It’s become kind of  an annual “tradition” to dream up trivia questions to serve to others on my birthday. In 2016 and 2017, these questions were “served up” at gatherings of friends, trivia comrades and family members, with gift card/certificate prizes handed out to players. In 2018, I had a trivia tournament the same weekend as my birthday, so I did not schedule a “trivia party.” I also have not scheduled one this year, either – since I haven’t been playing in as many games, and don’t have the trivia prizes just lying around to give out as prizes! I will be meeting with some friends on my birthday to do a trivia battle with them in a trivia spot we’ve never visited, and I’ll be having lunch with my folks earlier in the day, but other than that, I haven’t made any huge birthday plans.

To view “birthday” question sets from past years, click here.

When I did have the trivia parties, even folks who didn’t win the trivia contest wound up going home with SOMETHING! For those of you into trivia about author J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbits, you might already know that Hobbits give presents to others on their own birthdays, which are called mathoms. Who doesn’t like getting presents?

I thought giving out presents to others on my birthday seemed like a swell idea when I turned 33 years old, which is the age that Hobbits “come of age.” So when I turned 33, I gave out little “mathoms” on my birthday – including slices of delicious birthday cake that my mother had made (white cake with strawberry filling). My husband and my friend Sam both got new sets of D&D dice, Roh got an airline bottle of Canadian Club whiskey, Dave got a couple of little bottles of lotion from Bath and Body Works (a little inside joke there about his obsessive habit of always wanting to stay moisturized, and well…what ELSE do guys use lotion for)?

Me on my third birthday, 1975.

So consider this my “birthday present” to you, blog readers – a set of trivia questions I’ve dreamed up myself – about some of MY favorite topics! I assume that a majority of my blog followers are advanced placement trivia students – so aside from maybe offering hints and multiple choices on some of these – I’m NOT dumbing these down! I’m also not providing the answers to these for at least a couple of days, when I’ll do so in the comments. You guys all know the rules! NO CHEATING! Make your guesses – THEN check the Internets to see if you’re correct! Sheesh…is there no honor among thieves – or trivia players? Chances are, some of these answers can be found on this blog site! Since this is an “open book” test, I will give you all permission to search my blog site for the answers! Some of these questions will discuss topics I’ve already blathered on about on this blog site (though not all of them).  It will be interesting to see what things you guys wind up searching for, so have AT it…

Let’s see how you do! Good luck….

Because I’m not a completely heartless bitch (wait…yes I am), here’s a picture – that will be a clue to the answer for question #9…

This actress played the character named Amanda Whurlitzer in the movie franchise mentioned in question #9 (hey…don’t say I didn’t do anything nice today)!

Because y’all caught me in a good mood – here’s another photo “hint!” Only I’m not telling you what question this photo corresponds to…

Who is Kermit talking to here? Hint – she is someone I will ask about in one of the following questions!

