Every Friday, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. Very casual. On to this week’s topics of discussion…
1. I just caught the classic episode of Cheers where Cliff Clavin appears on Jeopardy! The categories were all in his wheelhouse: Civil Servants, Stamps From Around the World, Mothers and Sons, Beer, Bar Trivia, and Celibacy. His amazing run ended in Final Jeopardy, when he blew $22,000 (“Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen?”).
This got me thinking about my ideal Jeopardy! board. 20th Century Elections? College Mascots? Seinfeld Quotes? Sports Team Relocations? Discontinued Ben & Jerry’s Flavors? Towns in North Jersey? What six categories would make up your Jeopardy! Dream Board?
2. What’s the most important thing you accidentally slept through?
3. Here’s a question for anyone with siblings. If you had the option to switch your birth order, would you? (If you’re the middle child, would you rather be the oldest? If you were born first, would you rather have come later?)
4. And we’ll end with something market research-y. Is there one topic you’d like to see mental_floss cover that we haven’t already? Russian politics? Arctic wildlife? The origins of air hockey?
Have a great weekend!
[See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]
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1. My dream board?
THe Periodic Table
Atlanta Braves
The Rolling Stones
European Capitals
Commercial Jingles
Are Your Daughters Lying Right Now?
2. I slept through a final once in college. Teacher refused to let me retake it which knocked my final grade from an A- to a B-. Live and learn…
3. (Only child.)
4. How about something on Canadian history?
posted by Roger on 1-29-2010 at 12:30 pm
1- That’s funny. Just last night I took the jeopardy online quiz to potentially become a contestant on the show. I’ve omitted some of the standards that I would like to see if I was a contestant (geography, history etc) to have a little more fun with this.
Star Wars
The 1980s
European Rivers
Beers of the World
The Mayan Riviera
Atari
2- I haven’t (yet)
3 – I wouldn’t change. I like being the youngest of five.
4 – I would like to see you do a piece on the history of video games.
posted by Ted Lange As Your Bartender on 1-29-2010 at 12:31 pm
I slept thru getting off a bus and woke up hundreds of miles past my destination.
posted by TerryinDTW on 1-29-2010 at 12:39 pm
1. Musicals
Tim Burton movies
Doctor Who
French vocabulary
Muppets
Crossword clues
2. I haven’t slept through anything that important.
3. I like being the oldest of two.
4. You’ve been doing well so far!
posted by Imagine on 1-29-2010 at 12:40 pm
1) I love Jeopardy! In fact, I just took the online test last night. My dream categories would be crossword clues (any letter), food culture, MTV music video history, pop potpourri, US State names, and name that logo! You can see I’ve fantasized about this….
2) Years ago, I accidentally slept through the all important 2nd interview by phone.
3) I’m the oldest. I’d give almost anything to be the youngest.
4) Origins of different desserts and their wacky names. Or actually, just more food topics :)
posted by Kimberlea on 1-29-2010 at 12:41 pm
1. My 6 would be:
Expensive Cars
Bar Trivia
Geographic Tongue
How to spell words wrong
Friends Triva
Texas Hold’em
posted by Jennifer on 1-29-2010 at 12:44 pm
My dream board:
Baseball
401(k) (hey, it’s be nice to get something good out of working with them for all these years)
Lord of the Rings
General Science
Valdemar
We Have Seen the Anime (yes, this was an actual category they used)
Personally, I’d like to see an anime topic on _floss. Maybe something like “unusual or unexpected anime topics.” Which I could probably write, actually.
reCAPTCHA: Mr muscle (obviously they’re not looking at me right now)
posted by amaneaux on 1-29-2010 at 12:46 pm
1)
1) College Mascots (borrowing your idea b/c I love it)
2) Important women in American history
3) XFiles episodes (way obsessed in Middle/High school and now I have useless knowledge that I need to use somewhere…)
4) Classic Rock History
5) States (MF’s license plate test would rule)
6) Vampires (“People are Strange” is on the radio, so all I can think about is ‘lost boys’)
2) Nothing yet, but with Grad School interviews next month, thanks for that horrible, horrible new ‘what could go wrong’ that I hadn’t thought of yet. Awesome. lol.
3) Essentially an only child — youngest of 5 (four half siblings), but I like my position – youngest so I was appreciated, but essentially an only child so I got my parents’ undivided attention and never had to share the backseat on family vacations.
4) oh, I was just thinking about something I wanted to see on the drive to work yesterday…um, love the TV and Movie moments (first time, etc) stories, so keep those up. I’d like to see more about classic rock history, and minority (women/blacks…anything not WASP) contributions. With Black History Month and Women’s History Month coming up, I think that’d be primo.
posted by OkieMelissa on 1-29-2010 at 12:54 pm
1. I’ll try and list 6:
Arachnids
Card Games
Puzzles
The 1980s
Geography
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
2. I’ve slept through some classes (due to feeling sick) when I didn’t want to.
3. I’m the middle child and that sucks, but I wouldn’t be who I am today without that. So no, I wouldn’t change anything.
