What’s the name of the bowling alley in "The Big Lebowski"? Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski basically has two hobbies: being a slacker and bowling. What’s the name of the bowling alley the Dude and his cohorts frequent?...
In medicine, what does MRI stand for? There are some things in medicine that are pretty impressive. If we’re looking for something that can get us at least close to a tricorder, it’s the MRI. What does MRI actually stand for?...
When did "America's Funniest Home Videos" first premiere? There are few things as comforting in life as when Sunday evening would hit and you’d hear the theme song for "America’s Funniest Home Videos" followed by Bob Saget’s hilarious voiceovers. Let’s revisit those days with a taste of the theme song’s original...
Who was the first Postmaster General? The United States Postal Service dates back to 1775, a full year before America declared its independence. At that time, it was simply called the United States Post Office. Who was the first person to hold the title of Postmaster General?...
Which movie won Best Picture at the 1985 Academy Awards? Some of my picks to be nominated for Best Picture in 1985 would've been "Ghostbusters," "The Karate Kid," and "Gremlins" but I'm not a member of "the Academy." Which movie won Best Picture at the 1985 Academy Awards?...
What movie does Jerry bootleg in "Seinfeld"? Part of the reason "Seinfeld" was so damn good was because it was a perfect reflection of real life. Although, most of us probably never had to bootleg a movie inside the theater the way Jerry did. Which movie is he initially forced to record by Kramer’s friend, Brody?...
How many teeth does an adult human have? Teeth are extremely strange if you stop to think about it. They’re like bones but not actually bones, just pop up out of your mouth, and babies are born with teeth already in their heads. How many adult teeth does the average human have?...
Where did the name for Punky Brewster come from? The image of Soleil Moon Frye at a young age portraying the lead character from the sitcom "Punky Brewster" is one of those things that just feels quintessential ‘80s. Where did the idea for the name come from?...
Which major Hollywood star was NOT considered for the lead role in "The Mummy"? It’s hard to believe it’s been a quarter of a century since Brendan Fraser portrayed the bumbling yet tough adventurer Rick O'Connell in a remake of "The Mummy"...
When did the Berlin Wall fall? By the ‘80s, the political winds were shifting and the split of Germany and Berlin after WWII was not really working. People began amassing at the Berlin Wall, and pretty soon, it came crumbling down. When did that historic moment happen?...
Who almost played Dr. Rumack in "Airplane!" instead of Leslie Nielsen? While he began his career as a leading man, count me among those who consider Leslie Nielsen nothing short of a comedic genius. And it was the 1980 summer spoof "Airplane!" that really started that part of his career. But Dr. Rumack was nearly played by someone else. Who was it?...
What’s the name of the fictional college in "Animal House"? "National Lampoon's Animal House" set the bar for what a college comedy movie ought to be. The misfits, the slacking, the authority figure getting embarrassed — it has it all. What’s the name of the school where the members of Delta Tau Chi cause trouble?...
Which famous director is Nicolas Cage related to? Nicolas Cage is truly one of the most unique and quirky actors who also can still somehow play any character and completely embody them. Which famous director is related to Nicolas Cage?...
Which ‘90s sitcom star was a voice actor for "Muppet Babies"? Doing some voice acting work seems like a pretty great way to get into the business and help pay some bills — and really, could become a lucrative career in its own right. That was nearly the path this sitcom star that broke out in the ‘90s took on "Muppet Babies."...
What was the development codename for Disney World? When Walt Disney went searching for land to use for his new dream of a mega-park complex, he knew he’d need to save a little money to make it all happen. And it also needed to be kept secret to avoid overpaying for being Disney. What secret codename did they use while shopping for land?...
What game was featured on the cover of the first Nintendo Power? The first issue of Nintendo Power has become an iconic piece of video game history, but how many of us out there remember what game was given the honor of gracing the cover?...
How many times has Susan Lucci lost at the Emmys? Susan Lucci's Emmy saga: From soap opera queen to award show legend. Discover the astonishing journey of daytime TV's most resilient star....
What does M.A.D. stand for in "Inspector Gadget"? Inspector Gadget: A cyborg detective with an unexplained past. With help from niece Penny and Brain, he defends Metro City from Dr. Claw's M.A.D. organization. But what does M.A.D. stand for?...
What amusement park do the Griswolds travel to in "National Lampoon’s Vacation?" 1983’s "National Lampoon’s Vacation" centers around the Griswold family, at patriarch Clark’s urging, heading out from Chicago on a road trip to an amusement park in Southern California. What’s the name of the amusement park they’re trying to reach?...
What did Freddie Mercury almost call “Bohemian Rhapsody”? No chorus. No hook. A six minute song that is essentially a suite and which the band referred to as a “mock opera.” And yet, somehow, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a huge hit. What title did Freddie Mercury originally give to “Bohemian Rhapsody”?...
Who is the first superhero to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Hollywood Boulevard has been the ultimate red carpet for the entertainment industry since 1960. It's where the greats leave their mark – quite literally – in terrazzo and brass. Who is the first superhero to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?...
Who was the only actor to play the same role in both the film and TV versions of "Alice"? Explore "Alice" from Scorsese's film to TV hit. Greasy spoon drama, sassy waitresses, and a trivia stumper: Who's the only actor in both versions?...
What group did Mick Jagger and Keith Richards play in before The Rolling Stones? The Rolling Stones' first release was a self-titled debut in 1964, and as of 2024, they’ve been putting out music for 60 years. And the thing is, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were playing in bands before the Stones were even actually a band. What band did they play in together before the Stones?...
Who directed "Three Men and a Baby"? In 1987 they had the audacity to put Ted Danson, Tom Selleck, and Steve Guttenberg together as three bachelors who are suddenly faced with taking care of a baby. And yet, perhaps even more surprising is who directed this film. Who was supervising things behind the camera?...
Which ‘70s movie was pulled from theaters at the director's request? Hollywood's self-censorship saga: From the Hays Code to '70s cinema. Which classic film did its own director pull from theaters?...
What inspired the song “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple? Every human being can play the riff from “Smoke on the Water” on guitar. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has said that he based it on Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven. What inspired “Smoke on the Water” and that iconic riff to be written?...
How much money have James Bond movies made at the box office? Over 60 years there have been 25 official Eon-backed Bond movies so far, plus two rogue productions. It all started with 1962’s adaptation of Dr. No, featuring none other than the iconic Sean Connery. How much cash has Bond made at the box office so far?...
Which land animal has the largest eyes? Dive into the dental world of the animal kingdom. Read about the oddities of animals and try to guess which animal has the most teeth....
What's the main character's name in the original "Quantum Leap"? Premiering in 1989, "Quantum Leap" is kind of a perfect show. While it’s recently been rebooted, we’re talking about the OG series. What’s the name of the main character?...
When did the first person successfully go over Niagara Falls in a barrel? Niagara Falls is actually a group of three waterfalls, each cool in its own way. The biggest waterfall, Horseshoe Falls, is nearly 200 feet high and is the most powerful waterfall in all of North America. When did someone pull off going over Niagara Falls in a barrel?...
Which is the only girl group to have a best-selling album of the year in the U.S.? Explore the cultural impact of iconic girl groups, from The Ronettes to SWV. Discover their legacy and test your knowledge with a surprising chart-topping trivia question....
Who was initially cast as Chief Brody in "Jaws"? As Jaws approaches its 50th anniversary, discover the surprising casting history of Chief Brody. Who was initially chosen for Roy Scheider's iconic role in Spielberg's classic?...
What word ended each episode of "The Waltons"? Relive the nostalgic charm of '70s TV, from family viewing habits to iconic shows, and test your knowledge of 'The Waltons' famous sign-off....
When was the first personal computer released? We live in an era where everyone has some kind of computer near them or in their pockets at any given time, but back in the day, the mere thought of that would have blown out the minds of every man, woman, and child. When did the first personal computer come out?...
Who is the villain in the TV show "ThunderCats"? Who's the main villain in "ThunderCats"? Revisit the classic animated series, from Thundera's destruction to Third Earth, and test your knowledge of the cats' nemesis....
Which famous guitar player plays the solo in Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”? “Beat It” was released on the 1982 "Thriller" album and as a single in February of 1983 — and would go on to be certified 8x platinum. But the song wouldn’t be quite as good without that iconic guitar solo. Which famous guitar player lent their talents on this legendary song?...
Which '80s movie star had films in both the #1 and #2 spots at the weekend box office simultaneously? Explore the wild 1980s box office and its eclectic hits. Discover which actor achieved the rare feat of simultaneously starring in both the #1 and #2 movies during this unique era of cinema....
What is the lock combination on the mysterious "Pulp Fiction" briefcase? It’s hard to describe 1994’s Pulp Fiction effect on movies and pop culture. Despite all the success that followed, many still consider Pulp Fiction to be Quentin Tarantino’s best film. Throughout the movie we see a briefcase get opened up by various characters — what combination do they use?...
What was Captain Kirk's original middle initial? It’s hard not to include the T when you’re talking about James T. Kirk from the Star Trek franchise. Yet for the hardcore fans out there, they’ll push up their glasses and note that actually Captain Kirk didn’t always have the same middle initial. What was Kirk’s original middle initial?...
Who voiced the mysterious Robin Masters in "Magnum, P.I."? Thomas Magnum lives on a sweet property in Hawaii. He only gets to enjoy such a luxurious lifestyle thanks to the mysterious owner of the property, Robin Masters. While we rarely hear from Masters, who famously provides the voice?...
Where is the tallest building in the world? Where is the world's tallest building? Explore skyscraper history from 1800s 10-story 'giants' to modern mega-structures in this brief, humorous look at our obsession with building high....
What's the name of Doc Brown's second dog in Back to the Future? Besides being an underappreciated genius and spacetime continuum repairman, Doc Brown apparently is also a dog person. In the first "Back to the Future," we see Doc with a dog in both 1955 and 1985. What’s the name of his dog in 1985?...
Which of these bands released an untitled album? Which famous band released an untitled album that became a classic? Explore this bold move in music history and its lasting impact on the industry....
What was the first product Sony ever produced? In 2023, Sony made over $23 billion in revenue, and currently employs over 113,000 people all over the world. Yet it has humble beginnings. What was the first thing Sony ever sold?...
What game saw sales jump in the ‘80s when it created a moral panic? The best way to make kids interested in something is to make it sound dangerous. Back in the ‘80s, parents would get in an outrage about any new thing that came out. One game in particular really caused a stir, but in the end the fervor only served to boost sales....
What's the name of the town where "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" takes place? Uncover the fictional setting of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Learn about Joss Whedon's journey from movie to TV series and the iconic town where Buffy's adventures unfold....
When was the first time beer was sold in a can? Explore the revolutionary history of canned beer. Discover when this game-changing packaging first hit the market and how it transformed the brewing industry and consumer experience....
What name did Van Halen use before getting famous? It was the early ‘70s when Alex and Eddie Van Halen first started thinking about putting a band together. But before they were going by their surname, Alex and Eddie had been playing gigs under a different name. What was Van Halen called before they got big?...
Who shot J.R. on "Dallas"? Discover how "Dallas" revolutionized TV cliffhangers with the iconic 'Who Shot J.R.?' storyline. Learn about the show's impact on binge-watching culture and its record-breaking viewership....
Who wasn't a founding member of Fleetwood Mac? Test your Fleetwood Mac knowledge: from 1967 London to Rock Hall fame, can you identify who wasn't an original member? Dive into this engaging music trivia about the band's ever-changing lineup....
What’s the name of the robot in "The Jetsons"? The Jetsons, that technicolor fever dream where we live in the clouds and gripe about three-hour workweeks, has warped our expectations for generations. In this skyward utopia, one character truly saves the day. So, what's the name of the robot maid in "The Jetsons"?...
Who almost played the role of Neo in "The Matrix" instead of Keanu Reeves? A quarter of a century later, 1999’s "The Matrix" still feels as relevant and exciting as ever. We’re still talking about the colors of pills, referencing glitches in the Matrix, and imagining what it would be like if this were all really just a simulation. Who almost played Neo instead of Keanu?...
What was the first dog breed to be cloned? Uncover the first breed of dog to be successfully cloned in this entertaining trivia challenge. Dive into the world of mad science and canine duplication, exploring the possibilities and peculiarities of doggy doppelgangers....
What's the highest amount paid for a VHS? Like many things from the time of yore VHS tapes have become high-priced collector items. If you happened to have one movie’s VHS copy, and you never opened it or watched it, then you might just have a small fortune. What’s the most a VHS tape has ever sold for?...
What was the Skywalker family name originally going to be in "Star Wars"? The Skywalker family will always be important to the Star Wars franchise. But a lot of things changed as Lucas revised his script. By the time "Star Wars" hit theaters in 1977, the Skywalker name had been solidified. What was the Skywalker family name almost going to be?...
What do you call a group of flamingos? If there’s one animal you can’t miss during a visit to the zoo, it’s always the flamingos. They’re also very social creatures, even for birds. They’ll come together in colonies that will number in the thousands. If you were to spot a group of flamingos hanging out, what would you call them?...
What is ALF’s real name? I hope there’s never a time in history that we forget about "ALF", the show nor the alien. It really exemplifies the kind of stuff people were willing to experiment with in the ‘80s. ALF is actually just an acronym. So what’s his Melmacian name?...
Finish the lyrics: "Ice, Ice baby" “Ice Ice Baby” began life as a B-side for a cover of "Play That Funky Music". But the cover wasn’t well received, so DJ David Morales played “Ice” instead — and the rest is history. The lyrics have probably been crammed into your brain by now… right?...
What’s the name of the boat in "Gilligan’s Island"? Despite the fact that Gilligan’s Island only ran for three seasons, it entertained generations of fans thanks to a thriving second life in reruns. Well into the ‘80s, kids were watching the failed escape attempts of Gilligan, The Skipper, Ginger, and the rest of the gang. What’s the boat's name?...
When was Stonehenge built? Stonehenge is one of those things that sounds like it’s not going to be very impressive — basically a bunch of rocks in a circle — but is actually kind of amazing. The culture responsible left no written records, so how old is Stonehenge?...
What's the first animated movie to be nominated for Best Picture? Discover which animated film broke barriers by earning the first Best Picture Oscar nomination. From Saturday morning cartoons to Academy Awards, explore animation's journey to cinematic recognition....
Which country eats the most ice cream per capita? While in terms of sheer volume there are a few places that consume a lot of the cold stuff, you can get a sense for who really loves ice cream by drilling down to a per capita level. When you look at it on a per person consumption basis, which country eats the most ice cream?...
What’s the name of the dance club in "Saturday Night Fever"? If you want to blame someone for disco, look no further than the 1977 classic starring John Travolta, "Saturday Night Fever." The dance club Tony Moreno (Travolta) frequents is central throughout the film. What’s the name of the club?...
What '70s movie is credited as the first blockbuster? Discover the '70s movie that revolutionized Hollywood's summer blockbuster era. Test your film history knowledge with this engaging trivia question about cinema's game-changing moment....
Who was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Uncover the groundbreaking first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. From soul-stirring vocals to genre-defying artistry, explore how this musical pioneer shaped rock history. Test your knowledge and discover the diverse world of rock legends in this engaging trivia challenge....
Which "Star Wars" actor couldn't stop making lightsaber noises? With the wealth of Star Wars content we have today, it’s easy to forget how scarce it once was. When the prequels were released, no matter what anyone said later, we all thought it was the greatest thing to ever happen in the history of cinema. New Star Wars...
What do you call a baby skunk? You gotta feel a bit for skunks. Imagine if everyone you met just turned and ran because they thought you smelled bad. Brutal. In addition, as babies they’re born blind and deaf and don’t open their eyes for three weeks. They tend to stick with their mothers for...
Which Muppets appeared in every episode of "The Muppet Show"? It’s kind of wild how well a show that is ostensibly strange as "The Muppet Show" did. It became so popular that potential guest stars started reaching out to the show wanting to appear. Across all the sketches and skits, only two Muppets appeared in every single episode. Who are they?...
Who was the lead singer of the band Genesis before Phil Collins? We’re talking about the band Genesis, active in one form or another from roughly 1967 up until 2022 (with a few gaps in there, to get technical). The band didn’t gain steam until Phil Collins started singing. Before him, the band had another singer — who was it?...
Who was the first superhero to popularize having a sidekick? Dive into the colorful world of superhero sidekicks in this witty trivia challenge. Discover which caped crusader first decided crime-fighting was better as a team sport and pioneered the dynamic duo trend that changed comics forever....
What popular arcade game was once outlawed in New York City? Explore the surprising history of media once thought to corrupt kids, from rock and roll to video games, and discover which popular arcade game was so controversial it was banned in New York City....
Which comedian hosted a Labor Day telethon for 44 years? Test your trivia knowledge about the comedy legend who hosted a 44-year Labor Day telethon tradition. This star-studded event raised $2 billion and featured icons from Sinatra to Jackson. Can you name the tireless host?...
What year did Labor Day become a national holiday? Put your Labor Day knowledge to the test with our trivia challenge. Guess when this beloved American holiday first became official and discover the surprising history behind your day off. No heavy lifting required!...
What was the tallest dinosaur? One of the main reasons we find dinosaurs so interesting is because they’re just so big. Standing under a T-Rex skeleton at the Natural History Museum is impressive and humbling all at once. Even among the lizard kings, one stood above them all, literally. How tall was the tallest dino?...
What was E.T.'s favorite candy? It's hard to understate the numerous strokes of genius Steven Spielberg had while making 1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. In one of the biggest moments in product placement history, which candy was E.T. introduced to that he ended up loving?...
Who was the lead singer of The Doors? Put your classic rock knowledge to the test! Can you name the controversial lead singer of The Doors? This psychedelic powerhouse of the 60s blended blues, rock, and poetry into mind-bending music. Are you ready to light your fire of rock trivia?...
What is the highest-grossing media franchise of all time? Explore the evolution from successful film franchises to dominant media empires. Discover how merchandising, toys, books, and more elevate franchises like Star Trek beyond movies and TV. Find out which franchise reigns supreme in earnings, surpassing all competitors in the entertainment industry....
What instrument does Jesse play on "Full House"? Dive into '90s nostalgia with our Full House trivia! Can you recall Uncle Jesse's signature instrument? From heartfelt ballads to rock anthems, test your knowledge of the coolest uncle in sitcom history....
The Best 90s Snacks That Ruled the Lunchroom Relive the glory days of '90s lunchroom snacks! From Dunkaroos to Cosmic Brownies, discover 10 iconic treats that ruled school cafeterias and made you the envy of your peers....
Who is the Roman god of the sea? Pre-Constantine, the Romans worshipped a multitude of gods and each household had its own shrine. Historians believe there were at least 67 Roman gods. When we’re talking Romans, who is the god of the sea?...
What is Goku’s birth name in "Dragon Ball"? Everyone knows Goku at this point even if you’ve never watched or read Dragon Ball. What most people don’t know is that Goku isn’t actually a human. When Goku crash-landed on Earth as a baby, he was given a new name by the nice old man who found him. What is Goku’s real name?...
What was the first handheld console to use cartridges? Test your gaming history knowledge with our witty trivia intro about the first cartridge-based handheld console. Relive the 80s tech revolution that changed portable gaming forever. Can you name this groundbreaking device?...
When was the first commercial movie theater opened? Explore the origins of commercial movie theaters while examining the industry's turbulent present, evolving history, and potential future innovations. When did the first theater open its doors?...
Who shot John Lennon? Born on October 9th, 1940, John Lennon was in the Beatles, a monumental cultural force, an artist, an all-time great songwriter, and so much more. But it’s hard not to think about all that Lennon could have done had he not died in such a tragic fashion. Who pulled the trigger on that tragic day?...
Which 1994 sports broadcast was interrupted by the O.J. Simpson chase? Relive the cultural impact of the 1994 O.J. Simpson chase. Learn how this pre-internet event captivated America, interrupting a major sports broadcast. Discover which game was cut for this unprecedented live coverage....
