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How much did the first cellphone weigh?

Were you one of those rich kids who got a cellphone right when they came out? Or were you like me and didn't get one until you had a full-time adult job and still had to get the cheapest possible option you could find? Either way, those who lived through...

What's the name of the pizza restaurant in Home Alone?

In the opening sequence of 1990's Home Alone, we truly see the storytelling genius of John Hughes (and director Chris Columbus) on display. A pizza delivery dude is trying to get paid, adults and children alike frantically rush about, and we're introduced to who will turn out to be one...

What was Pepsi originally called?

In the '80s, you had two choices: The choice of Coca-Cola (old people), or the choice of a new generation (cool, young people). At least, that's what Pepsi marketing wanted us to think. Stemming from the Pepsi Generation marketing of the '60s, they enrolled some of the biggest names in...

What was the first Disney movie released on DVD?

I remember when I bought my first DVD player — for just a couple hundred bucks, I got what was probably the worst one available on the market. But I didn't care. It felt like magic to be watching a movie on a disc. No rewinding anymore? Are you kidding me?...

In The Lord of the Rings, what alias did Aragorn go by?

Ahh, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, fearless warrior, and speaker of Elvish. The bridge between worlds and heir to the throne. Without him, things would have turned out much worse in The Lord of the Rings. By his own account, he is called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, and the heir of...

What's the name of the workout video series starring Richard Simmons?

In the days before Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, there weren't a lot of options for those who wanted to take a journey from not-so-fit to more-fit — gyms were mostly geared towards people who were already in good shape. Richard Simmons, who had been heavy as a child and lost...

What was Saved by the Bell originally called?

We complain a lot about the lack of modern Saturday morning cartoons around here, but even we forget that there were also Saturday morning sitcoms. Saved by the Bell had its moments in primetime, but it was largely known to a kid and teen audience thanks to its regular Saturday...

John Cusack hated which one of his movies so much that he walked out after 20 minutes?

When you have 80 movies and counting to your name, at some point you might not love every single one of them. John Cusack, whose success began in the early '80s and is still humming along, apparently hasn't loved every single project he's been a part of — so much so...

Who was NOT a founding member of the original Avengers?

If you're a fan of the Avengers, you have DC's Justice League to thank — following the success of the superhero team's comics, Stan Lee's boss basically told him to get cranking on his own version. And voila, the Avengers were born. But that was like 60 years ago. In 1963...

Which rock star appeared on Highlander: The Series?

We all had the same thought after watching the original Highlander movie in 1986: Does Connor MacLeod have a fellow clansman who's buffer and can take his shirt off more? In 1992, we got that answer with a resounding "yes" when Highlander: The Series introduced us to Duncan MacLeod, an...

What store held the first Thanksgiving Day parade?

It's hard to think of a better way to show how grateful you are than to watch a bunch of giant balloons on TV as your Uncle Jerry sips on a Bloody Mary and steps outside every 30 seconds to smoke a cigarette. For about a century, the Thanksgiving Day...

When did Queen Elizabeth II take the throne?

For generations, Queen Elizabeth II endured as a royal icon. Take pretty much anyone in the world over the last several decades and show them a picture of her, and they'd probably know who she was. Not a lot of people can say that. Through multiple wars, royal weddings, and...

Steven Spielberg digitally replaced rifles with walkie-talkies in which of his classic movies?

There are few — if any — directors that can match the number of all-time classic movies as Steven Spielberg. This dude just knows how to make movies that people want to watch, and not just once but over and over again. Hell, he essentially invented the concept of the summer blockbuster....

What's the name of the robot on Lost in Space?

If you add "Will Robinson" to "Danger!" anytime you hear or say that word, you can thank Lost in Space, the sci-fi TV series that ran from 1965-68 (and occasionally gets a reboot, but let's put that out of your mind for this one). Based on essentially taking the plot...

True or false: Was Donkey Kong's name a mistranslation?

It's amazing to think that we might not have some of the beloved Nintendo characters we do today if it weren't for Popeye. In an effort to quickly put something together that would help get rid of some unsold arcade cabinets, Shigeru Miyamoto came up with the idea for a...

How long does it take sunlight to reach Earth?

Someday the sun will expand so much that it will engulf the Earth and everything on it. Thankfully, we've still got billions of years before that happens, so no need to panic just yet (although it never hurts to plan ahead). But let's say one of those UAPs decides to...

Which actress was featured in Bruce Springsteen's video for "Dancing in the Dark" before she was famous?

TV is full of lies. If the fact that House Hunters isn't real didn't convince you, maybe this will — the "random fan" that gets pulled up on stage in Bruce Springsteen's iconic 1984 hit, "Dancing in the Dark," is actually a plant. Yep. That wasn't just some person who happened...

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck appear as uncredited Fenway Park extras in what movie?

When Matt Damon and Ben Affleck first met as kids in Cambridge, Massachusetts, their love of both baseball and acting immediately bonded them. A bazillion movies, some high-profile relationships, and an Academy Award later, they're still total bros. And for those who have followed or pretty much even heard of...

What is Kramer's first name in Seinfeld?

People like to say that Seinfeld is a show about nothing — but those are the people who didn't experience the TV event of the year — nay, the decade — when we found out that not only did Kramer have a first name, but it would be revealed in an upcoming episode....

How much did the first consumer microwave cost?

It's hard to imagine a time when you couldn't reheat last night's dinner, warm up a burrito, or have a fresh bag of popcorn at the simple press of a button. The microwave oven is now a staple in every kitchen, and you can pick one up for less than...

How many times did Elizabeth Taylor get married?

When I was a kid, I mostly knew Elizabeth Taylor as a person who got married a lot of times. Whenever I saw her on TV, it had something to do with a marriage or a divorce. It was that simple. Turns out, she was also one of the most...

What was the number one song in November of 1993?

What were you doing 30 years ago at this exact moment?* *By 30 years ago at this moment, we mean the moment this was published, so November 7th, 2023 at about 11:30 a.m. MST. If you're anything like me, you were probably playing the X-Men game for the...

Tom Cruise asked to use real nerve gas in which one of his movies?

It's hard to think of anything more Tom Cruise-ish than doing your own stunts — besides, maybe, demanding the use of real nerve gas on set. Cruise is known for many things, in particular for his movies raking in over $11 billion at the global box office — but also a reputation...

What is the most abundant element in the universe?

Looking at the Periodic Table is like dogs and cats being friends for me — it just doesn't make sense. Although I do appreciate the idea of certain gasses being noble. On some level, I still understand that there is simply more of some stuff than others out there in the...

What was the first DVD Netflix ever sent?

It's hard to overstate how incredible it was when all you had to do was pay a monthly fee and you didn't have to deal with late fees ever again. The only other way to avoid late fees is to have left a game disc under the seat in your...

What does AT-AT stand for?

There are two kinds of people — Star Wars fans who bicker over how to pronounce vehicle names and those who bicker with those fans about bickering too often over Star Wars. If that sentence actually made sense to you, this question should be a breeze. AT-ATs quickly earned a place...

11 trivia questions about scary movies

Whether you're the type of person who knows all the obscure references in indie horror movies or you steel yourself for one viewing of something a little spooky once per year, we all need a scary movie in our lives from time to time. What constitutes "scary" will, of course,...

How many people were executed during the Salem witch trials?

In February of 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts, two young girls suddenly started exhibiting strange behavior. Two cousins, aged 9 and 11, began to scream, speak in strange tongues, throw things, and contort their bodies. Minister John Hale described the behavior as "beyond the power of epileptic fits or natural...

What are the blocks in Tetris called?

There are few things more satisfying than locking in that perfect piece and clearing a few lines in Tetris. Originally developed in the '80s, we can thank Nintendo for bringing this game into our lives — for the original Game Boy alone, it sold over 35 million copies. But after licensing...

What was used to make Freddy Krueger’s glove in A Nightmare on Elm Street?

You'd be hard-pressed to find a mind as warped as Wes Craven's. While it might seem almost cliché today, the writer and director's idea for a villain who can haunt and kill you inside your dreams was completely new when the original A Nightmare on Elm Street came out in...

Who was the first host of Saturday Night Live?

Whether you watched Bill Murray deliver a lounge version of the Star Wars theme, you were a fan of Da Bears, you partied on with Wanye and Garth, or whatever less funny stuff they do now, you have to give it to SNL in terms of just sheer longevity. The...

What was Google originally called?

I actually remember what the internet was like before search engines came along. It was about 30 minutes of getting a stable connection (assuming you didn't just get a busy signal), and then just an endless series of links nested within more links. It was much less about finding what...

What is the best-selling album of all time?

Some music feels so massive that there's no escape. I don't mean massive like there are a lot of instruments, but like you can't turn on the radio without hearing it for the 7,000th time that day. I don't think I could ever guess which albums have actually sold...

What’s the name of the iconic theme song from The Exorcist?

For anyone born before the horror resurgence of the late '90s, it doesn't take much to get you freaked the hell out — all you have to do is hear those opening notes for the theme song from The Exorcist. Some of the effects don't particularly hold up today, but in...

Which teams played in the first Super Bowl?

Did you know that "Super Bowl" is two words? Based on the social media posts and texts I get around that time, I'm guessing most people don't. It's hard to imagine a time when the world didn't stop completely just to see what Doritos will do for their next commercial,...

What year was Captain Kirk born?

There is no one quite like Captain Kirk. Not only was he the first (and only) student at Starfleet Academy to defeat the Kobayashi Maru test and Starfleet's youngest captain in history, he's also got just the right amount of rebellion in him — and clearly he can knock back a...

What was the name of the first dog to orbit Earth?

Going to space is really, really hard. And, it turns out, super dangerous. So in the earliest days of figuring out how to send people to space, someone came up with an idea — why not send animals first? Kind of like how I make my kid go out in the...

What is Bob Dylan's real name?

Bob Dylan is often considered the voice of a generation — and what a voice it is. Dylan's nasally delivery somehow works perfectly with his brand of songwriting, and it seems like 98% of songs written in the '60s and '70s somehow come back to him. But would he have been...

In Back to the Future, what name does Marty use in 1955?

One thing I always wonder about when Marty McFly returns to 1985 and finds an altered timeline in which everything is totally awesome is why his parents don't seem to ever stop and mention how much he looks like their old friend who helped them get together back in 1955....

What does EPCOT stand for?

There's no question that Walt Disney was a visionary — his vision was so strong that even though he wasn't around to see it, Walt Disney World was still seen to fruition after his death. Not only that, they opened several more parks on the land that he had gobbled up...

What did the first email ever sent say?

Were you an early adopter when email came out? Did you nab the username that's just your first initial and last name, without even needing to add some random number at the end? Do you still use one of the original email providers, like Yahoo! or Hotmail? Even if you...

What was the original title of Ghostbusters?

Coming from a long line of spiritualists, it seems like Dan Aykroyd was always destined to write a movie about ghosts. But when he and Harold Ramis teamed up to start working in earnest on the concept of 1984's Ghostbusters, it took multiple iterations before finally landing on the all-time...

Six questions about '90s TV sitcoms

The 1990s may have been the peak era for TV sitcoms. After decades of the medium being honed, producers knew exactly how to put a hit show together, but it was also before the internet came along and blew everything to hell. The '90s gave us ABC's TGIF lineup and...

Who originally played Darrin on Bewitched?