4. I think you guys do a wonderful job already, but more about history or old maps would be cool.
posted by Christina on 1-29-2010 at 12:54 pm
1. Brat Pack Movies
Classic Rock
NYC/LI Geography
The Ghostbusters
Beer
And of course-Foods that start with the letter Q
2. Work, multiple times
3. no
4. A series on craft beer and microbreweries around the country
posted by Jay on 1-29-2010 at 12:58 pm
1. Civil War History
State Capitals
Family Guy Quotes
Cooking Techniques
The City of Providence
Pork
2. In Culinary School we had classes that started at 7 am. One time I jumped out of bed at 10:40 and ran over there only to see the class just getting out.
3. I think I’d switch with my brother, just because I think the era he grew up in was a little cooler than mine. He was born in ’78, I was born in ’84. The six years really do make a difference.
4. I’m choosing not to answer this because I like being surprised each month.
posted by Brian on 1-29-2010 at 12:59 pm
My Jeopardy Board:
Math Equations
Indie Rock
History of Science
Wes Anderson Movies
Superheroes/Villains
The Simpsons
I would own that.
2. I slept through some classroom observation hours once, required to get a teaching certificate and difficult to set up.
posted by Todd on 1-29-2010 at 1:00 pm
I have the same problem as Melissa as I have multiple birth orders:
- I am an only child for my mom
- I am the oldest of my dad’s two natural kids
- I am the second oldest of my sister and her half-brothers, who I lived with for a while when I was younger and still consider my brothers even though my dad and their mom split up like 20 years ago
For a while, I was also second youngest with my dad when my dad was married to someone else and she had two kids that were older than me.
posted by Sarah in CA on 1-29-2010 at 1:02 pm
Jeopardy! questions:
1. Hair Metal
2. The 80′s
3. The 90′s
4. Books by Chuck Klosterman
5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
6. Facebook
(Yeah, I don’t get out much…)
2. I’ve slept through an earthquake. Also, while traveling back to Ohio from Boston, I slept all the way through Connecticut while my boyfriend drove. As I’d never been to CT, this kind of irked me.
3. I’d be the older sister, as my older sister was a wild child and completely ruined any trust my parents may have had for me.
4. Cover hair metal, Russophone Ukraine (long story there), Taiwan, metabolic disorders, and basically anything pop culture. But I’m here everyday anyway – keep up the good work!
posted by Anon on 1-29-2010 at 1:02 pm
1.
Star Wars Expanded Universe
American History
Rap Icons
New Testament
Final Fantasy Plots
“The Wire”
2. I once slept through an ambulance coming to take my grandmother to the hospital. More impressive was that I was sleeping in the living room where they entered the house. Yeah, that was an interesting morning waking up.
3. I’m the youngest by almost a decade. I wish I was closer in age to my siblings, but I enjoy being the youngest too much.
4. Well, if you ever need someone to write about popular piety in rap music, the trials of Ulic Qel-Droma, or the relationship between Sabin and Omar Little, I’m totally your man ;)
In all actuality, I’d like to see more about Three Kingdoms Chinese history. The discovery of Cao-Cao’s grave has me interested in the subject, but I have no idea where to start.
posted by Stu on 1-29-2010 at 1:03 pm
1 – My dream board:
Comic Books
Star Trek
The Internet
Video Games
Fuzzy Creatures
Uh…
(Apparently nerdery really DOES rule my life.)
2 – I did once sleep through a roommate being taken away in an ambulance. (We live right between the fire station and a major hospital campus. I’m used to hearing sirens!)
3 – Being the baby in the family is good. I’ll happily stay there.
posted by Susanna on 1-29-2010 at 1:03 pm
1.
The Beatles
Musicals
civil War History
Presidents
Animals
Before and After(that’s always there, but it is so much fun)
2.
I once slept through most of the US on the way to Florida
3.
Some days, but mostly no
4.
I can’t really think of anything off hand…
posted by Lindsey on 1-29-2010 at 1:03 pm
2) Sleeping through important events is one of my re-occurring nightmares. I’ve only come close to doing it once. My laptop crashed at about 1am and I spent the next 5 hours restoring my files. I finally go to sleep at sunrise and didn’t set my alarm.I wake up at 1pm and realize my cousin is getting married at 2 and its an hour drive to church. I showered, dressed and slapped on some lipstick. Drove with the window open to dry my hair. luckily they started late so I slipped in the back only missing a couple readings.
posted by Lewen on 1-29-2010 at 1:06 pm
1. Musical Theatre History, 90′s Sitcoms, The Beatles, Nutrition, 20th Century American Literature, and one of those spelling/anagram/word game categories
2. Not exactly important, but, at 13, I was sick and fell asleep before midnight on New Year’s 1999. Woke up very upset I had missed the start of 2000.
3. I’m the oldest of two, and would love to have come second, if only because I’ve seen how my sister has learned from a lot of my mistakes without having to make them herself.
posted by Robyn on 1-29-2010 at 1:07 pm
1. I also took the online Jeopardy test yesterday! My categories would include: knitting, young adult literature, The Blues Brothers, Minnesota, something crosswordy and the wives of Henry III (just to have something to throw a monkey wrench into it and good old H-8′s wives seem to show up a lot).
2. I had showing up to work on time as a thing to work on on my performance review for a while because of twice I showed up late when I was supposed to be doing kind of important stuff. Once was because of a brain fart but the other time was because of oversleeping.
