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"The Ryder Cup is awarded to countries that compete in what sport?"

We will be back on the main floor of Professor Thom's for Trivia this week, and barring the Celtics making it to the NBA Finals, we should be back there to stay. We shall see. Hope to see many of you for a great night of Trivia on Wednesday night!

Trivia Q&A: May 17

Well, it was one of the stranger nights of Trivia last night in Professor Thom's Loft. It was a night when just about all the Trivia regulars stayed home or had something else to do. We had just four teams play last night, as the first floor had the Celtics Game 1 going on, and even that wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. But, we carried on, and it was an enjoyable night nonetheless. The guys from DIMS won the night again, although it was close at the end, as they ended up with 35 points. Second place went to Jim Comey For Me, Baby with 31 points. They gave them a good fight, as they were just two points down heading into the final round. Third place went to Alternative Facts with 17 points.

We will back on the first floor next week, as there will be no Celtics playoff game next Wednesday night, as it will be an off day in the series. Hope to many more of you then!

Current Events
1. What religion in America announced that teenagers aged 14-18 won't participate any longer in the Boy of Scouts of America?
2. What young baseball star agreed to a one-year deal for a record $21.6 million for the 2018 season, the highest salary ever for an arbitration-eligible player?
3. Moon Jae-in was elected president of what Asian country last weekend?
4. Last week, ABC canceled the hit show "Last Man Standing" after six seasons in which many have speculated because of what star's controversial conservative opinions about Hollywood?
5. Actor Powers Boothe died this past Monday at the age of 68. He was known for various film and TV roles, but one of his best was as villain Cy Tolliver in what 2000s HBO series?
6. Pope Francis visited Fatima last Saturday and canonized two of the three children who saw the Virgin Mary there 100 years ago. What country is Fatima located in?
7. What airline will allow passengers to use facial recognition technology to self-check their luggage at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport this summer?

Italy Trivia
1. What is Italy's second largest city in population after Rome?
2. Leonardo daVinci pained the Mona Lisa in Italy in what century?
3. In 1890, Italian Giuseppe Airoldi is credited with inventing what, something you see in newspapers every day?
4. What small country is located totally within northern Italy, has a population of 30,000 and is the oldest constitutional republic in the world?
5. Venice's international airport is named for what Italian traveler and explorer?
6. What is the name of Italy's largest island?
7. How many times has Italy won soccer's World Cup?

The Q Train: US and World City Nicknames
1. Sin City
2. The City of David
3. The Hub
4. The Biggest Little City in the World
5. The Forbidden City
6. The Square Mile
7. The Eternal City
8. The Pearl of the Danube
9. The Big Orange
10. The Emerald City

General Knowledge
1. The Falkland Islands are found off the coast of what country? ( 1 pt)
2. What 1960s rock star was known as "The Lizard King?" ( 1 pt)
3. What is the common nickname for nitrous oxide? ( 1 pt)
4. Death Valley is located in what American desert? ( 2 pt)
5. For what film did Leonardo DiCaprio win his first Academy Award? ( 2 pt)
6. What current British royal is known as The Duke of York? ( 2 pt)
7. What European country was in charge of developing and building the Suez Canal? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What is the only one of the Great Lakes located entirely in the US? ( 3 points)
2. What is the smallest state in the US west of the Mississippi River in land area? ( 4 points)
3. The month of March always starts on the same day of the week as what other month? ( 4 points)
4. What 1964 film included the characters Major Kong, Lt. Lothar Zogg and Gen. Jack D. Ripper? ( 4 points)
5. Who was the only person to sign all three documents that founded the US: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris and the US Constitution? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Mormon; 2. Bryce Harper; 3. South Korea; 4. Tim Allen; 5. "Deadwood;" 6. Portugal; 7. Delta.

Italy Trivia
1. Milan; 2. 16th (1503-06); 3. crossword puzzle; 4. San Marino; 5. Marco Polo; 6. Sicily; 7. four (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006).

The Q Train: US & World City Nicknames
1. Las Vegas; 2. Jerusalem; 3. Boston; 4. Reno; 5. Beijing; 6. London; 7. Rome; 8. Budapest; 9. Los Angeles; 10. Seattle.