Running from 1964-1972, Bewitched is one of those shows that proved the more absurd the plot in a sitcom, the better. The plot for this one is that a beautiful, immortal witch (Samantha) falls in love with and marries a dorky mortal (Darrin). Just the clear fact that Samantha is...

What song did Hank Williams Jr. use for Monday Night Football?

Some questions aren't really meant to be answered. To be or not to be? Why are we here? You want the truth? But some have an answer, just waiting inside you, waiting for someone to ask at the right moment. Are you ready for some football? Hell yes, I am....

When did the Challenger disaster happen?

When the first teacher was set to head to space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, it sure seemed like a great idea to gather children together at schools across the country to watch the launch live. Of course, we all know how that turned out. Those who were alive and...

Who invented Coca-Cola?

Whether you call it call it soda or pop is really no concern of mine. But when it comes to Coca-Cola vs. Coke? Actually, really don't care about that either, but I do enjoy myself an ice-cold Coke, ideally from the fountain with those little pieces of ice. It's one...

Who almost played the lead role in Taxi Driver before Robert De Niro?

Well before I was old enough to watch Taxi Driver, the 1976 classic from Martin Scorsese, I would utter that famous line: "Are you talkin' to me?" There are few movie quotes as ubiquitous as the one famously uttered by Travis Bickle, the lead character who seems to be on...

Arnold Schwarzenegger made his acting debut in what movie?

Arnold Schwarzenegger might be the least likely person to have become a pop culture superstar. An Austrian bodybuilder who decided to retire from the sport he dominated and move into acting, becoming one of the biggest stars in movie history, and sprinkling in being the Governor of California. Oh, and...

What's the name of the teacher from Dead Poets Society?

If it weren't for movies, how would we ever know what a cool teacher is like? Maybe they turn the chair around and sit among the class like they're one of the students. Maybe they don't give in even when a troubled but talented kid tries to push them away....

Who did NOT act in 1953's From Here to Eternity?

It should come as no surprise that the same decade that brought us TV dinners also ushered in a new era of cinema where rebels were finally cool. You wore your pleated pants to the movie, but inside you were a regular ol’ James Dean. Today we’re honing in...

In Big, where was the iconic piano scene filmed?

It seems like pretty much everyone involved with Big, while thinking it was a good movie, thought it would bomb at the box office. Among other issues, it was the fourth body-switch movie released within eight months. Albeit, this one featured the same person changing into another version of himself,...

Name the famous quote from Casablanca.

Originally intended as a cautionary tale based on the events unfolding in Europe, Casablanca ended up being released in January of 1943, right in the midst of World War II. Yet it's really a timeless tale of unrequited love, which turns out can even happen in Morocco in the middle...

What is Mrs. Doubtfire's first name?

What would you consider reasonable reasons to get a divorce? Most of us would probably say things like infidelity, drug addiction, and domestic violence fit the bill. Hell, even just general incompatibility. But if we're talking 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire, directed by Chris Columbus, that list also includes throwing your son...

In The Good, the Bad and the Ugly what's the nickname of Clint Eastwood's character?

While today we look back at so-called Spaghetti Westerns and revere them for the brilliant pieces of cinematic history they are, when The Good, the Bad and the Ugly came out in 1966 it was met with mixed reception. Apparently, people didn't really love what these Italians were doing to...

What was the highest-grossing movie in 1983?

Today a movie is basically a complete failure if it doesn't at least get close to a billion dollars at the box office. But back in the early '80s, even thinking of that kind of money made most people just pass out in the street. The totals are still impressive,...

What high school does Ferris Bueller attend?

Imagine if you found the principal of your high school trying to break into your house. I think I'd have the same reaction as Jeannie, Ferris' sister (played by Jennifer Grey). For some reason, the principal needed to be inside Ferris Bueller's room to prove, once and for all, that...

What's the name of the hotel in The Shining?

I have to admit, if someone asked me to watch over a mountain resort hotel for the offseason, I would strongly consider it. Then again, my kid's not psychic (as far as I know). Turns out Jack Torrance and his family didn't have the relaxing, productive time they were hoping...

Who was originally going to direct Apocalypse Now?

Francis Ford Coppola is often cited as one of the best directors to ever get behind the camera. But he wasn't originally supposed to be the director. Who was?...

What's the name of the town in The Truman Show?

Do you ever find yourself wondering, just for a moment, whether you're part of some elaborate reality TV show? That's probably thanks to 1998's The Truman Show. Released at a time when reality TV was really gaining steam, it posed the question of what would happen if those greedy Hollywood...

What was the first movie with a PG-13 rating?

There was a time, not all that long ago, when movie ratings simply went from G (great for anyone) to PG (hey parents, heads up but totally fine) and then straight to R (you might be killed by watching it). As someone who definitely saw many, many movies far too...

What singer started their career with the '80s band once known as Miami Latin Boys?

Sure, every now and then you have some random person who gets discovered and skyrockets into a household name. But for 99.97% of successful musicians, it's a long road full of grinding it out, and often with multiple failures along the way. From gigging endlessly for small crowds to...

Name the band that sings 1982's “Come On Eileen.”

According to so-called science, the 1960s had the most one-hit wonders of any decade. But boy, doesn't it feel like the '80s did? I agree with the dude who did the actual work of determining which decade is the most one-hit-wondery-est as to why this is the case — MTV. Since...

What was Friends almost called?

So no one told you life was going to be this way, huh? As easy as it would be to just launch into all of the lyrics from the Rembrandts' theme song for Friends, I'll spare you. You probably already sang them all in your head as soon as you...

How tall could a T-Rex get?

It's too bad there aren't any T-Rexes around today to enjoy the love and adoration us humans have for them. Yes, I've seen all the Jurassic Park movies, I know they would just kill me if I ever met one, but so far that hasn't happened so I will continue...

What was the first zombie movie?

Let me ask you a question: Are you one of those people who starts posting memes about fall as soon as it hits September? Do you watch a different scary movie every day in October, culminating in that one perfect horror movie you watch every year on Halloween night? Do...

What is Cookie Monster's real name?

I think people tend to like Cookie Monster because we can all relate to him. Cookies are awesome! It totally makes sense why he goes so nuts for them. The beloved and founding Sesame Street character traces his roots to pre-Sesame days, first developed by Jim Henson for unaired commercials...

How many patents did Thomas Edison hold by the time he died?

Did Edison actually invent the lightbulb? I honestly don't care. The dude started working on railroads and making a decent salary at the age of 13, so I give him, at the very least, the fact that he made lightbulbs consumer-friendly — and we wouldn't have had electric lighting at the...

What temperature is the boiling point of water?

You've certainly heard the phrase about how watching a pot of water means it will never boil. Of course, that's a bald-faced lie. As long as you hit the right temperature, that water is going to boil no matter what the hell you're doing. You could be staring at it...

What song was almost used instead of “Eye of the Tiger” for Rocky III?

When I was in college I had a very difficult professor who would do pushups in class and was in general just very scary to me. The one and only thing that got me through that class was pumping myself up for the final exam by putting on 1982's Rocky...

What's the name of the video game in The Last Starfighter?

The plot of The Last Starfighter, released in 1984, makes a lot of sense to me. In the movie, Alex Rogan is a humble teen living in a trailer park, hungry for something more. The only thing he seems to excel at is the one arcade game in the trailer...

What '90s toy had to be recalled for being too dangerous?

Every generation has had its fair share of dangerous toys that somehow hit the market shelves. Ask anyone born before 1980 about Lawn Darts, and you'll understand what I mean. While there's a scent of '90s nostalgia in the air these days, it too posed its threats. Actually, I can...

How many times has ABBA toured North America?

Agnetha, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny, and Anni-Frid are just four unassuming Swedes who happen to make up the acronym (and palindrome) ABBA. Breaking out in 1974 as Sweden's first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, the group has since become one of the best-selling of all time with over 400 million...

What movie star had a hit with “Respect Yourself” in 1987?

There are very few people who can do more than one thing really well. Deion Sanders. Shohei Ohtani. Jennifer Lopez. Will Smith. Bo Jackson. It's a small list — but every now and then, there's a little hint of a hidden talent. A brief moment where it seems that anything is...

What was Iron Maiden's original name?

When search results for your band come up before the medieval torture device you share a name with, you know you've done something right. With 41 albums, thousands of shows, and at least two video games, Iron Maiden is one of the most influential heavy metal bands in history — and...

What is Prince's last name?

Born in 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Prince was truly one of a kind — but, sadly, yet another artist who had more music to give. I like imagining Prince if somehow he hadn't made it as a musician. Working at a grocery store, going to the bank, picking up the kids...

When did the Hulk first appear in a comic book?

It's hard to believe, but before there was Smart Hulk the original big green guy had a bit of a stuttered start on his way to pop-culture stardom. The original series didn't last long, but after Stan Lee and Jack Kirby found out a college had named their mascot after...

Nintendo’s original Game Boy had how much battery life?

For less than the original price of a Game Boy ($89.99), I now have a device that's preloaded with over 5,000 retro games, has a 4K screen, and that I can take anywhere I damn well please. But while there were technically such things as mobile games, the...

In Futurama, what year does Fry wake up in?

Sometimes I wish I had a cryogenic chamber just so I could skip ahead a week. But with my luck, I'd end up like our friend Fry. Matt Groening — yes, that Matt Groening — had the idea for Futurama long before it actually hit the airwaves in 1999. Much more than...

What was the first computer virus called?

I went through a phase after seeing Hackers in 1995. It involved some AOL Instant Messages and downloading some mostly-harmless apps (mostly). The height of my hacking career came when I got kicked off of AOL for using a hacked version of Instant Messenger that gave me access to some...

In The Office, who filmed the shots of Scranton for the opening credits?

There's something about the opening credits for The Office (talking U.S. version, of course). As soon as you hear the piano and see those shots of Scranton, you just know that everything is going to be OK. And while I always assumed the opening shots were either just stock...

What instrument did Hulk Hogan play before becoming a pro wrestler?

Let's get this out there right up front — I was an Ultimate Warrior guy. The lore, the magic, the power... but somewhere in the mix for second place was Hulk Hogan. Like anyone else, I can appreciate Hulkamania, and I rode the emotional roller coaster of the Hulkster nearly losing,...

What is the surface temperature of the sun?

Things the sun is good at: burning me, helping plants grow, melting glaciers. Things the sun is less good at: letting humans anywhere near it. I'm sure you already know that the sun is, generally speaking, unreasonably hot. But let's say, for the sake of science, somehow you were able...

Which '90s NBA player had a McDonald's meal named after them?

It's not that NBA players today don't enjoy an immense amount of celebrity, but the iconic players of the '90s were cultural forces. From cereal boxes to ubiquitous advertisements, these dudes were everywhere. Drink commercials, sneakers, video games — and hell, one of these guys even had a McDonald's meal named...

What singer-songwriter has a cameo in Jurassic World?

If I was famous, I would totally pull one of those random cameos, like just dressing up as a stormtrooper or something. And if I could pick any franchise, the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies would definitely be right up there. Frankly, I wouldn't want any real screen time...

When did the Walkman come out?

It's not that prior to the release of the Sony Walkman you couldn't take your music with you, it's just that the options really sucked — especially if you wanted to jam out to your favorite cassette. Yes, there were technically portable options, but nothing that truly acted as a personal...

What animal was Crash Bandicoot originally supposed to be?