Which star didn't appear on "The All-New Mickey Mouse Club"? Let’s all sing along! M-I-C see you real soon K-E-Y Why? Because we like you M-O-U-S-E And from there what plays out in your head will depend on whether you watched more of the original '50s-era Mickey Mouse Club or were more of a fan of the newer,...
Which animal produces the deadliest venom on Earth? Discover Earth's deadliest animal venom. Learn which creature tops the list of most lethal toxins in nature. Explore dangerous wildlife facts in this trivia question....
What grade is Bart Simpson in? As "The Simpsons" gained popularity in the early ‘90s, Bart was largely featured as a protagonist in those early days. And with "The Simpsons" adhering to a floating timeline in which the characters never really age or change, he’s been in the same grade for all 35+ seasons. What grade is he in?...
Name the movie: "When you grow up, your heart dies." Perhaps we do become cynical as adults, or maybe that’s just a viewpoint expressed by young people in movies. It was certainly a POV expressed by a character in this classic movie. In which movie will you hear this memorable line about growing up?...
How many top 10 hits did the Grateful Dead have? Way before the term “disruption” was supposed to apply to tech companies coming up with boring new apps, the Grateful Dead were disrupting the music business. But how much did their success translate into success on the music charts?...
What fruit is associated with death in "The Godfather"? Dive into the cinematic masterpiece The Godfather and uncover the hidden symbolism behind a certain fruit that ominously signals death throughout the film. Can you guess which tasty snack has a darker side in Francis Ford Coppola's iconic 1972 classic?...
What company buys Dunder-Mifflin in "The Office"? The American version of The Office is indeed one of the best and funniest sitcoms in the history of television. Dundler-Mifflin experiences plenty of ups and downs, at one point gets bought out by another company. What’s the name of the company that acquires the paper company and its branches?...
What is the strongest material known to mankind? Wakanda and Captain America may have the luxury of using vibranium, but in the real world we need to stick to things that are... real. Take a guess and find out what the strongest material on Earth actually is....
Which pop group admitted that they didn't actually sing on their hit 1990 album? We’re all familiar with the idea of singers lip syncing, usually when it’s for a halftime show or something like that. Especially when you’re a pop star who’s also dancing around on stage. Not only did they admit to not singing on stage, they admitted to never singing on any of their recordings....
What was Marvel Comics originally called? Marvel has had quite the whirlwind history. It burst onto the scene and helped to usher in the Silver Age of comics with a litany of iconic characters. But when this iconic company first hit the scene, it was actually called something else. What was Marvel Comics originally known as?...
Where are Barbie and Ken from? Barbie and Ken have a history that goes beyond their roles as iconic dolls. From their early beginnings in the 1960s to their rich backstories in multiple media mediums. Dive into their story and discover where Barbie and Ken originally came from....
Who holds the record for most Oscar nominations of all time? Discover the surprising history of the Oscars and find out who holds the record for the most total Oscar nominations ever. Test your knowledge and impress your friends at the next watch party!...
Which real-life boxer made a cameo in the first "Rocky"? Before Rocky Balboa took on the world, a real-life boxing legend made a surprise cameo in the first Rocky. Can you name the champ?...
What was Sega's first home video game system? Before the epic console wars, Sega had already made its mark in home gaming. Discover the first console that set Sega on its path to gaming fame....
What was the Beatles' original band name before they became famous? Before the Beatles became a global sensation, they played under a different name. Discover the origins of John, Paul, and George's first band....
What was the first ever search engine? Most of us remember when the internet was basically just clicking through thousands of indexed links on Yahoo! until you found something interesting. And then the search engine came along. What was the first search engine?...
What book is Apocalypse Now based on? Discover the literary inspiration behind Francis Ford Coppola's iconic film, Apocalypse Now. Uncover the connection between the movie and the book that influenced its powerful portrayal of the Vietnam War....
What’s the most someone has won on Jeopardy! in a single game? Who hasn’t watched Jeopardy and played along, thinking they could one day be on that stage buzzing in? But, some people are just born with genius in their DNA. What is the record for winnings from a single Jeopardy! game?...
What is the name of the motel in "Psycho"? Discover the iconic motel from Hitchcock's 'Psycho' in our latest trivia. Test your movie knowledge and explore the impact of this classic thriller!...
What is the longest-running newspaper in the U.S.? Newspapers have been around longer than most of us can remember. Back in ye olden days, they were like the town gossip, but with better spelling. Among all these papers, there's one that's been around longer than the rest. Can you guess which one is the oldest?...
What was the title of Britney Spears' debut album? Pop quiz: Can you name Britney Spears' 1999 debut album? Relive the teen pop explosion and test your '90s music knowledge with this fun trivia challenge....
What is the best-selling live album of all time? Discover the highs and lows of live albums, where the excitement of a concert meets the unpredictability of the recording studio. Ever wondered which live album has sold the most? Find out now!...
Who holds the MLB record for no-hitters? The no-hitter is one of the few things in Major League Baseball that just makes sense. I honestly don’t care about the details of how a pitcher’s ERA is calculated, or why on-base percentage matters, which is why I appreciate a good no-hitter....
Which classic sitcom is often cited as the inspiration for 'The Flintstones'? From "Yabba Dabba Doo!" to chewable vitamins, the Flintstones have left a dinosaur-sized footprint on pop culture. Can you guess the hit TV show our favorite animal-print-wearing family is allegedly based on?...
What is Vanilla Ice’s real name? Sometimes I don’t get why people take on pseudonyms, but in this case, I really can’t blame Ice here. Personally, if I knew him in real life, I’d just call him Ice, but those close to him probably call him by his real name....
Name the movie: “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” Screenwriting is an underappreciated art. Just imagine what it must have been like to write some of the great lines in movie history. Which movie features “Nobody puts Baby in a corner”?...
How hot is the center of the Earth? In his 1864 novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth, explorers find all kinds of things many miles down inside the planet, including dinosaurs, giants, and full-on oceans. Science does have a pretty good idea about what the Earth’s core is like. Just how hot is it?...
What's the highest-grossing movie franchise? Uncover Hollywood's box office champion: the highest-grossing movie franchise in history. Dive into the evolution of sequels and the financial powerhouses reshaping the film industry....
Where does Dynasty take place? Discover the glamorous setting of ABC's "Dynasty," the iconic 1980s soap opera that rivaled "Dallas." Find out where this hit show took place in today's TV trivia....
What year was the first Apple computer released for sale? From garage tinkering to global tech titan: Discover the year Apple released its first computer. A witty journey through Silicon Valley history awaits!...
What world do Ewoks live on in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi? From Return of the Jedi to cartoons and cameos, explore the Ewoks' journey through Star Wars history. These furry rebels sparked debates, starred in spin-offs, and left a lasting legacy. Test your knowledge of their forest moon origins!...
Who played Lara Croft in the first "Tomb Raider" movie? Dive into the action-packed world of Tomb Raider! Explore the origins of Lara Croft's silver screen debut and test your knowledge of this iconic gaming-turned-Hollywood franchise and the actress that played her....
What Hogwarts house is Harry Potter sorted into? Discover the magical world of Harry Potter and its cultural impact. Do you remember what house Harry was sorted into? Test your wizarding knowledge!...
What year did the last episode of "Seinfeld" air? Discover the cultural impact of Seinfeld's finale in this engaging trivia intro. Learn about the show's legacy, ratings, and awards before testing your knowledge!...
What was Michael Jackson's first number-one song as a solo artist? Explore the King of Pop's rise to solo stardom in this engaging trivia intro. Discover the cultural impact of Michael Jackson's early career and his journey to chart-topping success....
What color pill does Neo take in "The Matrix"? Unplug from reality and jack into "The Matrix" trivia. Dive into the pill-popping, kung-fu kicking world that bent our minds and our spoons....
What city do "The Golden Girls" live in? Discover the sunny setting of "The Golden Girls" and dive into the show's cultural impact in this engaging trivia intro....
What is the largest desert in the world? Deserts are, by definition, places that are extremely hard for life — which covers a surprising amount of the planet. About one-third of the Earth’s land surface could be considered either desert or close to it. Which one is the biggest?...
When did the The Simpsons debut as a prime-time show? Discover the origins of TV's longest-running animated series, The Simpsons, and test your knowledge of its premiere date....
How many Earths can fit inside Jupiter? Discover the mind-boggling size of Jupiter, our solar system's heavyweight champion. Learn fascinating facts and find out how many Earths could fit inside this gas giant!...
Which Terminator model was sent back in time in the 1984 movie "The Terminator"? Dive into the quirks of Skynet's time-travel tactics and the enduring legacy of the original Terminator model in this fun trivia exploration of the 1984 sci-fi classic....
The origin of Tetris' Tetrimino Dive into the quirky history of Tetris, from Soviet labs to global phenomenon. Discover fun facts, the Tetris Effect, and test your knowledge of this iconic puzzle game....
Who was the lead singer of the rock band Queen? Explore Queen's journey from college band to rock legends. Discover the iconic frontman who propelled them to global stardom....
Who holds the record for winning the most Jeopardy! games? Explore the evolution of Jeopardy! and discover the ultimate champion who holds the record for most consecutive wins. Dive into the show's history and its impact on pop culture in today's trivia....
What is the highest-grossing horror film of all time? Explore the spine-chilling world of horror cinema, from its early roots to modern blockbusters, and test your knowledge with our hair-raising trivia question!...
What was Leonardo DiCaprio’s first film? Discover Leonardo DiCaprio's journey from child actor to Hollywood icon. Learn about his film debut and explore his extraordinary career spanning decades....
What was the original title for 1987’s Predator? Uncover the original title of the 1987 sci-fi action classic 'Predator' and explore its cultural impact and Arnold Schwarzenegger's iconic role....
What was Tom Clancy’s first novel? Discover how Tom Clancy transformed from an insurance agent to a literary phenomenon and test your knowledge about his groundbreaking first novel....
What’s the world record for leaves found on a clover? Explore the fascinating history and cultural significance of four-leaf clovers, from ancient druids to modern-day luck symbols. Discover the world record for the most leaves on a single clover....
Finish the lyrics to the 1981 hit "Physical" Test your Olivia Newton-John lyric knowledge. Can you complete this line from her famous 1981, "Physical"?...
What is Walter White's alter ego in Breaking Bad? Walter White's nickname in Breaking Bad defined his criminal persona. Uncover the alter ego that turned a chemistry teacher into TV's most infamous antihero in this gripping trivia....
Who was the tallest president in U.S. history? From Washington to Biden, the United States has a history of electing tall leaders. But one president stands head and shoulders above the rest. Can you guess who towers over them all and is the U.S' tallest President?...
What is the world's longest-running talk show? Explore the enduring world of TV talk shows and learn which chat fest holds the record for longest continuous run....
Who played Dr. Cornelius in 1968’s Planet of the Apes? Discover the actor behind Dr. Cornelius in the original Planet of the Apes (1968). Dive into sci-fi history and test your movie trivia knowledge!...
Cowabunga Comic Con: TMNT Co-Creator Discusses Comics’ 40-Year History TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman reflects on 40 years of Turtle Power at SDCC, sharing origin stories, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and teasing future projects....
What’s the name of the planet in The Dark Crystal? Jim Henson had a restless mind. The Dark Crystal came out in 1982, and it has never received its fair due. What’s the name of the planet where The Dark Crystal takes place?...
In Jurassic Park, what animal’s DNA do they use to fill in the gap in dinosaur DNA? Test your Jurassic Park knowledge: Which animal's DNA completed the dinosaur genome? Dive into this intriguing movie trivia and uncover the secrets behind the park's creation!...
What was Stephen King’s first novel? Note: Some links may reveal today's trivia. Feel free to click them after guessing! Long before he became the literary boogeyman keeping readers up at night, Stephen King was just a kid from Portland, Maine with an overactive imagination and a penchant for the macabre. Born in 1947,...
Who was originally cast to voice Shrek before Mike Myers? Explore the journey of Shrek to a blockbuster franchise and challenges faced by DreamWorks Animation had along the way, including the shocking last-minute voice actor swap changed everything. Discover who was originally set to play the ogre before Mike Myers stepped in to the iconic role....
How many number 1 hits does Madonna have? Discover Madonna's extraordinary impact on pop culture spanning four decades. From '80s icon to modern-day legend, test your knowledge of the Material Girl's chart-topping success. How many times has the Queen of Pop claimed the #1 spot on Billboard? Dive into our music trivia and find out!...
What’s the name of the pirate whose treasure the kids are looking for in The Goonies? Dive into the world of The Goonies, '80s nostalgia, and real pirate history. Can you name the legendary buccaneer at the heart of this cult classic?...
What does HAL stand for in 2001: A Space Odyssey? Uncover the mystery behind HAL 9000's name in '2001: A Space Odyssey'. Dive into Kubrick's masterpiece and test your sci-fi knowledge!...
Deadpool vs. Wolverine: Who Would Win Dive into the ultimate Marvel showdown fans have debated for decades, just in time for their movie team-up. Deadpool vs Wolverine: Who wins?...
What was the first Kermit the Frog puppet made out of? Dive into Muppet history with this trivia question about Kermit the Frog's beginnings. Discover the unexpected household item Jim Henson ingeniously repurposed to create his first Kermit puppet in 1955....
What does the DC in DC Comics stand for? Dive into comic book history with today's trivia! Uncover the origin of DC Comics' name, from its pulp fiction roots to superhero empire. Learn about the visionaries behind the iconic characters and discover the true meaning of those famous initials. Test your knowledge now!...
What was Roger Moore's final James Bond movie? Discover the suave charm Roger Moore brought to James Bond, his record-setting tenure, and the trivia surrounding his final film. Learn how his unique blend of humor and sophistication redefined the iconic spy for a new era....
Who was the first woman to go to space? Discover the identity of the first woman in space in today's trivia. Learn about the challenges of becoming an astronaut and the significance of this historic achievement....
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie of all time? Daily Sci-Fi Movie Trivia: Test your knowledge on box office hits! Can you guess the highest-grossing sci-fi film of all time? Dive into movie history and big-budget blockbusters....
What city does Cheers take place in? Grab a barstool! From flop to phenomenon, 'Cheers' served up 11 seasons of belly laughs. Can you guess where Sam, Norm, and the gang raised their glasses?...
Who was considered for the role of John Rambo in First Blood before Sylvester Stallone? The Rambo franchise may have the most confusing set of titles of any movie franchise out there. Throughout all that confusion, there is one clear constant: Sylvester Stallone playing the lead character, John Rambo. But before Stallone, which actor once turned down the role?...
What was the Walkman originally called in the U.S.? When you go to the grocery store these days, it’s weird to see someone who’s NOT wearing earbuds. You might have Sony to blame for that. What was Sony’s iconic Walkman originally known as in the USA?...
Who is the best-selling boy band of all time? Sure, there were bands with boys in them way before the 1980s, but as a genre that’s when it started. We’re talking about true boy bands — dancing, singing, comprised of young dudes belting out pop songs. We’re talking ‘80s, ‘90s, and after....
How many lines does Arnold Schwarzenegger have in 1984’s The Terminator? With modest expectations, when the film topped the box office for two weeks and pulled in over $78 million, it catapulted Cameron into one of Hollywood’s most sought-after directors and cemented Arnold Schwarzenegger as an actor capable of leading major films. How many lines did Arnold speak?...
Where is the world’s oldest brewery? It’s clear that beer is literally part of our DNA. It’s just science. So it’s no surprise that there are some breweries out there who have been perfecting the art of brewing for a very, very long time. But where is the oldest brewery located?...
What percent of Americans say they believe in UFOs? I used to look up at the sky trying to will a UFO sighting into existence, but sadly, it never did happen. But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe they exist, and people have officially been asked that question. How many of them say they believe?...
How many gigawatts are needed to travel in time in Back to the Future? Great Scott!!! Doc Brown's time travel takes a lot of energy, but do you know exactly how much?...
What's the name of the island where King Kong lives? The original King Kong opened in 1933, and a big part of the allure came in the form of the mysterious island where all sorts of ancient and strange creatures lurk. What’s the name of his island?...
What is the best-selling disco song of all time? Its flashy style and beats defined an era, leaving a mark on both music and popular culture still heard today. So, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to boogie down memory lane: Which disco tune took the world by storm and sold the most records?...
Fitness Icon Richard Simmons Passes Away at 76 Richard Simmons, the beloved fitness guru and advocate for healthy living, passed away on July 13, 2024, a day after his 76th birthday. Known for his vibrant personality and "Sweatin' to the Oldies" series, Simmons inspired millions to embrace fitness with joy and compassion....
What’s the name of the skunk in Bambi? Everyone knows that in the forest, all baby animals are friends with each other. At least, that’s what we all learned from Walt Disney’s classic 1942 movie, Bambi. He might be shy, but the skunk's sweetness and unique charm make him unforgettable. Do you remember his name?...
How many bones are in the human body? Bones are weird, aren’t they? They’re technically considered organs, but are extremely rigid, plus dogs like to chew on them. And let’s not forget the marrow, which tastes quite nice when spread on toast (talking about non-human marrow here, of course… I hope). Humans have been trying...
What was the last movie released on VHS? After winning the format war over Betamax (sorry, it’s just a fact), VHS became an incredibly important format in home media for the better part of three decades. There was really nothing better than walking around a video rental store and just eyeballing the VHS tapes in stock. It’...
When did Spider-Man make his comic-book premiere? It’s said that the idea for Spider-Man came to Stan Lee, in part, while watching a spider climb up the wall. Lee himself has said he’s heard the story recited back to him so many times he’s not even sure if it’s true anymore. But who...
What is Ken's full name? Since the introduction of the Ken doll in 1961, one could easily argue that Ken has never had nearly as much attention as he’s getting right now. But being Kenough goes well beyond just the dolls....
What is Houdini’s real name? You know you’ve done something right when you become the de facto example for something. In the case of Harry Houdini, even though no one alive today probably ever saw him, or if they did, they were itty bitty babies, we still use his name as the bar for...
What year did the Beatles officially break up? If you watched Peter Jackson’s documentary series, The Beatles: Get Back, you can see why rumors of the band’s demise and reunification ebbed and flowed for the better part of a decade. Really, reunion rumors didn’t go away until after John Lennon’s death in 1980; In...
What was Indiana Jones' name originally going to be? With a name as iconic as Indiana Jones it’s frankly shocking and disturbing to think that at any point that wasn’t going to be the name of one of cinema’s all-time greatest characters. How dare it ever have even been considered to be anything else? But I...
What is the oldest continuously held sporting event in the United States? I get it — not a lot in the United States is that old when you compare it to other parts of the world. People in England live in the same house their family owned 700 years ago and eat the same cookie recipe from the Middle Ages. Well whoop de...
First Look: 'Agatha All Along' Teaser Trailer Unveiled Everybody grab your spell books because Disney has dropped a teaser trailer for "Agatha All Along." Check out the spellbinding trailer....
Which country drinks the most coffee? As of 2023, the global coffee industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars. While many would love to claim that they come from a place that loves coffee the most, one country takes the crown....
What is Capcom’s best-selling video game of all time? The word Capcom has been synonymous with video games pretty much since they became a thing. The original company that would become Capcom, I.R.M. Corporation, was founded in Japan back in 1979. And when video-game fever took the world by storm in the early ‘80s, they were right...
When was the Declaration of Independence signed? While it seems like the Declaration of Independence came together in a moment of inspiration and people were probably cheering and doing shots and firing off muskets as America declared its independence, the reality, as with most things, wasn’t nearly that exciting. There was bureaucracy to deal with, the...
What is the highest-grossing G-rated movie of all time? If you’ve ever been the parent of a young child, then you know that G-rated movies are the safe ones. No need to worry about nightmares that night or having to talk to your kids about some mature concept that you were hoping to hold off on for a...