3. I’m cool with being the oldest. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to have a brother though since I just have the one sister.
posted by Julia on 1-29-2010 at 1:10 pm
1. Dream Board
Wine
Cheese
Biology
Pre-schooler/children’s TV trivia
School House Rock (loved the quiz the other day)
Useless knowledge
2. I slept through my boarding call while sitting AT the gate in Las Vegas one morning (long night). It was the only available direct flight until that night. I wound up having to fly through SFO to get home to Atlanta.
3. No, I like being the oldest.
4. You already did Cheese, which made my year, so I’m content.
posted by ashleyrobin on 1-29-2010 at 1:18 pm
X-men Comics
Potent Pornstars
Internet Memes
Girls Who Rejected Me in High School
20th Century American History
Synonyms for Masturbation
posted by Two Worlds on 1-29-2010 at 1:19 pm
1) ABBA songs
20th Century Authors
The 80′s
Peter, Stewie, or Brian?
Cohen Bros. Movies
Random Crap in Your Head
2) I slept through most of the coverage of the Challenger disaster. I had just been kicked out of college and was home with my parents and my dad finally woke me up at 2:30 pm to tell me what had happened.
3) I’m cool with being the oldest and therefore favorite child.
posted by Donna on 1-29-2010 at 1:21 pm
1)
1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I know everything about that movie.
2. Tap dance steps
3. The Baby-Sitter’s Club
4. Boy Bands
5. Crayola Colors
6. Pizza
and my mom wonders why I don’t really find interest in any marketable jobs…
3) Everyone says the littlest gets treated better and they’re right. Thus, I wouldn’t change being the littlest for anything in the world
posted by Claire on 1-29-2010 at 1:23 pm
2. 17 years old – tour through France with student group – overnight train trip through southern France. There was only a 10 minute stop at 3 AM at our destination (Carcassone) and our director and 6 students managed to get off. The other 6 of us slept right through. Took us until dinner time to get off the train, find another going back way we came and then finding the rest of our group at the Youth Hostel in old town.
An adventure I had forgotten about until I read these comments. Thanks for allowing me to remember that!
posted by KJ on 1-29-2010 at 1:23 pm
1. Classic TV, The Beatles, Walt Disney World, The World of Nancy Drew, Broadway Musicals and The Wonderful World of Allergies
2. So Far, so good…no sleeping through anything (yet).
3. I’m ok being the oldest
4. Think you guys do a great job of what you do so just keep doing it. (I don’t get to post often, but I’m a dedicated reader of your site and your mag)
posted by Beth on 1-29-2010 at 1:25 pm
1. I would pick:
-Bavarian Vocabulary
-Gourmande
-Provence
-Crete
-Eat Pray Love
-Thailand
2. I don’t think I have ever slept through something extremely important because I am such a light sleeper. Which is not always a good thing.
3. Only child.
posted by Emma on 1-29-2010 at 1:37 pm
1. Jeopardy Dreamboard:
Best Picture Oscar winners
Best Actor Oscar winners
Best Actress Oscar winners
All About The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Secret Life of Jane Hathaway
State Capitals
2. I slept through one of the worst thunderstorms our city had. Tree limbs were scattered everywhere and I had no clue it had even rained.
3. I’m the third of four kids and wouldn’t change that order at all.
4. My favorite author, Carson McCullers.
reCaptcha: institution scariest (that about sums it up for my life)
posted by Nathan on 1-29-2010 at 1:42 pm
1. Dream board:
Futurama quotes
Walt Disney World
Kurt Vonnegut novels
David Bowie
Board Games
Obscure magazines
posted by Sara on 1-29-2010 at 1:44 pm
I was just having a discussion the other day with a friend of mine who was on Jeopardy (and came in 2nd). If I recall, I said the only way I could even finish with a positive value on that show was if the categories were…Ferrets, Thomas the Train, The Movie Cars, The Denver Broncos since 1985, Health Disparities over the Life Course, and “Derek” (my 4 year old son, hence the knowledge of Thomas the Train and Cars).
posted by KJ on 1-29-2010 at 1:44 pm
1.
The Simpsons
Jane Austen Heroines
Survival Tactics
Kevin Smith Movies
World Religions
S Words (I had to throw this last one in!)
2. I fell asleep on the school bus once after school.
3. I like being the oldest.
4. Definately more food topics. Art. How to get my stupid digital tv converter to actually work without having to assume “fox viewing positions”. (I really hope someone else gets this one.) :)
posted by tinkerschnitzel on 1-29-2010 at 1:46 pm
Whoops, forgot the others:
2. I slept through the first half of one of my AP exam in high school. I had the wrong start time on my calendar and only woke up when the school called. I think I still got a 4 (out of 5) on it.
3. I have an older brother, and I wouldn’t change the order. I got away with everything!
posted by Sara on 1-29-2010 at 1:46 pm
I took the Jeopardy test as well. I scored 31/50 (there were 3 more I should’ve gotten, but missed; and two I narrowed to a 50/50 choice and on both I picked the wrong one). It was really filled with Art/Literature questions (28%), and History made up another 22% so those two categories were half the test!
