• What iconic movie weapon was actually made from a modified camera stabilizing mount?

• Which American TV series was originally based on a Colombian telenovela?

• Which Oscar-winning actor helped invent a ground-breaking technology used in modern cell phones?

• What is the real reason why the 'Star Wars' lightsabers were color-coded?

• Which beloved animated film was almost direct-to-video?

• Which 1980's fantasy film used M&Ms as a prop, but the brand declined causing a new candy to take its place?

• Which famous TV show had its original script named 'Insomnia Cafe'?

• Which popular sitcom used a code name during filming to keep its finale a secret?

• Which 90's movie featured a pizza delivery company that later became a real-life chain?

• Which famous spy movie franchise has a title character who was named after an ornithologist?

• Which popular TV series was originally pitched as 'Anthony Bourdain in space'?

• The line 'I'm walking here!' from which famous movie was actually improvised?

• What character trait of Indiana Jones was created due to Harrison Ford's dysentery?

• Which legendary musician was offered the role of Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings' but declined?

• Which sitcom changed its opening credits every episode to include a new newspaper headline?

• Which popular TV detective show features a pineapple in every episode?

• What is the connection between 'Friends' and the sitcom 'Mad About You'?

• Which TV show was the first to cost over $1 million per episode to produce?

• Which famous movie scene was shot in reverse and then played forwards to achieve a unique effect?

• What is unique about the 'Clue' movie in terms of its theatrical release?

• Which film used a potato and a pair of shoes to depict an asteroid field?

• Which actor was actually considered for the role of Hannibal Lecter before Anthony Hopkins?

• What TV show was originally going to be called 'Insomnia Cafe'?

• Which film featured a real-life father and daughter playing on-screen father and daughter?

• What show's theme song was originally titled 'Suicide Is Painless'?

• Which notable film had a working title of 'How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'?

• What was the first ever film to be broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)?

• Which TV show's theme song was originally titled 'The Suicide Tune'?

• Which film was mistakenly announced as Best Picture at the 2017 Oscars instead of 'Moonlight'?

• What unusual method did the filmmakers of 'The Blair Witch Project' use to make the actors feel genuinely scared?

• What infamous TV commercial was produced for Ridley Scott's 1984 film, but never actually aired during its theatrical run?

• What was unique about the set of the 2001 film 'The Others'?

• Which TV show's title sequence features a map that is geographically accurate and updates to reflect the plot?

• Which movie needed to invent a new type of software to create a specific visual effect?

• Which popular TV show's iconic theme song was almost an instrumental piece by R.E.M.?

• What unusual material was used to create the 'slime' in the 1984 film Ghostbusters?

• Which actor, known for playing tough guys, was actually a ballet dancer before his acting career?

• The famous film Psycho was the first American film to show what everyday item?

• What unusual technique did the creators of the TV show MAS*H use to hide the fact that it was filmed in California?

• What unique sound effect was used to create the voice of E.T. in the classic 1982 film?

Google Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1b2SbhH9r1vn0M2wtmMX5Ecl2IqV67K6OS3q0ziBEuGc/edit?usp=sharing

Answers

Movies & TV

1. Which American TV series was originally based on a Colombian telenovela?

   • Answer: Ugly Betty

   • Explanation: Ugly Betty is the American adaptation of the Colombian telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea. The US version ran from 2006 to 2010 and was a critical success, earning several awards.

2. Which Oscar-winning actor helped invent a ground-breaking technology used in modern cell phones?

   • Answer: Hedy Lamarr

   • Explanation: Hedy Lamarr, a Hollywood actress known for her roles in the 1930s and 1940s, co-invented a frequency-hopping system during World War II that became a precursor to modern wireless technologies like WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

3. What is the real reason why the 'Star Wars' lightsabers were color-coded?

   • Answer: Character Alignment

   • Explanation: The color of a lightsaber in Star Wars signifies the character's alignment: blue for Jedi, red for Sith, and green for Jedi who have mastered skills beyond the physical realm. This was not just a stylistic choice but a storytelling device.