47 Trivia Questions For 47 Years!

1. Number One Hits – Aside from Kiss on My List, Private Eyes and I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do), name at least one other Hall & Oates single that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Name two for a very loving pat on your head from me.
2. U.S. Presidents – Who was the only U.S. president to have been born in Pennsylvania?
3. U.S. Statehood – Delaware was the first state admitted to the union on December 7, 1787. Name one of the other two states admitted to the union in the same year.
4. Upcoming Movies – Quentin Tarantino’s next film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is set in 1969 – during which time what infamous murders took place?
5. Newspaper Moguls – William Randolph Hearst started his foray into the newspaper business by taking control of a California newspaper that served as repayment to his father George Hearst for a gambling debt. Which newspaper was this? For an extra point, what was the two-word name for the type of sensationalist journalism William Randolph Hearst was best known for?
6. Digital Currency – What specific item was the first thing purchased with Bitcoin? For an extra point, within one, in what year did this occur?
7. Swedish Bands – Ace of Base hit #1 on the U.S. charts in 1993 with The Sign. Name their next highest charting single, which hit #2 in 1992.
8. Oscar Winners – The 2006 comedy film Beerfest features two different actresses whom have both won acting Oscars – one of which won for the 1971 film The Last Picture Show and the other winning later for her role in the 2009 film Precious. Name one of those actresses. Both if you’re a true movie nerd…
9. Sequels – What film franchise which began in 1976 had a sequel containing the words Breaking Training?
10. Football – Jürgen Klinsmann served as the head coach for the U.S. men’s national soccer team from 2011 to 2016. He was a member of what national team which won the FIFA World Cup in 1990? Be specific.
11. Profane Movie Quotes – In which 1990 film does Arnold Schwarzenegger utter the quote, “Get your ass to Mars?”
12. Profane Words  – In the HBO series Deadwood, a profane word beginning with the letter “C” is frequently used by characters on the show and is one of the only English words uttered by the Asian character Mr. Wu. What is that word?
13. Island Nations – Name one of the two sovereign African island nations where Portuguese is used as an official language. Name both if you’re secretly Portuguese – and totally knew that without using the Google.
14. Hit Albums – Three albums tied for the number-one spot in the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) year-end list for album sales in 2018. Name any one of those artists recording these albums, each of which were certified 2X platinum.
15. Hit Albums Part Deux – In addition to a boxed set released in 1990, name any one of the four Led Zeppelin albums on the RIAA’s list of top selling albums of all time.
16. Words – What six-letter word is the focus of a Dungeons & Dragons chart that describes various encounters with different “ladies of the night?”
17. Name Changes – Kimberly Clark announced they were changing the name of their “Mansize” tissues in 2018, largely due to complaints that the word “Mansize” is sexist. What is going to be the new name of those oversized tissues?
18. Animals – What is the common name of the largest rodent in the world? For extra credit, on what continent is this animal a native?
19. Award Winners – Rita Moreno is part of the “elite” group of people who have received at least one Emmy Award, one Grammy Award, one Oscar and one Tony Award. Name one of the two TV series in which she appeared that won her Emmy Awards (hint: It’s NOT The Electric Company).
20. Title Roles – What singer portrayed Jesus in the 2018 live televised production of Jesus Christ Superstar? If you’re a true theater aficionado, name one of the two non-performers who became recent EGOT winners as a result of this production?
21. Stage Names – Wild West figure Jane Canary is better known by what nickname?
22. Cereals – What brand-name hot cereal – that is still sold today – had its debut at the 1893 Columbian Exposition/World’s Fair?
23. Same Name – The title of Bob Seger’s eighth studio album and a 1979 single by the Australian soft rock band Little River Band share what five-letter word in common – which is described by Merriam Webster as “a person who is incompetent or unable to succeed?”
24. Stage Names – Rap singer Lesane Parish Crooks, born in 1971, was better known by what stage name?
25. Alter Egos – The Marvel character Kurt Wagner is better known by what name?
26. Choreographers – The dance sequences in the video for Paula Abdul’s 1989 single Cold Hearted were inspired by the stylings of what famous choreographer who died in 1987?
27. Animals – A marsupial with the scientific name Sarcophilus harrisii is better known by what two-word name – with one of those words describing the specific area in which it primarily lives?
28. Moons – Name one of Mars’ two moons – both if you are Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
29. Animated Characters – Actor Phil Hartman provided the voice for the recurring characters Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure on The Simpsons. What was the name of the one-time character with an alliterative name that he voiced on the episode Marge vs. the Monorail? Bonus – what famous stand-up comic and talk show host was a credited writer of this specific episode?
30. Actresses – What actress – born in 1980 –  appears as a prostitute-in-training and a young con artist in the first season of the HBO series Deadwood? She is best known for playing a title character on a TV series that debuted in 2004 and for starring in a 2013 high-grossing animated film.
31. Names – Though best known by his nickname “Doc,” what was Doc Holliday’s “given” name? Multiple choice – Henry, Thomas, William or John? Bonus – what was the four-letter name for the saloon game for which he was particularly fond of playing and also worked as a dealer?
32. Same Title – What three-word title of a 1990 #1 hit song by Maxi Priest is shared with a title of a 1970 #1 single by The Carpenters (not including words in parentheses)?
33. Serial Killers – What serial killer was nicknamed “The Milwaukee Monster?” Bonus, what serial killer was the focus of the 1986 made-for-TV movie The Deliberate Stranger?
34. Cannibals – What is the last name of a 19th century man named Alfred whom was tried and convicted of crimes connected to cannibalism? His last name is also the name of a NFC North NFL mascot. And this is the only “bone” I’m throwing out for hardcore sports nerds!
35. Local (Michigan) History – What Southeast Michigan city was previously known by four different names at the same time in its history – including Tolanville, Woodard Mills and Farmersville in addition to the name that is currently being used as its present name?
36. Words – What is a “blucher?” Multiple choice – a type of shoe, a hat, a harness component or a crew member on a whaling vessel?
37. Strange Deaths – What famed American playwright, born in 1911, died at the age of 71 in 1983 after reportedly choking on a cap used for nasal or eye drops?
38. Authors – Author J.R.R. Tolkien was a frequent patron of a pub in Oxford, England called Eagle and Child (nicknamed by locals “Bird and Baby”). What other fantasy author was good friends with Tolkien – and a frequent companion of his at the pub? Hint – the 1993 film Shadowlands is about this author.
39. Words – Gnathology involves the study of what part of the body? Glands, the jaw, wrinkles in the brain or the appendix?
40. Populations – What is the third most populous city in the state of Michigan?
41. Body Parts – (THIS IS A HEATHER QUESTION) What specific body part do most humans possess that Heather does not possess? Multiple choice – a left pinkie, appendix, a brain or a belly button?
42. High-Grossing Films – What was the highest-grossing film released in 2018 at the U.S. box office that was NOT a comic book film, a remake, a sequel or otherwise part of a franchise?
43. High-Charting Songs – What is the highest-charting song by the rock band Kiss – which peaked at #7 on the U.S. charts? If you are superfly with music, you will probably also know which member of Kiss wrote this song…
44. Songs – Speaking of Superfly, who composed the soundtrack to this 1972 film?
45. Processional Marches – Hail to the Chief is the official processional march for the President of the United States. For what office does Hail Columbia serve as the official processional march?
46. Auto Show – What Toyota sports car model, which was produced from 1978 to 2002, had a new model unveiled at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI – with Toyota announcing that new models of that car will be produced?
47. Last Names – Name at least one of the last names of the characters named Heather in the 1988 film Heathers. Hint – one of them is also the first name of a Friends regular, another is the same last name as a former secretary of defense under Kennedy and Johnson and the third last name is a four-letter royal term for someone who rules over a duchy. Look how nice I am being with this last question – hints ALL AROUND!

