Sunday, July 31, 2011

80s Trivia: What was the nickname of the character who died on Cheers?

Real life sometimes gets in the way of television production - as if any proof was needed, just look at Ashton's Kutcher's new new gig as the star of Two and a Half Men after Charlie Sheen's...whatever.

Sometimes, this happens in an even more sad manner.  The 80s mainstay Cheers is a great example of this, when one character died after the actor that portrayed him past away.  So, off of Pocket Trivia: 80s Trivia -  What was the nickname of the character who died on Cheers?  Was it Norm, Geronimo, Huff or Coach?

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

US History Trivia: Who was the last President to own slaves?

Before their emancipation, 12 US Presidents owned slaves - obviously, this practice stopped before the civil war.  Some of those slaves and their "masters" are famous - everyone now knows, for example, that Thomas Jefferson had children with Sally Hemings, his slave; from accounts, they appeared to have had a relationship that was more than just sexual.

Today's question, off of Pocket Trivia: US History - Who was the last President to own slaves? Was it Ulyssess S. Grant, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson or Abraham Lincoln?

Monday, July 25, 2011

80s Trivia: What made-for-TV movie depicted the aftermath of a nuclear war between the US and Russia?

The 1980s were a decade of dangerous possibilities; namely that the Cold War could end the world as we know it.  Potential Armageddon never seemed too far away, and this was captured by much of the media.  One made-for-TV movie became known for its doomsday-scenarios, heart-wrenching characterizations and graphic depictions of a post-nuclear America.  Off of Pocket Trivia: 80s Trivia - What made-for-TV movie depicted the aftermath of a nuclear war between the US and Russia?  Was it Rise of the Resistance, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Red Dawn or The Day After?


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Movies Trivia: How many African American women have ever won the Academy Award for Best Actress?

African Americans have, unfortunately, reaped the rewards of American society later than their white counterparts; the Academy Awards are no exception.  The first African-American didn't win an Oscar until 1939 (Hattie McDowell for Best Supporting Actress in Gone With the Wind) and a limited amount of woman have ever won the Best Actress award - the subject of today's question.  Off of Pocket Trivia: Movies Trivia - How many African American women have ever won the Academy Award for Best Actress? 1, 4, 7 or 10?

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

US History Trivia: Who was President when the last state was admitted to the Union?

Since the original founding of the United States, 37 states have been admitted to the Union (after the original 13 colonies).  It goes without saying that many Presidents have presided over the entrance of different states into the Union; so, off of Pocket Trivia: US History - Who was President when the last state was admitted to the Union?  Was it Franklin Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Harry Truman or Dwight Eisenhower?

Monday, July 18, 2011

Music Trivia: What song spent the most time as #1 on the Billboard Hot 100?

Only one song has the honor of having been #1 for the longest amount of consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100?  This list, considered by the music industry to be one of the most important to any group's career, is constantly reviewed by experts, ratio & TV stations to determine air play - its importance cannot be understated.  So, off of Pocket Trivia: Music Trivia - What song spent the most time as #1 on the Billboard Hot 100? Was it:

  • One Sweet Day (Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men)
  • Thriller (Michael Jackson)
  • Poker Face (Lady GaGa)
  • We Belong Together (Mariah Carey)

Friday, July 15, 2011

Movies Trivia: In what film does Laurence Fishburne star as a spaceship captain?

Laurence Fishburne is an exceptionally well-versed actor who has appeared on stage, television and film.  His acting credits are extremely varied; everything from Shakespeare (he was the first African-American to play Othello in a major motion picture) to cop (CSI) to Broadway (where he won a Tony for his performance in Two Trains Running).  It is a film of Fishburne's that is the subject of today's question.  Off of Pocket Trivia: Movies Trivia - In what film does Laurence Fishburne star as a spaceship captain? Is it Aliens 4, Event Horizon, Battlespace or Flight to mars?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

US Presidents Trivia: Who was the first President to leave American soil while President?

It is now taken as a matter of course that US Presidents leave the country to conduct matters of foreign affairs.  However, this was once not the case - in fact, in a different era, President's literally never left the country.  So, off of Pocket Trivia: US Presidents - Who was the first President to leave American soil while President?  Was it Franklin Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson or Woodrow Wilson?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

US History Trivia: Which of these men never served as Vice President?

Aside from when an accident of history occurs, the average American does not know who has served as Vice President past twenty or so years.  Indeed, to a large extent, their biggest responsibility is to be ready to serve at a moments notice.  If you need any proof of this, consider this: Truman was Roosevelt's third Vice President.  Do you know his first two?

So, off of Pocket Trivia: US History -Which of these men never served as Vice President? Eldridge Gerry, George Clinton, Bob Dole or Walter Mondale?

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Celebrity Trivia: Which of these stars had said she suffered from Multiple Personality Disorder?

Mental illness strikes celebrities at the same rate that it strikes the rest of the population, so it should come as no surprise that many celebrities have suffered (or claimed to have suffered) from some pretty serious illnesses.  Multiple Personalities Disorder is a relatively controversial disorder among the mental health community; there are some that argue that the disease does not exist.  However, to the celebrity that is the answer to today's question, the disease is all too real.  Off of Pocket Trivia: Celebrity Trivia:  Which of these stars had said she suffered from Multiple Personality Disorder?  Is it Oprah Winfrey, Sally Fields, Joan Rivers or Roseanne Barr?

Monday, July 11, 2011

80s Trivia: What happened to Danny Tanner's wife in Full House?

Who didn't love Full House?  If you didn't, you're probably evil, or something.  Seriously, the show was a staple of the late 80s/early 90s and a fixture on ABC's famed TGIF line-up.  The show featured the three Tanner daughters and Dad and two Uncles, as well as the related family, all living under one roof.  There was, however, no Mom - and where the Mom went is the source of today's trivia.  Off of Pocket Trivia: 80s Trivia - What happened to Danny Tanner's wife in Full House? Did she leave the family after Michelle's birth, die of cancer, killed by a drunk driver or killed in a house fire?

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

80s Trivia: What character famously died on Sesame Street?

If you grew up in the 80s (or 70s, 90s, 00s or today, for that matter), you watched Sesame Street.  The program has set the bar for everything that kids television should be.  It is fun, educational and humorous - for both the kid and the parent.

That being said, the show is also known to tackle some pretty heavy issues, including racism, AIDS (the South African version of the show features a character with HIV) and death.

Reflecting the death of this characters real-life actor, Sesame Street was forced to explain to Big Bird, and indeed, its entire children's audience, what death was and what happened to this character.  The resulting scene led to one of the most touching TV scenes in the past thirty years.  Off of Pocket Trivia: 80s Trivia -  What character famously died on Sesame Street?  Was it Maria, Gordon, Mr. Hooper or Dan?

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

US History Trivia: Who is the only President to never marry?

With the 4th of July yesterday, we have to do a question on US History.  Presidential wives have become a fixture in Presidential politics - in many respects, the First Lady is almost as well known as the President himself, with the First Lady's popularity frequently eclipsing the President's.  However, one President, and one President only, never married. Off of Pocket Trivia: US History - Who is the only President to never marry?  Was it James Buchanan, Woodrow Wilson, Grover Cleveland on John Tyler?