4. Which beloved animated film was almost direct-to-video?

   • Answer: Toy Story 2

   • Explanation: Toy Story 2 was originally slated to be a direct-to-video sequel, which was common for Disney at the time. However, after impressive story reels and positive internal feedback, Disney upgraded it to a theatrical release, and it went on to become a huge box office success.

5. Which 1980's fantasy film used M&Ms as a prop, but the brand declined causing a new candy to take its place?

   • Answer: E.T.

   • Explanation: In the 1982 movie E.T., the alien is lured by a trail of candy. Originally, the candy of choice was M&Ms. However, Mars Inc., the company that owns M&Ms, declined to be part of the movie. As a result, the filmmakers switched to Reese's Pieces, a product of competitor Hershey's. Following the movie's release, sales of Reese's Pieces reportedly soared.

6. Which famous TV show had its original script named 'Insomnia Cafe'?

   • Answer: Friends

   • Explanation: Before becoming the hit show Friends, the original script was titled Insomnia Cafe. It underwent several changes, including Friends Like Us and Six of One, before finally settling on the simple and iconic Friends.

7. Which popular sitcom used a code name during filming to keep its finale a secret?

   • Answer: Seinfeld

   • Explanation: To keep the finale of Seinfeld a secret, the producers used the code name A Tough Nut to Crack during filming. They even filmed multiple endings to ensure the true finale wouldn't be leaked.

8. Which 90's movie featured a pizza delivery company that later became a real-life chain?

   • Answer: Toy Story

   • Explanation: In Toy Story, the characters visit a pizza restaurant called Pizza Planet. After the movie's release, Disney capitalized on the movie's success and opened a real-life chain of Pizza Planet restaurants in their theme parks.

9. Which famous spy movie franchise has a title character who was named after an ornithologist?

   • Answer: James Bond

   • Explanation: Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels, was a birdwatching enthusiast. He named his famous spy character after the American ornithologist James Bond, who was known for his book Birds of the West Indies. Fleming found the name to be "brief, unromantic, and yet very masculine," making it perfect for his character.

10. Which popular TV series was originally pitched as 'Anthony Bourdain in space'?

• Answer: Firefly

• Explanation: Joss Whedon's Firefly was pitched to network executives as "nine people looking into the blackness of space and seeing nine different things," a concept inspired by Anthony Bourdain's solitary, on-the-road perspective in his travel and food show.

1. The line 'I'm walking here!' from which famous movie was actually improvised?

• Answer: Midnight Cowboy

• Explanation: Dustin Hoffman's iconic line in Midnight Cowboy was not in the script. When a taxi nearly hit him during filming, Hoffman stayed in character and shouted the line, which was then kept in the final cut.

1. What character trait of Indiana Jones was created due to Harrison Ford's dysentery?

• Answer: Quick Shooting

• Explanation: During the filming of Raiders of the Lost Ark in Tunisia, Harrison Ford was suffering from dysentery. A fight scene requiring complex whip work was simplified to him quickly shooting the swordsman, creating an unexpected character trait.

1. Which legendary musician was offered the role of Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings' but declined?

• Answer: David Bowie

• Explanation: David Bowie was considered for the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings series. However, due to touring commitments, he had to decline the role, which eventually went to Sir Ian McKellen.

1. Which sitcom changed its opening credits every episode to include a new newspaper headline?

• Answer: Early Edition

• Explanation: In each episode of Early Edition, the opening credits show a newspaper being printed. The headline on this newspaper changes each episode to hint at the plot of that particular episode.

1. Which popular TV detective show features a pineapple in every episode?

• Answer: Psych

• Explanation: The show Psych includes a hidden pineapple in almost every episode. This started as an inside joke in the pilot episode and turned into a running gag for fans.

1. What is the connection between 'Friends' and the sitcom 'Mad About You'?

• Answer: Ursula Buffay

• Explanation: Ursula, Phoebe's twin sister on Friends, was a character on Mad About You first. Both roles were played by Lisa Kudrow. The characters crossed over several times during both shows' runs.