Name the famous TV catchphrase from Dragnet. It’s hard to think of a better detective name than Joe Friday. The LAPD detective began life on the Dragnet radio drama in 1949, made his way into the indelible 1950s TV show, and all the way through an ‘80s-era movie and even newer reboots. But it was the...
What is the largest mammal currently living on Earth? When you hover over an anthill, you feel like a giant. But then you go to the zoo and the animals hover over you. Of course, if you were alive 165 million years ago, you’d have dinosaurs hovering WAY over you. Of course, there were all kinds of big...
What’s the most a comic book has ever sold for? When I was younger I bought an unsealed copy of The Death of Superman and tucked it away, assuming it’d make me extremely rich decades later. Now that it’s decades later, it’s only worth a little more than the $2.50 I paid for it. And that...
How many pet dogs are there in the world? Man’s best friends, aka dogs aka doggos aka pups aka you get the idea, have been part of popular culture in art, literature, and movies basically since humans started drawing things on cave walls. I mean, the fact they all descended from wolves is pretty cool, and in terms...
Who assaulted Nancy Kerrigan? Anytime I get even the slightest injury, I fall to the ground clutching the injury and scream, “Whyyyy? Whyyyy? WHYYYY?” Of course, that’s because I was at an impressionable age when U.S. figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was caught on tape clutching her leg after someone had hit her...
Which classic sitcom did NOT end its run ranked no. 1? I wonder if Arthur C. Nielsen knew that when he started Nielson Media Research back in the 1920s that his name would one day become synonymous with the success or failure of TV shows. First measuring TV viewership in the 1950-51 season, what is now known as the Nielsen Company...
What is Krusty the Clown’s real name? One could certainly argue that Krusty the Clown is as much an integral part of The Simpsons as the core Simpson family themselves. He first appeared on the show within a show, "The Krusty the Clown Show”, when The Simpsons still aired as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show...
What’s the world record for solving a Rubik’s Cube? Before being named after its inventor, Ernő Rubik, the Rubik’s Cube was to be called the Magic Cube. Which is kind of appropriate, because the only people who can solve those things are damn magicians. Working at the Academy of Applied Arts and Crafts in Budapest, Rubik originally developed...
What did Thailand used to be called? It’s a bit unsettling how arbitrary things are when you really stop to think about it. Take what countries call themselves, for example. There’s nothing intrinsic about the country that gives it its name, or else the USA would probably be called Big Open Land That’s Mostly...
What’s the name of the basketball team in 1985’s Teen Wolf? The ‘80s were awesome. You could literally walk into a film studio exec’s office and pitch the wildest idea, and they’d say yes. We know this is true because way before people were Team Edward or Team Jacob, high schoolers were turning into mythical creatures in movies like...
What do you call a group of cats? Discover the purr-fect trivia about cats! From ancient history to internet fame, learn fascinating feline facts and test your knowledge. What do you call a group of cats? Find out in today's fun-filled newsletter!...
What was Tom Hanks’ film debut? It’s almost absurd when you start going down the list of all-time classics starring Tom Hanks, especially when you consider this is someone who got his start in the short-lived sitcom, Bosom Buddies. Let’s pick, oh we’ll say seven random movies from his filmography: Sleepless in Seattle,...
In This Is Spinal Tap, how high does Nigel’s amp go? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it as many times as I have to —1984 was a hell of a year for cinema. I’m not even going to list all the other great movies that came out that year, because as you probably noticed this trivia...
In King of the Hill, what does Hank Hill do for a living? I think at this point we can all agree that Mike Judge is a comedic genius. You could take any of his productions on their own and make that case, but when you put them together — including Beavis and Butt-Head, Silicon Valley, Office Space, and Idiocracy — it becomes an objective...
What was Close Encounters of the Third Kind originally titled? Imagine if Steven Spielberg never got into sci-fi movies. No, scratch that. That’s not a timeline any of us want. I don’t care what kind of bad stuff happens in this version of the multiverse, not having films like E.T., Jurassic Park, or the criminally underrated War...
Before Led Zeppelin, who else had a song named “Stairway to Heaven”? If there’s one riff that everyone who’s ever tried to learn guitar knows (besides Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water”), it’s the opening to Led Zeppelin’s 1971 track, “Stairway to Heaven”. There aren’t many other songs in the history of rock, or in any...
In Silence of the Lambs, what type of wine does Hannibal Lecter say he had on the side of his victim? For a movie that covers some truly sinister and dark topics, we sure do love to quote 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs. Admit it, anytime you use hand lotion, you mutter to yourself, “It rubs the lotion on its skin.” We won’t linger on the meanings behind...
What’s the name of the dragon in The Hobbit? It’s not that J.R.R. Tolkien invented modern fantasy as a genre, but he certainly brought it to the masses in a way that had never been done before. When The Hobbit was first published in 1937, it was not only widely praised by critics, it was a...
What is the longest river in the world? You’d think measuring the distance of a river would be straightforward, but no, like everything else these days it gets really complicated and people get in heated debates about it. Alright, maybe not “heated debates,” but it’s not nearly as easy and straightforward as one might think. To...
How far away is the nearest star to our solar system? Whenever I start getting stressed out about something, I remind myself that I am but a speck of dust in the grand scheme of the universe. Does it help? Not really, but sometimes it takes me down a rabbit hole on the NASA website that’s pretty fun to explore....
What is Richard Simmons' real name? It’s a strange colliding of past worlds when Pauley Shore and Richard Simmons pop up on your newsfeed in the year 2024 — and somehow weirdly connected. Apparently, Pauley Shore wants to munch on some grindage onscreen playing the ‘80s fitness guru, but Simmons isn’t on board. This was...
Name the movie: "In space, no one can hear you scream." When there’s a big explosion onscreen, I want to hear it. I want to feel the rumble of the speakers shaking my body. Which is why I don’t care that technically sound can’t travel in outer space. When the Death Star explodes, I want to HEAR it....
What was the number one song in June of 1994? Ah, the summer of 1994 — a time when Blockbuster was still a Friday night destination and surfing the World Wide Web meant waiting 30 minutes for a single page to load. Music blared from boom boxes and car stereos, with “repeat” meaning hitting rewind on your cassingle. The airwaves were...
Where was Steve Jobs’ first job? I remember the first time I heard the mythic Steve Jobs actually speak. Given all that I knew about him, I guess I expected some sort of booming voice that made you stop and weep with its brevity. Instead, he sounded like pretty much every other nerdy dude I’ve...
What song helped to inspire Stephen King’s The Stand? People went insane when George Lucas went back and edited the original Star Wars trilogy, re-releasing the films with the dubious distinction of being special editions. So I can only imagine what they did when Stephen King revamped one of his most popular novels. The Stand was originally released in...
What does Shrek mean in Yiddish? Like any great movie, 2001’s Shrek was based off a weird children’s book. Shrek!, written by catoonist and writer William Steig, was first released in 1990 as a picture book. It followed the same arc, more or less, but was odd enough that it also received plenty of...
In the ‘80s cartoon Jem, who is Jem the alter-ego of? Look, I’m not saying that Hannah Montana is essentially a lift from the 1980s classic cartoon, Jem (aka Jem and The Holograms), but I am kind of saying that. Sure, there are a few tweaks, most notably the age of the protagonist, but the concept is essentially the same:...
What’s the name of the cruise ship from The Love Boat? There’s something about The Love Boat that perfectly captures the transition from the 1970s to the ‘80s. The theme song, the guest stars, the storylines, the laugh track — from its premiere in 1977 until it finally docked into port in 1986, Love Boat was prime Saturday night viewing for...
What did Jim Henson almost do instead of Sesame Street? It was shocking to me when I found out that Labyrinth wasn’t a box office smash. At least not in America, where it essentially bombed. But it found success abroad, I guess just because they're more sophisticated over there. It’s a shame that his more experimental...
What is Dr. Phil’s last name? It was 1998 when Oprah Winfrey invited a no-nonsense, tough-talking self-help expert on her show. His appearance was so successful that he became a regular, and soon enough he had his own daytime talk show, fixing the ailments of people across America. He’d quickly become known simply as Dr....
When was the first cellphone call in history made? One of the greatest moments in communications technology history was the invention of the cordless phone. Stretching that curly phone line that attached the handset to the receiver became a thing of the past — not only could you now easily talk on the phone while making dinner, you could walk...
How much do Super Bowl halftime performers get paid? Confession time — I have never watched a Super Bowl halftime show. Now that that’s off my chest I can also say I have never watched a Super Bowl game. Yeah, I am a nerd! Instead of watching football I was, I don’t know, playing Final Fantasy or watching...
Where was Captain Kirk born? Gene Roddenberry had a stroke of genius when he came up with the character of James T. Kirk. Beginning with his first appearances in the appropriately titled 1966 episode, “The Man Trap”, Kirk was an instantly beloved character who we seem to never be able to get enough of. This...
In the original Night Court, what is Bull's actual first name? As I got older and stopped to consider the actual premise of Night Court, I found it to be absurd. That is, until I found it it’s a real thing with real cases. I wish the characters from the original Night Court, running from 1984 to 1992, were real...
Which U.S. president allegedly got stuck in a bathtub? Taking a bath is the ultimate way to relax, especially if you’ve got some Kenny G rocking the boom box, a few candles, and some bubbles. And as stressed out as you are when you slip into a warm tub, imagine being the president — let them have their tub...
What’s the name of Morpheus' hovercraft in The Matrix? I’ve watched The Matrix at least a dozen times now, but I’m only just now questioning why they all fly around in those admittedly cool hovercrafts. I mean, do they need to be flying around to jack into the Matrix or something? Why don’t they just all...
Where does Snoopy's brother Spike live? With all due respect to every other Peanuts character, Snoopy is obviously the coolest. A dog who can whip up a Thanksgiving meal, win a holiday light contest, travel across the country on his own, and has a bird for a best friend? You simply can’t beat that. And...
How many paintings did Vincent Van Gogh sell in his lifetime? Vincent Van Gogh is the most punk rock person of all time. Sure, he was creating art nearly 100 years before punk was even a thing, but if you invite your friends to hang out, get in fights with them, cut off your ear and then deliver it to a...
Which film franchise has the most movies? What movie isn’t a franchise these days? Even a movie about buff dudes driving cars is able to last long enough to get over 10 movies before it’s done. Can’t we just have one good movie and leave it at that? Seriously, I don’t think there’...
What is the best-selling single of all time? It’s hard to remember in the streaming age when Taylor Swift just tops every chart all of the time, but there were bygone days when artists would just release one song at a time and we’d have to shell out our hard-earned cash to get our hands on...
How old is the oldest living tree? As far as I’m concerned, trees are immortal. Unless we cut them down, there’s a fire, or something goes out of its way to actually kill a tree, I don’t think they can die. Seriously, have you ever seen a tree just fall over from old age?...
Who was the first host of The Tonight Show? 2024 marks 70 years since The Tonight Show first hit the airwaves, making it the world's longest-running talk show. That’s pretty impressive for a show that has essentially relied on screwball comedy and puns the entire time. Generations of viewers have been entertained on NBC following the...
What is Tina Fey’s real name? What is it about celebrities not using their real names? Who do they think they are, superheroes or something? It’s not like you’re keeping a secret identity! I get wanting to have a cool-sounding name, but if Zack Galifianakis can rock that tongue twister of a last name...
Which '90s rocker was allegedly punched in the face inside a Denny’s? Am I the only one who thinks anything from the ‘90s is still brand new? Like if someone brings up a movie I haven’t seen, and I find out it’s from 1995, I just shrug and say, “Well it JUST came out.” If you’re like that too,...
What does the DeLorean’s license plate say in Back to the Future? Dr. Emmett Brown said he chose the DeLorean as a time machine because if you’re going to build a time machine into a car, you may as well do it in style, right? For a mad genius, isn’t that a terrible idea? Would you want to drive something...
What is the highest value a Pokémon card has ever sold for? Every time I see a story about some collectible that someone just found in their basement and then sold for a fortune I head to the attic and start digging through my old trading cards. So far, that approach still hasn’t yielded me any results. The Pokémon card craze...
What condiment was once used as medicine? Condiments pull way more weight in making food taste good than they get credit for. They’re usually treated like an afterthought, but if you’re eating a hotdog with mustard or french fries with ketchup, most of what you’re tasting is the condiment. Condiments can bring a 2/...
What was the first Studio Ghibli movie? There were a few influential films that helped anime take off in the West. Ghost in the Shell and Akira were two major ones, but basically all of Studio Ghibli's films made a splash in the West to some degree. To this day, even the most casual non-anime...
Who was the third astronaut on Apollo 11 alongside Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin? The whole concept of going to the moon, especially back in 1969, sounds like a bad time. You need to strap yourself into a giant rocket, blast off at speeds that almost squish your brain inside your skull, then pray nothing explodes or there’s not even a crack half...
What Minor League Baseball team did Michael Jordan play for? On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan took the podium and announced he would be retiring from the NBA. At just 30 years old and coming off a third-straight NBA championship for the Chicago Bulls, it was one of the most stunning moments in sports history. Tragically, Jordan’s move was...
After Jaws in 1975, when was the next time Steven Spielberg and Roy Scheider worked together? It’s hard to believe that we’re coming up on 50 years of Jaws, but hell, that’s where we are. Steven Spielberg doesn’t wear those short shorts anymore, but it’s incredible to think that the dude who essentially willed the summer blockbuster into existence back in...
According to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, what is the most useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have? The five-book trilogy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is peak British humor (or should we say, humour), but also a genuinely good idea. Think about it: are you really going to buy your own spaceship to travel the galaxy or would you rather just stick out...
What type of animal is Yoshi? Yoshi has been cast in Mario’s shadow for too long. His trusty mount deserves to be seen as the real hero of the Mushroom Kingdom. Where would Mario be without Yoshi to carry him through the most dangerous levels? Yoshi even had an entire game where he had to...
How much would the Six Million Dollar Man cost today? I’m starting to suspect that Lee Majors wasn’t playing a completely fictional role when he portrayed the bionically enhanced Steve Austin in the iconic ‘70s sci-fi TV show, The Six Million Dollar Man. He’s well into his ‘80s and frankly looks like he could easily still spring...
What town does SpongeBob SquarePants live in? Cartoon characters don’t just exist in a vacuum. Some are boring and take place in real locations, but the cool ones make up their own worlds to inhabit. SpongeBob SquarePants was already pushing the boundaries for creativity when it came out in 1999. I mean, a show about a...
What’s the name of the boy who owns Woody in Toy Story? I pray I don’t live to see the day kids don’t understand Toy Story anymore because no one plays with toys anymore. That, or we get some affront to all that is decent and it is rebooted to be an iPad story or something. Kids need to play...
What year does Dune take place? Sci-fi movies are very liberal with when they take place. Star Wars, for example, takes place at some vague point in time way in the past, while Star Trek is meant to be set in our own near-ish future. Whether it’s the past or the future, the point I’...
What does Arya Stark name her sword in Game of Thrones? Somehow, Game of Thrones made people without swords scarier than those with them. Seriously, I would rather be locked in a room to fight Jamie than have dinner with Cersei. No other family in the show gets the sharp end of the stick worse than the Starks. By the end...
How much did Barbenheimer combined make at the box office? First of all, if there isn’t already a metal band named Barbenheimer, I’m calling dibs. Second of all, it felt like all you heard about last summer was the cinematic event of the century when Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer were scheduled to hit...
How fast does the Earth rotate? We all understand that the Earth not only orbits the sun, but also spins. If it didn’t, only one half of the planet would get sunlight and the other would be stuck in nighttime. It’s also why our days last as long as they do. Other planets have...
What is Fox Mulder’s password in The X-Files? If someone told me that being a paranormal investigator could be a legitimate career path, everything about my life would be different. And I’m not talking about being one of those ghost hunters who stand around in old hotels at night and record their own bodily functions. Fox Mulder...
8 sci-fi TV shows from the '70s worth revisiting I wonder if years from now we'll look back at movies like Dune: Part Two and laugh at all the funny trends of the time that made it into the movie, or whether it's simply transcendent enough to become timeless. That's tough to predict,...
What's the name of the fictional show in The Dick Van Dyke Show? TV is such an ingrained part of our culture that even the characters in TV shows watch their own shows. Bart and Lisa love The Itchy & Scratchy Show, Liz Lemon works for the fictional The Girlie Show (aka TGS), and Futurama’s Bender can’t get enough of the...
How many Academy Awards did Terminator 2: Judgment Day win? When Terminator 2: Judgment Day burst onto the scene in 1991, it didn't just walk through walls — it blew them up, set them on fire, and then rode off on a motorcycle for good measure. This wasn't your average Sunday matinee sequel; it was a full-throttle,...
What is Elton John's real name? There are few artists who have left as strong a mark on society as Sir Elton John. Oh, you want proof? Among his many accomplishments, Elton John has: nine number one songs in the UK and US; sold over 300 million records; released seven consecutive number one albums; and put...
Nintendo had the best selling toy in America until what iconic toy took the title in 1991? As far as any mom in the late 1980s was concerned, every video game system ever made was just called a Nintendo. No NES. No Game Boy. No Atari 2600 — just “Nintendo.” And to be fair, it wasn’t just moms. We pretty much all referred to home consoles that...
What was the first rap song to hit no. 1? As a genre, we like to think of rap and hip-hop as relatively new. In fact, most people point to a specific moment — a 1973 party in New York City featuring DJ Kool Herc — when hip-hop was born. But the roots of rap go back much further than that. Spoken...
Who was the first athlete to appear on a Wheaties box? There are moments in history that are so uncanny it’s hard not to wonder whether destiny truly exists. In 1921, an employee working at the Washburn Crosby Company — which would later become General Mills — accidentally spilled a wheat bran mixture on a hot stove. Originally called Washburn's...
What street do the Simpsons live on? Look, I’m not saying that The Simpsons 35 seasons-and-counting run isn’t impressive, but I am saying that’s simply too many seasons. You’ll never convince me that seasons 2 through 8 aren’t by far some of the best television ever made — sure, there are still some...
In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which NHL team's jersey does Cameron wear? Ferris Bueller really is kind of a jerk. A lovable one, but still, a jerk. Besides general tomfoolery, he convinces his neurotic friend, Cameron Frye, to leave the house and galavant around Chicago when he really, REALLY doesn’t want to. Also, where in Chicago does Cameron live that he...
What is the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time? As a kid, there was a certain mystique to R-rated movies. I didn’t know exactly what forbidden fruits they held, I just knew I was’t supposed to see them, which only made them that much more interesting. Of course, most of the time it was just some swear...
Which country eats the most chocolate? Chocolate has been consumed by humans, in some form or another, for over 5,000 years. That’s cool and all, but I kind of feel bad for the people who ever only had cacao drinks and never got to enjoy the plethora of choices we have today. What’s...
What famous director that exploded in the ‘90s is a huge Xena: Warrior Princess fan? Xena was originally supposed to die. As a recurring character on the ‘90s syndicated fantasy TV series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena was originally slated to be killed off during her third appearance on the show. But not only did producers pay attention to her rising popularity and save her,...
How many times does Ross get divorced on Friends? They were on a break! Well, if that break is permanent then it becomes something else, now doesn’t it? Sorry, Ross, but at some point you have to admit the constant problem in your relationships is you. When the first episode of Friends opens with Ross in the middle...
What group was Beyoncé part of before going solo? As famous as Beyoncé is, I have to say I struggled to remember which songs she sang. My mind, being warped by the internet, just goes to that ugly picture of her she tried to get removed from the internet. Sorry, but not even Beyoncé can make the internet forget....
Which animal has two brains? Animals are weird. For how concerned we get about UAPs and what aliens look like, just take five minutes searching through images of animals right here on Earth and little gray dudes will be the least of your worries. We have mammals with duckbills, fish with unicorn horns, something literally...