My dream board: Remington Steele, The 1980s, Indy 500, Classic Video Games, Ways to Get Rid of a Body, Things Only Wayne Knows
posted by Wayne on 1-29-2010 at 1:50 pm
2. Slept through a huge tornado
3. I like being the oldest
4. The science of cooking and science of sleep
posted by Hermoine on 1-29-2010 at 1:51 pm
1. Dead ball era baseball
Name that Tune
Cake (the band)
World War II
Acronyms
US Geography
3. Middle child and I embrace it.
4. Dead ball Era baseball
posted by JFRANKO on 1-29-2010 at 1:53 pm
1. Gilmore Girls
The Beatles
1980s Pop Music
Nintendo Characters
Sam Raimi Movies
The Free Beer and Hotwings Show
2. Nope, haven’t slept through anything important.
3. I’m number 3 of 4 kids which is fine with me.
posted by tracy on 1-29-2010 at 1:54 pm
I took the Jeopardy online test last night as well.
1) Friends Trivia
2) US History
3) Horror Movies
4) Fashion
5) The Oscars
6) Literature
2) I didn’t sleept through it, but I did completely blank on a test I was supposed to take. Never studied, came to class, and he passed it out. My stomach just dropped. I got a B- though.
3) I’m the youngest of three girls…it’s good to be the baby.
4) I like the questions you take from readers but it doesn’t seem to be on any sort of schedule. They’re always really good though, and as soon as I see them I always want to know the answer.
posted by Caitlin on 1-29-2010 at 1:58 pm
1. Jimmy Buffett Songs, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Environmental History of New Jersey 1880 to present, 1993 Philadelphia Phillies, Ghostbusters 1 & 2, and Dirty Dancing.
2. No.
3. I’m the baby of the family and would not change it for the world!
4. You do a great job! My imput isn’t necessary!
posted by Mavis on 1-29-2010 at 2:11 pm
My 6 categories would be:
1. Seinfeld quotes
2. Friends quotes
3. The 1980s
4. The 1990s
5. Tobacco
6. Psychology
Only child so no change in birth order
And I sleep through my alarm at least once a week, that’s important enough right?
posted by Sara on 1-29-2010 at 2:19 pm
1)
*The Sondheim-lich Manuever
*Glutton for PUNishment
*L O S T Cause
*You Quotin’ to Me ? (famous *movie* quotes)
*RIPLEY’s Believe it or not (all about Patricia
Highsmith’s most famous character)
*I read it in Mental Floss
posted by Amy on 1-29-2010 at 2:22 pm
James Bond
The 1980s
TV Potpourri
State Capitals
Movie Quotes
Simon & Garfunkel Songs
posted by MW on 1-29-2010 at 2:28 pm
My dream board:
Hitchcock Movies
Harry Potter
Food Network Stars
Dog Breeds
Pizza Toppings
Classic TV Show Themes
posted by Tricia on 1-29-2010 at 2:28 pm
1) mythology
ancient societies
wes anderson movies (had to steal this one, its too perfect)
the white stripes
oscar wilde
douglas adams
2) I’ve slept through several shifts while doing tech support for Verizon, and don’t regret it in the slightest.
3) I’m smack in the middle of the perfect stereotype for a ‘blended family’ and I think any further changes would just be confusing :P
4) I can’t think of anything that needs changing, the topics you guys cover are wonderfully eclectic.
posted by sammylee on 1-29-2010 at 2:30 pm
1.
American Cinema
Minnesota History
Indie Rock
Musical Theater
Definitions of Words
Things That Rhyme With…
3.
Only child.. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t have minded an older brother.
4.
Any of the things I listed in #1.. also would love to see more on things like:
- disorders (mental and otherwise)
- animals/wildlife in general
- diseases
- something like ‘ a beginner’s guide to…’ — There are tons of things I would appreciate a quick introduction to. Examples? : anime, lie detectors, eugenics, astronomy.
posted by kimmy on 1-29-2010 at 2:35 pm
1. My dream board would be:
Indie Rock, Sociological Theory, Anamaniacs, Weird Bible Stories, Southern Californian Cities, and It’s a Wonderful Life.
2. I live a charmed life. In that every time I thought I have slept through something important, it ended up canceled anyway.
3. I’m technically the middle child. I have a twin brother who is about an hour older than me and a younger sister. I like my place. I didn’t get quite as much attention as my trouble-making siblings, but I could do pretty much whatever I wanted without trouble.
4. When faced with this question, my mind goes almost completely blank. I am rather fond of brain games. Especially math squares. Perhaps you can look into something that – while wildly popular – has a huge stigma attached to it. Like World of Warcraft or something.
posted by Alison on 1-29-2010 at 2:40 pm
1) Lord of the Rings
2) Goth Music
3) Lost
4) Michigan
5) Stephen King novels
6) Joss Whedon tv shows
I almost slept through my wedding; we had a 10am appointment at City Hall, and the alarm didn’t go off. I just made it in time!
I can’t think of any topic you haven’t already covered, however I would love for you to open a Mental Floss store in Atlanta.
posted by Rebecca on 1-29-2010 at 2:46 pm
Categories:
John Wayne Movies
John Wayne Movie Characters
Star Trek Captains
Star Trek Ships
Star Trek Aliens
People who were in john Wayne movies and on Star Trek shows.
2) A car wash/laundry mat blew up one night from a gas build up only a quarter mile from my place. Slept right through the noise. (the place was leveled)
3) Oldest and would not change position with my sister.
4) A posting on how all of you come up with ideas on what to write about.
posted by Owen on 1-29-2010 at 3:01 pm
1) Jazz History
2) WWII
3) Pennsylvania
4) Candy Bars
5) Soul Food
6) Film Noir
Slept through a formation in the Army….bad…..