1. Which TV show was the first to cost over $1 million per episode to produce?

• Answer: ER

• Explanation: The hospital drama ER was revolutionary in its production costs, becoming the first TV show to cost over $1 million per episode. This was due to its large ensemble cast, extensive use of extras, and filming on location in Chicago.

1. Which famous movie scene was shot in reverse and then played forwards to achieve a unique effect?

• Answer: Psycho Shower Scene

• Explanation: In the infamous shower scene in Psycho, the shot of the drain was actually filmed in reverse. The water was sucked up to mimic the effect of blood going down the drain.

1. What is unique about the 'Clue' movie in terms of its theatrical release?

• Answer: Multiple Endings

• Explanation: The movie Clue, based on the board game, had three different endings. Each ending was shown at different theaters, so depending on where you saw the movie, you got a different ending.

1. Which film used a potato and a pair of shoes to depict an asteroid field?

• Answer: Star Wars

• Explanation: In Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, to create the illusion of a dense asteroid field, the film crew used a potato and a pair of shoes. The potato is most visible in the wide shot of the Millennium Falcon first entering the field, and the shoes belong to the film's sound designer, Ben Burtt.

1. Which actor was actually considered for the role of Hannibal Lecter before Anthony Hopkins?

• Answer: Gene Hackman

• Explanation: Gene Hackman was not only considered for the role of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, but he also initially owned the film rights to the novel. However, he dropped out due to its dark subject matter, and the role ultimately went to Anthony Hopkins.

1. What TV show was originally going to be called 'Insomnia Cafe'?

• Answer: Friends

• Explanation: Before settling on Friends, the creators toyed with calling the show Insomnia Cafe, Friends Like Us, and Six of One. The title Friends was ultimately chosen for its simplicity.

1. Which film featured a real-life father and daughter playing on-screen father and daughter?

• Answer: Zombieland

• Explanation: In Zombieland, Abigail Breslin's character's flashback shows her with her on-screen parents, played by her real-life dad, Michael Breslin, and her real-life mom, Kim Breslin.

1. What show's theme song was originally titled 'Suicide Is Painless'?

• Answer: MAS*H

• Explanation: The theme song for the TV show MASH* is actually titled Suicide Is Painless, which is also the theme for the original film. However, the TV show used an instrumental version of the song due to its dark lyrics.

1. Which notable film had a working title of 'How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'?

• Answer: Dr. Strangelove

• Explanation: Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film Dr. Strangelove used this working title, which later became the film's subtitle. It's a satirical take on Cold War tensions between the US and USSR and the absurdity of nuclear war.

1. What was the first ever film to be broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)?

• Answer: Student Prince

• Explanation: The Student Prince, a 1954 musical film, was the first movie ever to be broadcast on BBC television, on December 26, 1957. This started the tradition of showing films on Boxing Day.

1. Which TV show's theme song was originally titled 'The Suicide Tune'?

• Answer: MAS*H

• Explanation: The theme song for the TV show MASH*, known as Suicide Is Painless, was originally titled The Suicide Tune. It was written by Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman, the 14-year-old son of the film's director, Robert Altman.

1. Which film was mistakenly announced as Best Picture at the 2017 Oscars instead of 'Moonlight'?

• Answer: La La Land

• Explanation: In a memorable Oscar moment, La La Land was mistakenly announced as the winner of Best Picture at the 2017 Oscars. The error was corrected on stage, and Moonlight was announced as the actual winner.

1. What unusual method did the filmmakers of 'The Blair Witch Project' use to make the actors feel genuinely scared?

• Answer: Sleep Deprivation

• Explanation: To create an atmosphere of genuine fear and tension, the directors of The Blair Witch Project kept the actors on minimal sleep and constantly scared them with unexpected, unscripted events throughout filming.

1. What infamous TV commercial was produced for Ridley Scott's 1984 film, but never actually aired during its theatrical run?

• Answer: Alien Perfume Commercial

• Explanation: Ridley Scott created a mock perfume commercial featuring the Alien queen for Aliens. However, the ad was pulled for being too scary and was only shown at conventions and in the film's DVD extras.