What ‘80s classic was Charlie Sheen’s feature film debut? In the glitzy world of 1980s cinema, a young Charlie Sheen emerged, ready to make his mark alongside big hair, synth-pop, and the unforgettable action flicks that defined a generation. Before he was "winning" with tiger blood and making headlines for less cinematic reasons, Sheen was a fresh-faced...
What does M*A*S*H stand for? There are few shows as beloved as M*A*S*H. The ensemble comedy-drama was ostensibly a sitcom, but when the situation of the comedy happens to be a war, sometimes things get a bit less silly. It’s also among the rare group of successful TV shows that were...
What’s the name of the song from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride? Look, I understand why Disney is leaning into its IP at the parks, and I even like a lot of it — but I still yearn for the good ol’ days when a fun, new idea could become an iconic attraction in its own right. Pirates of the Caribbean first opened...
What was the highest-grossing movie from 1984? 1984 was a hell of a year. This Is Spinal Tap came out, Apple’s first Macintosh computer went on sale, both the summer and winter Olympics were still held in the same year, and a bunch of other kind of terrible stuff that we won’t be focusing on...
Which Academy Award-winning actor wanted to play Mario in the live-action adaption of the game? The list of actors who have played Mario, everyone’s favorite plumber turned Princess-rescuer, is quite small. Frankly, it should have started and ended with Captain Lou Albano, but that’s not up to us. Looking back on the live-action movie from 1993, it’s easy to wonder why anyone...
Where is Hello Kitty from? Every time I think I understand exactly what Hello Kitty actually is, I find out something new that twists my brain into a new knot. She never has a mouth but somehow talks in cartoons. She is both a fictional character and an entire brand. She’s friends with frogs...
Which one of his movies did Arnold Schwarzenegger name his campaign bus after when running for governor? When my parents first told me that Ronald Reagan had been an actor back in the day, I didn’t believe them. When Sonny Bono became a congressman, it might have been even more surprising. But I’m not sure there’s ever been a more surprising famous-person-turned politician than...
What is it called when you open wine with a blade? There are some serious wine freaks out there that I’m convinced are playing a prank on everyone else. I mean, come on, you can’t seriously think you can somehow train your taste buds to determine what the weather was like the day the grapes were picked. Wine culture...
Put the Star Wars movies in chronological order Back in 1977, Star Wars was simple. For starters, it was just called Star Wars — no episode titles to contend with. Three movies came out, told a story, and bam, everyone moved on with their lives. Right? One speed bump in that plan was that it nearly instantly became one...
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? Here’s a pro tip: If you ever find yourself tasked with a divine quest to find the Holy Grail, make sure you know what your favorite color is. Sadly, Sir Galahad wavered, and thus was thrown into the pits of certain doom beneath the Bridge of Death — a bridge...
Elisabeth Shue withdrew from which prestigious university to be in The Karate Kid? The name Elisabeth Shue, for many of us, is synonymous with a leisurely afternoon catching a movie sometime in the 1980s. From the highly underrated Adventures in Babysitting to a couple of Back to the Futures to her breakout in 1984’s The Karate Kid, it seems that acting must...
What’s the name of Fred and Wilma’s daughter on The Flintstones? Every cartoon family is required to have a baby. It’s basically a law at this point. The Simpsons have Maggie, and the entire show of Rugrats is all about babies. If you’ll pardon the terrible joke, people are gaga over babies. Personally, I would’ve advised against Fred...
What’s the name of the fictional town where The Lost Boys takes place? Before Joel Schumacher got his hands on The Lost Boys, vampires were frankly kind of unfairly depicted as nothing more than old dudes who sleep in coffins. Released in 1987, the vampire cult classic finally showed us that bloodsuckers could be cool and sexy. Well, at least by late ‘80s...
Who has hosted Saturday Night Live the most times? I can’t be the only one who thinks being the host of Saturday Night Live is a scam, right? I mean, you’re the guest so why are you running the show? That would be like inviting me to your restaurant, but then once I get there you say,...
Who was the only actor from the original Top Gun NOT to vomit during their time in fighter jets? Here’s something that will take your breath away: Flying in an F-14 Tomcat. These bad boys can reach a Mach speed of up to 2.34, or roughly 1,795 miles per hour. When Top Gun first came out in 1986, it was not the cultural powerhouse it is...
What ‘90s sitcom aired three potential series finales before a final series finale in 1996? The 1990s were the last great golden age of TV sitcoms. Sure, you have a handful of great shows that popped up in the aughts, but then streaming came along and since about 2015 most people are still just trying to figure out what to watch (and where you can...
What two cities does Route 66 connect? It’s a sad truth, but I think now Route 66 is only known by the younger generations thanks to the Cars movies. Personally, I’d rather them not know it exists than have it associated with a bucktoothed tow truck named Mater, but that’s just another cruel reminder...
What is RoboCop’s real name? RoboCop is quintessential ‘80s sci-fi. A world where corporate greed and crime have both gone rampant, to the point that the City of Detroit has decided to privatize its law enforcement by granting Omni Consumer Products (or OCP) control of the police department. And just like a self-driving Waymo running...
What real-world hotel was the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining? I’ve been to some shady hotels in my time, but none that made me so fearful for my life that I wrote one of the most iconic horror novels of all time. As scary as the book is, the film is something else. Yes, I prefer Kubrick's...
What TV sci-fi star is a secret Tetris addict? We don’t know who needs to hear this, but it needs to be said: It’s OK to want to play video games all of the time. There, finally someone had the audacity to just say it. In fact, even if you’re famous, it’s OK to want...
Which actor holds the record for most weight gained for a movie role? Actors do some crazy sh** for their movies. Daniel Day-Lewis is notorious for his extreme brand of method acting. On the set of 1989’s My Left Foot, he refused to do anything that his character couldn’t do. Based on the real-life artist Christy Brown, whose cerebral palsy meant...
The unicorn is the national animal of which country? There’s no point to national animals, flowers, or any other arbitrary symbols that never get used for anything. So why not have some fun with it? A bald eagle is cool, but what if we changed it to, say, a dragon? Who would want to mess with a country...
How did George Miller raise the money to make the original Mad Max in 1979? If there’s ever an apocalyptic event, and I’m around for it, AND I survive it, you can bet on one thing: I’ll immediately start wearing a leather vest with spikes on it and find a late ‘70s muscle car to drive around. 1979’s Mad Max, which...
Who was the drummer for the Beatles before Ringo Starr? Who could forget the four members of the Beatles? You have John, George, and the two other guys. Aside from Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer, they’re probably the most iconic four-person group in history. Even decades after John and George passed away we got a “new” song from the...
What is the only planet in our solar system that rotates clockwise? We need to talk about some problematic planets in our solar system. We all agreed to rotate counterclockwise around the sun 4 billion years ago, but SOME of us just had to be contrarian. Despite what Superman may have taught us, rotating a planet in the opposite direction does not,...
What were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles renamed in the UK? While brilliant, I have to say that the name Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is about as lazy as it can get. I can imagine the creators sitting there thinking, “What should we call this comic/cartoon about a bunch of teenage mutant ninja turtles? Wait a second…” On the other...
Which classic fairy tale was NOT written by the Brothers Grimm? If you haven’t read any of the Brothers Grimm's original fairy tales, you’re in for a bad time. Kids must have been built different back then because these aren’t whimsical tales about friendship and love, but straight-up horror. We’re talking brutal body-horror levels of...
What were New Kids on the Block originally named? Say what you will about boy bands put together by some greedy producer — they seem to work. Just ask New Kids on the Block (aka NKOTB as any Blockhead knows) who have sold more than 80 million records worldwide. Peaking in popularity in the late '80s and early '...
Who was the original author of the James Bond books? We’ve had way more James Bond writers than actors at this point, and the franchise itself is owned by the Broccoli family (no, I’m not making that up), but the callsign of 007 will never change. You have to come up with a truly cool character for audiences...
What was the time machine originally supposed to be in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure? Put “Be excellent to each other” on my gravestone. Tattoo it on my chest. Etch it into every tree you see. It’s hard to imagine pitching an idea for a movie much wackier than Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, in which two wannabe rockstar teenagers — William "Bill&...
What’s the term for getting 3 below par in golf? Have you ever thought about golf? I mean, really thought about it? All sports are dumb when you break them down, but golf is on another level. I can’t fathom how people pretend to enjoy watching this sport, let alone playing it. We’re hitting a tiny ball hundreds...
What was the first toy advertised on TV? We all complained about commercials at the time, but now that they’re gone I think I kind of miss them. The over-the-top acting and blatant lies about the product were sometimes better than whatever trash we were watching. This was when marketers were willing to throw everything at the...
What is the first Pokémon in the Pokédex? Who’s that Pokémon? Don’t ask Ash because that kid took over 20 years to become a Pokémon champion. Not to brag or anything, but I did that when I was 7 and didn’t even understand how type advantages worked. Ever since Red and Blue hit the Game...
What’s the name of the supercomputer in 2001: A Space Odyssey? It’s been nearly six decades since the sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey, from the minds of Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, hit theaters and obliterated everyone’s notion of what science fiction could be like. In 1968, almost 10 years before even Star Wars came out, 2001...
Which country consumes the most beer per capita? How is it possible that beer isn’t America’s national drink? Unless you’re a wimp like me who gets dizzy just smelling a beer, basically everyone counts down the hours every day until you don’t have to feel bad about cracking open a beer. Or you just...
Who was the first woman to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court? I don’t get what all the hubbub is about the Supreme Court. In my opinion, the whole process of appointing justices is way too complicated and annoying. I think it should be based on votes from regular people where everyone gets to write in their top five. Here are...
What was almost Kramer's first name on Seinfeld? Whether you say the word “Newman” under your breath anytime you hear about someone with that last name, answer the phone with “Helloooooooo”, or just say No [insert food item] for you!” at dinner every single night, not a person on this planet is immune from the influence of Seinfeld....
10 trivia questions about Star Wars It's hard to pin down exactly why the Star Wars franchise has become one of the most popular media entities ever created. And with an estimated $47 billion generated since its inception in 1977, we can safely say it has indeed been a solid success. There's...
What was Pac-Man originally called? It’s said that Pac-Man was developed for a non-violent crowd, to which I say: Non-violent? How is literally eating ghosts not a form of violence? Ghosts have no rights, man. Still, that was the goal, and the developers especially wanted to appeal to women. Thus the cutesy round dude,...
Where did Engelbert Humperdinck get his name? It’s hard to forget a name like Engelbert Humperdinck. Not exactly a name that just rolls off the tongue, it nonetheless sticks in your mind. And it’s befitting of the singer who took that moniker and entertained generations of fans. Born in India and raised mostly in England,...
What is the deepest known point in the ocean? If you were remember the way too short-lived ‘90s sci-fi show, seaQuest DSV, or if you ever watched 1989’s The Abyss, you know that the deep ocean holds secrets we dare not even imagine. Also, have you ever seen an anglerfish? Those things are super weird. There is nowhere...
What was the number one movie in April of 1984? April is a weird time at the box office. Spring breaks have mostly wrapped up, there are no awards worthy of being won, and people are scrambling to get their taxes done. Traditionally, this is a time when studios seem to just kind of throw random crap out there and...
What sitcom star helped get Star Trek made? There are so many shows in the Star Trek franchise that the original was officially renamed Star Trek: The Original Series (hitherto referred to simply as TOS). Yet those first three seasons didn’t go well, and Star Trek was canceled. It wasn’t until TOS was picked up and...
In The Muppet Show, what are the names of the old hecklers? When people ask me what my plan is for old age, I simply point to the old heckler dudes from The Muppet Show (and subsequent Muppet-related productions). That’s right, my goal in retirement is to sit in a balcony somewhere and just make fun of people. One of the...
Who almost played the role of Indiana Jones instead of Harrison Ford? Harrison Ford has played some of the most iconic roles in cinema, with Indiana Jones being right up there among pretty much any other character in movie history. Ford has played the role across five movies spanning well over four decades. And try as they might, he has proven irreplaceable....
How far above planet Earth is considered outer space? Outer space seems like a very clear and easy-to-define place. It’s out there, we’re in here. Right? Turns out it’s not so simple. According to Astronomy.com, the scientific boundary between Earth (including its atmosphere and gravitational pull, among other things) and space has been argued to...
When does the original Blade Runner take place? Every time I’m reminded that Blade Runner came out in 1982, it blows my damn mind. Not only are the visual effects pretty incredible for when it came out (or any time, really), it’s moody and dark in a way that totally sets it apart from anything else...
Who drove the white Bronco? On June 17, 1994, the country stopped whatever the hell they were doing and tuned in to one of the strangest yet most compelling events ever shown on TV — a 1993 white Ford Bronco going very slowly down the California highway, followed by about a billion cops and a trillion...
What name does Peter Pan go by in 1991's Hook? I’m a sucker for any time people take a Shakespeare play and put it in a modernized setting. I saw A Midsummer Night's Dream set in the ‘80s recently and nearly cried with joy. So the plot of Steven Spielberg’s 1991 adventure classic, Hook, is an...
What was the first LEGO brick set ever made? The Danish are known to be talented at many things, such as pillaging, riding bikes, and having the oldest flag in the world. But if there’s one thing the people from Denmark do better than anyone else, it’s create little plastic bricks that can be put together to...
Who directed the music video for Michael Jackson's "Bad"? What's the best way to prove to a criminal that you're not scared of them and despite the fact you went to a private school you're still bad? That's right, get together with a group of your best buds and start dancing...
What does CHiPs stand for? Spanning the transition from the 1970s into the '80s, CHiPs is one of the most lovable TV shows from that era. The action-comedy-drama ran for six seasons, 139 episodes, and one TV movie from 1977 to 1983. Officer Francis ("Frank") Llewellyn "Ponch" Poncherello is fun-loving...
What was the highest grossing movie from 1964? Back in 1964, some 60 years ago, you could fill up your gigantic car for about 25 cents a gallon, rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Manhattan for $250 a month, and see a movie for less than $2 per ticket. With the world on the cusp of space travel, the...
Windows 95 came with which music video? For a long time, personal computers were nothing more than a cube and a screen with a line with green text. People figured out a lot of cool things to do with that green text, but reminding ourselves of this historical fact helps to explain why Windows 95 was so...
How many Westerns have won Best Picture? Westerns have been an indelible part of film since at least The Great Train Robbery hit screens back in 1903. It's a genre that feels uniquely American (yes, even the Italian ones) yet can serve as a backdrop to tell almost any kind of story. Maybe that'...
Who was on the first cover of Rolling Stone? One of the strongest moves to make yourself look cool as hell is to leave a nice variety of past issues of Rolling Stone splayed across your coffee table. It's not really about actually reading any of them, not even flipping through them — it's all about...
Who voices Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy films? If you're wondering whether we thought about just writing "I am Groot" over and over as an introduction to this trivia question, the answer is: Yes, yes we did. While there's plenty of talk these days about superhero fatigue, the Guardians of the Galaxy...
What was LaserDisc originally called? If you knew someone with a LaserDisc player in the '80s — usually a dentist or a dude who went on ski trips all the time — you knew to never, ever touch that damn thing. You knew that hunk of metal was definitely worth more than it would cost them...
The 8 best TV theme songs from '80s action shows The 1980s were a decade of unabashed, over-the-top action and violence in movies and TV. Just watch about 5 minutes of First Blood, and you'll see what I mean. Explosions, car chases, and short-shorts were the order of the day when it came to our favorite action TV...
How long is a marathon? There's a good chance that within the last two weeks, you've personally uttered the phrase: "It's a marathon, not a sprint." By which, naturally, you meant it's something that only 0.17% of the world's population accomplishes in...
What was the first science fiction movie? There are few things better than scrolling through TV channels late on a summer's night, only to find an obscure, nearly forgotten, or straight-up old sci-fi movie airing in the wee hours of the night. Movies like 1960's The Time Machine, Beneath the Planet of the...
What is Doctor Who's home planet? Spanning over 60 years, 15 Doctors, and countless one-liners, Doctor Who truly does transcend space and time. Somehow this extremely British sci-fi show turned into one of the most enduring franchises in all of entertainment history — and it's showing zero to nil chances of slowing down anytime soon....
What were the first words spoken on MTV? Variety once reported that as of June 2020, MTV's 168-hour lineup was being dominated by a single show: Ridiculousness, where a former pro skateboarder (among others) makes fun of people hurting themselves in viral internet videos. So not only does MTV not show music videos anymore, it barely...
What does E=MC2 stand for? You always hear about how Albert Einstein failed math in school because he was a genius and it was too boring for him. Then there are those of us that failed math because we simply suck at it. Of course, turns out that was a myth to begin with, considering...
What year do they travel to in Back to the Future Part III? I have to say, it's pretty gutsy to film two movies in a franchise back-to-back. But that's exactly what Robert Zemeckis and company did with Back to the Future, filming parts II and III in succession and releasing them just six months apart. Since both made...
Which famous musician's body was stolen and burned in the desert? Musicians are notorious for their hard-partying lifestyle, spending months on the road, and generally pushing their bodies to the brink. For many, they unfortunately and tragically push themselves beyond that brink. Too many have passed away far too young, well before they were done sharing their talent with the world....
What is the most expensive spice in the world? When someone tells you they have expensive taste, they're usually referring to clothes or cars or something. But I appreciate the person who's using that phrase literally — especially if they can actually name expensive foods. Beyond expensive stuff like really high-end steaks or caviar or champagne,...
Amazon originally only sold what product? As of the writing of this article, Amazon is worth approximately $1.8 trillion. Its value can fluctuate billions over the course of the day, and no one even notices. It's become so embedded in our daily lives, there are many items you simply can't even...
What does KITT stand for in Knight Rider? We've said it before and we'll say it again: We'll pay attention to all this hubbub about artificial intelligence when it can control a sports car and converse with us the same way KITT (or K.I.T.T.) did in the '80s...
Who was the first president to appear on TV? Back in college, we developed a drinking game for the State of the Union addresses. Every time there was applause, that was one drink. Standing ovation? Two drinks. After about 10 minutes, we couldn't drink anymore. And we owe those glory days to one brave American president who...
In The Princess Bride, what does R.O.U.S. stand for? For some movies, you can say "I'll just watch this next scene" and then inevitably end up watching the entire thing. Scene after scene is not only entertaining, but iconic. The Princess Bride, released in 1987, is definitely one of those movies. It's so...
How long would it take to read all the information on the internet? Here's a fun thing to do with information: Put it online. The very first website, attributed to the good folks at CERN, was just information about how the internet could be used to exchange information. Even that one little webpage felt like it was packed full of stuff...
What adventure movie from the ‘80s required over 900,000 gallons of water to film? I'll grant you this: The '80s broke ground as the decade when computer-generated imagery was finally good enough for significant incorporation into movies. But it was far from ubiquitous. Tron was the first to really go all-in with CGI, and it was actually met with quite a...
Which TV show's finale was the most watched in history? If there's one episode out of any TV show's run that probably never gets rewatched, it's the finale. I mean, sure everyone watches the finale when it airs, but once things are in syndication, reliving the end just isn't that appealing. Unless...
What is John Denver's real name? For a man who wrote an iconic song called "Rocky Mountain High," his last name almost seems a little too on the nose. And, by golly, turns out it is. Sadly, it wasn't fate that John Denver happened to be named after the capital city of...
What type of car was the Ectomobile from Ghostbusters? As one of the first comedies to use expensive special effects, and with a relatively high budget of ~$25 million, Columbia Pictures assumed that 1984's Ghostbusters was going to be a failure. Turns out, it became the second-highest grossing movie of the year, raking in over $295 million....
How many bones do sharks have? Just to clarify upfront, we're talking about the fish here, not those rich people who give you money for your inventions. For anyone who's had the pleasure of seeing Jaws, you know that this animal should not only be avoided at all costs, but is also...
Who did Oprah knock out of the number-one daytime talk show slot? In 1984, following relative success in Nashville and Baltimore, Oprah Winfrey moved to Chicago to become the co-host of AM Chicago. Within a few months, it became the highest-rated talk show in the city. Which is how, of all people, Roger Ebert came to play at least a small part...