Oldest seems OK so far…
You cats are awesome…keep up the great work!
recaptcha: houston hoagie…hilarious!
posted by Mikey on 1-29-2010 at 3:04 pm
1. Friends Quotes
80s music
Geometry
American Literature
Tools (the kind you fix things with, not the people)
Useless trivia, unless you are on Jeopardy!
2. I slept through a calculus final once, in college, but the professor let me take it later.
3. I would not change my birth order (I’m the oldest of 2).
4. More “weird” type things.
posted by Jenny on 1-29-2010 at 3:07 pm
1. My Jeopardy categories would be:
“Mama’s Family” Trivia (I loved this show!)
Name that “I Love Lucy” episode
National Lapoon’s Christmas Vacation
Seinfeld Trivia
Name that Actor
Gone With the Wind
2. I slept through the Northridge Earthquake. I remember my parents all huddled in our hallway and they couldn’t find me. I was still asleep in my bed. That was also my birthday too.
3. I am the oldest and I don’t think I would have liked being in any other order. Although I would have liked to have had a little sister.
4. I love the TV trivia on old shows that you guys have on here. I just wish there was more of it.
posted by Colene on 1-29-2010 at 3:18 pm
1) Lethal Weapon Movies
The Office
Alton Brown
Mythbusters
80′s music
The GM parts system (I would kick ass!)
2) I have’nt slept through anything important, but waking up and seeing the sunshine is not a good feeling.
posted by John the Third on 1-29-2010 at 3:20 pm
1. “World” Knowledge (Walt Disney World)
Angel of Music (Lyrics of “The Phantom of the Opera”)
PUNtastic
Potter Potpourri (as in Harry Potter)
The Gods of Ancient Greece
The Final Frontier (astronomy and Star Trek trivia)
2. I slept through a class in college once, but it wasn’t a huge deal.
3. Only child. Can I request a sibling? Older or younger, doesn’t matter.
4. Well looking at the Jeopardy dream boards, I would suggest Walt Disney World, Harry Potter, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer quizzes. Or trivia on these subjects.
posted by Kristin on 1-29-2010 at 3:24 pm
My dream Jeopardy categories:
U2
1980′s Music
John Grisham Books
Wine
Weather
M*A*S*H
posted by Susan R on 1-29-2010 at 3:30 pm
1.
Absurd Animal Facts
Royal Families of England
Oil Tanker Operations
Spongebob Squarepants
What the hell is Mike Rowe doing now?
Things that taste good with Peanut Butter
2.
Nothing really important, mostly being late for work or sleeping through it.
3.
I have an older sister, but I don’t particularly like her, can I just trade her in?
posted by Gussiebuns on 1-29-2010 at 3:56 pm
1. Categories
-Home Networks of today’s TV shows
-Foods you can make with a waffle maker
-Priority tasks when you wake up late for work
-Txt msg convo
-Practical grammar
-(Deep breath)Things you should be mindful of when driving down the highway and trying to mount your GPS to your windshield.
2. I can’t sleep through important stuff because I get to nervous about them and I actually wake up every hour worrying I’ve overslept.
3. As much as I envy my younger sister for being able to get away with things, I would keep my title of first born.
People who’s entries I’ve enjoyed:
@John the Third
@Mikey
@Owen
@SammyLee
@Jay
posted by Shash on 1-29-2010 at 4:02 pm
@Gussiebuns:
I was totally thinking of the peanut butter one!!
posted by Shash on 1-29-2010 at 4:07 pm
1) There are so many subjects that I know random facts about, but these would have to be my dream categories:
British Monarchs, Harry Potter series, New York City, The Beatles, Walt Disney World, and Friends.
2) Slept through my sister’s birth, didn’t realize everyone left until I woke up the next morning and my dad came to take me back to the hospital with him.
3) Oldest, would’ve liked to have an older brother!
4) Movie trivia of any sort, please. Or historical trivia.
posted by Gidget on 1-29-2010 at 4:11 pm
Jason,
This is my favorite episode of tv ever! I refer to it all the time, and no one ever seems to know what I’m talking about. Thank you for highlighting the tragic fail of one of the greatest trivia junkies ever. Amen, brother!
posted by Lizzie on 1-29-2010 at 4:12 pm
The Beatles
Films of Stanley Kubrick
U. S. History
Television
George Patton
Shakespeare
posted by Daryl on 1-29-2010 at 4:23 pm
I’m the guy that wrote the Cheers episode w/Cliff on Jeopardy. I was in college as Broadcast Comm. major at S.F. State. Peter Casey & David Lee (Cheers producers) came to speak about the industry. I got a personal introduction to Casey and Lee through one of my teachers. I gave them the pitch and (stupidly) a completed script. I was handed business cards, and (surprise, surprise) never spoke to them again. I was later advised that suing would get me black balled as a TV writer, and that I should consider it a compliment that I was ripped off. It made my day to see you consider it memorable! Cheers to you!
posted by Sean Murphy on 1-29-2010 at 4:38 pm
President’s middle names
Shakespeare
The Bible
M*A*S*H
Classical music composers
Civil War
posted by Scott on 1-29-2010 at 4:39 pm
1) -Friends trivia
-native american history
-developmental psychology
-educational theory
-The Blazers (1998-present)
-20th century US history
2) i slept through an AP exam in high school and a final exam in college.