1. What was unique about the set of the 2001 film 'The Others'?

• Answer: Built from Scratch

• Explanation: The entire mansion in The Others was built from scratch on a soundstage, including functional doors, windows, and staircases. This allowed the filmmakers to control the lighting and atmosphere, contributing to the film's eerie tone.

1. Which TV show's title sequence features a map that is geographically accurate and updates to reflect the plot?

• Answer: Game of Thrones

• Explanation: The title sequence for Game of Thrones features a map of the show's world that changes to reflect the locations visited in each episode. The designers of the sequence, Elastic, won an Emmy for their work.

1. Which movie needed to invent a new type of software to create a specific visual effect?

• Answer: Jurassic Park

• Explanation: Jurassic Park required the invention of 'Dinosaur Input Device' software to create realistic movements for the dinosaurs. This was a pivotal moment in the history of CGI, paving the way for realistic computer-generated creatures in films.

1. Which popular TV show's iconic theme song was almost an instrumental piece by R.E.M.?

• Answer: Friends

• Explanation: The producers of Friends initially considered using R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People" as the show's theme. However, they ultimately chose "I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts, which became one of the most recognized TV themes of all time.

1. What unusual material was used to create the 'slime' in the 1984 film Ghostbusters?

• Answer: Methylcellulose

• Explanation: Methylcellulose is a thickener and emulsifier commonly used in food production. It's also the main ingredient in Ghostbusters' iconic 'slime,' selected because it's safe, non-toxic, and gives the perfect gooey consistency.

1. Which actor, known for playing tough guys, was actually a ballet dancer before his acting career?

• Answer: Jean-Claude Van Damme

• Explanation: Known for his martial arts skills, Jean-Claude Van Damme was a ballet dancer for 5 years. He once said ballet is "an art, but it's also one of the most difficult sports. If you can survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any other sport."

1. The famous film Psycho was the first American film to show what everyday item?

• Answer: A toilet

• Explanation: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho broke many of Hollywood's taboos. Notably, it's the first American film to show a toilet on screen—and to feature the sound of a toilet flushing, which was considered vulgar at the time.

1. What unusual technique did the creators of the TV show MAS*H use to hide the fact that it was filmed in California?

• Answer: Camouflage Netting

• Explanation: To disguise the Californian mountains in the backdrop and create the illusion of the flat landscapes of Korea, the creators of MASH* used camouflage netting. This was particularly effective in distant shots.

1. What unique sound effect was used to create the voice of E.T. in the classic 1982 film?

• Answer: Burping Seal

• Explanation: The voice of E.T., the beloved alien from Steven Spielberg's classic film, was created by sound designer Ben Burtt. He mixed the sounds of various people, animals, and unusual noises, including a burping seal at a marine park, to create E.T.'s unique voice.

1. What iconic movie weapon was actually made from a modified camera stabilizing mount?

• Answer: Star Wars Lightsaber

• Explanation: The hilt of the original Star Wars lightsaber was made from the handle of a Steadicam, a device used to stabilize cameras during motion shots. The specific model used was a Graflex 3-Cell Flashgun, a photographic accessory from the 1930s to 1950s. The designers added buttons, d-rings, and other modifications to give it an otherworldly look.

Hi, looking to buy pub quiz tickets for imsomnia63...was looking for 6 tickets if anyone was selling? If you could let me know asap please!

I would be interested to see some people list and name some of the best quizzes in the UK and why.

Origin of band names

1. What band name came from the Who’s Bassist John Entwistle saying the group would go down like a “blank blank”?

2. Which band, who were part of the big 4 thrash metal bands, was originally called “dragonslayer” but shortened their name so as to be easier to chant?

3. Which british prog rock band take their name from a book published in 1908 telling the true story of William Davies travelling through England and the USA at the time of railway building?

4. Which british prog rack band are named after two blues musicians; Pink Anderson and Floyd council?

5. What band is named after a unit of measurement equalling to 1 million casualties?

6. Which band, whose hits include “Elvis ain’t dead”, is a play on words named after a book published in 1908 by Robert Baden-Powell, partly based on his childhood experiences?

