It was the night before Thanksgiving at Arbor Brewing Company, and the bar was celebrating its 300th Sporcle Live trivia night by giving away different prizes – including growlers, merchandise, gift cards, etc. Two ‘Pods plus a ‘Pods neighbor met up to do trivia battle (I was not present at this game since I had to work). Special thanks to Mike for writing down the game questions! If not for him, I wouldn’t have this recap to share with y’all today! Now let’s take a moment to give thanks (it’s Thanksgiving, after all)!

A bit of history, Sporcle With Tim is the fourth regular host of the trivia nights at this bar, and he’s been on the mic since early 2016.

Also participating in the trivia battle was Brad and Brad’s neighbor and friend David, whom previously played fairly regularly with the ‘Pods in the “early” days.

And the questions, which will be abbreviated…

Game One

1. Traditions – Thanksgiving in the United States has origins with the Pilgrim harvest celebration. Was decade was the first Thanksgiving held – within one? 3 What? They only wagered three? 🦃

2. Holiday Music – What holiday song written by James Lord Pierpont in the 19th century was originally intended for Thanksgiving and was possibly inspired by sleigh races in Medford, MA? 10

3. Symbols – What is the 10-letter term for a horn-shaped container with produce and flowers, and is associated with Thanksgiving and is a symbol of abundance? 9

4. Albums – The 1972 album Harvest produced the singles Heart of Gold and Old Man was recorded by what artist? That’s some great hippie music there, good job getting this for 8!

5. Not Meat – What is the eight-letter word for a Portmanteau meat substitute made from soy protein and other ingredients intended to replace traditional Thanksgiving meat? Oh the vegetarian memories… 7

6. Brand Names – What are the two best-selling brands of whipped topping – one is owned by ConAgra – the other owned by Kraft-Heinz? 4

7. Football – What offensive formation that was most popular in college football during the 1970s and 1980s utilizes a triple option attack was given its name by a former University of Texas Coach Darrell Royal? 6

8. Movies – A robbery that takes place during Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is central to the plot of what 2011 comedy film? Miss for 1. I would not have known this…

9. TV Specials – In A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown, Sally, Snoopy, Linus and three others share Thanksgiving dinner. Name two of the other dinner guests – three for a bonus point. Got this for 5 plus the bonus.

Lucy was SUCH a bitch!

 

10. After Thanksgiving – According to Forbes, Black Friday shoppers will spend how much on average? $225; $475; $750 or $995? Miss for 2

Mystery – Thanksgiving – each answer can be spelled using the letters in “Thanksgiving.”

M1 – TV series inspired by tales of Ragnar Lothbrok
M2 – Week-long mourning period in Judaism
M3 – Collectively, Phillippe of Belgium, Abdullah II of Jordan and Harald V. of Norway
M4 – Type of weave referenced in the title of a 1967 Moody Blues song

Got all of these.

We had 61 points going into the final, which put us in a tie for fourth behind a team who had 63, and two teams tied for first with 65 (Mike did not write down their names).

Final Category – Presidents

What 20th century president signed a law that officially made Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of November in order to give merchants more time to sell goods before Christmas? Previously, Thanksgiving had been held on the last Thursday of each November.

Got this, but so did all of the teams ahead of us. No change in standings.

Game Two

1. Arcade Games – What sport is the subject oft he 1989 arcade game Archrivals?”3

2. Sketch Comedy – Name one of the three performers on the MTV sketch comedy series Human Giant that aired from 2007 to 2008? Miss for 1.

3. Islands – Tenerife is the largest and most populous in a group of islands belonging to what country? Miss for 3.

4. Book Titles – What is the first of two adjectives to describe Alexander’s day in the title of a 1972 book by Judith Vorst? They missed this for 10, but I would have helped them get this correct (I think I even made reference to this book in a recent game recap)! Glad to know I would have been needed!

5. Colours (this is how Mike spelled it in his notes so I’m keeping it this way) – Celeste is a colloquial name for a pale shade of what colour? 9

6. Technology – what media format, supported by Toshiba, was discontinued in 2008 after losing out in popularity to Blu-Ray? Anyone remember Betamax? Miss for 2.

7. War Movies – What 2016 Clint Eastwood war film starring Andrew Garfield and Sam Worthington was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture? Miss for 5. We are so shitty at Eastwood films…

8. Drummers – What is the first name shared by drummers for Queen and Duran Duran who also share the last name Taylor? My team needed me for this one too….miss for 6.

The Duran Duran “Taylor” guy being photographed by another band member with the last name Taylor (they were not related)

 

9. Art Terms – “Ma” is a Japanese word that roughly trasnlates as what concept characterized by the empty area surrounding the subject of an image? 8

10. Measurements – What does BTU stand for? 7

Mystery – Stan Lee

M1 – In 1995, Stan Lee was inducted into a hall of fame named for what comic book artist with whom he worked closely?

M2 – In 1987, Stan Lee officiated the wedding for what superhero, who was introduced in 1962?

M3 – Stan Lee made cameos in many Marvel movies, including one where what character mistakes him for Hugh Hefner? I think it’s because they were long-lost brothers (my own fan theory)

M4 – What media production company was co-founded by Stan Lee in 2001?

Missed #1 and #4.

Rougher round for these teams – top scores of 54 shared by two teams, followed by one team with 51 and one team with 49 points. We were in 10th with 31 points.

Final Category – Supergroups

Four members of the country supergroup Highwaymen combined to have only two top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 charts as lead solo artist. Name one of those two songs, which peaked in 1969 and 1982 respectively.

I asked Mike if anyone managed to get this correct, and he said, “I think I heard somebody cheer.” We did not get this…

That’s it for trivia this week, have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone! As always, Go ‘Pods, and stay classy, Neil Young! Did you all know he recently married Darryl Hannah? Yeah, I just learned that (it’s also her first marriage). I can just see the headline – “Former Mermaid Marries Old Man” (groan)!