3) My birth order is phenomenal. I’m the youngest of 4, and my 3 older siblings are 7, 9 and 10 years older than I am. My sisters are just old enough to be half friend, half second mom, and I was practically an only child in high school.
4)i would love to see some psychological topics.
posted by Oregonian on 1-29-2010 at 4:47 pm
1.
Potent Potables (i.e. booze)
Grad School Jargon
YouTube Videos about Cats
Chuck Palahniuk Novels
Terrible Horror Films
Sandwiches
2. My wife (though not at the time) had to wake me up on 9/11 at noon, after the planes had hit both towers. Not necessarily something anyone wanted to witness obviously, but certainly something you want a better answer to when someone asks, “where were you when…”
3. Only child, so…
4. Maybe some more on cool etymology?
posted by Teacherman on 1-29-2010 at 5:32 pm
1.
Pharmacology
British Monarchs
LOST
Disney World
Music Theory
Abnormal Psychology
2. I slept through an organic chemistry class once. No big deal, except that, in that class, the professor announced that he was moving the midterm to the next class instead of having it on the date that was on the syllabus. I walked into the next class completely confused and thinking it was like a nightmare come true or someone was playing a joke on me. I probably got the same grade as I would have if I had studied, but still…it was unreal.
3. A marginal no. I like being the older of two, but, boy, did my younger brother have it so much easier than I did! It was probably a combination of him being younger and being male, but he definitely got a lot more breaks than I ever did.
posted by Katie on 1-29-2010 at 6:38 pm
Hey,
I would love to see an article or regular feature about things found on Google Earth. That program is fascinating and the things you can find are crazy! I have recently become obsessed with looking at pictures of Yemen. I could probably write it if you are looking for any help.
Rachel
posted by Rachel Harrington on 1-29-2010 at 7:47 pm
My Dream Board:
– Lord of The Rings
– The Bible
– Nursery Rhymes
– Psychology
– rhyming words
– classic games
posted by lynn on 1-29-2010 at 8:25 pm
My six:
1. US Naval History
2. Harry Potter
3. Edmund Spenser
4. Aviation
5. Oceanography
6. Greek Food
posted by Tony on 1-29-2010 at 8:46 pm
1.
-Criminal Minds (Television Show)
-Current San Jose Sharks
-Jodi Picoult Books
-Greek Mythology
-Autism
-Breakfast Cereals
Gotta love Jeopardy!…
2. I slept through my alarm only once in high school. My ride (who lived across the street) was getting ready to get in his car, and I come running outside in a pair of boxers and a t-shirt trying to explain. We ended up shouting over each other, but he eventually got the point. The elderly couple next door to him just kinda stared. An interesting sight…
3. I’m 2nd out of 4. Not bad. Old enough to have more privileges but too old to be babied. Win some, you lose some.
posted by Scotti on 1-29-2010 at 9:09 pm
1. Harry Potter, Dance Terminology, Alton Brown, The Beatles, Knitty Gritty(knitting), Nerdfighting
2. I slept through my first day of college. You cannot make that up.
(I’d been feeling sick and was really stressed and when I stress out, my body takes it out on itself so I hadn’t been eating well or sleeping much and it just gave in to need)
posted by Laura on 1-29-2010 at 9:36 pm
I’m very pop-culture savvy, so there’d have to be a disproportionate amount of that, but here are my categories:
– The Academy Awards
– World Geography
– British Culture
– 21st Century Television
– Beatles Songs
– Really Hot Women Before And After
My Final Jeopardy category could be “The Scopes Monkey Trial”.
posted by Zawmer on 1-29-2010 at 9:38 pm
1.)
Harry Potter
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
YA Literature
Knitting/Crochet
Musicals
Webcomics
2.)I can’t think of anything now, but I’m sure it happened.
3.) I was the middle child for 13 or so years; now I share the title with my sister, who used to be the youngest.
4.)History of Nail Polish. Who thought this weird, yet awesome, idea?
posted by Amber on 1-29-2010 at 9:50 pm
Here are MY six categories for MY “Dream Jeopardy” board:
******************************
1. “World War 2 History”
2. “U.S. Naval History”
3. “The Three Stooges”
4. “Big Band Music”
5. “All About Julie Andrews”
(Yes, I ADORE Julie Andrews !!!!)
6. “20th Century History”
(Yeah…….It’s LIKE that…LOL)
Question #2:
I slept thru making my connecting flight at SF International Airport Philly International, flying home from NAS Atsugi for X-mas with my family in PA. I was very fortunate to catch the next flight…….5 hours later….
Question #3:
No way in HELL do I want to switch birth order…..HELL NO !!!
I am the oldest of 5, and I would NOT change that for ANYTHING !!
Question #4:
Yeah….Here’s MY suggestion….
Can you cover the evolution of the Hollywood genre of “Film Noir” ??… =)~
posted by David Weaver on 1-29-2010 at 9:56 pm
My dream board:
Harry Potter
1990s cartoons
Internet memes
Jonathan Coulton songs
Timed artistic challenges
The Red, Blue, and Yellow Pokemon Games
2. I’ve come very close to sleeping through fire alarms in college. It’s more out of denial and not wanting to get up than anything else.