The mark of a great home video game system is a great mascot — Mario and Sonic proved just how important a mascot is during the Console Wars, and Sony knew this was the case when they were gearing up to launch the PlayStation. Developers working on the platformer that was...

George Lucas and Carrie Fisher make a cameo as a kissing couple in what 1990s fantasy film?

Let us, for now, set aside the fact that the thought of George Lucas and Carrie Fisher being romantic partners just feels very awkward. Maybe I'm being weird, but my brain just doesn't want to process that. But it does want to process the idea of the creator of Star...

What was one of Yoda’s original names in the first draft of The Empire Strikes Back?

One of the reasons the Star Wars universe is so rich is thanks to the cool-sounding (or weird, funny, etc.) names. And Yoda is easily one of the most memorable names in movie history. But in an early draft of the Star Wars sequel, a name for Luke's Jedi master...

How many Fleetwood Mac albums were released before Stevie Nicks joined?

As I have learned while writing this, if you do a search for Fleetwood Mac images, 99.97% of the results are of Stevie Nicks. Yet there was an era before Stevie (and Lindsey Buckingham, but c'mon) was even in the band. Mick Fleetwood was busy melting faces before that...

What comes after 3.14 in π (pi)?

The most important thing you should know about pi is that every March 14th you have an excuse to order a pizza for dinner and eat an entire pumpkin pie for dessert. Of course, that's because writing March 14 in numerals is also like writing the first three digits of...

Who won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1973?

For some, it might be hard to believe that the year 1973 was 50 years ago. For others, it's hard to believe much of anything because they lived through the '70s and frankly there's just not much left upstairs, if you catch my drift. There's no question that the '70s...

What leading man started his career as Prince Charming in a Disney On Ice show?

I still think that someday I'll just be sitting in a restaurant somewhere or walking down the street, and some random person with crazy hair and cool sunglasses will walk up to me and do that thing where they hold their hands in front of them to create a frame...

What's the name of the arcade in Stranger Things?

The Duffer brothers really do a great job of making Stranger Things feel like it's in the '80s. The era itself is like another character, just as important as anyone else in the show. It was inevitable that a local arcade would show up at some point, as it did...

What controversial rapper says Akira is one of their favorite movies of all time?

When you think of classic anime, there's no question that Akira is one of the first things to come to mind. If it's not, well, what the hell? The seriously mind-bending movie is quintessential cyberpunk wrapped inside some of the best animation ever put to screen. It has inspired a...

Who wrote The Monkees hit "I'm a Believer"?

Just ask me about The Commitments, and I will gladly begin my TED Talk on fictional bands. One of the things I love the most about fictional bands is how they often spill over into real life, whether that means a one-time killer soundtrack or a career that lives well...

In Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, who appears briefly in almost every train that goes by?

Despite the weirdness of Sony owning some rights while he also shows up in the MCU, it remains a fact that every Spider-Man movie in the modern age is actually pretty good. And in fact, the animated Spider-Verse movies are among the best — not to mention they kind of nail...

What early ‘80s hit inspired thousands of unwanted phone calls?

Remember the days not only before cell phones but before caller ID? It was madness. If your phone rang and you were home, not only did you definitely answer it, everyone in the house raced to be the first to pick it up. It could literally be anyone calling you...

What job does Chandler Bing have at the end of Friends?

Look, I'm not here to have you question me about how realistic it is that a struggling actor, a waitress, and a part-time musician somehow can all afford amazing apartments in Greenwich Village, NYC, and just hang out all day drinking expensive cappuccinos (The chef and paleontologist? Sure.) — NO, I'm...

What's the name of Harrison Ford's character in American Graffiti?

You know, I just don't get how people back in 1973 went so crazy for the nostalgia that American Graffiti inspired. I mean, I get it, it was George Lucas' big break and all, so yay for that, but who cares about the '50s? Obviously, the '80s were the best....

Five Questions about the MCU

There's no question that Marvel movies have been a dominant force in cinema (and all of culture) over the last decade plus. From debates over whether they're ruining movies to grossing more money than I can actually imagine, the MCU has been an unprecedented force in entertainment. Superhero fatigue? I...

Which John Hughes movie didn’t have enough room in the budget for air conditioning?

John Hughes is one of the best, most-respected, and most-successful movie directors out there. If Bill Paxton transforming into a disgusting, flatulent blob in Weird Science doesn't prove so, I don't know what else to tell you. He surely still had many more great movies up his sleeve if we...

What comedy legend was almost a big-screen Batman villain twice?

Since the days of Cesar Romero gleefully doing crime as the Joker to Adam West's Batman of the '60s, there is a long and storied history when it comes to portraying Batman villains onscreen. We've seen comedians, serious actors, and everyone in between take up the mantle of bat-foe, from...

What inspired the Village People’s band name?

I have to say, it's pretty impressive that this band has the power to get literally anyone, of any age, anywhere in the world, at any time to spell the letters "Y-M-C-A" out with their arms in unison. Admit it — your arms are twitching just thinking about it. But I...

Where did Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft get her name?

There are some iconic names in video game history: Mario Mario, Master Chief, Donkey Kong, Solid Snake, etc. — and Lara Croft clearly belongs on the list of iconic pixelated heroes. It's not a question I find myself asking often — apparently, someone having the same first and last name is totally...

What actor almost beat Kiefer Sutherland for the role of David in The Lost Boys?

If you're looking for someone to thank for all the cool vampire media we have today, you could do much worse than Joel Schumacher. Schumacher ushered in a new style of depicting vampires with 1987's The Lost Boys, a cult classic that every person should be legally required to watch...

How old is Joel in season 1 of HBO’s The Last of Us?

I remember the days when translating a video game into anything other than a video game generally ended up with disastrous results. Anyone who saw the Street Fighter movie from 1994 can back me up here. But recently there's been this weird phenomenon where movies and TV shows based on...

What Tone Lōc hit has inspired numerous cocktails?

You know him as the raspy rapper whose beats are undeniably catchy. You also know him as an actor in movies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Heat, Blank Check, and animated movies like FernGully: The Last Rainforest. But Tone Lōc as mixologist? That might be a new one. Regardless, one...

Which Star Wars characters make a cameo in Raiders of the Lost Ark?

When you hear the words "George Lucas", you probably think of two things: Star Wars and Indiana Jones. If you think of anything else first, well, that's weird. But fans of Spielberg-Lucas quantum entanglement go especially nuts whenever you bring up the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost...

What’s the name of the ship where the humans live in WALL-E?

I'm not gonna lie — living as a human in the age of WALL-E doesn't look so bad to me ... not bad at all. You live in a spaceship, don't have to cook, get daily pool time, can binge any show or movie from all of human existence at the touch...

What was Butters’ original name on South Park?

In an age when you can find any TV show from any era somewhere online and watch all of it (if you're willing to either watch some ads or shell out a little dough), it's clear just how much finding shows like South Park used to be a giant pain...

In the first live-action TMNT movie, what pizza topping does Michelangelo hate?

I remember squeezing my way into a single middle seat — you see, in those days you couldn't reserve movie theater seats ahead of time and your parents would let you go up to the closer seats on your own — just as the opening bass line dropped for 1990's Teenage Mutant...

When was Nevermind released?

I can't really remember the first time I actually heard Nirvana. Was it a rapturous moment, where I knew, right then and there, that music had been changed forever? Or was it just another band that my brother listened to? Today this album is revered as seminal, ushering in the...

What year was Nokia founded?

Some of you out there won't remember this, but there was a time when Apple had nothing to do with phones. Up until the release of the iPhone, Nokia was a power player, and for several years dominated the market. But those, my friends, were what we refer to as...

What is the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time?

You probably already know this, but let's just make sure this is clear upfront: a soundtrack is a collection of songs either made for or chosen to be included in a movie, but a score is the music used to accompany what's happening onscreen. In other words, John Williams' compositions...

Where is Teddy Ruxpin from?

Technology in the 1980s was just advanced enough to do some cool stuff, and just bad enough to make some of those things terrifying for children. Such was the case with many of the toys that came out in the '80s. Teddy Ruxpin fits squarely into that category — even just...

What was the number one song in August of 1983?

The Billboard Hot 100 was first published in 1958 with Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" at the top. But I'll bet you anything that Billboard did not anticipate the glittery pop music that was to dominate their charts when the 1980s came along. As a barometer for tracking the hottest...

How many dives has James Cameron made to the Titanic?

When there's a breaking news story that has the nation captivated, it's best to go to an expert, which is probably going to be ... James Cameron? Well, if it has anything to do with deep-sea submersibles, and particularly with the wreckage of the Titanic, then damn straight you talk to...

How much was the shake in Pulp Fiction?

Pulp Fiction is one of those movies where nearly every scene is a classic that features at least one quote that has become culturally significant. Seriously, see if you ever happen to catch it playing on TV and try to only watch a few minutes. Like an episode of Seinfeld,...

Jeff Goldblum delivers the same line in Jurassic Park and what other movie?

There's an easy way to express just how important it is to speed things up if you're being chased by pretty much anything dangerous: "Must go faster, must go faster!" And we have Jeff Goldblum to thank, who uttered this straightforward yet effective line in not one, but TWO movies....

Where does Mork & Mindy take place?

Star Wars inspired a litany of sci-fi-themed TV shows and episodes in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Even Happy Days got in on the fun, when "My Favorite Orkan" aired in February of 1978. In the episode, an alien visitor inexplicably shows up named Mork (from Ork), and wants...

What was Seinfeld originally called?

It feels like the characters in Seinfeld were fully developed and every episode was delightfully packed full of comedy from day one. But if you go back and watch the first season, you'll see there was a bit of figuring out to be done (part of what irks me about...

Finish the Lyrics: "With or Without You"

Just reading "U2", how many catchy-as-hell lyrics popped into your mind? The Irish rock band, whose biggest knock is that they are unimaginably durable, has sold 150–170 million records worldwide. That's a lot of Bono. There's a good chance you've sung along to "With or Without You" at least...

What was the best-selling Nintendo 64 game of all time?

If we're talking home video consoles based purely on bits, it's hard to argue with the sheer computing power that was the N64. Well, if you're comparing it to the original 8-bit NES, at least. You have to give credit to Nintendo for always sticking to their guns. When everyone...

What’s the name of the book adult George McFly writes at the end of Back to the Future?

The thing about timelines is that if one is disrupted, there are only ever a handful of people who will notice. Perhaps a small group of Beatles fans who suddenly live in a world with no Beatles music, an egotistical weatherman, or a couple of teenagers and the weird old...

What college did Bill Gates drop out of before founding Microsoft?

Sometimes I fantasize about being a founder of some hot new technology company that revolutionizes the world and makes me a bazillionaire. Then I remember that takes actual work and I go back to watching reruns of the ALF cartoon. Although apparently if I wanted to really hedge my bets,...

What was the first album to have a parental advisory label?

You know a great way to get kids interested in something? Make it scary for parents. That was more or less the experience for millions of kids who grew up seeing that little black-and-white label on the corner of an album they were considering buying. And that was a big...

What’s the name of The Ren & Stimpy Show theme song?

I'm one of those people who never thinks much about where things come from or how they got to be the way they are. Case in point: TV theme songs, which I always assume were written just for the show by either Haim Saban or someone who only writes music...

What song does Pee-wee Herman dance to in Pee-wee's Big Adventure?