General Knowledge
1. Argentina; 2. Jim Morrison; 3. laughing gas; 4. Mojave; 5. "The Revenant;" 6. Prince Andrew; 7. France.

IQ Trivia
1. Lake Michigan; 2. Hawaii; 3. November; 4. "Dr. Strangelove;" 5. Benjamin Franklin.

Italy Will Highlight Trivia This Week

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, May 17th at 8:30 PM, with "Italy Trivia" as the Special Category, It will be seven questions about the great European nation in history and pop culture. The Q Train lightning round will be "US and World Cities' Nicknames." It will give you the commonly known nicknames of ten cities from around the world and you have to tell me the city I'm talking about.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"The Falkland Islands are found off the coast of what country?"

We will be doing Trivia on Wednesday night back in the Loft, as the Celtics won their playoff game last night and wrapped up their series with Washington. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series will be tomorrow night, at the same time Trivia will be going on. But the following week we will be back on the first floor, as there will be no game that night. I hope to see many of you for Trivia on Wednesday night!

Trivia Q&A: May 10

We were back in Professor Thom's Loft for Trivia on Wednesday night, for the fifth time in the last six weeks due to the Celtics playoff game. The crowd was on the smaller side, with 10 teams taking part, but it was a spirited group and everyone enjoyed the night. We had a close race going into IQ Trivia, with the teams of DIMS and Comey 2012 separated by just one point. But the scores on IQ Trivia were on the lighter side, as four teams would up not scoring a point in the round. DIMS got three questions correct, and won the night with 43 points. Congrats to them on the win.

We had a tie for second, with Comey 2012 and Knowledge Fires tied with 31 points. Comey 2012 won the tiebreaker, as they were closest to the answer of "How tall is the Gateway Arch in total feet?" (It was an IQ Trivia answer.) It was 630 feet, and congratulations to them on their second place finish.

Best Team Name: Big Fact Hunt

Right now we don't know if we will be downstairs or upstairs for next week's Trivia, as that will depend on the status of the Celtics making it to the next round and having a game scheduled next week. I will be posting on the Facebook group page when it becomes official.

Current Events
1. The Sunday Times of London named what English rock superstar the richest musician on their annual "Rich List" last week?
2. What talk show host set off a firestorm on social media last week with a sexually charged joke about President Trump, with some calling for his firing?
3. What talk show host said in an interview on Friday that President Trump won't be appearing on the host's show, saying "he's against everything I stand for."?
4. Mark Green, President Trump's nominee for what secretary post, withdrew from consideration last week after lawmakers objected to stands he made on some social issues?
5. What tuna-canning company agreed to pay a $25 million fine after pleading guilty to conspiring with competitors to fix prices?
6. What former president is collaborating with best-selling author James Patterson on a fictional thriller that will be published next year?
7. Alan Joyce, the CEO of what foreign-based airline, was speaking at a breakfast when a man in a suit hit him in the face with a cream pie?

Which Came First Trivia
1. a. The American Civil War ends; b. Canada becomes an independent nation.
2. a. Saigon falls and Vietnam unifies;  b. Richard Nixon resigns and Gerald Ford becomes president.
3. a. OJ Simpson is indicted for double murder; b. MLB players walk out on strike and the World Series is later canceled.
4. a. American Idol debuts on Fox; b. Survivor debuts on CBS.
5. a. Barack Obama is born; b. John F. Kennedy is inaugurated president.
6. a. New England Patriots win their first Super Bowl; b. Boston Red Sox win their first World Series in 86 years.
7. a. Bernie Madoff is arrested for running a Ponzi scheme; b. Barack Obama is elected 44th US president.