3. I have a half-brother who’s 12 years older and a brother who’s two years younger. Despite this I consider myself the oldest because said half-brother and I were never really raised together. Unfortunately, being so close in age with my brother means that we earned new privileges at the same time, so I never got the feel-good feeling of being older and therefore special. Meanwhile, he had to live up to my parents’ expectations of being another me.
posted by Sushi on 1-29-2010 at 10:04 pm
1. Human Anatomy, House (The TV Show), Music Theory, College Football, States/State Capitals, One-Hit Wonders
2. Nothing major, surprisingly.
3. I’m 8 years younger than my only sister, and I kind of like it. But I don’t like being the youngest one out of my generation on *both* sides of the family.
4. “Where are they now?” of, like, geeky TV show/movie stars.
posted by Debbie on 1-29-2010 at 10:12 pm
1.)
Friends Trivia.
Equestrian Sports.
Indie Music.
Tarantino Films.
Cheeses of the world.
Obscure and Dangerous Experiments
2.) Regionals for my Equestrian Show Jumping in 2005. I sped the whole way to the showgrounds and sprinted to the ring and was only like 35 seconds too late. It sucked.
3.) I’m fine with being the youngest. You get treated like a baby sometimes because parents don’t want their youngest to grow up because it means that the parents are getting older, but I’d rather it this way than having to be an only child that suddenly had to share their mom with another tiny person they didn’t understand and suddenly resented.
4.) The most intensely bizarre experiments done to human and animal kind. (If anyone else has read Elephants on Acid they would definitely understand the weird fascination with them).
posted by Christine on 1-29-2010 at 10:25 pm
1.Obscure Disneyland Trivia
2.Late American Literature
3.What the hell has Mike Rowe done?
4.Star Wars tech
5.Scrubs Trivia
6.Writing Tutor Pedagogy
I once appeared on The Price is Right, and I slept through my airdate.
posted by Danielle on 1-29-2010 at 11:19 pm
1.
Gilmore Girls
U.S. Navy Submarine Ports
Meg Cabot Books for Young Adults
Breeds of Cats
Roman Catholic Beliefs and Rituals
Stupid Answers
2. I apparently slept through a roommate who had lost her keys repeatedly ringing the doorbell and possibly calling me. The other roommate was purposely ignoring her. Needless to say, things went south from there.
3. I’m the first-born of my mother, but the youngest of 2. My sister was adopted, then I was born 15 months later. I think it worked out alright, but I did get married first which was a bit weird.
4. Something about women’s college basketball.
posted by catherine ann on 1-29-2010 at 11:58 pm
1. The Titanic (Ship, not the movie)
2. Gone with the Wind
3. Dead Celebs
4. Middle School Student Behavioral Quirks
5. Make Any Song Into a Parody
6. Musicals
posted by Marty on 1-30-2010 at 12:13 am
Jeopardy board:
SNL
U2
Russian Czar history
20th century American lit
academy awards
Christopher guest films
I am the youngest child and I would definitely keep it that way.
posted by Lauren on 1-30-2010 at 12:14 am
Sitcoms
Newspapers
Quentin Tarentino Movies
OMG, LOL, et al.
Commercials
Food that starts with \J\
On a Friday at work I bragged that I had never been \called into the office\ for any type of disciplinary action. The next two days (Saturday and Sunday) – - I overslept and didn’t make it into work. I had just moved so my boss didn’t have my current phone number. I was called into the office and scolded.
I enjoy being the youngest. Now I’m the only one under 50.
Anything about food, TV, old movies, pop culture, printing, advertising or oddities.
posted by KirbyP on 1-30-2010 at 3:30 am
1. Friends trivia
The 1990′s
The Titanic (ship, not movie)
Abortion
State names
Musicals before and after
2. What’s the most important thing you accidentally slept through?
Work, college classes
3. If you had the option to switch your birth order, would you?
No. I would switch my sibling, but not the order (I’m the youngest).
posted by Katie on 1-30-2010 at 4:50 am
1. Medical Terminology
Scat-a-gory (all about poop)
Children’s Literature
Studies Show
Before and After
Shaggy Dog Stories
The World of Librarianship
3. I’m the youngest of 8, but… I have nieces and nephews really close in age, so I wasn’t spoiled, in fact, I was more forgotten. I’d like to enjoy the privileges of being the baby!
4. Sign language and gestural languages.
I’m amazed at what my preschooler can express with ASL: “My cup is blue, my sister’s cup has pink and blue butterflies!” and: “That’s the pink blanket you covered me with when we drove to the hospital the last time I got really sick and upchucked!”
posted by Mare on 1-30-2010 at 5:42 am
1. Perfect Jeopardy! board:
– Meteorology
– Databases
– Professional Sports Teams
– Geography
– 1980′s Synth-Pop
– Linguistics and Grammar
2. The initial part of 9/11. Woke up when only one tower was still standing.
3. I’m an older brother of two. Wouldn’t trade.
4. Would love to see regular coverage of “Changes to the map.” Could be countries, U.S. states or other sub-national entities merging, splitting, or changing shape somehow. Could cover historical changes to the map or possible future/proposed changes to the map.