Who has written the most number one songs in history? According to the Nashville Songwriters Association International, there are some key ingredients that go into crafting a no. 1 hit song. Those include things like when the pronoun "you" is first used, when the title of the song is included, and the verse/chorus structure. Which makes it...
The best '80s movies where kids go to outer space In the 1980s, outer space went from an impossibly unbreakable barrier that was going to be taken over by the commies if we didn't reach the moon first to something much more accessible. With the space shuttle program kicking off in 1981, space became something we could reach...
How many PB&Js does the average person eat in their lifetime? The first known recipe for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich dates back to 1901, when Julia Davis Chandler published it in the Boston Cooking School Magazine of Culinary Science and Domestic Economics. As far as she knew, she made the whole thing up, initially using currant or crabapple jelly....
How many Pro Bowls has Russel Wilson been to? Denver was not smellin' what Russ was cookin'. Take that however you will. Despite the Russel Wilson era in Denver coming to an unceremonious and expensive end, the dude had some great seasons. How many Pro Bowls has he been to? See if you can guess. Click START...
Which popular sitcom featured a character getting addicted to Pac-Man in 1982? For such a strange yet simple concept, Pac-Man is one of the biggest success stories in all of entertainment history. The game from Namco was key in ushering in the video game boom of the early '80s, led to at least two TV shows, spawned multiple sequels, and is...
What was the first pro baseball team? People from other countries really like to give Americans a hard time about how new things are. We get it — they've got castles, plagues, really old books, all that stuff. But there's one thing we have they don't that goes way way way back:...
In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, what is Qui-Gon Jinn's communicator prop made out of? It may sound like something out of The Simpsons, but after my friend waited all night to secure tickets to The Phantom Menace, I had the death of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn spoiled for me by the dude in the comic book store. Still, my excitement for the first new...
What is Superman’s biological birth name? Taking the name "Superman" has to be one of the boldest hero moves of all time. You have to be pretty damn confident in yourself to look around at other men and decide you are not just way better than them, but SUPER better. But hey, time and...
What was the first Arnold Schwarzenegger movie to gross over $100M at the box office? If you were a movie executive circa the late '70s/early '80s, I highly doubt you would have been like, "You know who's going to become a gigantic movie star? That one bodybuilder from Austria." And then there he was in Total Recall getting...
Who currently holds the record for most stunts by a living actor? The first time a stunt double ever performed on film is believed to be in the iconic 1903 Western, The Great Train Robbery. Since then, brave stunt performers have put their bodies on the line, driving through explosions, jumping off of buildings, and putting on wigs — all so you can...
What does SEGA mean? Go ahead, do that extremely-90s voice in your head from the commercials shouting "SEGA." It's really pretty incredible that SEGA was able to make its way to America and put even a tiny dent in Nintendo's video-game dominance — by 1992 owning 65% of the...
What type of dragon is Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon? Before you have kids, your friends that do have them keep telling you about the movies they've watched that were "actually pretty good." Then you watch it, and it's not that good. Not at all. But then there's the tale of menaces...
What year was the first VCR made? It's difficult to impart upon the youth of today how revolutionary it was when you could watch and record movies, TV shows, whatever, AT HOME. Hell, I didn't even fully grasp it. I really only ever knew a world where I could even set the VCR...
Which ‘80s actor recorded a PSA for Australia about the dangers of skateboarding? There are a lot of dangerous things, and in the '80s we made sure everyone knew about them — usually with some melodramatic acting or by enlisting whatever random pop culture star was hot at the moment. Public Service Announcements from the 1980s taught us to give a hoot, just...
How many Americans believe in ghosts? Anytime I hear the slightest creak in my house, I look over expecting to see a spirit from the beyond. Usually it's just the cat knocking something over, but I still keep looking. The idea of souls sticking around after death has been around just about as long...
What was the first animated movie to make $1 billion at the box office? There's something magical about animation. Whether it's been painstakingly put together by hand or built by a team of hundreds of digital artists, it takes us to places of whimsy and wonder that we can only otherwise imagine. Perhaps that's why we're...
Breaking what rule turns a mogwai into a gremlin? Here's a little view into what the world was like before the PG-13 rating existed: You could release a trailer for a movie that shows a super cute creature driving around in a Barbie car looking sweet, inspiring parents to bring their five-year-olds to see it, and then...
How many Grand Slams does Björn Borg have? Every now and then, an athlete retires abruptly while at the top of their game. Barry Sanders, Michael Jordan (even if it was a fake out at first), and of course, Björn Borg. Still in his mid-20s and widely considered the best in the game at the time, Borg shocked...
What song was almost used for the opening of Friends? It's hard to imagine the opening of pop-rock with anything other than the pop-rock stylings of the Rembrandts' hit single, "I'll Be There For You." There may be no other song more associated with a TV show, and it stands among only a...
Who was offered to direct The Godfather before Francis Ford Coppola? The Godfather is one of those movies that you know multiple lines from and can recite several scenes by heart even if you've never seen it. It's widely regarded not only as one of the best mafia movies ever made, but one of the best movies...
What is the best-selling video game console of all time? Video game consoles got their start back in 1972 when Magnavox put the Odyssey up for sale for a cool $99.95. It sold about 350,000 units — not much by today's standards, but enough to prove the burgeoning industry had some market power. Since then the industry...
Which musician was NOT a member of the Yardbirds? One of my favorite things to do is go to a party and tell everyone about all the early bands famous musicians used to be in. Not only does it make me sound cool, it annoys the crap out of people so much that they stop inviting me to their...
Who was the shortest president in U.S. history? Let's just get this out of the way upfront since we know it's such a divisive issue — we're talking about the shortest president in terms of height, NOT in terms of tenure. There, we said it. Since George Washington first took up the office...
The 5 best old-school songs recorded by athletes There’s nothing cooler than releasing your own single as a professional athlete. Or at least, that's apparently what every athlete in history thinks because a lot of them put out singles. Music critics would never, NEVER, touch this subject, so it’s up to us to tackle...
What's the longest someone has ever stayed awake? According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of sleep deprivation include reckless behavior, hallucinations, and can eventually lead to really bad stuff like heart attacks and strokes. So yeah, it's bad for you, and the only legitimate reason to purposely avoid sleep is if you'll be murdered...
What was the no. 1 movie in February 1984? The year once associated with a distant, dystopian future, is now 40 years behind us. In 1984 you could get a gallon of gas for $1.13, a house for $80,000 — and a VCR for about $300. For a lot of families, it was still cheaper to head to...
What is Barbie’s full name? Mattel owns a lot of big toy brands — Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and Masters of the Universe come to mind — but with over 1 billion Barbie dolls sold, we all know who's paying the bills. But there's more to Barbie than just plastic, a gigantic movie, and...
What is ALF's home planet? He tells jokes that mostly only make himself laugh, wants to eat the cat, and is from another planet. That's right, we're talking about everyone's favorite alien life form: ALF. We love watching him act like a child and learning the ways of humans...
What else is Saint Valentine the patron saint of? San Valentino has a bit of a mysterious streak — turns out, he might not even be one person. Known as a martyr, there are at least two Saint Valentines mentioned in early martyrologies (say that 10 times fast). Yet there's only one skull — and you can visit it...
Eight movies from the 1980s for nerds to watch on Valentine's Day Ah, Valentine’s Day, the day we celebrate the patron saint of epilepsy and beekeepers, and for some reason turned that into a celebration of courtly love. And for yet some other reason turned that into a reason to eat candy. I ain’t mad at that part of it....
When were the first Olympic Games that we know of held? The pageantry. The purity of sport. The brand promotions where you can get free fries with your cheeseburger. These, my friends, are the Olympic Games. The history of the Olympics is a long and storied one — connecting ancient civilizations to modern times, spanning wars and conflict, and proving that the...
In Flashdance, what job does Alex have? 1983 really set the tone for what the rest of the '80s was going to look like, and you'd be hard-pressed to find another movie that impacted pop culture in the decade more than Flashdance. This is the movie that gave us dancing to "Maniac"...
Who does Dorothy's house kill in The Wizard of Oz? How do you kill a witch? If you're pretty sure you've been cursed, that's probably the only way to free yourself — but it ain't easy. According to Current Archeology, not that long ago (~late 1600s to early 1700s) your solution would lie...
10 candies from the '80s you didn't know still exist There’s no doubt that candy from the ‘80s just hit different. Could it be that it was due to way lower health standards? Maybe… OK, probably, but what the hell did kids care about health? That’s the time when you’re supposed to go nuts and eat a...
Which member of the X-Men has a pet dragon in the comic books? The X-Men have a lot going for them: A cool leader, awesome powers, and form-fitting costumes. If that weren't enough to make you jealous, one of their members even has a pet dragon. You won't find this answer in the movies or cartoons, because introducing a...
What is Freddie Mercury's real name? Since everyone has tried to sing along to "Bohemian Rhapsody" at least once, you know just how hard it is to sing like Freddie Mercury. There's an argument to be made that he stands alone as the most talented singer in the history of rock and...
Which movie won Best Picture at the 1994 Oscars? 1993 was a hell of a year for movies. Which means that 30 years ago, at the 1994 Academy Awards, the Academy had its hands full as hell when deciding who to honor with those coveted little statues of golden men. You had historical dramas, movies about cannibalism, dinosaurs, chess,...
What job did Mario originally have? The sun rises and sets. Humans can't fly. Mario is a plumber. These are some of the basic truths of life as we know it. He's easily the most famous plumber in all of history. Mario became so popular that he's the de facto...
How much did the Louisiana Purchase cost? Whenever I see huge sums of money — like some coach gets $30 million after getting fired — I wish they'd throw just a little bit of that money my way. At that level, you won't even notice if a few hundred grand goes missing. Of course, one...
What was the highest-grossing movie from the 1970s? The '70s brought about a new golden age of film. Just pull up a list of popular '70s movies, close your eyes, randomly point and you'll probably land on an all-time classic that's still influencing filmmakers today. It's the decade that brought...
What is the only species where the males give birth? One of the most enduring tropes in film and TV is the pregnant woman, in labor, gripping the father-to-be by the arm with incredible strength and screaming, "This is all your fault!" But if we lived in a world where one particular species was making all the entertainment...
What is Captain James T. Kirk’s middle name? James T. Kirk, the youngest captain in the history of Starfleet. And for good reason — I don't care what you need a captain for, Kirk's mix of brashness, logic, and a sly smile make him easy to follow, even across unexplored stretches of the universe. It&...
How many states did Ronald Reagan win in the 1984 election? As a child living in the '80s, I never really understood who Ronald Reagan was other than the dude the creepy-looking puppet I'd see on MTV sometimes was based on and some guy that kind of looked like my grandpa. But if you're talking about...
Which NFL team did Carl Weathers play for? The world lost another of the great ones when Carl Weathers passed away at the age of 76. Generations know and love the surprisingly wide range of Weathers, who began acting in the mid-70s and exploded onto the scene portraying the egotistical and extremely ripped boxing champion, Apollo Creed. His...
Power Rangers was banned in which country until 2011? It's hard to imagine any part of the world untouched by the global phenomenon known as Power Rangers. Even in the most remote settlements of the Amazon rainforest, I imagine kids (and probably some adults) running around and pretending to morph into their favorite ranger. It's...
What mammal was the first to be cloned? Let's just admit it: By now we thought we'd all have cloning machines at home and would be able to just clone ourselves anytime there was a chore we didn't really want to do. Yes, this would inevitably lead to chaos, but it'...
In I Love Lucy, what’s the name of the club where Ricky performs? There's nothing worse than when TV shows try to milk a few more seasons out of a thinning plot as half the original cast leaves and by the time the finale airs no one notices. Honestly, it's rare for a show to go out on top...
Who is Inspector Gadget's nemesis? While there have been numerous iterations in the decades since, and in fact the franchise is still chugging along, we're not friends unless you agree that the original Inspector Gadget cartoon is the one and only version worth giving a damn about. Part Get Smart, part sci-fi, and...
Who was the first Robin in comic book history? When someone says, "You're like the Robin to my Batman," you should run. That's because things don't typically turn out that well for Batman's perennial kid sidekicks. But in return for all that sacrifice, Robin is the prototypical sidekick and...
In Saved by the Bell, what does the A.C. in A.C. Slater stand for? One of the smartest things the producers of Saved by the Bell ever did was to add one A.C. Slater to the show. Back when the show was known by another name, there was no Slater. Hard to understand a world in which that's the case. It&...
What popular '80s band was dubbed The Fab Five? Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and transport your mind to the 1980s. It's a magical land where the clothes are bright, everything tastes like purple, and vinyl LPs have been left behind for the superior technology of the cassette tape. Now try to think of every...
How fast is the speed of light? On one hand, it's pretty cool to look up at the night sky full of stars and realize that you're actually seeing millions of years in the past — since light doesn't travel instantaneously. On the other hand, it's pretty annoying to think...
In 101 Dalmatians, what are the names of the puppy parents? Released in 1961, One Hundred and One Dalmatians (also styled as 101 Dalmatians for lazy people like me) was a monster hit for Walt Disney. Earning over $14 million upon its initial release, it was the highest-grossing animated movie at the time. And when you take into account rereleases, it...
What group is officially credited for "The Super Bowl Shuffle"? The tradition of sports teams singing songs is not necessarily large, but it certainly does exist. As far back as the 1870s, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who also happened to be the first pro baseball team, were known to sing a song to spectators before games. The song began, "...
What movie did David Lynch almost direct instead of Dune? We don't like to overexaggerate around here, but it's not a stretch to say that if you've read Frank Herbert's Dune, you know it's one of the greatest written works in all of human history and should replace all other...
How long was the last excursion on the moon? NASA's Apollo program ran from 1968 to 1972, and it accomplished something pretty damn cool — sending humans to the moon for the first time. Turns out, the program was also the last time humans visited Earth's celestial little bro. Even though Eugene A. Cernan, the last...
What's the name of the lead bandit in Three Amigos? It's hard to imagine a much more popular comedic trio in the '80s than heavyweights Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. Arguably in their respective comedic heydays, putting them in a movie together was a no-brainer. On December 12, 1986, audiences finally got to see the...
What baseball team's hat does Magnum wear in Magnum, P.I.? On December 11, 1980, the world was introduced to lovable, laid-back former Navy Seal turned private investigator Thomas Magnum when Magnum, P.I. premiered on CBS. It was the breakout role for one Tom Selleck, whose mustache may just be the most iconic of the 1980s. He plays a P....
January 25 in nerd history: That time video games were invented Happy Opposite Day! Or should we say Sad Opposite Day? OR would that be an opposite of an opposite, so really we should stick with "happy" because you already know it's opposite day, thus making a double opposite actually into a triple opposite? The answer is...
How short was the shortest player in NBA history? Every now and then I feel bad for really tall people. They can always expect at least two questions: 1. How's the weather up there? and 2. Do you play basketball? I highly doubt really short people ever get asked either of those questions, especially the one about...
What does DVD stand for? If you don't remember what it was like when video could first be encoded on CDs, let me refresh your memory — it was utter chaos. In the early '90s you had Video CDs, the Multimedia Compact Disc (MMCD), CD-i, the Super Density (SD) disc, and heavens knows...
January 24 in nerd history: Beer in a can Happy Library Shelfie Day! If you're curious what a "shelfie" is, apparently it's like a selfie but with books on a shelf in the background. So if you see a bunch of influencers at your local library branch today... well, that'd still...
What director did Ed Harris allegedly punch in the face? How mad have you ever been at your boss? Now imagine you get paid millions of dollars for a project that lasts a few months, but your boss tells you what to do while speaking through a megaphone. Also imagine you're legendary actor Ed Harris, who's...
January 23 in nerd history: The day Hulkamania was born Happy National Handwriting Day! Someday, when all the AIs have realized humans are stupid and boring and they take all our technology and leave the planet for somewhere else more interesting, we'll have a need for writing by hand once again. But that probably won't happen...
Which planet is the hottest in the solar system? Be honest, when was the last time you recited the order of the planets from the Sun by memory — AND got it right? For me, roughly second grade. Of course, by today's standards, I would have got it wrong anyway — you see, in those days we included Pluto....
January 22 in nerd history Happy Answer Your Cat's Questions Day! Of all the animals humans keep as pets, the sounds cats make are the most likely to make you feel like they're piercing your soul with questions that will make you wonder about the very nature of existence. Either that,...
January 19 in nerd history: Kevin Bacon, Muhammad Ali, and I Love Lucy appy National Popcorn Day! I mean, c'mon, it's popcorn. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. January 19 in Nerd History Here are five things that happened on January 19th at the intersection of nerd and pop culture. I. Birthdays of honor:...
10 feel-good retro TV theme songs that will fix your mood Back in the ‘80s, TV music trained my dog. When the closing theme for LA Law played, the pup would find her leash, then wait near Dad’s cigar stash. She knew it was time for a walk! TV music has trained me too. The Twilight Zone theme song makes...
Who wrote the Heathcliff theme song? For a good part of my adult life, I only remembered one orange cartoon cat (and friends) from the '80s, and without naming names it was the one that reallllly likes lasagna. But one day I heard a certain theme song, and suddenly it all came flooding back. The...
January 18 in nerd history: We have the technology Happy National Thesaurus Day! We could also say have a cheerful Thesaurus Day, or joyful, jubilant, merry, gleeful, jolly, elated, and even mirthful. But we won't, that would be weird. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. January 18 in Nerd History Here are...
Which state enacted the first speed limit law? 50 years ago, the National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL) meant that nowhere in the United States were you legally allowed to drive faster than 55 miles per hour. But apparently nobody told one Sammy Hagar, who found out the hard way when about 10 years later he was cruising down...
Final Jeopardy! from January 17, 2003 Today in the year 2003 the category for Final Jeopardy! was BROADWAY MUSICALS. Can you come up with the correct response based on the following clue? In 1999 this Broadway musical was advertised with the line: "Before the Century Ends, See How It All Began." Click START to...
January 17 in nerd history: Betamax goes to court Happy Museum Selfie Day! For one day only, it's totally acceptable to carry around one of those selfie sticks, shove your way to the front of the crown in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and go nuts. Tell them we sent ya. This is The...
What is Tom Cruise's real name? With over $11.5 billion attributed to movies that have his name in it, Tom Cruise seems like he really nailed it with the whole getting named thing. But alas, like many Hollywood stars, that's not actually his real name. What's next, are we going to...
Final Jeopardy! from January 16, 2008 Today in the year 2008 the category for Final Jeopardy! was FOREIGN FILMS. Can you come up with the correct response based on the following clue? A series of novels includes "Iron Knight, Silver Vase", "Precious Sword, Golden Hairpin" & this one, made into a film...
January 16 in nerd history: Happy birthday John Carpenter! Happy Appreciate a Dragon Day! And just to be clear, this is Appreciate a Dragon Day, not all dragons. I know who I'm going with: This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. January 16 in Nerd History Here are five things that happened on...
January 12 in nerd history: Holy Contributing to the Delinquency of Minors, Batman! Happy Quitter’s Day! This is the day when you realize all your New Year's resolutions were stupid and life is much better when you simply enjoy it. If anyone tells you it's actually about overcoming obstacles to keep your resolutions, they're lying and...
Nine trivia questions about '80s music Were the '80s the greatest decade for music? Well, no, not at all. But it was certainly the shiniest. Thanks to the advent of MTV, popular music stopped being just about how you sound. Music videos motivated artists to up their glitz game, and they sure as hell met...
Final Jeopardy! from January 12 2000 Today in the year 2000 the category for Final Jeopardy! was NEOLOGISMS. Can you come up with the correct response based on the following clue? In his 1984 novel "Neuromancer", William Gibson coined this 10-letter term for a virtual reality computer network. Click START to answer. In his...