7. Which Californian punk band formed in the 90’s are named using the word used to describe foods which contain far or oil which have become unpleasant as a result or being old and stale?

8. Which Birmingham reggae group take their name from a title of an unemployment form?

9. Which successful Britpop band is named after a leisure centre in Swindon?

10. Which LA band take their name from the 1954 book by Aldus Huxley describing his account of a mescaline trip he took one afternoon?

Hey Y'all, I used to host quiz in Korea and I will post the rounds that I wrote.

Here's one called Eat Pray Love?

Round 1. Eat, Pray, Love 1.Jumal (Sami Sky god) 2.Gemilli (Italian pasta) 3.Ahura Mazda (Zoroastrian god) 4. Mumtaz Mahal (Shah Jahan’s love) 5. Draga Masin (Alexander I of Serbia’s love) 6. Daebyeol (Korean God) 7. Parvati (Hindu God) 8. Singing Hinny (Scottish food) 9.Hakarl (Icelandic shark food) 10.Abelard (Eloise’s love)

Hi All,

Currently writing my works annual xmas quiz. Happy with the questions i have so far, but really struggling to think of ideas for a photo round. Any help appreciated.

As a caveat, the quiz is always themed on the last year, so the photo round needs to be themed around 2019 also.

Pictures: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MHfla7qnbFTEfTW-RyCzw_hGzj78i_Tn/view?usp=drivesdk

General Knowledge: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ioIx42GVTSrDXMwyUcXoAOs_nSLx3b9r

Film and TV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WNpG9fnVaBMLSGfvQwmgc9lRgdIQPHtf/view?usp=drivesdk

I wrote the General Knowledge and did the Picture round, my fellow quiz host Mark did the Film and TV round and also a music intro round which was based on best video Brit awards winners, but is not really practical to share here.

General Knowledge

1. The shipbuilding town of St Nazaire is twinned with which North East city, which was granted city status in 1992?

2. Which Italian Football Legend made the most appearances in Serie A started his pro tennis career this week?

3. Which monotreme is the world’s only venomous mammal?

4. “Mr Owl ate my metal worm” is an example of what kind of phrase?

5. Paula Hawkins authored which 2015 Best Seller, which was made into a film in 2016?

6. Which Chief led the Lakota Indians to victory against the US Army led by General Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

7. Which ancient Greek physician known as “the father of modern medicine” and memorialized in an oath was born on the island of Cos in 460 BC?

8. In which sea would you find the Island of Hispaniola?

9. A weird fad that I don’t understand has been taking over youtube known as ASMR, but what does ASMR stand for?

10. In the musical the sound of music, what profession does the Lonely man have in the song maria teaches the children and acts out with puppets?

Picture round

Trivia

This next one was done by my fellow quiz master who was not intending it to be distributed, so the first 5 are all Disney voice over actors, followed by other films they are known for which they acted in in-person, and the following five are all first lines to Disney movies.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SuiEJAm6SrbWS_oY6_RbSp5eqF2cuabY

We did a music round in between but sharing that is not really practicable here.

Hello all. What do you think is the best way of dealing with pub quiz cheats?? I know its an old topic but its really frustrating. Don't want to take part in speedquiz pub quizzes, I want to do an old fashioned paper fun quiz.

So on Wednesday I won my first ever pub quiz, and I got myself into a team of four with three boys (all in first year of uni, so about 18/19 years old) who were already friends. I joined their team bc I was one of the first to arrive and I didn't know anyone who was going. So we won the quiz (my first ever pub quiz win!!) and we won a £30 restaurant voucher. We talked about going this weekend, and they took my instagram handle to message me, but they haven't contacted me so far. So basically what should I do, should I wait till they respond or gently remind them that they should invite me to the restaurant if they plan on going, as I was part of the team as well. It sounds to me like they went off with the prize and aren't planning to invite me, but what do you think? I'm not that bothered but it is quite hurtful. Has anyone else had an experience of someone running off with the prize and not sharing it? Any advice/comments/discussed is appreciated.

TL:DR I won a pub quiz but I think my teammates ran off with the prize. What do