I'm not sure there will ever be another children's character as wonderfully strange and joyful as Pee-wee Herman, conceived and played brilliantly by the late, great Paul Reubens. Between The Pee-wee Herman Show, a stage show developed by Reubens that features more adult humor, and the children's TV series Pee-wee's...

What was Bill Paxton’s feature film directorial debut?

First off, let's give credit where credit is due and honor the legacy of Bill Paxton. For a lot of people growing up in the '80s and '90s, it was just kind of a given that he was going to show up in whatever great movie was coming out next....

In the Terminator movies, what’s the name of the company that’s responsible for Skynet?

There are some great villains in the history of cinema — but when you really need to do some damage, it's time to call in an evil corporation. They can be mysterious, sinister, and seem invincible all at once. Whether it's whoever was funding Jurassic Park's genetic playground, the company sending...

At the end of "London Calling" by The Clash, what's spelled out in Morse code?

There's nothing quite like the sound of a guitar creating feedback. No matter what you're doing or where you are, if you hear that sound you immediately feel 10 times cooler. And if you're a fan of really any kind of rock or rock-adjacent music, it's a sound you're well...

What year was Donkey Kong introduced to the world?

Every now and then I sit back, stare into the sky, and reflect on the fact that a giant ape wearing a tie somehow became a video game icon. Donkey Kong (who started as a villain, btw), has worked his way into the hearts of millions of gamers over decades...

How many dogs were involved in filming the movie adaptation of Stephen King’s Cujo?

At the end of any movies that have animals in them, you always get to see the line about how none of them were harmed and there were people supervising and all that jazz. But for Cujo, you'd almost expect it to be the other way around. No humans were...

How many no. 1 hits does Bruce Springsteen have?

There's a reason they call him The Boss. Bruce Springsteen has had a career that can be rarely, if at all, paralleled. His shows are legendary, his hits span generations, and by all accounts he's just a good dude. He's produced 21 studio albums, 23 live albums, 77 singles, and...

What star from That ‘70s Show is an avid gamer?

There's something I love about finding out that famous people are gamers — yet it's also kind of shocking. Like when you were a kid and you saw your teacher doing something normal, like grocery shopping. It's surprising and exciting when you find out they're regular people, just like you. That's...

The filmmakers from Twister slowed down what animal’s sound to create the noise of the tornado?

When we lost Philip Seymour Hoffman, it was a blow to film as a whole. His acting skills were among some of the greatest to ever do it. Yet I'm not sure anyone was watching Twister and thinking, "That dude is going to become one of the great actors of...

What year was the Barbie doll introduced?

No matter what you think about the line of dolls, it’s hard to argue with the sheer perseverance of Barbie. The brand has adapted to seemingly every era of popular culture since its inception, and to this day finds new ways to leave its mark on society. It’s...

What punk rock musician has been a vocal advocate that aliens are real?

Things that are definitely punk: calling people fascists, Mohawks, trashing your hotel room. Things that are questionably punk: advocating for the existence of life beyond our planet. Despite the fact it doesn't necessarily add anything to their street cred, this famous musician has been convinced of extraterrestrial life for some...

Who voiced Optimus Prime in the 1980s Transformers animated series?

I frankly don't care if was all a concoction to sell me toys — I loved the original '80s Transformers cartoon (and bought the toys, too). And among all of the characters, none felt so safe nor strong as Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots and defender of humans. A...

What famous comedic actor was offered the role to play Fred in Drop Dead Fred?

1991's Drop Dead Fred is a movie that could only have been made in the '90s. It definitely was not the kid-friendly comedy I thought I was heading into, but instead a pretty dark and strange journey into one woman's mental health. I mean, sure, maybe Fred turns out to...

Who wrote and originally recorded "Respect" before Aretha Franklin?

There are the most popular singers of all time, and then there's Aretha. Across a career that successfully spanned multiple decades and eras, Aretha Franklin's global record sales have topped over 75 million. And among her many, many other accolades, she even received a Presidential Medal of Freedom — deservedly so....

Name the Jack Russell Terrier who irks Frasier Crane.

If you randomly think about tossed salads and scrambled eggs, there are two likely scenarios: You're a fan of the '90s Cheers spin-off sitcom, Frasier, OR you are having a stroke and should seek immediate medical attention. Even in the shadow of one of the most-beloved TV series in history,...

In Blade Runner, what’s the name of the test that determines replicants?

If you’re like me, the only thing you think about when you hear the hubbub around ChatGPT, AI, and whether homework means anything anymore is Blade Runner. In the visionary 1982 film, far in the distant future of 2019, androids (called “replicants”) have become so sophisticated that sometimes you...

Which actor holds the record for fewest film appearances as James Bond?

Getting a gig as James Bond must be a good feeling. Not only do you know you'll have the chance to deliver your own version of the character's many classic lines, but you have a pretty sure bet that your next few acting gigs are essentially taken care of. Once...

Which Pink Floyd song was dedicated to former band member Syd Barrett?

I remember the first time someone asked me that ominous question: "Have you ever listened to the Syd Barrett Pink Floyd albums?" It's like a secret society, yet one that can easily be accessed by anyone (these days) with a streaming music service account. And if you're like me, it...

What was the no. 1 movie in July of 1975?

Things that happened in July of 1975: Your dad played lawn darts after 4 beers, ARPANET just got going (soon to become the internet), and this movie topped the box office. There were definitely some bangers that came out that year, but in the middle of a sweltering summer, this...

Who was the inspiration for The Simpsons’ Troy McClure?

I’m not sure what exactly my kid brain thought, other than maybe every Simpsons character was a unique inspiration that Matt Groening himself just thought up on his own. I definitely missed the stereotypes and archetypes and most of the satire at first, but damn, give me a break,...

In Groundhog Day, how many days is Phill Connors stuck in a time loop?

These days time loops are basically their own genre. But no one — not a single one — has ever really matched the comedic genius that is 1993’s Groundhog Day. The tale of how weatherman Phil Connors relives his nightmare, yet slowly turns it into a dream, is one I could...

When did "Never Gonna Give You Up" come out?

We all know the things Rick Astley will NEVER do, from letting us down to giving us up. Still hazy about what he actually WILL do, but hey. Rick’s first no. 1 hit received an unlikely revival in the mid-2000s when the viral internet phenomenon of Rickrolling took off....

Who played the first Doctor in Doctor Who?

It's bigger on the inside — with 2023’s season of Doctor Who, we’ll see the 14th actor to portray the Doctor. For some, portraying the coolest Time Lord has launched their careers or made them into beloved icons that can essentially retire into a life of fan con appearances....

What type of dog is Lady from Lady and the Tramp?

Is there anything more romantic than eating the same noodle of spaghetti as your crush? I’ve never done that, but I don’t imagine kissing someone with spaghetti in your mouth and sauce all over both of your faces would be that enjoyable. Then again, I’m not a...

Who did Nirvana knock out of the top spot when they hit no. 1?

I’m not sure how exactly to impart upon kids today just how shocking it was when Nirvana — the grungy, punky, antithesis of pop, loud band from the Pacific NorthWest — reached no. 1 on the Billboard charts. Given the number of Nirvana shirts I see teenagers wearing these days, it...

What Atari game was so bad thousands of copies of it were rumored to be buried in the desert?

Not every game is a winner. Take the recently released The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, which was universally panned, went viral for how glitchy it was, and prompted a public apology from the game developer. We’ve all played some really terrible games — some of them so bad that...

Who played Scarlett O’Hara in 1939’s Gone With the Wind?

Before there were the Kardashians, there was Gone With the Wind. The 1939 epic drama was essentially a reality show wrapped up in Civil War-era rich people having parties. And Scarlet O’Hara seems to have no problem being front and center in all the drama. She’s a driving...

What was the name of Michael Jackson's pet chimpanzee?

One of the things you can do when you’re an insanely rich and hugely popular music star is to just start buying whatever in the hell you damn well please. Case in point: Michael Jackson, who once tried to buy the bones of the Elephant Man and built an...

In The Karate Kid, what’s the name of the technique Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel?

How do you beat a bully? That’s right, learn karate. We first learned this important lesson from 1984’s seminal The Karate Kid, when teen Daniel LaRusso, despite having the coolest Halloween costume ever, gets jumped on the beach by Johnny Lawrence and his fellow Cobra Kai members. After...

In The Brady Bunch, Bobby and Cindy tried to break a world record with what playground equipment?

While it never really did that much in the ratings, The Brady Brunch is indelibly entrenched in the history of TV pop culture. Running from 1969 to 1974, the show’s long run in syndication allowed it to be imprinted on multiple generations. Frankly, there are few life lessons that...

Finish the lyrics: Queen edition

If you haven’t headbanged to Queen's iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody” while driving, ala Wayne’s World, then you haven’t really lived. And frankly, I’m suspicious of you. Despite it not at all following a traditional pop song structure, this is somehow one of the best songs to sing...

What was the name of the first space shuttle to go into space?

If you’re like me, you watched the 1986 movie SpaceCamp and assumed that would probably happen to you someday — meaning, you’d get to check out a space shuttle in a museum or whatever and end up in space. You also shouted at your family when watching Nickelodeon’s...

Which book is credited with popularizing the cyberpunk genre?

With any genre, there’s never really a singular moment that creates it, but more like a series of moments leading up to it. This holds true for the cyberpunk genre, which rose to prominence largely in the late ‘80s and is still pretty darn popular today. Before Blade Runner,...

What's the name of Michael Knight's evil twin?

How would you picture your evil twin? If you said “me but with a mustache and goatee”, then you’re definitely right — at least, if you take the word of a little TV show called Knight Rider. If you didn’t know, Michael Knight does indeed meet his evil twin...

What was the highest-grossing movie of the 1980s?

The '80s saw the initial blockbuster era of the '70s go into overdrive. Like most things in the '80s, it seemed like movies were on steroids — and people were happy to cough up their dough to see things on the big screen. There are A LOT of big movies from...

What game was Super Mario Bros. 2 built from?

Perhaps even more so than in the movie industry, when a video game does well, you can rest assured that a sequel will follow. And there have been some great sequels in video game history — I mean, the first Grand Theft Auto was fine, but the sequels… Naturally, when Super...

In the video for “End of the Line,” a guitar in a rocking chair symbolizes which Traveling Wilburys singer?

Remember when LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade teamed up? How about Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen? Well, I hate to break it to you, but those athletes got the idea of a super team from musicians. Long before LeBron announced where he was taking his talents,...

Where did Weird Al record My Bologna?

It’s difficult to imagine a world without Weird Al in it. But alas, there was a time when he wasn’t the most-famous parody musician in the world. We owe a huge debt to Dr. Demento for helping to bring Weird Al’s music to the world. After recording...

How many miles did Forrest Gump run?

Run, Forrest, run! It’s one of those lines that even people who’ve never seen 1994’s Forrest Gump shout anytime they see someone running. Besides the double-cassette soundtrack completely rocking, there is indeed A LOT of running in this movie, mostly by Forrest. Even as a child, he...

What was the name of the first handheld electronic game?

Did you own all the Game Boys? Did you cough it up for the PSP (I did – oops)? What about mobile games? Addicted to any? Being able to play video games without being tethered to a TV is pretty damn cool and if you begged your parents to get one...

How many no. 1 Hot Country Songs does Garth Brooks have?