The Q Train: SNL Characters
1. Prymatt Conehead
2. Wayne Campbell
3. Matt Foley
4. Ed Grimley
5. The Church Lady
6. Emily Litella
7. Sean Spicer
8. Alex Trebek
9. Tommy Flanagan
10. Barack Obama

General Knowledge
1. Clemson University is found in what US state? ( 1 pt)
2. Michael Hutchence was the lead singer of what rock band? ( 1 pt)
3. How many natural satellites does the planet Mercury have? ( 1 pt)
4. Geronimo was the noted leader of what American Indian tribe? ( 2 pt)
5. Rod Laver Arena is located in what country? ( 2 pt)
6. Kate Winslet won an Academy Award for Best Actress for what film? ( 2 pt)
7. A vicennial event occurs how many years apart? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What is the tallest man-made monument in the US? ( 4 points)
2. In what South American country were legendary outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid supposedly killed in 1908? ( 4 points)
3. What small European nation is the world's most densely populated country? ( 3 points)
4. Charles Fairbanks, Charles Curtis and Charles Dawes were all early 20th century Americans who held what position? ( 5 points)
5. Of the original thirteen colonies, which was the last to become an official state? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Paul McCartney; 2. Stephen Colbert; 3. Ellen DeGeneres; 4. Secretary of the Army; 5. Bumble Bee; 6. Bill Clinton; 7. Qantas.

Which Came First Trivia
1. a; 2. b; 3. a; 4. b; 5. b; 6. a; 7. b.

The Q Train: SNL Characters
1. Jane Curtin; 2. Mike Myers; 3. Chris Farley; 4. Martin Short; 5. Dana Carvey; 6. Gilda Radner; 7. Melissa McCarthy; 8. Will Ferrell; 9. Jon Lovitz; 10. Fred Armisen & Jay Pharoh.

General Knowledge
1. South Carolina; 2. INXS; 3. none; 4. Apache; 5. Australia; 6. "The Reader;" 7. twenty.

IQ Trivia
1. Gateway Arch; 2. Bolivia; 3. Monaco; 4. Vice-president of the US; 5. Rhode Island.

Test Your SNL Knowledge On Wednesday

Trivia will be happening on Wednesday night, May 10th at 8:30 PM, and will be in the second floor Loft at Professor Thom's. The Special Category will be "Which Came First Trivia." I will give you seven sets of two famous events that occurred around the same time from history and pop culture and you have to tell me which happened first. The Q Train lightning round will be "Saturday Night Live Characters." I will give you the names of famous characters from the late night show throughout its history and you have to tell me what actor or actress played that character on the show.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Clemson University is found in what US state?"

We get rolling at 8:30 PM, and we are back in the Loft due to the Celtics Game 5 playoff game that night. Seats and tables will go quickly up there, so I suggest you getting in as early as possible. Hope to see you for another great night of Trivia tomorrow!

Trivia Q&A: May 3

 It was a strange night of Trivia last night at Professor Thom's We were back downstairs for the first time after four weeks upstairs in the Loft, as there was no Celtics playoff game. The crowd was definitely down, as we had just 12 teams in to play. We spread the word that we were back on the first floor, but I guess many folks had other things to do last night. The night started off with mic and speaker problems, so we had to get the speaker from the Loft and use that. My apologies for all that, as we got going about 20 minutes late.

The night proceeded along fine, and we had a really tight race going into IQ Trivia. But unfortunately, Yours Truly has made goofs in that final round, and I made one last night. In the question, "What country has not fought in a war since 1815?", I thought it was Switzerland, and accepted that as the answer. (Another team had asked me if "civil wars count" in that answer, and I said yes.) But one of the teams pointed out that Switzerland had a civil war among two factions in 1847, so I felt the only proper thing to do in this case (and I have done it in the past when it has happened) is to toss the question and give everyone four points. That made a difference in the final score, as DIMS pulled out the win with 43 points, and the team of Manny Being Manny Being Machado finished second with 41 points. My sincere apologies to them, as it cost them the win (they had answered Switzerland), but I appreciate them being as understanding as they were. I will be more careful with the IQ Trivia questions from now on!

Third place went to Ginyu Pours with 38 points. Best Team Name of the night went to: Screw Technology, We're Going Back to the Corded Mic.

Next week, we are not sure at this time if we will be upstairs in the Loft or downstairs. We are at the mercy of the Celtics. If there is a Game 5 in their series, it will be next Wednesday, and we will be in the Loft. If they sweep the series (they are up 2-0 in the series as I write this), we will be downstairs. I will update our status on the Facebook page when we know for sure.