Mystery – Before and After

1. Basic Instinct actress and rock band which recorded the songs Plush, Interstate Love Song and Big Empty
2. Radiohead band member and folk singer best known for This Land Is Your Land
3. Actor best known for his pornographic roles and actor known for the TV series and film Entourage
4. Former stage name of singer Yusuf/Yusuf Islam and northern Wisconsin city
5. Animated series featuring Finn the Human and Jake the dog and hit single by Cyndi Lauper
6. Music/dance based TV series airing from 1980 to 1988 and type of cinnamon flavored liqueur containing flakes of 24-karat gold
7. Well known voice impersonator and TV series starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert
8. Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld creator and footballer married to a former Spice Girl
9. Name of 1981 Wallace Shawn film and “stage” name of a popular wrestler who appeared in a 1987 film with actor Wallace Shawn
10. Title of 1973 Pink Floyd album and first/middle name of one of singer Frank Zappa’s children

Now for the final questions! I’m doing multiple questions! Let’s see which one is easiest for YOU!

Final Category – Movie Scenes

In the 1985 film Better Off Dead, the character Lane Meyer yanks his car stereo from the dashboard because all of the songs are “breakup” songs and he is recovering from a recent breakup. The artists performing the songs include Neil Sedaka, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt and Hall & Oates. Name at least one of these “breakup” songs.

Final Category – Award Winners

Mike Nichols was part of the elite group of people whom won at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award during their lifetimes. Name three of the highest-grossing films at the U.S. box office that Mike Nichols directed.

Final Category – Magazines

Name both men who were on People magazine’s list of sexiest men alive who are now deceased.

Final Category – Populations

Aside from Chicago and any city located in the states of Texas or California, name any one of the next most populous U.S. cities based on 2017 Census estimates whose names end in the letter “o.”

Final Category –  Music Videos

What is the title of the Guns ‘n Roses song and accompanying music video which is among the most expensive music videos ever produced – costing an estimated $5 million to produce? Some of the scenes in the video include an oil tanker, guitarist Slash walking on water and live concert footage filmed at a German soccer stadium.