The Sporcle Live “regulation” season ended last week, and now qualified teams are sending in their RSVPs for semifinal games Saturday, June 8 at several places throughout Southeast Michigan (and one bar in Grand Rapids).  We RSVPd to play at the YpsiAlehouse – because we are nothing if not gluttons for punishment! These semifinal games will definitely be a different animal than the “venue tournaments” that used to determine representatives at league championships! It’s one thing when you have to win just one game in a bar you’ve been playing for about three months – and have gotten to know the other teams in the room. But it’s quite another when you’re in the same trivia room with teams that are the “best of the best!” We’ll be facing off against one of the first “rival” teams we faced on trivia nights way, way back in 2012 (More Beer Less Pants) – and also newer “Johnny Come Lately” rivals from our past trivia haunt YpsiAlehouse (Teamy McTeamface). Let’s Get It was always one of the teams to beat at Oscar’s, and I’m not even sure what to make of the team called “But Where Did The Lighter Fluid Come From?” Sounds like a fantastic kids’ book title!  We haven’t played much against the team Homoerotic Trivia Montage, but they’ve clearly been holding their own in the very, very competitive Ann Arbor trivia scene! Speaking of competition… it’s going to be fierce at some of these trivia spots Saturday, and I’m estimating our chances of advancing as being maybe…. 50/50? Like our friend Archie always likes to say, “It all comes down to what they ask.”

Across town at Haymaker, three Corner Brewery teams – Money Badgers, Ennui and Your Resume Sucks will be fighting for tournament spots alongside other such powerhouses as Eberwits, Tanooki Suits and never to be underestimated – What the Shibboleth. It will definitely be interesting to see who winds up advancing at this spot!

The scores may not be logged for a couple of weeks during this “off season,” but the trivia never stops with the ‘Pods! So we visited Sticks for its Monday night trivia scene, and had a whopping four players! Yes, that is pretty much a “huge” team for the ‘Pods these days… We won a $15/first place gift card in game one, and a $10/second place gift card in game two.

And now for some game questions!

Game One (questions will be abbreviated)

1. Famous Words – Who said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” in 1969? 10

2. Universities – Amherst, Dartmouth and Worcester are cities that are home to the satellite campuses of what state’s university system? 3

3. Abbreviations – Name any three of the words represented by the ESRB in reference to to video game content. Miss for 1.

4. Vocalists – One Love/People Get Ready is a song by a band featuring what lead vocalist? 9

5. Historical Fiction – A heavily fictionalized version of a captain named d’Artagnan is central to the Three Musketeers in what country?

6. 2019 Movies – The highest-grossing animated film of 2019 is the third entry in what series produced by Dreamworks Studios that premiered in 2010? 7

7. Announcers – On ABC’s re-broadcast of the Sunshine Showdown, what announcer repeatedly exclaimed, “Down goes Frazier?” For a nerd point, within one, in what year did this occur? Got this for 6, missed the bonus.

8. Museums – In 2007, the World of Coca-Cola Museum, dedicated to the history of Coca-Cola, opened in what southern capital city? 5

9. 2000s Sitcoms – What Fox sitcom airing from 2010 to 2014 features Lucas Neff as a 23-year-old who becomes a single father living with his family after his daughter’s mother is sentenced to death for being a serial killer? Miss for 2.

10. Animals – What three-letter name is given to a long-haired bovine that lives primarily in the Himalayas and Tibet? 4

Mystery – This Day In History – What happened on the following dates, based on the description?

M1 – 1539 – What Spanish conquistador claimed Florida for Spain?

M2 – 1965 – Major Edward H. White became the first American to perform a spacewalk i what program – the second manned NASA program?

M3 – 1990 – President George H.W. bush ended  three day summit with what Soviet leader regarding unification?

M4 – 2006 – What European country declared independence from the state union it had with Serbia?

Not a good mystery round for us…only got #3 correct 😦

Scores: We were ahead of the herd with 57 points out of eight teams.

Final Category – ’90s Movies

In 2006, the American Film Institute released their list of the 100 most inspiring films of all time. Name one of the two films in the top ten that were released in the 1990s.

Got it, also would have known the second movie (we were given release years as clues).

Standings – Michael Scott Paper Company, 63; ‘Pods, 71.

Game Two

1. Networks – All That, Legends of the Hidden Temple and the Angry Beavers are TV series that premiered in the 1990s on what network? Good guess for 3.

2. Drugs – What drug used for general anesthesia is sometimes called “Special K” when used recreationally? 9

3. Food – Greek yogurt is made by removing what component of traditional yogurt? 4 This was the FB clue answer, which we forgot about until the answer was revealed (still got it right).

4. Baseball Feats – What is the record for the most home runs hit by a single MLB player? Eighteen players have achieved this feat – none more than once? For a nerd bonus, name one of the two players to do this in 2017. Miss for 2.

5. Dancing – What alliterative name refers to a kind of a tape dancing performed in footwear that does not have metal taps used in traditional tap dancing? 9

6. Hip Hop Songs – What NBA rookie is featured in a 1993 single by Fu-Schnickens?

7. ’90s Movies – Audio clue…

8. Architecture – I did not write down this question very well, it was multiple choice – so I’ll just ask – true or false – the Eiffel Tower is name for the tower’s creator – true or false? 8

9. Quotes – “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers” is a quote from what 1947 play by Tennessee Williams? 7

10. Delays – In May, 2019, the Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin announced that a proposed redesign of the $20 bill to replace Andrew Jackson would be shelved until 2028? 6

Visual Mystery –

Missed #1 and #4.

Scores – We were in first with 52 points.

Final Category – Restaurants

According to Restaurant Business magazine, the three highest-grossing burger restaurants in the United States in 2018 were McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s. Name one of the next three highest-grossing burger chains, all of whom grossed over $2B.

Miss…still managed to get second.

Until next time, which will be Wednesday The Owl in Milan! Saturday will be our semifinals day.  As always, Go Pods, and stay classy, Howard Cosell!