posted by John Bejarano on 1-30-2010 at 10:27 am
1. 80′s Hardcore Punk Bands
Astrology
Grammar
English Lit
LOST
AKC Breed Standards
2. I slept through a tornado that struck 2 blocks from my house.
3. My only sibling is 9 years younger than me. Absolutely not.
posted by grouchonacouch on 1-30-2010 at 1:26 pm
1. Stupid things no one else cares about, punctuation, spelling, find the typo, stories from the Bible, phrases that make you break into song (where my kids say something, it reminds me of a song… it drives them nuts)
2. I don’t sleep much so this isn’t an issue.
3. I like my place in the family. It works. (#5 OF 7)
posted by Hyacinth on 1-30-2010 at 4:41 pm
3. I’m the youngest of 3, and while I don’t mind being the youngest, I would have liked to be closer in age to my siblings. My sister is 8 years older than me and my brother is nearly 6 years older.
posted by Kessie on 1-30-2010 at 5:09 pm
I would like to see mental_floss cover the history of traffic lights.
posted by Andrea on 1-30-2010 at 9:26 pm
1) Hmmm… Jeopardy dream board – could be almost any of the boards from back in the Rock N Roll Jeopardy days. I still want to challenge Mark McGrath to a game – he was the best celeb player ever. Outside of just music or film focused, I would go with these categories: College Radio, Independent Films, Gilmore Girls Pop Culture References, The Twilight Saga, Spelling, and Useless Trivia.
2) I slept through a meeting at work once, got some demerits and they lowered my hourly wages for 3 days. Nothing super major.
3) I was the baby for 9 years, and I remember that was a great place to be, then the kid sister snatched the title away from me. Stink! Eh, I love my sisters, though I would like to see the older perspective, and a brother would have been nice. I’m the 3rd of 4 girls.
4) I started checking out the website after my brother-in-law received Be Amazing for his birthday, so I am still feeling everything out. I have really enjoyed a lot of the articles, and I love love love the Lunchtime Quizzes – especially the list x in y minutes.
posted by Holly on 1-30-2010 at 10:16 pm
Hyacinth “phrases that make you break into song (where my kids say something, it reminds me of a song… it drives them nuts)”
Heh – sometimes all it takes is a word. My best pal thinks I am nuts and even challenges me by picking out random words just to see if I will find a song to sing. He especially despises me for breaking out into Weezer when I land on the space that has Buddy Holly’s picture on my old Trivial Pursuit board. Hehe. Good times!
posted by Holly on 1-30-2010 at 10:21 pm
1. Alaska History
Star Trek
Pixar Movies
Anne McCaffrey Novels
Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics
Ways To Eat A Potato
2. I once had a flight leaving at 7 am. I woke up at 6:50. Oops. I immediately called the airline and managed to get on a later flight, but it was still bad. Especially since it was only a four-day trip, now only three and a half days.
I also slept through a class in college because I set my alarm for 7 om, not 7 am.
3. I’m the youngest, and I’ve always wanted a younger sibling. I hated being bossed around by everyone else, and being the smallest. I certainly didn’t get everything I wanted just because I was the youngest. (Though if you ask my sister, she’ll tell you a different story…don’t believe her.)
4. Something about folk music, perhaps? And more geography-focused articles would be nice, especially world geography. I second the idea of “changes to the map” proposed by John Bejarano above.
Oh, and weird facts about historical people/events. :)
posted by BlueAloe on 1-31-2010 at 4:10 am
1. Dream Jeopardy categories (heh):
Tim Burton Films
Equestrian Sports
History of the “Wild” West
Leo Tolstoy
Ancient Egyptian religion
All About Juice
2. I slept through a babysitting job once…I felt absolutely terrible. The parents had to call in another sitter.
3. I wouldn’t change places (I’m oldest) because I think it’s one of those “grass is greener” beliefs that would end up not being so great.
4. Well, I’d love to see more creepy or cuddly stuff (creepy like paranormal or abandoned things; cuddly like animals). Honestly though, I think you guys do a wonderful job already!
posted by Jordie on 1-31-2010 at 4:07 pm
1) Harry Potter, Barefoot Running, Young Adult Novels, Random Facts, Name that Water Sport, Strange Words
2) Not yet!
3) I LOVE being the oldest. I am at liberty to boss around my sisters.
4) I would like to hear about really stupid quotes and creepy sci-fi things, like ghosts or cloning.
posted by Mayo on 1-31-2010 at 5:36 pm
My six categories I would make a clean sweep with:
1) Tudor History
2) Flight of the Conchords
3) 60s Folk Music
4) Obscure Simpsons Trivia
5) Jane Austen
6) U.S. Presidents
posted by Roo on 1-31-2010 at 8:36 pm
1)…
2) Not yet (thank goodness!)
3) would like to try being the younger for a year– but that would mean I have to go back to college, no thanks!
4) Suggestions
- memorable genre/medium cross-overs
fictional characters switching from comedy to horror or TV character cameos in movies, that sort of thing
- celebritries with royal/noble ancestry
- something about Jasper Fforde?
posted by bigfatmeanie on 1-31-2010 at 11:37 pm
My Dream Board:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
My Chemical Romance
Today’s Billboard’s Top 100
Rent
Harry Potter
Young Adult Novels
posted by Jazmine on 6-12-2010 at 2:37 pm
Harry Potter
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Batman
Doctor Who
Broadway musicals
Greek mythology
posted by faith on 7-8-2010 at 2:45 am
1) 1. Star Wars
2. NFL Teams
3. Nine Letter Words
4. THe Chronicles of Narnia
5. Beatle’s Music
6. Months that Start With “Feb”
posted by Ben H. on 1-25-2011 at 5:48 pm