It doesn’t matter where you are, what you’re wearing, or what time of day it is — if “Friends in Low Places” comes on, every single person — old ladies, infants, social media influencers — sings along. That’s the kind of popularity Garth Brooks enjoys — and for good reason. His...

How fast is warp 1 in Star Trek?

Unlike Star Wars where the distances and speeds are just made up out of other words that maybe mean something, much of the way technology works in Star Trek is actually based on theory — yep, even the holodeck (someone build one already!). As Gene Roddenberry himself wrote in 1966: “Science...

What songs does Ferris Bueller lip-sync to during the parade?

What do you do when you have a day off? Maybe run some errands? Try to grab lunch with that friend you haven’t seen in years? Or maybe just binge some HGTV? Those are all perfectly good ways to spend a day off, even if you called in sick...

Eddie Van Halen named his son after what classical composer?

Name one thing that rocks more than classical music ... I'll wait. Fair enough, you probably named like 12 things. But still, classical music — and those that composed it — is pretty bad A. But you don't have to take my word for it. Just ask Eddie Van Halen, guitar god, who...

What year does Marty travel to in Back to the Future Part II?

The ‘80s truly were a golden era for cinema, in particular movies that bent time and space, from Time Bandits to Terminator. But none did it in such a sneakily terrifying way — watching yourself slowly fade away from a picture. Yikes! When Marty McFly finally travels not just back to...

What pizza chain did the founder of Atari start?

Inventing Atari is a pretty dang cool thing to do. Not only that, but Atari really ushered in the era of Silicon Valley as one of the first workplaces in the area to offer benefits like casual dress and kegs of beer on site. What does one do when you’...

What was the highest-grossing sports movie from the 1970s?

There's nothing quite like a good sports movie — the beaten-down team, the unlikely hero, the winning shot. The '70s gave us some of the all-time great sports movies, championing tropes that still influence film and TV today. Whether we're talking about a ragtag bunch of misfits who find that teamwork...

What is John Wayne’s real name?

John Wayne didn’t only star in Westerns, but there is no other actor more prominently associated with the genre. John Wayne is the American frontier, as far as most people are concerned. But not unlike other stars who rose to fame, he actually used a stage name. In fact,...

What's the name Bastian gives the Childlike Empress in The NeverEnding Story?

Let's say you're a young kid circa 1984. Not a lot of friends — in fact, bullies often force you to hide inside dumpsters. Not only that, your dad wears suits and has a mustache and just doesn't get you. What do you do? Try to have a heartfelt talk with...

Which classic Disneyland attraction was NOT running on opening day in 1955?

One of my favorite parts of Disneyland is that you can still get those opening day vibes, especially when you visit some of the old-school rides that have preserved much of their original charm — even after decades of refurbishments and small updates. There are some truly iconic attractions that have...

In “I Am the Walrus,” someone sits on a cornflake while waiting for what?

It's hard to believe that as broad and varied as their catalog is, along with significant changes in their style, The Beatles' major releases only span roughly a single decade. The gap from Please Please Me to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is only about four years, yet...

Whose ad slogan in the '80s was "Where's the beef?"

Products of the '80s presented marketing teams with some pretty interesting challenges — New Coke, Crystal Pepsi, Reebok Pumps, and Teddy Ruxpin come to mind as head-scratchers. Some ad campaigns hit the mark, creating seismic, cultural moments. Others ... well, I mean, New Coke. But one phrase that was scripted by some...

What was the first sequel to win an Academy Award when the original had no nominations?

Whenever you see a sequel for a movie you liked is in the works, it's a fine balance between being excited to see more of what you enjoyed and praying they don't just phone it in — as sequels so often do. But every now and then, there's a sequel that...

How many kids does Carla have by the end of Cheers?

Does anyone actually have a bar they go to where everybody knows their name and the same six or seven people are there ... every night? Concerning underlying issues of the characters notwithstanding, Cheers remains one of the most beloved sitcoms ever produced and still acts as a well that new...

What are Sonny and Cher's real first names?

I guess the moment I realized that not every performer uses their real name was around the same time I first saw The Ultimate Warrior without makeup on. Whether it's a stage name, or you just drop your last name, it's a little strange to find out when a celebrity...

What's the name of the pilot from DuckTales?

Racecars, lasers, aeroplanes — life in Duckburg really is a duckblur. If you hummed the theme song to the late '80s cartoon DuckTales while reading that, then we're friends now. Also, you might know the answer to this trivia question. DuckTales hit the airwaves in 1987 and opened up an entire...

What is the river made of in 1971's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory?

I'll admit it: The whimsical amusement park inside Willy Wonka's factory is exactly how I still imagine every candy factory actually being on the inside — and I've been inside very real candy factories that are nothing like that. The 1971 film version of Roald Dahl's classic book, Charlie and the...

Finish the lyrics: '80s pop edition

There's nothing more humbling than belting out the lyrics to your favorite song in your car, only to find out later you were totally wrong. Pop music from the 1980s was catchy as hell, and there are probably hundreds of tunes you can hum to yourself from memory right now....

What was the best-selling home video game of the '80s?

Today, the video game industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars. But in the 1980s, home video game systems had to go from proving they could even work to becoming the next big thing in home entertainment. Eventually, consumers began to open their wallets — by which I mean kids begged...

In 1987's Spaceballs, how does Pizza the Hutt die?

Someday we will be without the genius of Mel Brooks — the artist who is not only unafraid to satire literally anything, but nails it every damn time. 1987's Spaceballs — a send-up primarily of Star Wars, but really of any space movie of your choice from the 1960s up to the...

Before Heath Ledger, how many actors were offered the role of Joker in The Dark Knight?

From Jack Nicholson setting out to scare kids to Cesar Romero's gleeful trickster, Joker is a role that can make or break your career. Actually, if you just go down the list, updated with an Oscar-winning performance from Joaquin Phoenix, playing Joker is generally pretty good for your career (Jared...

How many people has John Wick killed onscreen?

I love the idea that even the greatest hitmen that ever lived eventually hang it up and simply retire. Of course, then you run the risk of doing something that prompts them to come out of retirement. Here's a little tip — never mess with a retired hitman's puppy. I mean,...

Who won the first-ever MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year in 1984?

When I was a kid I looked forward with hushed anticipation to the VMAs every year. I was the perfect target for MTV's incredible marketing engine that essentially controlled popular culture for the better part of two decades. Video of the Year was THE big one, and if the one...

Which legendary musician voiced a character for King of the Hill?

To this day, I can't hear the word "propane" without thinking of one of TV's greatest dads: Hank Hill. Is it possible that King of the Hill is one of the most underrated TV shows ever — and not just animated, but in general? Not that we needed any more evidence...

What does Ariel call a fork in 1989's The Little Mermaid?

Live-action remakes are interesting and all, but personally I prefer the old-school days of hand-drawn animation. 1989's The Little Mermaid was a hit in every way you can possibly imagine — despite the fact that Ariel's knowledge of human artifacts isn't exactly spot on. What did she call a fork? Click...

The actor who played Hodor on Game of Thrones is also a professional what?

This is how bad the wait for Winds of Winter has gotten — all of the actors associated with GoT projects have started taking up other professions. Alright, that joke doesn't really make sense, but I do always love finding out about the secret lives of actors — and I'm not just...

What was the first heavy metal album to hit no. 1?

A few years ago I caught Slayer on one of their "farewell" tours. It was sort of a mini-festival, with like 5 metal bands spanning multiple eras and subgenres. And as much as I do like a couple of Slayer albums, I realized one thing: I am not that metal....

What year did Apple introduce the iPad?

Steve Jobs was really good at introducing things — besides, maybe, possibly, the iPad. I remember it getting pretty much panned by everyone I knew when it was first announced. It wasn't really clear what it was, or why you needed it. Flash forward to today, and those same friends have...

What's the name of the high school in Grease?

Somehow movie high schools never seem to match up with real life — and I'm not just talking about a bunch of 30-year-olds pretending to be 16. Movie high schools always seem to conveniently have everything a film's character (or plot) might need — a big library perfect for detention, a packed...

What's the name of the robot daughter on Small World?

There are those who would say that Small Wonder is clearly an ALF rip-off. A light sci-fi plot where a family has to keep one of the family members secret for whatever reason, there’s a nosy neighbor always about to find out, and the main character learns what it...

Name the movie: "The hardest choices require the strongest wills."

Sometimes I realize just how much of my everyday conversation is comprised of movie quotes. Whether I'm telling my lunch to just "get ... in ... my ... BELLLYYYY" or reminding my kid that, "No, I am your father," movie lines are intertwined with our daily lives. This one isn't quite on that...

How many forms of communication is C-3PO fluent in?

It's really incredible the amount of galactic history that C-3PO has been a part of. Besides being built by THE chosen one, Anakin Skywalker, he has also been present at every single important battle or event that's taken place since Ani powered him up. Not bad for a protocol droid...

Which singer led Woodstock’s opening act in 1969?

If you're talking Woodstock, it better be about two things: Snoopy's bird friend, or the original music festival from 1969 that has become cultural mythology. In this case, we're talking about the latter. Pretty much every big name musician from the time ultimately showed up at Woodstock '69 (yep, even...

Where does Garfield keep trying to send Nermal?

Garfield is my kind of dude: hates Mondays, likes Lasagna, and always has a witty quip for seemingly any situation. On the other hand, he's completely incapable of maintaining any kind of relationship and I'm pretty sure is a narcissist. Unless it's Jon's grandma — in that case, he turns into...

How much was Jon Heder paid for the lead role in Napoleon Dynamite?

I saw Napoleon Dynamite in the theater back in 2004 before anyone really knew what it was. Of course, even after seeing it and following all its success, I'm not sure anyone still really knows what it is. All I know is that I laughed, and I was pretty sure...

What’s the name of the frog in Star Fox?

If you don't remember Star Fox, first of all, shame on you and your family, and second of all, let me refresh your memory. Star Fox premiered on the Super Nintendo as the first game to use the Super FX chip. Yeah, that's right. Seriously, this chip pushed 3D graphics...

In the band Hootie & the Blowfish, who is the Blowfish?

The '90s were an insane time in popular music. Let's take May of 1994 as an example. Among the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 were the following artists: Ace of Base, Prince, Crash Test Dummies, Richard Marx, and Mariah Carey. That kind of broad mix of genre and...

Which is NOT a Garbage Pail Kid?

The '80s were truly f***ed up. Case in point, the collectible trading cards/franchise based upon the hugely successful Cabbage Patch Kids — whose entire premise was strange enough (cabbages that give birth to dolls) — that provided some of the strangest, most grotesque artwork you will ever see. That's right,...

What does the Scarecrow want in The Wizard of Oz?

We all want things out of life — success, health for our families, a new season of our favorite shows... but for the characters in The Wizard of Oz, their needs are even more simplified than that. Considering it might be the most-famous movie ever made, and one that forever changed...

What's the name of the island in Jurassic Park?

I mean, if I could have the chance to bring dinosaurs back to life, I don't think I'd worry too much about if I should either. One of the things that always made Michael Crichton books so good was their settings — no matter how ridiculous the plot might be, the...

What's the name of the arcade in Wayne's World?

Chances are on this day in 1992, I was loading up the VHS of Wayne's World into my top-loading VCR and watching it for maybe the third or fourth time that day. If you're like me, you can't see the word Milwaukee without pronouncing it like Alice Cooper does in...