Final Jeopardy! from January 11 1989 Today in the year 1989 the category for Final Jeopardy! was COLONIAL AMERICA. Can you come up with the correct response based on the following clue? This colony was named for the 1st governor of the colony of Virginia. Click START to answer. This colony was named for the 1st...
January 11 in nerd history: Happy little trees Happy Secret Pal Day! This is a great day to celebrate the person you tell all your secrets, especially because they could probably ruin your life if you don’t keep them happy. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. January 11 in Nerd History Here...
What is the oldest age a cat has lived to? According to the World Animal Foundation, which certainly at least sounds legit, there are over 600 million to 1 billion cats in the world, and possibly lots more. Look, the easy thing here would be to joke about how not a single one of those hundreds of millions of cats...
Final Jeopardy! from January 10 2008 Today in the year 2008 the category for Final Jeopardy! was "C"INEMA. Can you come up with the correct response based on the following clue? 2 movies whose 1-word titles are cities; they won the Oscar for Best Picture, 59 years apart. Click START to answer. 2...
January 10 in nerd history: The no. 1 movie 50 years ago Happy Houseplant Appreciation Day! This is the perfect day to water that one plant that's definitely dying for the first time in probably about four months. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. January 10 in Nerd History Here are five things that happened...
Lionsgate announces Steelbook collectible releases for Kickboxer and Little Monsters More and more I've been thinking about spending my money on physical media instead of throwing it into the void of streaming where I might not even get to keep my purchase for myself. And Lionsgate is making that choice seem even more relevant with a couple of...
Which Animal House actor wasn’t allowed to sit with the rest of the cast at the premiere? Somehow, unbelievably, it feels like Animal House doesn't get enough respect nowadays. The film represented breakouts for multiple young actors and put director John Landis in a deserved spotlight that would allow him to go forward and dominate the '80s. But more so, it served as the...
Final Jeopardy! from January 9 1990 Today in the year 1990 the category for Final Jeopardy! was GEOGRAPHY. Can you come up with the correct response based on the following clue? The 2 independent South American countries named after famous men. Click START to answer. The 2 independent South American countries named after famous men. * Bolivia...
January 9 in nerd history: I know I put that beef somewhere around here Happy Balloon Ascension Day! While it sounds like this is a day when all balloons will find nirvana and leave the mortal world for a better one, I think it's really just literally about balloons floating into the sky. So find the nearest balloon vendor, tie a whole...
Which NFL coach holds the record for most regular season wins? There are days when it seems only the best of the best can make it up to the ranks of head coach in the National Football League, and then there are days when I wonder why some teams don't just pay me much less to do the same...
Final Jeopardy! from January 8 1996 Today in the year 1996 the category for Final Jeopardy! was I LOVE LUCY. Can you come up with the correct response based on the following clue? On the May 9, 1955 show, Lucy imitated Gary Cooper, Clark Gable & this man who guest starred. Click START to answer. On...
January 8 in nerd history: People usually call me either a space cowboy or Maurice Happy National Clean Your Desk Day! Seriously, guys, it's time. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. January 8 in Nerd History Here are five things that happened on January 8th at the intersection of nerd and pop culture. I. Birthdays of honor: Elvis...
What popular old-school video game character was originally known as Jumpman? In the annals of video game history, you have pixels, bits, skill, resilience, and lots of jumping. Mostly jumping, actually. And really, that's still the case. Whether you're crossing a giant chasm in the latest Tomb Raider game, avoiding crossfire in Call of Duty, or even...
January 5 in nerd history: You're so Odor-able Happy National Bird Day! Our favorite variety is Big. Stop and give a little tip of your hat to all the avians you spot today. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. January 5 in Nerd History Here are five things that happened on January 5th...
January 4 in Nerd History Happy National Trivia Day! I mean, if you’re into that kind of thing. Personally, we HATE it. Getting a little nauseated just thinking about it. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. January 4 in Nerd History Here are five things that happened on January...
Final Jeopardy! from January 5, 1994 Today in the year 1994 the category for Final Jeopardy! was CARD GAMES. Can you come up with the correct response based on the following clue? Best poker hand that can be formed from the last 5 monarchs of England. Click START to answer. Best poker hand that can be...
What is the only U.S. state where coffee beans are grown commercially? Sometimes it amazes me how people figured out the best way to consume something at whatever point in humanity's past. Like, who figured out how the hell to eat an artichoke for the first time? And in cases like that, I'm not sure it's...
Final Jeopardy! from January 4, 2000 Today in the year 2000 (go ahead, sing the song in your head) the category for Final Jeopardy! was THE MUSICAL U.S. Can you come up with the correct response based on the following clue? In 1999 this state acquired the rights to use John Denver's "...
January 3 in Nerd history: Happy birthday JRR Tolkien! Happy Fruitcake Toss Day! If you still have some kind of holiday fruitcake lying around, today is the day to toss that bad boy. I’m pretty sure the intention here is to toss it in the trash, but why not have a little fun with it and start a...
What were the first words ever said in a non-silent film? Depending on what movie I'm watching, there are times I wish they would have stayed silent forever. But alas, there's no stopping technological progress, especially when it comes to the movies. Ever since the first Kinetoscope parlor opened in 1894, it's been nothing but...
Final Jeopardy! from January 3, 2003 The category for Final Jeopardy! today in 2003 was Classic Literature. Can you come up with the right answer based on the clue? In this 3-part work, the main character encounters Nimrod, Ulysses, Muhammad & Thomas Aquinas. Click START to answer. In this 3-part work, the main character encounters Nimrod,...
When was the first Apple Macintosh computer released? If Steve Jobs had listened to me, we'd be roughly on the Apple XXV by now. But no, instead Apple had the idea to build an easy-to-use personal computer for the masses and decided to call it the Macintosh. Fast forward a bit, and we now just call...
What acting advice did Michael Caine give Kermit the Frog on the set of The Muppet Christmas Carol? There's something about The Muppet Christmas Carol that sets it apart from other Muppets movies. While we could go ahead and list a bunch of things that would make us sound like really smart film analysts, let's just get to the point — a big reason for...
What was the first home video game console to use cartridges? Anytime I handle a physical video game disc these days I freak out. It's like my hands stop working and I feel like every second is filled with anxiety. What if I scratch it? What if I spill something on it? What if I accidentally throw it in...
Which famous comedian had an '80s hit with "Party All the Time"? Making a hit song doesn't seem that hard. All you need is a good hook, some backing music, and boom — just sit back and let the royalties come in. There's just one key ingredient that many of us lack: talent. Of course, some people get all...
Who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas? Recently turning 30, The Nightmare Before Christmas initially confused audiences who weren't sure if it was about Halloween or Christmas and whether it was for kids or adults. At least that's the story that circulates in the darkest corners of the internet. While it's...
What position does Harry Potter play in Quidditch? We've all been there — enjoying a nice sunny day in the park, perhaps a bit of reading or a little exercise, when something catches your eye. Is it a group of friends playing a light game of touch football? Perhaps throwing a frisbee back and forth? Maybe even...
Three questions about Die Hard We're not going to stoop to the level of debating whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. What are we going to question next, whether Indiana Jones actually affected the outcome of Raiders of the Lost Ark? (Don't answer that.) Released in July of 1988, test...
10 of the funniest old-school Christmas movies Grandma's getting hammered, that weird uncle is about to start going off about his new importing/exporting business, and somewhere a child screams — that's right, it's the holidays! At a certain point, someone just needs to put something on the screen to shut everyone...
What was the number one movie in December of 1983? Think back to the end of 1983 — just a casual 40 years ago. It was the year that Reading Rainbow hit the airwaves, the Famicom was released (or NES as you may know it), and the earliest version of Microsoft Word (then called Multi-Tool Word) hit the market. And the...
What animal is Indiana Jones afraid of? Man, it would be so cool to be Dr. Indiana Jones. The dude has a tenured job, all the girls love him, and he gets to travel the world having adventures — plus, the whip makes for an amazing party trick. He's survived a lot of things, and as...
An elegy for E3: The coolest con I'll never get to go to As I was casually scrolling my social media feeds this morning (the platforms I use shall remain unnamed, because I don't like getting yelled at), simply looking for something to enrage me like any other normal person, something hit me harder than I ever would have expected it...
How old was director Luc Besson when he started writing The Fifth Element? If you're wondering what I look for in a sci-fi movie, it can often be summed up in one word: vision. Not that it's the only thing I like about a good sci-fi flick, but if it's got it, I'm most likely...
December 8 in nerd history: Imagine all the people living for today Happy National Brownie Day! Just eat a damn brownie already, it’s that simple. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. December 8 in Nerd History Here are five things that happened on December 8th for those of us who are still waiting for those X-ray...
How much did the first cellphone weigh? Were you one of those rich kids who got a cellphone right when they came out? Or were you like me and didn't get one until you had a full-time adult job and still had to get the cheapest possible option you could find? Either way, those who...
December 7 in nerd history Happy National Cotton Candy Day! Cotton candy as we know it today has its origins in expensive spun sugar, but in 1897 dentist William Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton developed a machine that could create it on the cheap. It premiered at the 1904 World’s Fair and you...
What's the name of the pizza restaurant in Home Alone? In the opening sequence of 1990's Home Alone, we truly see the storytelling genius of John Hughes (and director Chris Columbus) on display. A pizza delivery dude is trying to get paid, adults and children alike frantically rush about, and we're introduced to who will turn...
December 6 in nerd history: Everybody was Kung Fu fighting Happy National Microwave Oven Day! The first consumer microwaves became available in the 1950s, and we’ve been grateful to those little guys ever since. As long as you’re not one of those people who intentionally blows up hot dogs in your microwave, instead of watching videos of people...
What was Pepsi originally called? In the '80s, you had two choices: The choice of Coca-Cola (old people), or the choice of a new generation (cool, young people). At least, that's what Pepsi marketing wanted us to think. Stemming from the Pepsi Generation marketing of the '60s, they enrolled some of...
December 5 in nerd history: Why does it always have to be snakes? Happy Krampusnacht! Today in Germany, other parts of Europe, and increasingly more places, people will dress up as Krampus, a demon that swats misbehaving children with branches or steals the presents St. Nicholas has given them. During celebrations, those dressed as Krampus hand out bundles of twigs as a reminder...
What was the first Disney movie released on DVD? I remember when I bought my first DVD player — for just a couple hundred bucks, I got what was probably the worst one available on the market. But I didn't care. It felt like magic to be watching a movie on a disc. No rewinding anymore? Are you...
33 years ago, The Simpsons released a hit novelty album just one season into the show's run Premiering in December of 1989, The Simpsons very nearly instantly struck a chord with pretty much all of America — screwball comedy and animation that was entertaining enough for most kids, absurdist humor and relatable topics for adults, and plenty of subversion that would come to define the satirical cynicism of...
December 4 nerd history: The Simpsons start singing the blues Happy National Dice Day! Our favorite is definitely the 20-sided die. You feel like a god among mortals when you roll that thing… unless you roll a natural 1. Which I never have, as far as my DM knows. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day....
In The Lord of the Rings, what alias did Aragorn go by? Ahh, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, fearless warrior, and speaker of Elvish. The bridge between worlds and heir to the throne. Without him, things would have turned out much worse in The Lord of the Rings. By his own account, he is called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, and the heir of...
9 gift ideas for the Classic Nerd in your life First of all, we're sorry. We know you've already seen a bazillion gift guides for all the different people who might be on your holiday shopping list. But this one comes from the heart — we're old, nerdy, and tired of receiving boring gifts. OK,...
December 1st in nerd history: The number one song today in 1984 Happy National Cookie Cutter Day! To be clear, we’re talking about the actual kitchen utensils you use to cut out fun shapes for eating, NOT the metaphorical usage that describes things that conform to norms. However, we will accept a cookie cutter cookie cutter, but only once the phrase...
What's the name of the workout video series starring Richard Simmons? In the days before Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, there weren't a lot of options for those who wanted to take a journey from not-so-fit to more-fit — gyms were mostly geared towards people who were already in good shape. Richard Simmons, who had been heavy as a child...
November 30th in nerd history: I'll make it a true daily double Happy National Personal Space Day! Tell the spouse, the kids, the pets, your coworkers, and any passing strangers at the grocery store to give you one damn second to yourself today. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. November 30 in Nerd History Here are five...
A brief history of Pong: The game that made the video game industry The video game industry as we know it got its start on November 29th, 1972, when Atari officially announced the release of the Pong arcade machine. Nolan Bushnell had an inkling that video games were going to be big, so he recruited coworker and friend Ted Dabney to create what...
November 29th in nerd history: The cost of a car 40 years ago Happy Square Dancing Day! While right now in your head you’re thinking “Grab your partner, do si do,” the origins of square dancing may reach as far back as the 1500s. All those fancy pants dances you see royalty doing in shows like Bridgerton? Yeah, stuff like that. So...
What was Saved by the Bell originally called? We complain a lot about the lack of modern Saturday morning cartoons around here, but even we forget that there were also Saturday morning sitcoms. Saved by the Bell had its moments in primetime, but it was largely known to a kid and teen audience thanks to its regular Saturday...
That time the Blues Brothers had the best-selling blues album of all time In the rich and deep history of blues, not many would have predicted a high point would come in the late '70s with a Canadian and an Albanian-American who told jokes for a living. But hell, that's exactly what happened when Briefcase Full of Blues was released...
November 28th in nerd history Happy National French Toast Day! While recipes similar in style have been around since at least the 14th century, it’s the French one for pain perdu, or “lost bread”, that has stuck with us. Stale loafs or bread that would have otherwise been wasted was often used to create...
John Cusack hated which one of his movies so much that he walked out after 20 minutes? When you have 80 movies and counting to your name, at some point you might not love every single one of them. John Cusack, whose success began in the early '80s and is still humming along, apparently hasn't loved every single project he's been a...
A decade ago, Frozen became a monster hit It's officially been a decade since those damn songs got stuck in your head. 10 years ago, on November 27, 2013, Frozen was released in theaters. The movie features the songs (among others) "Let It Go," "For the First Time in Forever," and "...
November 27th in nerd history: Eyes so blue they should be illegal Happy Turtle Adoption Day! If you can tear yourself away from those Cyber Monday deals for a few precious seconds, think about all the turtles out there just waiting for a nice home where you can provide a shell-friendly diet, space to roam around, and ninja training. This is The...
November 24th in nerd history Happy National Sardines Day! The FDA recommends a weekly intake of two to three servings of sardines, which means basically no one is getting enough sardines in their diet. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. November 24th in Nerd History Here are five things that...
Who was NOT a founding member of the original Avengers? If you're a fan of the Avengers, you have DC's Justice League to thank — following the success of the superhero team's comics, Stan Lee's boss basically told him to get cranking on his own version. And voila, the Avengers were born. But...
Which rock star appeared on Highlander: The Series? We all had the same thought after watching the original Highlander movie in 1986: Does Connor MacLeod have a fellow clansman who's buffer and can take his shirt off more? In 1992, we got that answer with a resounding "yes" when Highlander: The Series introduced us...
What store held the first Thanksgiving Day parade? It's hard to think of a better way to show how grateful you are than to watch a bunch of giant balloons on TV as your Uncle Jerry sips on a Bloody Mary and steps outside every 30 seconds to smoke a cigarette. For about a century, the...
When did Queen Elizabeth II take the throne? For generations, Queen Elizabeth II endured as a royal icon. Take pretty much anyone in the world over the last several decades and show them a picture of her, and they'd probably know who she was. Not a lot of people can say that. Through multiple wars, royal...
Steven Spielberg digitally replaced rifles with walkie-talkies in which of his classic movies? There are few — if any — directors that can match the number of all-time classic movies as Steven Spielberg. This dude just knows how to make movies that people want to watch, and not just once but over and over again. Hell, he essentially invented the concept of the summer blockbuster....
7 TV shows only '80s kids will remember I think the 1980s were truly the peak era for Saturday mornings. The process of developing kids' shows had been refined by that point, and we were well ahead of the days of streaming or DVRs — if you wanted to watch those shows, your only chance was to wake...
What's the name of the robot on Lost in Space? If you add "Will Robinson" to "Danger!" anytime you hear or say that word, you can thank Lost in Space, the sci-fi TV series that ran from 1965-68 (and occasionally gets a reboot, but let's put that out of your mind for this one)...
True or false: Was Donkey Kong's name a mistranslation? It's amazing to think that we might not have some of the beloved Nintendo characters we do today if it weren't for Popeye. In an effort to quickly put something together that would help get rid of some unsold arcade cabinets, Shigeru Miyamoto came up with...
How long does it take sunlight to reach Earth? Someday the sun will expand so much that it will engulf the Earth and everything on it. Thankfully, we've still got billions of years before that happens, so no need to panic just yet (although it never hurts to plan ahead). But let's say one of...
Which actress was featured in Bruce Springsteen's video for "Dancing in the Dark" before she was famous? TV is full of lies. If the fact that House Hunters isn't real didn't convince you, maybe this will — the "random fan" that gets pulled up on stage in Bruce Springsteen's iconic 1984 hit, "Dancing in the Dark," is actually...
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck appear as uncredited Fenway Park extras in what movie? When Matt Damon and Ben Affleck first met as kids in Cambridge, Massachusetts, their love of both baseball and acting immediately bonded them. A bazillion movies, some high-profile relationships, and an Academy Award later, they're still total bros. Just look at them in 1997's Good Will...
What is Kramer's first name in Seinfeld? People like to say that Seinfeld is a show about nothing — but those are the people who didn't experience the TV event of the year — nay, the decade — when we found out that not only did Kramer have a first name, but it would be revealed in an...
How much did the first consumer microwave cost? It's hard to imagine a time when you couldn't reheat last night's dinner, warm up a burrito, or have a fresh bag of popcorn at the simple press of a button. The microwave oven is now a staple in every kitchen, and you can...
How many times did Elizabeth Taylor get married? When I was a kid, I mostly knew Elizabeth Taylor as a person who got married a lot of times. Whenever I saw her on TV, it had something to do with a marriage or a divorce. It was that simple. Turns out, she was also one of the most...
What was the number one song in November of 1993? What were you doing 30 years ago at this exact moment?* *By 30 years ago at this moment, we mean the moment this was published, so November 7th, 2023 at about 11:30 a.m. MST. If you're anything like me, you were probably playing the X-Men game...
Tom Cruise asked to use real nerve gas in which one of his movies? It's hard to think of anything more Tom Cruise-ish than doing your own stunts — besides, maybe, demanding the use of real nerve gas on set. As if hanging from a ceiling for Mission Impossible weren't already enough... Cruise is known for many things, in particular for...
What is the most abundant element in the universe? Looking at the Periodic Table is like dogs and cats being friends for me — it just doesn't make sense. Although I do appreciate the idea of certain gasses being noble. On some level, I still understand that there is simply more of some stuff than others out there...
What was the first DVD Netflix ever sent? It's hard to overstate how incredible it was when all you had to do was pay a monthly fee and you didn't have to deal with late fees ever again. The only other way to avoid late fees is to have left a game disc under...
What does AT-AT stand for? There are two kinds of people — Star Wars fans who bicker over how to pronounce vehicle names and those who bicker with those fans about bickering too often over Star Wars. If that sentence actually made sense to you, this question should be a breeze. AT-ATs quickly earned a place...
Movies from the '90s for nerds to watch this holiday season Ahh, remember celebrating the winter holidays in the ‘90s? Stores would actually close (without posting about it on social media), a pile of holiday movies from Blockbuster warmed up by the fire, and we tried to kill each other over Elmo toys. Those were the days. While the ‘90s were...
11 trivia questions about scary movies Whether you're the type of person who knows all the obscure references in indie horror movies or you steel yourself for one viewing of something a little spooky once per year, we all need a scary movie in our lives from time to time. What constitutes "scary&...
