It was the trivia night that wasn’t “supposed” to happen. I got a request in the early afternoon to call it off, and learned that one of our “regulars” couldn’t make the game, anyway. And later on, I saw my e-mail, and another player also said they couldn’t make it. I “kind of” thought of trying to do a solo My Trivia Live game at The Wurst Bar, but was on the fence about it. Then the player who had originally requested I call the game off had a change of heart – and said he wanted to play. It was already too late to be ready for the game at “Corner Brewery,” so we decided to hit up Wurst, where we previously played for a few seasons. John answered the last-minute call of Cthulhu, so it was all set!
Things have changed at this bar since we played here regularly! For starters, “Whiskey Wednesdays” are…no more. We used to enjoy the $2 well whiskey drinks (perhaps a bit TOO much on some trivia nights, lol). Now, they have a variety of “dollar off” and “half off” happy hour specials that run until 6 p.m. and start up again at 10 p.m. One of the “full time” specials is the $5 Long Island iced teas. Tempting…and I gotta say that I love a cocktail that has four different kind of liquors/liqueurs in it as much as anyone else who…also enjoys their alcoholic beverages (clicks tongue, winks)! But on a “school night,” Mike and I opted instead for good old vodka/sodas. BTW, a nice “twist” on the Long Island is to omit the cola and just use regular club soda. They used to make these for me at Aubree’s when they were on special, and I named them “Blonde Island Iced Teas.” I’m not a big cola or diet cola fan, so these really hit the spot!
As for the trivia, we finished in third for the night and won a $10 gift card. A tough final question about action film stars wound up stumping every team in the bar, so the teams that wagered zero wound up with the money. Though we stopped wagering zero on our final questions at Corner, we still do it in the MTL games from time to time (gotta know when you’re licked).
And the questions…
Round One
1. Mayors – Who is the current mayor of Detroit? I had to think a bit, but I came up with his name. And I’ve met this guy before! I remember when he worked for the prosecutor’s office…only wagered one, though…I wasn’t “super” sure.
2. Music – Of what state are the Mamas and the Papas dreaming of in their 1965 hit single? Two children of hippies ain’t missing this one, 5 points.
3. Games – At the height of its popularity in the 1980s, what word describes a venue where various electronic games are played in exchange for a quarter? 3
Round Two
1. The Help – From 1969 to 1974, what family had a live-in housekeeper named Alice Nelson? 5
2. Candy – Invented in 1932, what candy was originally made in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors, and packaged together with one wrapper? Repeat question, got for 3.
3. Phrases – What common phrase describes a person who had blood on their hands displaying their misdeeds? This question is abbreviated…Bonus three-point question asked for phrase originating in colonial times describing the wiping of a wet surface with a dry cloth so as not to leave streaks, which would annoy the home owner? No clue on the bonus, got this for 1.
Round Three
1. Speeding Bullet – What material is used to make most traditional bullets, which has the chemical symbol Pb? 5
2. Locomotives – What is the name of the titular character on a Nick Jr. series featuring a steam locomotive? 3
3. Tall Buildings – Which East Asian country is home to 11 of the 20 tallest buildings in the world? Miss for 1.
Halftime – All About Steve – Identify the last names of the people named Steve listed below.
1. Theoretical physicist who wrote “A Brief History of Time”
2. Eric Forman’s best friend on “That ’70s Show”
3. Co-founder of Apple along with Steve Jobs
4. White House chief strategist under Trump
Missed #2, though we did pick a character from that series.
Scores at the half: Nine teams scores 30 to 36, with four teams tied with this score. We were in third with 31, tied with our former rivals “The Pants Team.”
Round Four
1. Shakespeare – What is the name of Olivia’s uncle in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night? Newsletter bonus, 6.
2. Automobiles – Largely due to overseas sales, what is Ford’s biggest selling model? We considered the right car, but for some “strange” reason, the word “sedan” came up in our discussion, which led us away from the right answer. Please note the word “sedan” was not part of the question that was asked by host Stacy! I’m chalking this one up to strange magicks, lol…Missed for 4.
3. Baseball – Within two, in what year did Jackie Robinson join the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the color barrier? Had I thought a little harder about the question we had about this guy in the MTL finals in February, I might’ve come close to the right guess! Nope, I did a “poor” job trying to be a “sports guy” here, lol…miss for 2.
Round Five
1. Bill and Ted – What actor played Bill S. Preston opposite Keanu Reeves’ Ted character in both “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey?” My “triviagasm” moment…6.
Know Your “Bills!” A Tutorial!
Bill Preston from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” is on the left showing his most excellent abs (ahem)!
Soul singer Bill Withers, whom is probably best known for his hit single “Lean on Me,” which was also covered in the ’80s by Club Nouveau. His original version is much, much better!
“Mr. Bill” from Saturday Night Live, whom was perpetually doomed to be…squished.
2. Literary Characters – What is the name of Holden Caulfield’s 10-year-old sister in “The Catcher in the Rye?” Nope, nobody at our table ever read that book…miss for 2.
3. Comics – In the “Peanuts” comic strip, what British biplane does Snoopy’s dog house turn into when he pretends he is a World War I flying ace? 4
Round Six
1. World Leaders – Formerly known as Ceylon, what country elected its first female prime minister in 1960? 6
2. Alcohol – What is the term for a 64-ounce glass jug with a screw cap that can be used to take home fresh beer from a brewery or a pub? 4
3. Slang – What is the common sports-related nickname for a left-handed person?
Finished the rounds with 59 points.
Scores – Nine teams, scores 54 to 61, with Pants in first. We were in third with 59, right behind Do These Protons Make My Mass Look Big, who had 60.
Final Category – Movie Casts
What actor was considered for the role that would go to Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Terminator” but was turned down by director James Cameron, who deemed that actor “too likeable” and would not be believed as a “bad guy?” After the answer was revealed, I remembered reading this a long, long time ago (drat)!
Final standings: ‘Pods, 59; Protons, 60 Pants, 61. “P” teams reigned supreme!
Until next time, which will be Saturday, weather permitting. As always, Go Pods, and stay classy, “The Juice!”
hebspeaks 