What R.E.M. song is about an '80s street attack on journalist Dan Rather?

I was once in a karaoke bar in Athens, Georgia, filming a video for my work, when the bartender politely noted: "If Michael comes in here, you'll have to put that camera down." In Athens, with all due apologies to everyone else with this name, there is only one Michael:...

Who was Marvel Comics first superhero?

Today the MCU is so big that we're debating if it's worth putting out just 20 movies every year instead of like 50. It's no stretch to say that Marvel is one of the most well-known brands in the world. But even Earth's mightiest heroes had to start somewhere. Who...

What does Bill Murray list as his one regret in Zombieland?

Zombieland was one of those movies that really surprised me — it's pretty dang good. And a big part of that was the unexpected cameo from comedy legend Bill Murray. Not only did he show up out of nowhere, he played himself ... well, himself dressed as a zombie in an attempt...

What character from The Simpsons was killed off in the year 2000?

Things that The Simpsons is older than: Daisy Ridley, the iPhone, the first PlayStation, the Soviet Union breaking up, Microsoft.com, Dollar Tree ... you get the idea. And it's already been renewed through at least 2025. In all those seasons, only a handful of Simpsons characters have passed away. In...

What did Andy Serkis base Gollum’s voice on for the Lord of the Rings movies?

Go ahead, you know want to — say "my precious" in your best Gollum voice. Andy Serkis rules. Whether he's acting as a cursed hobbit in a motion capture suit, stealing vibranium, or engineering an escape from an Imperial prison, if he's in something you're watching, you know it's going to...

What game is the French restaurant in The Super Mario Bros. Movie named after?

Look, there's definitely a trivia question (probably several) for the original, live-action Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993. But we're looking to get in on all that cash that the 2023 version, cleverly titled The Super Mario Bros. Movie, is generating. So, just to be clear, this question is about...

What's the name of the beer in Laverne & Shirley?

If you ask me, it's hard to go wrong with a cold beer. In fact, I don't even care if it's a real beer. Fictional beers play an important part in TV, movies, and my dreams. In Laverne & Shirley, beer played a central role. Do you remember what the brew...

What is the name of the serial killer in The Silence of the Lambs?

If you could pinpoint the exact moment when it became acceptable to joke about serial killers who eat people, it was probably when The Silence of the Lambs was released in 1991. From quipping that you'll eat whatever it is with a nice "side of Chianti" to answering every call...

What Aerosmith song was inspired by the L.A. riots?

It feels like Aerosmith has had like 14 careers, and I'm sure they've still got a few more in 'em. Just one look at the band and you can tell they've seen some sh**. Through many historical moments, Aerosmith has been a constant. One such event, the L.A. riots...

Which British rock star had a dinosaur named after him?

Dinosaurs and rock & roll are really no strangers. You've got your musicians (Dinosaur Jr., T-Rex), your songs (B.O.C.'s "Godzilla", "Walk the Dinosaur"), and your — uh, not sure what to call 'em (that Cadillacs and Dinosaurs game for the Sega CD). But things went to new heights when...

Which is NOT a villain in the first Mega Man?

Also known as Rockman in Japan, Mega Man first came on the scene in 1987 for the NES in all of its multi-power glory. About 7,000 or so sequels later, Dr. Wily is still finding robots with very specific abilities that he can turn into killing machines to get...

What crime did Sophia try to jump bail for on The Golden Girls?

Look, we get the joke here — that sweet old lady, a criminal? But of course Sophia Petrillo was anything but sweet, and there were plenty of hints that her family was connected in some way to the Sicilian mafia.  Was she capable of something a bit more sinister, or was...

What is Madonna's last name?

Some people only need one name to get the point across. Among this echelon are some of the greatest within their discipline: Pelé, Slash, Cher, Bono, and Flea, to name a few. But then there's Madonna, who seems to hover above nearly all other one-namers in pop-culture history. And maybe...

When is Bilbo and Frodo's birthday?

Whether you still look forward to celebrating your birthday or it's become a tiresome ritual reminding you of your own mortality, I bet you aren't as old as Bilbo turned in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. You may recall that Bilbo even shares a birthday...

What's the name of the spaceship in Alien?

I know what you're thinking — Alien is in space? Believe it or not, this 1979 sci-fi-horror epic did indeed, take place in space. (I should have worked in a Ripley joke there — the believe it or not thing... get it? Yeah? Fine.) In fact, most of Alien takes place inside...

What ‘90s sci-fi flick was Kaley Cuoco’s theatrical movie debut?

At some point, somewhere, there's something to be said about The Big Bang Theory. But today, there's not much else to say, besides that believe it or not it's not a documentary. They are actors, and they actually all got their start somewhere else. Kelly Cuono, aka Penny, actually got...

What was the name of Stevie Ray Vaughan's favorite guitar?

I'm guessing a few of you have done this, but in my opinion, you need to be a guitar badass to actually name your guitar. I have many guitars, and I have never named a single one. Which explains why I'm writing trivia right now and not touring with a...

Weezer's Rivers Cuomo dropped out of which college in 1996?

Whenever I hear a Weezer song on the radio these days, it's usually one of their newer pop songs. Sure, it's nothing like the band's glory days, but hey, good for them. While you hear about a lot of famous people that dropped out of school and became successful, Rivers...

The stabbing sound effect from Halloween is really a knife stabbing what?

Being a Foley artist seems really fun. For one thing, you're basically just watching movies all day, and you also get to hit random objects with other random objects. It should come as no surprise that for John Carpenter's original Halloween, they didn't actually stab people. Instead, they invoked the...

What year did Disneyland open?

I mean, Disneyland is pretty cool. It's somehow timeless yet always changing and pushing the boundaries of human creativity. Also, the churros. I'm betting you have a vague sense of when this happy place first opened its gates for kids and kids at heart alike, but let's test your memory....

What was the no. 1 movie in April 1982?

The films of 1982 offered everything from adventure to sci-fi to screwball comedy. And since there was no streaming, hitting the theater was the only way to be entertained without having to watch a commercial. But of all the great movies that came out this year, which one would you...

Which cult classic did they pull sounds from for Predator 2?

I think we can all agree: Predators make cool sounds. Not that I would ever want to hear that sound in real life, but still. The sound artists for Predator 2 came up with a clever way to both creep us out AND honor one of my favorite early '90s...

Who wrote "I Will Always Love You"?

There are a lot of songs that I had to be told were covers. From Sinead O'Conner's rendition of "Nothing Compares 2 U" to Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn", sometimes updated versions simply outshine the originals. Whitney Houston's '90s hit, "I Will Always Love You", was one such case for a lot...

How many possible combinations does a Rubik's Cube have?

How many sides of a Rubik's Cube can you solve? 1, 2, more? If you're one of those people that can solve the entire thing at all, I'm jealous. If you're one of those that does it in like 30 seconds, well, screw you. The Rubik's Cube was released broadly...

What movie has no Star Trek characters but was voted the 7th-best Star Trek film?

Between the original film series, the Next Generation, and the reboots, it's not too surprising that there are some 13 theatrical Star Trek movies in all (and counting). But what was surprising was when Trekkies got together to rank their favorite Star Trek movies — and somehow this one that doesn't...

What did Kurt Cobain think Weird Al's Nirvana parody would be about?

Weird Al is a genius. That's one of those sentences that almost seems a waste to write, since it's so damn obvious. But sometimes we need to be reminded. Kurt Cobain, the Anointed One of grunge, was clearly no stranger to Al's music. Since Weird Al is a gentleman, he...

What main character died less than halfway through the movie?

I get it — to make a movie exciting, the stakes need to be high. When anyone can just come back at any time (**cough cough** Palpatine **cough**), it takes away from the levity of the story, and frankly the entire experience. But in some cases, folks can go a little...

What famous comedian turned down the role of Winston in Ghostbusters?

I guess I just assume every actor or actress cast in any movie ever was the perfect fit for that role from the get-go. But turns out a lot of classic movies could have been way different had those originally offered the roles actually taken them. I can't imagine Ghostbusters...

What did D.A.R.E. stand for?

I'm not sure how worried I needed to be about some random person offering me free drugs as a fourth grader in a rural town in New Mexico, but the officer who came into our classroom as part of the D.A.R.E. program sure made me fret. It's...

What inspired the Bangles song “Walk Like an Egyptian”?

How songs come to be is a mystical, unknown process for most of us. Unless we're talking about this iconic '80s hit from the Bangles. "Walk Like an Egyptian" actually has a really clear origin story. Any ideas what that story is? Click START to answer.   What inspired the Bangles...

What year did Dungeons & Dragons come out?

While it feels like it's been with us since the time of the ancients, it turns out there was a time when Dungeons & Dragons didn't actually exist. Whether it's informing basically all of Stranger Things, bringing us new movies to look forward to, or giving us a way to stay...

The actor who played Sloth in The Goonies played for which NFL team?

From the rambling tale of One-Eyed Willie (delivered in perfect kid-speak by Sean Astin) to a future Oscar winner blinding bullies, The Goonies truly stands the test of time while serving as a perfect encapsulation of its era. And of course, it wouldn't be nearly as lovable of a movie...

How many Catwoman costumes were needed to film Batman Returns?

Batman movies have really given us a lot, and much of it has centered around the costumes. Whether you're a fan of the Adam West gray, or you like the, er, replica of muscles and nipples, there's a little something for everyone. 1992's Batman Returns allowed Tim Burton to just...

Who won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1976?

1975 was a good year for movies: Jaws, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Rollerball — I could go on, but unlike your coworkers, I respect your time. Which meant that the Academy Awards of 1976 had a pretty big pool to pick from. Of all...

How long did the opening action scene from The Matrix take to shoot?

I'm the kind of person who always takes a moment whenever they're holding a spoon, just to see if, you know, there is no spoon. Turns out there always is a spoon, but that doesn't really ruin my enjoyment of 1999's The Matrix, one of those rare movies that somehow...

What old-school 3D game recently sold for $1.5 million?

We all remember it — that game cartridge that we bought with our hard-earned allowance, only to let it go at a garage sale a few years later for a few measly dollars. And today it's worth hundreds of dollars. Well, this game makes that one look like a piece of...

What song does Elton John refuse to play live?

As Elton John winds down what by all accounts is one of the all-time greatest careers of any musician to have ever lived, it's fair to wonder if he'll play one particular song live ever again. Currently embarking on what he's called his final tour (or by the time you're...

What does VHS stand for?

Tyson vs. Holyfield. Celtics vs. Lakers. VHS vs. Betamax. These are the iconic rivalries of a generation. By the time I was really paying attention, the format wars had already been settled, and home entertainment was revolutionized forever when you could watch or record whatever you damn well pleased, all...

How much money do the kids have for supplies in Stand by Me?

I love the entire vibe of Stand by Me, right up to the final moments when the author of the memoir wraps up just in time to head outside and play with his young son. Because that's totally how writing anything goes. How close were you paying attention the last...

Which sci-fi superstar voiced Joker in Batman: The Animated Series?

Have you ever watched a really good voice actor, who you don't recognize as a cartoon character, as they speak in your favorite character's voice? It can actually be pretty unsettling. And of course, it also seems like a pretty sweet gig. Apparently, it must be, because celebrities have been...