Current Events
1. What cable TV network laid off over 100 on-air employees last week in response to financial losses and dwindling subscribers?
2. Ground was broken last week on a site in Manhattan where a museum will be built and opened by 2019 for what iconic baseball legend?
3. A British teenager confessed last week to a bomb plot surrounding a concert by what rock superstar in London on last year's anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks?
4. A strong earthquake measuring 6.8 struck off the coast of the island of Mindanao last Saturday in what south east Asian country?
5. The highest court of what Protestant denomination ruled that the consecration of its first openly gay bishop violated church laws?
6. What TV host was named the new permanent co-host on ABC's morning live show with Kelly Ripa this past Monday?
7. The government of Turkey blocked what web site last weekend after they refused to delete articles and comments suggesting the country is cooperating with terrorist groups?

Mexico Trivia
1. Which US state does Tijuana share a border with?
2. Within three, how many states does Mexico have?
3. What country did Mexico defeat on May 5, 1862 at the Battle of Puebla, which the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates?
4. True or False: Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world by population.
5. What is Mexico's second largest city in population after Mexico City?
6. In 1821, what country did Mexico declare its independence from?
7. Mexico's flag is what three colors?

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. Director Tim Burton's first choice for the title role in "Beetlejuice" was Sammy Davis Jr.
2. The Empire State Building is struck by lightning on average 25 times a year.
3. The Oscar statute is estimated to be worth about $1,000.
4. Author Tennessee Williams was actually born in Mississippi.
5. Twinkies have a shelf life of nearly 20 years.
6. Reno, NV is further west than Los Angeles, CA.
7. John Adams was the first man to sign the Declaration of Independence.
8. The US purchased Florida from England in 1819.
9. The distance from the foul line to the headpin in bowling is 60 feet.
10. The US has the longest coastline of any country in the world.

General Knowledge
1. What famous theme park first opened to the public in July, 1955? ( 1 pt)
2. Manuel Noriega was deposed as dictator of what country by a US invasion in 1989? ( 1 pt)
3. How many vowels are there on the bottom row of a typewriter? ( 1 pt)
4. Acrophobia is the fear of what? ( 2 pt)
5. How many articles does the US Constitution have? ( 2 pt)
6. What color navigation light shines from the starboard side of a ship? ( 2 pt)
7. What animal is the source of the most widely consumed red meat in the world? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What is the only planet of the Solar System that can't be seen by the naked eye? ( 3 points)
2. What country has not fought in a war since 1815? ( 4 points)
3. Pierre Omidyar and Michael Dean Johnson founded what current online company in 1995? ( 4 points)
4. What man did Time magazine select as their "Person of the 20th Century" ( 5 points)
5. Who was the only artist to have a Billboard number one single every year in the decade of the 1990s? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. ESPN; 2. Jackie Robinson; 3. Elton John; 4. Philippines; 5. Methodist; 6. Ryan Seacrest; 7. Wikipedia.

Mexico Trivia
1. California; 2. 31; 3. France; 4. true; 5. Guadalajara; 6. Spain; 7. red, white and green.

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. true; 2. true; 3. false, $150; 4. true; 5. false, 25 days; 6. true; 7. false, John Hancock; 8. false, Spain; 9. true; 10. false, Canada.

General Knowledge
1. Disneyland; 2. Panama; 3. none; 4. heights; 5. seven; 6. green; 7. goat.

IQ Trivia
1. Neptune; 2. Switzerland; 3. eBay; 4. Albert Einstein; 5. Mariah Carey.

Mexico Trivia In Honor of Cinco de Mayo This Week

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, May 3rd at Professor Thom's on the first floor this week, as there is no Celtics playoff game that night. The Special Category will be "Mexico Trivia", in honor of Cinco de Mayo, which is happening on Friday. It will seven questions on our neighbors to the south. The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What famous there park first opened to the public in July, 1955?"

We get going at 8:30 PM on Wednesday night. I look forward to seeing many of you that night for what should be a great night of Trivia Q&A!