How many people were executed during the Salem witch trials? In February of 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts, two young girls suddenly started exhibiting strange behavior. Two cousins, aged 9 and 11, began to scream, speak in strange tongues, throw things, and contort their bodies. Minister John Hale described the behavior as "beyond the power of epileptic fits or...
What are the blocks in Tetris called? There are few things more satisfying than locking in that perfect piece and clearing a few lines in Tetris. Originally developed in the '80s, we can thank Nintendo for bringing this game into our lives — for the original Game Boy alone, it sold over 35 million copies. But after...
What was used to make Freddy Krueger’s glove in A Nightmare on Elm Street? You'd be hard-pressed to find a mind as warped as Wes Craven's. While it might seem almost cliché today, the writer and director's idea for a villain who can haunt and kill you inside your dreams was completely new when the original A Nightmare...
The top 5 kids movies from the '80s to watch for Halloween For those of us who grew up or had our formative years during the 1980s, we're familiar with the rampant anxiety issues thanks to some of the movies that were for some reason marketed to kids. That said, they were usually also pretty awesome movies, even if a...
Who was the first host of Saturday Night Live? Whether you watched Bill Murray deliver a lounge version of the Star Wars theme, you were a fan of Da Bears, you partied on with Wanye and Garth, or whatever less funny stuff they do now, you have to give it to SNL in terms of just sheer longevity. The...
What was Google originally called? I actually remember what the internet was like before search engines came along. It was about 30 minutes of getting a stable connection (assuming you didn't just get a busy signal), and then just an endless series of links nested within more links. It was much less about...
What is the best-selling album of all time? Some music feels so massive that there's no escape. I don't mean massive like there are a lot of instruments, but like you can't turn on the radio without hearing it for the 7,000th time that day. I don't think I...
What’s the name of the iconic theme song from The Exorcist? For anyone born before the horror resurgence of the late '90s, it doesn't take much to get you freaked the hell out — all you have to do is hear those opening notes for the theme song from The Exorcist. Some of the effects don't particularly...
Which teams played in the first Super Bowl? Did you know that "Super Bowl" is two words? Based on the social media posts and texts I get around that time, I'm guessing most people don't. It's hard to imagine a time when the world didn't stop completely just...
What year was Captain Kirk born? There is no one quite like Captain Kirk. Not only was he the first (and only) student at Starfleet Academy to defeat the Kobayashi Maru test and Starfleet's youngest captain in history, he's also got just the right amount of rebellion in him — and clearly he...
The top 10 cartoon theme songs of the '80s While Saturday morning cartoons weren't anything new in the 1980s, it kind of feels like that's when they hit their peak. Producers had refined their strategies (improving upon the '60s and '70s), the stories balanced lightness with coolness (unlike the brightness of the '...
What was the name of the first dog to orbit Earth? Going to space is really, really hard. And, it turns out, super dangerous. So in the earliest days of figuring out how to send people to space, someone came up with an idea — why not send animals first? Kind of like how I make my kid go out in the...
What is Bob Dylan's real name? Bob Dylan is often considered the voice of a generation — and what a voice it is. Dylan's nasally delivery somehow works perfectly with his brand of songwriting, and it seems like 98% of songs written in the '60s and '70s somehow come back to him. But...
In Back to the Future, what name does Marty use in 1955? One thing I always wonder about when Marty McFly returns to 1985 and finds an altered timeline in which everything is totally awesome is why his parents don't seem to ever stop and mention how much he looks like their old friend who helped them get together back...
October 16th in nerd history Happy Global Cat Day! Look people, if we can’t figure out that today is a day that the internet was made for and don’t fill it with nothing but cats, we may as well just give up on this whole thing. This is The Reset Button from Classic...
October 13th in nerd history: It's for Halloween AND Christmas Happy Friday the 13th. A generally rare occurrence (at least once a year, but only up to three), as to why the combo of the 13th landing on a Friday is bad luck is kind of anyone’s guess. The number 13 being unlucky possibly dates back to Christian and...
What does EPCOT stand for? There's no question that Walt Disney was a visionary — his vision was so strong that even though he wasn't around to see it, Walt Disney World was still seen to fruition after his death. Not only that, they opened several more parks on the land that...
What did the first email ever sent say? Were you an early adopter when email came out? Did you nab the username that's just your first initial and last name, without even needing to add some random number at the end? Do you still use one of the original email providers, like Yahoo! or Hotmail? Even...
What was the original title of Ghostbusters? Coming from a long line of spiritualists, it seems like Dan Aykroyd was always destined to write a movie about ghosts. But when he and Harold Ramis teamed up to start working in earnest on the concept of 1984's Ghostbusters, it took multiple iterations before finally landing on...
Six questions about '90s TV sitcoms The 1990s may have been the peak era for TV sitcoms. After decades of the medium being honed, producers knew exactly how to put a hit show together, but it was also before the internet came along and blew everything to hell. The '90s gave us ABC's...
Who originally played Darrin on Bewitched? Running from 1964-1972, Bewitched is one of those shows that proved the more absurd the plot in a sitcom, the better. The plot for this one is that a beautiful, immortal witch (Samantha) falls in love with and marries a dorky mortal (Darrin). Just the clear fact that Samantha is...
What song did Hank Williams Jr. use for Monday Night Football? Some questions aren't really meant to be answered. To be or not to be? Why are we here? You want the truth? But some have an answer, just waiting inside you, waiting for someone to ask at the right moment. Are you ready for some football? Hell yes,...
When did the Challenger disaster happen? When the first teacher was set to head to space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, it sure seemed like a great idea to gather children together at schools across the country to watch the launch live. Of course, we all know how that turned out. Those who were alive and...
22 of the best retro songs to add to your Halloween playlist It’s that spooky time of year when your spine begins to tingle with a familiar feeling: being judged by your friends based solely on your Halloween playlist. But fear not — I’ve been refining mine since I was but a wee vampire. If you’re looking for some killer...
Who invented Coca-Cola? Whether you call it call it soda or pop is really no concern of mine. But when it comes to Coca-Cola vs. Coke? Actually, really don't care about that either, but I do enjoy myself an ice-cold Coke, ideally from the fountain with those little pieces of ice....
Who almost played the lead role in Taxi Driver before Robert De Niro? Well before I was old enough to watch Taxi Driver, the 1976 classic from Martin Scorsese, I would utter that famous line: "Are you talkin' to me?" There are few movie quotes as ubiquitous as the one famously uttered by Travis Bickle, the lead character who seems...
October 4th in nerd history Happy National Taco Day! Do I really need to explain much else here? Go eat a taco already! This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. October 4 in Nerd History Here are five things that happened on October 4th at the intersection of nerd and pop...
Arnold Schwarzenegger made his acting debut in what movie? Arnold Schwarzenegger might be the least likely person to have become a pop culture superstar. An Austrian bodybuilder who decided to retire from the sport he dominated and move into acting, becoming one of the biggest stars in movie history, and sprinkling in being the Governor of California. Oh, and...
What's the name of the teacher from Dead Poets Society? If it weren't for movies, how would we ever know what a cool teacher is like? Maybe they turn the chair around and sit among the class like they're one of the students. Maybe they don't give in even when a troubled but talented...
Who did NOT act in 1953's From Here to Eternity? It should come as no surprise that the same decade that brought us TV dinners also ushered in a new era of cinema where rebels were finally cool. You wore your pleated pants to the movie, but inside you were a regular ol’ James Dean. Today we’re honing in...
In Big, where was the iconic piano scene filmed? It seems like pretty much everyone involved with Big, while thinking it was a good movie, thought it would bomb at the box office. Among other issues, it was the fourth body-switch movie released within eight months. Albeit, this one featured the same person changing into another version of himself,...
Name the famous quote from Casablanca. Originally intended as a cautionary tale based on the events unfolding in Europe, Casablanca ended up being released in January of 1943, right in the midst of World War II. Yet it's really a timeless tale of unrequited love, which turns out can even happen in Morocco in...
What is Mrs. Doubtfire's first name? What would you consider reasonable reasons to get a divorce? Most of us would probably say things like infidelity, drug addiction, and domestic violence fit the bill. Hell, even just general incompatibility. But if we're talking 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire, directed by Chris Columbus, that list also...
In The Good, the Bad and the Ugly what's the nickname of Clint Eastwood's character? While today we look back at so-called Spaghetti Westerns and revere them for the brilliant pieces of cinematic history they are, when The Good, the Bad and the Ugly came out in 1966 it was met with mixed reception. Apparently, people didn't really love what these Italians were...
What was the highest-grossing movie in 1983? Today a movie is basically a complete failure if it doesn't at least get close to a billion dollars at the box office. But back in the early '80s, even thinking of that kind of money made most people just pass out in the street. The totals...
What high school does Ferris Bueller attend? Imagine if you found the principal of your high school trying to break into your house. I think I'd have the same reaction as Jeannie, Ferris' sister (played by Jennifer Grey). For some reason, the principal needed to be inside Ferris Bueller's room to prove,...
What's the name of the hotel in The Shining? I have to admit, if someone asked me to watch over a mountain resort hotel for the offseason, I would strongly consider it. Then again, my kid's not psychic (as far as I know). Turns out Jack Torrance and his family didn't have the relaxing, productive...
Who was originally going to direct Apocalypse Now? Francis Ford Coppola is often cited as one of the best directors to ever get behind the camera. But he wasn't originally supposed to be the director. Who was?...
What's the name of the town in The Truman Show? Do you ever find yourself wondering, just for a moment, whether you're part of some elaborate reality TV show? That's probably thanks to 1998's The Truman Show. Released at a time when reality TV was really gaining steam, it posed the question of what...
What was the first movie with a PG-13 rating? There was a time, not all that long ago, when movie ratings simply went from G (great for anyone) to PG (hey parents, heads up but totally fine) and then straight to R (you might be killed by watching it). As someone who definitely saw many, many movies far too...
What singer started their career with the '80s band once known as Miami Latin Boys? Sure, every now and then you have some random person who gets discovered and skyrockets into a household name. But for 99.97% of successful musicians, it's a long road full of grinding it out, and often with multiple failures along the way. From gigging endlessly for small...
Name the band that sings 1982's “Come On Eileen.” According to so-called science, the 1960s had the most one-hit wonders of any decade. But boy, doesn't it feel like the '80s did? I agree with the dude who did the actual work of determining which decade is the most one-hit-wondery-est as to why this is the...
Sitcom families from the ‘90s we wish we were part of Even if you were one of those freaks who somehow didn’t have a childhood that instilled so much trauma into your psyche that you’re still struggling to hold it together today, you have to admit that everyone wished they were born into their favorite sitcom family. Even the...
What was Friends almost called? So no one told you life was going to be this way, huh? As easy as it would be to just launch into all of the lyrics from the Rembrandts' theme song for Friends, I'll spare you. You probably already sang them all in your head as...
September 28th in nerd history: Let's get physical (physical) Happy Ask a Stupid Question Day! This might be a confusing day for those who were taught that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Turns out, that was a lie — of course there are stupid questions. But at least for today don't worry about whether...
How tall could a T-Rex get? It's too bad there aren't any T-Rexes around today to enjoy the love and adoration us humans have for them. Yes, I've seen all the Jurassic Park movies, I know they would just kill me if I ever met one, but so far that...
What was the first zombie movie? Let me ask you a question: Are you one of those people who starts posting memes about fall as soon as it hits September? Do you watch a different scary movie every day in October, culminating in that one perfect horror movie you watch every year on Halloween night? Do...
What is Cookie Monster's real name? I think people tend to like Cookie Monster because we can all relate to him. Cookies are awesome! It totally makes sense why he goes so nuts for them. The beloved and founding Sesame Street character traces his roots to pre-Sesame days, first developed by Jim Henson for unaired commercials...
September 22nd in nerd history: The number one song today in 1978 A very happy birthday to both Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, or as some simply call it, Hobbit Day! That's right, Bilbo, one of the wildest but also richest hobbits of the shire, shares a birthday with his nephew, who also happens to be Bilbo's one and...
How many patents did Thomas Edison hold by the time he died? Did Edison actually invent the lightbulb? I honestly don't care. The dude started working on railroads and making a decent salary at the age of 13, so I give him, at the very least, the fact that he made lightbulbs consumer-friendly — and we wouldn't have had...
What temperature is the boiling point of water? You've certainly heard the phrase about how watching a pot of water means it will never boil. Of course, that's a bald-faced lie. As long as you hit the right temperature, that water is going to boil no matter what the hell you're doing....
What song was almost used instead of “Eye of the Tiger” for Rocky III? When I was in college I had a very difficult professor who would do pushups in class and was in general just very scary to me. The one and only thing that got me through that class was pumping myself up for the final exam by putting on 1982'...
What's the name of the video game in The Last Starfighter? The plot of The Last Starfighter, released in 1984, makes a lot of sense to me. In the movie, Alex Rogan is a humble teen living in a trailer park, hungry for something more. The only thing he seems to excel at is the one arcade game in the trailer...
What '90s toy had to be recalled for being too dangerous? Every generation has had its fair share of dangerous toys that somehow hit the market shelves. Ask anyone born before 1980 about Lawn Darts, and you'll understand what I mean. While there's a scent of '90s nostalgia in the air these days, it too posed...
September 18th in nerd history: So that hairy thing is your cousin? Happy Hug A Greeting Card Writer Day! These hardworking writers are constantly busy behind the scenes coming up with little sayings for any given situation simply so that we don't have to. Of course, if you don't know any greeting card writers personally and aren'...
How many times has ABBA toured North America? Agnetha, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny, and Anni-Frid are just four unassuming Swedes who happen to make up the acronym (and palindrome) ABBA. Breaking out in 1974 as Sweden's first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, the group has since become one of the best-selling of all time with over...
What movie star had a hit with “Respect Yourself” in 1987? There are very few people who can do more than one thing really well. Deion Sanders. Shohei Ohtani. Jennifer Lopez. Will Smith. Bo Jackson. It's a small list — but every now and then, there's a little hint of a hidden talent. A brief moment where it...
What was Iron Maiden's original name? When search results for your band come up before the medieval torture device you share a name with, you know you've done something right. With 41 albums, thousands of shows, and at least two video games, Iron Maiden is one of the most influential heavy metal bands in...
What is Prince's last name? Born in 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Prince was truly one of a kind — but, sadly, yet another artist who had more music to give. I like imagining Prince if somehow he hadn't made it as a musician. Working at a grocery store, going to the bank, picking up...
September 15th in nerd history: Hi-Yo Silver, away! Happy National D.A.R.E. Day! D.A.R.E. is an acronym that was drilled into many kids’ heads when it basically went viral across schools in the ’80s. Today we honor its heritage of making you think someone on rollerblades was going to force you to do...
When did the Hulk first appear in a comic book? It's hard to believe, but before there was Smart Hulk the original big green guy had a bit of a stuttered start on his way to pop-culture stardom. The original series didn't last long, but after Stan Lee and Jack Kirby found out a college had...
September 14th in nerd history: Thank you for being a friend Happy National Cream Filled Donut Day! I mean, honestly, do I have to describe why this is a day worth celebrating? This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. September 14 in Nerd History Here are five things that happened on September 14th for those of us...
Nintendo’s original Game Boy had how much battery life? For less than the original price of a Game Boy ($89.99), I now have a device that's preloaded with over 5,000 retro games, has a 4K screen, and that I can take anywhere I damn well please. But while there were technically such things as mobile...
September 13th in nerd history: The flower gives you fire Happy Defy Superstition Day! Let a black cat walk right in front of you as you go under a ladder and smash a mirror on the ground. Screw you, superstitions! This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. September 13 in Nerd History Here are five things...
In Futurama, what year does Fry wake up in? Sometimes I wish I had a cryogenic chamber just so I could skip ahead a week. But with my luck, I'd end up like our friend Fry. Matt Groening — yes, that Matt Groening — had the idea for Futurama long before it actually hit the airwaves in 1999. Much...
September 12th in nerd history: Smurfing awesome Happy National Video Games Day! Parents everywhere now have an excuse to let their kids rot their damn brains. As for me, it’s an excuse to rot my own damn brain. Not only that, it’s also National Ants on a Log Day. Looks like I’m going to...
What was the first computer virus called? I went through a phase after seeing Hackers in 1995. It involved some AOL Instant Messages and downloading some mostly-harmless apps (mostly). The height of my hacking career came when I got kicked off of AOL for using a hacked version of Instant Messenger that gave me access to some...
September 11th in nerd history: Be excellent to each other No wacky holidays from us today — it’s a solemn day for many, and a day when we simply lean into the words of a couple of very wise dudes. Today in particular, we’ll do our best to honor their guidance: This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd,...
September 8th in nerd history: Where no one has gone before Happy National Ampersand Day! This hardworking piece of punctuation simply doesn’t get enough usage or credit. It holds the power to combine anything with nothing more than a single character. Amazing & efficient. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. September 8 in Nerd History...
In The Office, who filmed the shots of Scranton for the opening credits? There's something about the opening credits for The Office (talking U.S. version, of course). As soon as you hear the piano and see those shots of Scranton, you just know that everything is going to be OK. And while I always assumed the opening shots were either...
September 7th in nerd history: Happy birthday Buddy Holly! Happy National Beer Lovers Day! You know, we spend so much time appreciating beer itself that we rarely stop to pay homage to the people who love beer. But not today — today we honor the IPA snobs, the lager lovers, and even the sour drinkers. Cheers! This is The Reset...
What instrument did Hulk Hogan play before becoming a pro wrestler? Let's get this out there right up front — I was an Ultimate Warrior guy. The lore, the magic, the power... but somewhere in the mix for second place was Hulk Hogan. Like anyone else, I can appreciate Hulkamania, and I rode the emotional roller coaster of the Hulkster...
September 6th in nerd history: Girls just wanna (just wanna) Happy Fight Procrastination Day! Honestly, putting this just a day after National Be Late for Something Day is a bit confusing, and not fair. On the other hand, it’s not a day to not procrastinate at all, just to put up a little bit of a fight against it....
What is the surface temperature of the sun? Things the sun is good at: burning me, helping plants grow, melting glaciers. Things the sun is less good at: letting humans anywhere near it. I'm sure you already know that the sun is, generally speaking, unreasonably hot. But let's say, for the sake of science,...
September 5th in nerd history: It's time to play the music You may have noticed that today’s newsletter came in a little later than usual — but that’s only because we’re celebrating National Be Late for Something Day! Leave your kids at school a few minutes longer today or get back at the doctor for always making YOU wait....
Which '90s NBA player had a McDonald's meal named after them? It's not that NBA players today don't enjoy an immense amount of celebrity, but the iconic players of the '90s were cultural forces. From cereal boxes to ubiquitous advertisements, these dudes were everywhere. Drink commercials, sneakers, video games — and hell, one of these guys even...
September 4th in nerd history: The price is definitely not right Happy Eat an Extra Dessert Day! Yeah yeah, Labor Day too, but this feels much more important. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. Editors note: A few readers were quite understandably confused when we listed a certain birthday in last Friday’s newsletter — Engelbert Humperdinck....
What singer-songwriter has a cameo in Jurassic World? If I was famous, I would totally pull one of those random cameos, like just dressing up as a stormtrooper or something. And if I could pick any franchise, the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies would definitely be right up there. Frankly, I wouldn't want any real...
September 1st in nerd history: I think the neighbors are up to something... Happy National No Rhyme Nor Reason Day! According to the internet, today is a day to celebrate words that don’t rhyme with anything. Such as orange, wolf, and discombobulate. And NO, near-rhymes are NOT accepted. So dress up like your favorite non-rhyming word today and enjoy a pint — which...
When did the Walkman come out? It's not that prior to the release of the Sony Walkman you couldn't take your music with you, it's just that the options really sucked — especially if you wanted to jam out to your favorite cassette. Yes, there were technically portable options, but nothing...
August 31st in nerd history: We can call it the MCU Happy National Trail Mix Day! Personally, I’m a fan of the classic peanuts, cashews, raisins, and M&Ms. And here’s a little tip — you don’t even have to be on a trail to enjoy this tasty snack. I wonder exactly what makes a nut mix for...