Complete the lyrics: "I Will Survive" edition

This 1979 hit from Gloria Gaynor has been the anthem to a lot of things in our lives — getting over breakups, quitting a job, beating Ninja Gaiden, and so on. Surely you've belted the chorus to this song hundreds of times. So this one should be a breeze. See if...

Which iconic '90s TV character was supposed to be a one-off?

I'm not sure how to adequately explain to a young person today what it was like when a TV character would get popular back in ye olden days. Sort of like going viral, except instead of them filling up your social media feed the local Kmart would be flooded with...

In what Tarantino movie did actors have to wear their own clothes?

With word spreading that Quentin Tarantino could be prepping to direct his 10th — and according to his own promises, final — film, it's time to look back at his humble beginnings. He wasn't always just ringing up Brad Pitt whenever it damn well pleased him. He started as an indie darling...

What was the first movie to make over a billion dollars?

Movies entertain us. They inspire us. They allow human creativity to reach new, unforeseen heights. And they make a small group of people super rich. While it seems like anyone can basically sneeze out some CGI and rake in oodles of cash these days, someone had to be the first...

What video game was proven to increase brain power?

Video games are good for you. I'm not sure how many times I made that argument to my mom (and still do), but it's a high number. And now, thanks to science, we can say it's been proven true. Take that mom! Of course, it was just one study about...

Who played the leprechaun in ... uh, Leprechaun?

What would you do if you found a pot of gold? I mean, an actual, real little black cooking pot, full of gold coins? Well if you've ever seen 1993's Leprechaun, you immediately shouted "LEAVE IT ALONE" at your screen. This movie gave us many things — including a masterful performance...

How long did it take John Hughes to write the screenplay for The Breakfast Club?

There's a family legend that my older brother loved The Breakfast Club so much that as soon as he left the theater he turned right around, bought another ticket, and watched it again. There's no question that The Breakfast Club is one of the most iconic films from the 1980s,...

What else is the Atari logo called?

Atari was a revolutionary company in more ways than one — from making home video game systems a reality to creating the original "let's drink beer and play ping pong" culture in Silicon Valley. I still don't understand why wood paneling on consoles didn't become the norm. Did you know? Atari...

Which color of M&M was outlawed by Van Halen on tour?

Let's face it — there's a reason the term "diva" originated with musicians (referring to opera singers). Over the years we've heard about the ridiculous demands of musicians, from Madonna wanting new toilet seats at each venue to Justin Timberlake allegedly getting his clean-freak on by demanding doorknobs be disinfected every...

How many seasons of Mr. Bean are there?

Tea. Soccer. Mr. Bean. Of all the things we've imported from Britain in modern times, Mr. Bean belongs right at the top of the list, if not at the very top. As I often do, I like to muse about how the pitch for this show went down. It must...

Which Princess Bride actor made Rob Reiner nauseous?

If your life hasn't been spent watching 1987's The Princess Bride roughly twice a year, then I honestly feel sorry for you. Although, maybe not as sorry as I feel for Rob Reiner, who directed Princess Bride but had to leave the set whenever this actor filmed their part. Why?...

Who was the original voice of Captain Planet?

Ever seen a Millennial shudder when someone throws a plastic bottle into the trash instead of recycling? Yeah, that's the Captain's fault — Captain Planet, that is. Somehow this early '90s show became a cultural phenomenon that every adult remembers to this day. What's it about? Glad you asked. Our world...

What was the first music video aired on MTV?

There was a time when MTV was more powerful, in theory, than any other organization in the world. Yes, I'm counting the U.S. government. I mean, even if he had wanted to, Reagan couldn't just point at a musician and say "You're the next big star!" and have it...

What Pixar movie was almost lost forever when someone accidentally deleted it?

We've all done it — closed the wrong browser window, saved over the wrong thing, or replied to the wrong email. But I highly doubt any of your workplace blunders compare to what nearly happened to this beloved Pixar movie. As one of the most successful and loved animated film companies...

Which movie won the most Oscars?

At the 2023 Academy Awards, it sure did seem like the cast of Everything Everywhere All at Once was, well, you know, what the title says. It was pretty cool to see such a weird, sci-fi-inspired movie that also featured some nerd-favorite cast members do so well. But did Everything...

What N64 game caused Nintendo to offer free gloves to prevent injuries?

There's something sort of satisfying about watching all those videos where people accidentally throw their Wii controller into their TV or punch something with a VR headset on. Although if I were a PR person for gaming companies in the videos, I would probably like it less. We've all had...

What was Elijah Wood's first movie?

Frodo and Samwise. Go ahead, put 'em up there with some of the all-time classic film duos: * Harold & Maude * C-3PO & R2D2 * Abbot & Costello * Beavis & Butt-Head If Elijah Wood and Sean Astin aren't weirdly close in real life, I might cry. But even Frodo himself had to start somewhere — and of...

What was the highest-grossing movie from 1978?

It was the year of the Jonestown Massacre, but also the first Garfield comic strip. Will that help you answer this question? We’re about to find out. Between all the feathered hair and Argentina winning the World Cup, sometimes I feel like I’m right back in ‘78. And...

What model of car is KITT from Knight Rider?

There are those of us that simply chuckle every time someone gushes about how impressive ChatGPT is. Why? Because long before OpenAI was ever a thing, there was a far superior artificial intelligence: KITT. The Knight Industries Two Thousand, frankly, makes ChatGPT look like a toddler whose only word is...

What 1991 movie was the most expensive ever when it was released?

When you hear James Cameron going around saying his movie needs $2 billion just to break even, it starts to lose meaning. At this point someone could say a movie cost a zillion trillion dollars, and I’d just be like, OK, sure. It’s all funny money to me....

The state-of-the-art computer used for 1982's Tron had how much memory?

1982 was a time when computers were seemingly on the verge of making lots of jobs obsolete and possibly even taking control of humanity in some very sinister ways. Luckily, today we’re totally past that! Even though it’s still full of practical effects, Tron was one of the...

What were the first words Mickey Mouse ever spoke?

It’s a simple fact that I’m just not very good at a Mickey Mouse impression. It ends up sounding like some kind of tortured cat. Of course, that’s only if we’re talking about Mickey once he got into his talky days. If we’re focused on...

Which movie was the first from a female director to break $100 million?

I wonder what $100 million looks like? If you were to break it out into individual $1 bills, would you be able to Scrooge McDuck it and go for a cash swim? Anytime I hear about that kind of money, I want to ask them to give me like $10,...

What arcade game was the first to save a high score?

Video games were always about getting the highest score, even from the early days of Pong. But, while it’s hard to believe, there actually was a time when your highest scores were only recorded in your head (or on film if you thought to bring a camera along and...

Who turned down the role of Yoda for The Empire Strikes Back?

You can go on and on about how much you hate the Special Editions, but we all know if you were in a room with George Lucas there isn’t a single damn thing you wouldn’t do if he asked you. But in the annals of Star Wars history,...

Which sci-fi star filmed a cameo in E.T. that was cut before release?

Steven Spielberg holds a lot of sway in Hollywood. I mean, who else could pull off a power move like getting a movie star to make a cameo in your new movie, and then cut the scene entirely? Spiels does not give an eff, and he will clearly steamroll anyone...

What was the name of Screech’s dog on Saved by the Bell?

When it comes to TV pets, there’s no shortage of furry (or not-so-furry) friends that have graced our screens. You’ve got your cats (Salem from Sabrina), horses (take your pick of westerns, we’ll go with Silver), monkeys (Marcel from Friends), dinosaurs (Dino from The Flinstones), bears (Ben...

What's the name of Holly's cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of the most romantic movies of all time — as long as you consider sordid affairs, lying, and backstabbing romantic. Whatever romance means to you, 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s occupies an honorable place in the history of American cinema. I’m guessing because...

Which ‘90s cult classic has a Starbucks cup hidden in almost every scene?

Ahh, ‘90s movies — the only decade when being a slacker with no motivation in life was gloriously celebrated onscreen over having a stable income. From Tarantino to Parker Posey to the Coen Brothers, the 1990s were truly a great time for film — and many moves from that time have gone...

Who gets murdered in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Who is murdered in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Rewatching Who Framed Roger Rabbit as an adult is a fascinating experience. The number of jokes and innuendo that went way over my head in 1988 is pretty impressive. And while the mix of live action with animation was certainly nothing new...

Who is the protagonist in The Secret of Monkey Island?

George Lucas is a damn magician. Let’s consider the things that have been invented if not directly by him, then because of him: basically every innovation in special effects; Pixar; digital filmmaking; and, perhaps most importantly, the point-and-click adventure game. That’s right, Lucasfilm Games was behind 1990’s...

Who directed Big Trouble in Little China?

Pulling from a genre known as Wuxia — famous for telling tales of ancient heroes that both know martial arts and often have supernatural abilities — Big Trouble in Little China is just some good ol’ fashion beat ‘em up fun. Plus, ‘80s-era special effects from the Industrial Light & Magic tree (Richard...

What was the best-selling rock album from the 90s?

Sometimes I think Spotify is pretty novel, but then I remember when I signed up for Columbia House. 5 CDs for a penny! Then forget to cancel and buy three more CDs for $80 each. Spotify is really just a glorified, if somewhat less malicious, mail-subscription music company. The five...

What was the first full-length animated movie from Walt Disney Animation Studios?

Founded in 1923 by ol’ Walt and ol’ Roy, Walt Disney Animation Studios is iconic. And they’re still churning out top-notch stuff. When their full-length movies first came out, they were truly revolutionary. I’m assuming people just wept and fell to the floor when this movie came out...

Name the quote from Field of Dreams

It’s not that often that a movie can inspire a bunch of professional athletes to walk out of a cornfield, but that’s the kind of power Field of Dreams wields. Beyond getting MLB teams to play out of scenic Dyersville, Iowa, this is a movie full of memorable...

What's the name of the town in Jaws?

You know what ticks me off? Great white sharks who don’t give a damn about the local economy and scare all the tourists away from the beach. Jaws is an iconic film that not only put a youngster named Stephen Spielberg on the map, but also terrified many children...

What type of animal is Knuckles?

The world of Sonic is a strange, fantastical place that will break your mind if you think about it for too long. Luckily, the live-action movies cleared most stuff up. Right? But there’s still one thing tugging at our minds: What is Knuckles, anyway? Click below to submit your...

Classic Sci-Fi Books

There's nothing more enjoyable than opening up a good book and reading about the genocide of an alien species from a distant planet. Sci-fi books fuel our imaginations, our movies, and our dreams. You might say all of civilization would probably fall apart without them. You'd be wrong, but hey,...

Which is NOT a name for a Jedi?

Whether you're talking some Obi-Wan, some Qui-Gon, or even good ol' Yoda, you have to admit that Jedi get to have all the cool names. Thanks for nothing mom and dad! In fact, Jedi names are so interesting you can kind of just mumble some random sounds and end up...

90s TV

It was a time when boys met worlds, friends hung out in coffee shops, and the truth was totally out there. Television in the '90s was the last great era of TV before the internet came in and started effing with everything — the last era of everyone watching the same...

What was the first feature-length movie directed by James Cameron?

Call us shrewd, but requiring nearly $1.5 billion just to break even on a movie seems like a risky business model. Still, that’s exactly how much James Cameron has said Avatar: The Way of Water needs to make to do just that. But there’s no doubting this...

What was the last no. 1 song from 1984?

The end of a year is a time to reflect — on the news stories that shaped the headlines, the personal milestones we achieved, the hard-fought victories, and the bitter defeats — and take a moment to learn from it all. Or if you were a certain artist in late 1984, it...

Three questions about Die Hard

We're not going to stoop to the level of debating whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. What are we going to question next, whether Indiana Jones actually affected the outcome of Raiders of the Lost Ark? (Don't answer that.) Released in July of 1988, test your knowledge of this...

What's the name of Star-Lord's ship in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie?

Guardians of the Galaxy, despite a dubious past of sci-fi franchises doing it wrong, took the bold step of releasing a holiday special. And like most things Guardians, it's really entertaining. Not only that, but hype is building for the third and final film in the MCU trilogy. What do...

What's the name of the movie from Home Alone?

If you were a kid and you suddenly had an impossibly huge suburban Chicago house all to yourself, what’s the first thing you would do? Yeah, I said “watch violent movies” too. And that’s exactly what Kevin McCallister does in Home Alone. But do you remember the name...

Which movie won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture?

Even with viewership falling off a cliff, winning an Academy Award means something. This movie paved the way for all others to follow. See if you can guess which one it was... Click START to play trivia.   The Academy Awards Which movie won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture?...

Who won the main event at the first Wrestlemania?

The first Wrestlemania marked a turning point, not just in the realm of professional wrestling, but for society as a whole. Ushering in the era of the Rock N' Wrestling Connection in earnest (aka, the crossover of pro wrestling and pop culture), Wrestlemania remains a cultural force to this day....

Which team was NOT playable in Tecmo Bowl?

Tecmo Bowl is simultaneously the first football video game many of us played and the first true rage game. 90% of every play I made — of which there are only four to choose from to begin with — was either the other team getting a touchdown or me throwing an interception...

Name the no. 1 song from November 1993

Chances are on this day in November 1993 you turned on MTV and this video played ... AGAIN. According to the Billboard Top 100 charts, what song was it? Play interactive trivia now to see if you know the answer...   90s Jams What was the no. 1 one song in November...

Who won the first World Cup?

Get out those really long scarves and prepare to explain how offsides works to all your friends, because it's World Cup time. Any idea who won the first-ever preeminent international soccer tournament? Let's find out. Click START to answer.   World Cup Soccer Who won the first World Cup? Hit the...

How many Godzilla movies are there?

November 3 marks Godzilla’s birthday, marked by the premier of 1954’s Godzilla. In 2022, that makes Gojira 68 years old. Must say, Godzilla looks spry for his age. How many Godzilla movies are there? Press START to answer.   The Godzilla Franchise How many Godzilla movies are there? You...

When was Dune published?

Long before Timothy Chalament was tasked with carrying on the legacy of House Atreides, Dune was a breakout science fiction novel. When was it first published? Dune When was the original Dune novel published? You let the Harkonnens take control of the spice. Now you have to see Sting in...

Who was originally cast to play Marty in Back to the Future?

Look, it’s difficult to imagine anyone besides Michael J. Fox squeaking their way through Back to the Future — I get that. But the fact is, he very nearly was never in this movie. So who was originally cast as Marty? Click START to submit your answer.   Back to the...

How many endings does the original Metroid have?

It was a challenge only for the courageous of heart and spirit. How many endings did the original Metroid, released for NES in 1987, actually have? Click Start to play.   NES Games Upon its release in 1987 for the NES, how many endings does the original Metroid have? You don’...

What is Blink-182's only top 10 hit?

Dads everywhere recently rejoiced when Blink-182 announced a reunion tour and new album. When you think of ’90s pop punk, you can’t help but think of how Blink-182 dominated the doofier side of the spectrum (not a bad thing). Yet, our faces were recently melted when we learned that...

Who created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

They’re mean, green, and each one has a unique personality that is relatable to our innermost selves. But do you know who came up with this unlikely set of superhero teenage reptiles?   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Who created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? You pushed the franchise too far....

When did the X-Files premiere?

The truth is out there … but can you remember that truth without looking it up? No pressure, but Mulder and Scully are counting on you.   The X-Files When did the X-Files premiere? They’re coming for you.  The truth WAS out there. Turns out you put it in the fridge...

What was the no. 1 song in September, 1988?

Where were you in September of 1988? If you’re like me, probably sitting in the way back of a station wagon jamming out to the no. 1 song of the moment. Can you name what that song was without looking it up? You have 15 seconds to answer. Click...

When was the Sega CD released?

I wanted the Sega CD so bad that I essentially bullied my parents (er, I mean, Santa) into giving me one. My memory is pretty hazy in terms of what year that was—but maybe you remember.   Classic Video Games: Sega What year was the Sega CD released in North...

What is the date of Judgement Day in Terminator 2?

Judgement Day lands on a specific day....

How many Oscars did Star Wars win?

In a galaxy far, far away—aka Hollywood—movies of the science fiction genre rarely get their due recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Sure, they’ll get a token “best sound and visual editing that’s mixed and then re-edited” type of technical award, sometimes...

What was the no. 1 song from August 1991?

In August 1991 this song dominated radio, MTV, and your brain. Do you remember what the top song from this time was?   90s Music What was the no. 1 song from August 1991? Your heart will be cut out with a dull spoon. You proved that you are the best...

Name the movie: "If it bleeds, we can kill it."

Being cornered by something that seems downright invincible is not an uncommon theme in many of the great sci-fi movies of yesteryear. Do you remember this quote? Click START to answer.   Sci-fi Movie Quotes Name the movie: "If it bleeds, we can kill it." You were easy prey. You got...

What year was the Atari 2600 released?

Pretty sure I remember a sort of radioactive hum coming from this thing whenever I turned it on as a kid. Oh well, I’m sure there’s no way they would have released it if it wasn’t completely safe for children.   Old School Video Games What year was...

What was the top-grossing movie of 1992?

The decade was still new, meaning most of us were just trying to figure out if we should go acid-washed or tie-dye. In many cases, we chose both. Test your ‘90s movie knowledge by clicking below — and try it without Googling first. Click START to play trivia.   90s movies What...

Name the no. 1 song from July, 1984

Chances are really good that exactly 38 years ago, you heard this song on the radio in the backseat of your mom’s station wagon on the way to the bank. According to the Billboard Hot 100, do you know what the number 1 song was in July 1984? Submit...

What is the best-selling Super Nintendo game of all time?

There are many gems from the 16-bit glory days of the Super Nintendo, but only one sold more than all the others. Which one was it?   SNES games What is the best-selling Super Nintendo game of all time? SNES time, baby. You're dead, no continues. Take off the damn cape....

What was the name of the arcade in TRON?

Get this right or Master Control Program will – you know, do the thing. Click START to play trivia.   80s sci-fi movies What's the name of the arcade in TRON? We're talking the original 1982 movie. Master Control Program defeated you and now has control of all nuclear weapons in the...

What is the Super Nintendo called in Japan?

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES, goes by many names, depending on where you bought it. Let’s travel back in time and across the sea — what was it called in Japan?   Classic video game trivia: SNES What is the Super Nintendo called in Japan? You lost the console...

How many NBA MVPs does Larry Bird have?

Growing up in the 80s, and in an Irish-Catholic family, Larry Bird was basically another deity for me. But how many regular season MVPs did he win? Click START to play.   NBA MVPs How many regular-season MVPs did Larry Bird win? Aaaaiiirbaaaaalll. Don't quit your day job for the NBA...

What does ALF stand for?

You may already be aware of my take on ALF, so I’ll leave you to it. Let’s see what you know about this ‘80s sitcom from a golden era of TV.   80s TV shows: ALF What does ALF stand for? You let ALF eat the cat. But at...

What was the highest-grossing movie of the 1990s?

Think you know all there is to know about ’90s movies, huh? WELL LET’S FIND OUT. Click START to play trivia.   Movies from the 1990s Things got weird in this decade. What was the highest-grossing movie of the 1990s? You failed to recoup the cost of your film. This...

Name this TV show: "And to our future. No matter who it may take us up against or where."

There’s nothing quite like staying up until 2 a.m. on a random night in the middle of summer binging reruns of a classic sci-fi show. Can you name this TV show based on a quote?   Name the TV show. What 80s show is this quote from? "And to...

Name the release date of this Sega Genesis game

What do you remember about this home console? Click Start to play Classic Nerd Trivia.   Classic Video Games Trivia: Sega Genesis The Console Wars represented a golden age for home video games. What year was Sonic the Hedgehog released for Sega Genesis? You lost all your coins. Try again. You...

6 questions about the Jurassic Park films

The first time I heard about Jurassic Park was from my science teacher in sixth grade. He told us about this novel, written by this guy, where these scientists did this thing … with DINOSAURS. Being an annoying overachiever, I found the hardback edition of Michael Crichton’s iconic novel at...

Which Mario character is this?

Nintendo has produced many lovable characters. I mean, even Bowser is likable on some level. See if you can name this Mario character.   Classic Video Games Trivia: Mario Characters Name this character. Yeah, you're dead. No more lives, no continues. Unlimited 1UPs. Go ahead, knock yourself out on these coins....

What type of spaceship is the Millennium Falcon?

What kind of Star Wars fan are you? You might be the type that swears you can feel the force and can't get enough lore. Or maybe you become obsessed with the details, learning every class and rank of the Imperial military. Perhaps, you just really enjoy learning more about...

Star Wars Trivia: Obi-Wan edition

The man, the myth, the miniseries. Answer three questions about Obi-Wan Kenobi.   Star Wars Trivia: Obi-Wan Kenobi edition Who is Obi-Wan's master? Who does Obi-Wan cut in half? Where was Obi-Wan born? You were turned to the dark side.  Not wizard. You became one with the Force. But why leave...

Movie quotes: Name the sci-fi movie

Name the movie based solely on a quote. Can it be done? Click START to play trivia.   Sci-fi movie quotes Name the movie: "The unknown future rolls toward us. I face it, for the first time, with a sense of hope." The robots won. Thumbs up, human. You stopped Skynet...

Who was the first athlete to appear on the cover of a Madden video game?

From the alleged "Madden Curse" to some of the biggest names in the sport gracing the cover of the preeminent video game in American football, there's always a sense of hushed anticipation when the next year's cover athlete is announced. But back when the idea of a football video game...

What does 'Nintendo' translate to?

This means something … See if you know this obscure fact about Nintendo.   Classic Nerd Trivia: Nintendo What does "Nintendo" translate to in English? You didn't even hit the goose. You didn't do that well ... oh wait, no you got it! Nice job....

Guess the Star Wars movie line

You quote Star Wars to your friend and on Twitter ad nauseam, so this should be easy for you. Click START to answer.   Guess the movie line Which line is said in Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back? Seriously, you were brought down by a tow cable? The...

What 80s show does 'and knowing is half the battle' come from?

Back in the ‘80s, TV liked to teach kids stuff about life. BOOORRRING! But, if you were paying attention it will help you answer this trivia question. Click START to play Classic Nerd Trivia.   80s TV shows What show is this line from?  "And knowing is half the battle." Cobra...

Which is NOT a call sign from the original Top Gun (1986)?

Billion dollars, schmillion dollars. The original Top Gun is all that matters. Can you answer this trivia question about Top Gun without looking it up? Click START to answer.   Top Gun Trivia Which is NOT a call sign from the original Top Gun (1986)? You need some more practice. And...