What animal was Crash Bandicoot originally supposed to be? The mark of a great home video game system is a great mascot — Mario and Sonic proved just how important a mascot is during the Console Wars, and Sony knew this was the case when they were gearing up to launch the PlayStation. Developers working on the platformer that was...
George Lucas and Carrie Fisher make a cameo as a kissing couple in what 1990s fantasy film? Let us, for now, set aside the fact that the thought of George Lucas and Carrie Fisher being romantic partners just feels very awkward. Maybe I'm being weird, but my brain just doesn't want to process that. But it does want to process the idea of...
August 30th in nerd history: Stupid pet tricks Happy Frankenstein Day! During a vacation in 1816 attended by figures such as Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and soon-to-be famous Mary Shelley (Percy’s wife), the group had to spend most of their time inside due to terrible weather. They spent some of that time reading ghost stories — which...
10 Best 90s Anime Classics You Need to Watch Explore the top 10 anime from the 90s that every fan should watch. From Cowboy Bebop to Sailor Moon, these classics shaped the anime world and remain influential today....
What was one of Yoda’s original names in the first draft of The Empire Strikes Back? One of the reasons the Star Wars universe is so rich is thanks to the cool-sounding (or weird, funny, etc.) names. And Yoda is easily one of the most memorable names in movie history. But in an early draft of the Star Wars sequel, a name for Luke's...
How many Fleetwood Mac albums were released before Stevie Nicks joined? As I have learned while writing this, if you do a search for Fleetwood Mac images, 99.97% of the results are of Stevie Nicks. Yet there was an era before Stevie (and Lindsey Buckingham, but c'mon) was even in the band. Mick Fleetwood was busy melting faces...
August 29th in nerd history: DVDs in the mail? Shy'a right! Happy National Sports Day! That’s right, just sports — any sport you can think of. Basketball, football, bowling, cricket, polo — if you like it, today’s the day to celebrate it. As for myself, I assumed this was actually a day to honor the classic album from Huey Lewis and...
What comes after 3.14 in π (pi)? The most important thing you should know about pi is that every March 14th you have an excuse to order a pizza for dinner and eat an entire pumpkin pie for dessert. Of course, that's because writing March 14 in numerals is also like writing the first three...
Who won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1973? For some, it might be hard to believe that the year 1973 was 50 years ago. For others, it's hard to believe much of anything because they lived through the '70s and frankly there's just not much left upstairs, if you catch my drift. There&...
August 28th in nerd history: It's morphin time Happy Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day! Computer taking a bit too long to load? Getting that spinning circle thingy? Sick of reading this paragraph? That’s the perfect moment to go ahead and race your mouse all over the damn place like a madman. This is The Reset...
What leading man started his career as Prince Charming in a Disney On Ice show? I still think that someday I'll just be sitting in a restaurant somewhere or walking down the street, and some random person with crazy hair and cool sunglasses will walk up to me and do that thing where they hold their hands in front of them to create...
August 25th in nerd history: Happy birthday, Sean Connery! Happy National Banana Split Day! While according to Wikipedia “the origin of the banana split is controversial”, it popped up sometime around 1904 and originally cost about 10 cents a pop — which in those days, was actually a lot more than most other ice cream treats. So indulge yourself today...
What's the name of the arcade in Stranger Things? The Duffer brothers really do a great job of making Stranger Things feel like it's in the '80s. The era itself is like another character, just as important as anyone else in the show. It was inevitable that a local arcade would show up at some point,...
What controversial rapper says Akira is one of their favorite movies of all time? When you think of classic anime, there's no question that Akira is one of the first things to come to mind. If it's not, well, what the hell? The seriously mind-bending movie is quintessential cyberpunk wrapped inside some of the best animation ever put to screen....
Who wrote The Monkees hit "I'm a Believer"? Just ask me about The Commitments, and I will gladly begin my TED Talk on fictional bands. One of the things I love the most about fictional bands is how they often spill over into real life, whether that means a one-time killer soundtrack or a career that lives well...
August 24th in nerd history: Is that Pete Rose in a chicken suit? Normally we start this newsletter in a celebratory mood, celebrating whatever oddball holiday we can dig up — but not today, friends. Why? Because today is Pluto Demoted Day. It’s a sad day for a lot of folks out there who are big fans of this astral object, which some...
August 23rd in nerd history: Let's call it the World Wide Web Happy Find Your Inner Nerd Day! Just one problem — we’re more interested in people finding their outer nerd. We already know everyone has an inner nerd, and the only thing you have to do to “find” it is to simply exist in the world. So there. This is The...
In Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, who appears briefly in almost every train that goes by? Despite the weirdness of Sony owning some rights while he also shows up in the MCU, it remains a fact that every Spider-Man movie in the modern age is actually pretty good. And in fact, the animated Spider-Verse movies are among the best — not to mention they kind of nail...
What early ‘80s hit inspired thousands of unwanted phone calls? Remember the days not only before cell phones but before caller ID? It was madness. If your phone rang and you were home, not only did you definitely answer it, everyone in the house raced to be the first to pick it up. It could literally be anyone calling you...
August 22nd in nerd history: That's the p-p-p-power of love Happy National Tooth Fairy Day! Today we keep up the bald-faced lie to children that there is a magical being out there who loves the teeth of children so much, they will pay them money to take them. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. August...
What job does Chandler Bing have at the end of Friends? Look, I'm not here to have you question me about how realistic it is that a struggling actor, a waitress, and a part-time musician somehow can all afford amazing apartments in Greenwich Village, NYC, and just hang out all day drinking expensive cappuccinos (The chef and paleontologist? Sure....
What's the name of Harrison Ford's character in American Graffiti? You know, I just don't get how people back in 1973 went so crazy for the nostalgia that American Graffiti inspired. I mean, I get it, it was George Lucas' big break and all, so yay for that, but who cares about the '50s? Obviously, the...
Five Questions about the MCU There's no question that Marvel movies have been a dominant force in cinema (and all of culture) over the last decade plus. From debates over whether they're ruining movies to grossing more money than I can actually imagine, the MCU has been an unprecedented force in...
Which John Hughes movie didn’t have enough room in the budget for air conditioning? John Hughes is one of the best, most-respected, and most-successful movie directors out there. If Bill Paxton transforming into a disgusting, flatulent blob in Weird Science doesn't prove so, I don't know what else to tell you. He surely still had many more great movies up...
The new Metalocalypse movie is a love letter to '80s dark fantasy When I was in college I had a friend we all simply called, "Heavy Metal Tim." Heavy Metal Tim had long curly hair, wore a devil's mustache and goatee, and — you guessed it — was really into metal. One time he invited me over to his house...
August 18th in nerd history: Just a nice little trip to the mountains... right? Happy Kool-Aid Day! Whenever people see me, they say stuff like, “Wow, that guy is really drinking the Kool-Aid.” I don’t get what’s so wrong with that, and today proves I’m not alone. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. August 18 in...
What comedy legend was almost a big-screen Batman villain twice? Since the days of Cesar Romero gleefully doing crime as the Joker to Adam West's Batman of the '60s, there is a long and storied history when it comes to portraying Batman villains onscreen. We've seen comedians, serious actors, and everyone in between take up...
What inspired the Village People’s band name? I have to say, it's pretty impressive that this band has the power to get literally anyone, of any age, anywhere in the world, at any time to spell the letters "Y-M-C-A" out with their arms in unison. Admit it — your arms are twitching just thinking...
August 17th in nerd history: He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy! Happy National Black Cat Appreciation Day! For too long, these cats have been hit with a bad rap. I say let ’em cross right in front of you, adopt one, trap a wizard inside one — let’s give black cats their proper due today. This is The Reset Button from...
August 16 in nerd history: The King (of rock n' roll) is dead Happy National Roller Coaster Day! Kingda Ka, at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, is the tallest roller coaster in the world. It reaches heights of 456 feet (45 stories) and speeds of nearly 130 mph. I love coasters, and I will gladly go ride one today, but eff...
Where did Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft get her name? There are some iconic names in video game history: Mario Mario, Master Chief, Donkey Kong, Solid Snake, etc. — and Lara Croft clearly belongs on the list of iconic pixelated heroes. It's not a question I find myself asking often — apparently, someone having the same first and last name...
What actor almost beat Kiefer Sutherland for the role of David in The Lost Boys? If you're looking for someone to thank for all the cool vampire media we have today, you could do much worse than Joel Schumacher. Schumacher ushered in a new style of depicting vampires with 1987's The Lost Boys, a cult classic that every person should be...
How old is Joel in season 1 of HBO’s The Last of Us? I remember the days when translating a video game into anything other than a video game generally ended up with disastrous results. Anyone who saw the Street Fighter movie from 1994 can back me up here. But recently there's been this weird phenomenon where movies and TV shows...
What Tone Lōc hit has inspired numerous cocktails? You know him as the raspy rapper whose beats are undeniably catchy. You also know him as an actor in movies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Heat, Blank Check, and animated movies like FernGully: The Last Rainforest. But Tone Lōc as mixologist? That might be a new one. Regardless, one...
August 15 in nerd history: Is that a hint of napalm I smell this morning? Happy No SpongeBob Day! In the episode “Gone” from season 6, SpongeBob wakes up to find Bikini Bottom completely deserted. He begins to lose his mind, acting out the lives of his friends and becoming best friends with a boat. Just as he’s about to chop up a bus...
Which Star Wars characters make a cameo in Raiders of the Lost Ark? When you hear the words "George Lucas", you probably think of two things: Star Wars and Indiana Jones. If you think of anything else first, well, that's weird. But fans of Spielberg-Lucas quantum entanglement go especially nuts whenever you bring up the first Indiana Jones movie,...
What’s the name of the ship where the humans live in WALL-E? I'm not gonna lie — living as a human in the age of WALL-E doesn't look so bad to me ... not bad at all. You live in a spaceship, don't have to cook, get daily pool time, can binge any show or movie from all...
August 14th in nerd history: The number one song today in 1986 Happy National Creamsicle Day! In 1905 the Popsicle was “invented” when 11-year-old Frank Epperson left his drink outside all night with a stick in it. I can’t imagine he was the first person to do so and find his drink had frozen overnight, but apparently he was one of...
What was Butters’ original name on South Park? In an age when you can find any TV show from any era somewhere online and watch all of it (if you're willing to either watch some ads or shell out a little dough), it's clear just how much finding shows like South Park used to...
August 11th in nerd history: Two turntables and a microphone Happy Shop Online for Groceries Day! Enjoy using your favorite grocery delivery app to buy some paper towels and try not to think about why there’s such a specific holiday. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. August 11th in Nerd History Here are 5...
In the first live-action TMNT movie, what pizza topping does Michelangelo hate? I remember squeezing my way into a single middle seat — you see, in those days you couldn't reserve movie theater seats ahead of time and your parents would let you go up to the closer seats on your own — just as the opening bass line dropped for 1990&...
When was Nevermind released? I can't really remember the first time I actually heard Nirvana. Was it a rapturous moment, where I knew, right then and there, that music had been changed forever? Or was it just another band that my brother listened to? Today this album is revered as seminal, ushering...
August 10th in nerd history: It's like PG, but for 13-year-olds Happy National Lazy Day! Today is a great day to … uh … eh, nevermind. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. August 10 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on August 10th for those of us who still think of Christian Bale as that...
August 9th in nerd history: Double the Van Damme, double the fun Happy National Book Lovers Day! However, it’s also National Rice Pudding Day. The merging of these two holidays could prove disastrous, but we owe it to ourselves to try. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. August 9th in Nerd History Here are 5 things...
What year was Nokia founded? Some of you out there won't remember this, but there was a time when Apple had nothing to do with phones. Up until the release of the iPhone, Nokia was a power player, and for several years dominated the market. But those, my friends, were what we refer...
What is the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time? You probably already know this, but let's just make sure this is clear upfront: a soundtrack is a collection of songs either made for or chosen to be included in a movie, but a score is the music used to accompany what's happening onscreen. In other...
Where is Teddy Ruxpin from? Technology in the 1980s was just advanced enough to do some cool stuff, and just bad enough to make some of those things terrifying for children. Such was the case with many of the toys that came out in the '80s. Teddy Ruxpin fits squarely into that category — even...
What was the number one song in August of 1983? The Billboard Hot 100 was first published in 1958 with Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" at the top. But I'll bet you anything that Billboard did not anticipate the glittery pop music that was to dominate their charts when the 1980s came along. As...
10 movies from the '90s that got the future wrong Back in the '90s, we all just assumed everything after the year 2000 would be either a sci-fi paradise or a hellscape. There wasn’t really anything in between, but the common thread was that technology was going to go nuts with robots, flying cars, and neon lights everywhere....
August 8th in nerd history: Let's go see a body Happy International Cat Day! Leave a little something on the counter for your favorite feline friend today. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. August 8th in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on August 8th at the intersection of nerd and pop culture....
How many dives has James Cameron made to the Titanic? When there's a breaking news story that has the nation captivated, it's best to go to an expert, which is probably going to be ... James Cameron? Well, if it has anything to do with deep-sea submersibles, and particularly with the wreckage of the Titanic, then damn...
How much was the shake in Pulp Fiction? Pulp Fiction is one of those movies where nearly every scene is a classic that features at least one quote that has become culturally significant. Seriously, see if you ever happen to catch it playing on TV and try to only watch a few minutes. Like an episode of Seinfeld,...
August 7th in nerd history: Barry Bonds, sea serpents, and Madonna movies Happy National Sea Serpent Day! In August of 1848, the crew of the HMS Daedalus of the Royal Navy had an encounter with what they saw as a sea serpent. Some say it was probably a whale, or a squid, or hell, a pod of dolphins (those sneaky jerks). It’...
Jeff Goldblum delivers the same line in Jurassic Park and what other movie? There's an easy way to express just how important it is to speed things up if you're being chased by pretty much anything dangerous: "Must go faster, must go faster!" And we have Jeff Goldblum to thank, who uttered this straightforward yet effective line...
Where does Mork & Mindy take place? Star Wars inspired a litany of sci-fi-themed TV shows and episodes in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Even Happy Days got in on the fun, when "My Favorite Orkan" aired in February of 1978. In the episode, an alien visitor inexplicably shows up named Mork (from Ork)...
August 4th in nerd history: That'll do, pig Happy International Beer Day! Not sure I really need any other excuses to have a cold beer, but I’ll take it nonetheless. After the day in nerd history, we’ve got a rundown of some of the coolest old-school stuff we saw at Comic-Con this year, from Saturday morning...
Some of the coolest old-school things we saw at Comic-Con International 2023 Despite the lack of major stars dressing up as their MCU characters and announcing the newest Marvel movies to 6,000 people who waited in line overnight, the 2023 Comic-Con International in San Diego was as busy as ever. Turns out, nerds still like getting together to talk comics, TV,...
What was Seinfeld originally called? It feels like the characters in Seinfeld were fully developed and every episode was delightfully packed full of comedy from day one. But if you go back and watch the first season, you'll see there was a bit of figuring out to be done (part of what irks...
Finish the Lyrics: "With or Without You" Just reading "U2", how many catchy-as-hell lyrics popped into your mind? The Irish rock band, whose biggest knock is that they are unimaginably durable, has sold 150–170 million records worldwide. That's a lot of Bono. There's a good chance you've sung...
August 3rd in nerd history: Let's hit the Radio Shack, shall we? Happy National Big Forehead Day! Today we honor the greatest forehead of them all, Chief of Security for the USS Enterprise-D, Worf. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. August 3rd in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on August 3rd at the intersection...
What was the best-selling Nintendo 64 game of all time? If we're talking home video consoles based purely on bits, it's hard to argue with the sheer computing power that was the N64. Well, if you're comparing it to the original 8-bit NES, at least. You have to give credit to Nintendo for always...
What’s the name of the book adult George McFly writes at the end of Back to the Future? The thing about timelines is that if one is disrupted, there are only ever a handful of people who will notice. Perhaps a small group of Beatles fans who suddenly live in a world with no Beatles music, an egotistical weatherman, or a couple of teenagers and the weird old...
August 2nd in nerd history: Weird Al's milestone, the top song in 1966, and the Keanu movie no one saw Happy National Coloring Book Day! These days, you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy coloring — hell, you don’t even have to do it in a book. Take my word for it, coloring in a digital Millennium Falcon is oddly soothing. This is The Reset Button from...
What college did Bill Gates drop out of before founding Microsoft? Sometimes I fantasize about being a founder of some hot new technology company that revolutionizes the world and makes me a bazillionaire. Then I remember that takes actual work and I go back to watching reruns of the ALF cartoon. Although apparently if I wanted to really hedge my bets,...
What was the first album to have a parental advisory label? You know a great way to get kids interested in something? Make it scary for parents. That was more or less the experience for millions of kids who grew up seeing that little black-and-white label on the corner of an album they were considering buying. And that was a big...
40 years of the Dungeons & Dragons animated series Happy Spider-Man Day! Amazing Fantasy #15, dated August 1, 1962, marked Spider-Man’s comic book debut — even though it actually came out in June of that year. A quick minute to pay homage to Paul Reubens, aka Pee-wee Herman, who many of us grew up with or at least were...
What’s the name of The Ren & Stimpy Show theme song? I'm one of those people who never thinks much about where things come from or how they got to be the way they are. Case in point: TV theme songs, which I always assume were written just for the show by either Haim Saban or someone who only...
What song does Pee-wee Herman dance to in Pee-wee's Big Adventure? I'm not sure there will ever be another children's character as wonderfully strange and joyful as Pee-wee Herman, conceived and played brilliantly by the late, great Paul Reubens. Between The Pee-wee Herman Show, a stage show developed by Reubens that features more adult humor, and the...
July 31st in nerd history: Elvis, vampire movies, and Mojo Nixon Happy Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day! If you aren’t very aware of instruments that are uncommon, today is your day. Obviously, we’re celebrating by getting down on some ocarina. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. July 31st in Nerd History Here are 5 things...
What was Bill Paxton’s feature film directorial debut? First off, let's give credit where credit is due and honor the legacy of Bill Paxton. For a lot of people growing up in the '80s and '90s, it was just kind of a given that he was going to show up in whatever great movie...
40 years later, the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon is still having an impact I always wondered why Dungeons & Dragons, the Saturday morning cartoon inspired by the role-playing game of the same name that ran for three seasons from 1983 to 1985, was the way it was. Namely, why isn't it more similar to the game? "I had absolutely no...
July 28th in nerd history: Waterparks, zombies, and summer jams Happy National Waterpark Day! The tallest waterslide in the world is called Kilimanjaro at the Aldeia das Aguas Park Resort in Brazil. Coming in at over 160 feet tall, riders hit top speeds of over 60 mph. I think I’ll just stick to drinking a beer by the wave...
In the Terminator movies, what’s the name of the company that’s responsible for Skynet? There are some great villains in the history of cinema — but when you really need to do some damage, it's time to call in an evil corporation. They can be mysterious, sinister, and seem invincible all at once. Whether it's whoever was funding Jurassic Park'...
At the end of "London Calling" by The Clash, what's spelled out in Morse code? There's nothing quite like the sound of a guitar creating feedback. No matter what you're doing or where you are, if you hear that sound you immediately feel 10 times cooler. And if you're a fan of really any kind of rock or rock-adjacent...
July 27th in nerd history: Mario goes to med school, cartoon debuts, and John Ritter has a problem (with a child) Happy Gary Gygax Day! In case you didn’t know, Gary Gygax was the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons and is often thought of as the father of modern-day role-playing games. So gather your party and thank this man for his contributions. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd,...
What year was Donkey Kong introduced to the world? Every now and then I sit back, stare into the sky, and reflect on the fact that a giant ape wearing a tie somehow became a video game icon. Donkey Kong (who started as a villain, btw), has worked his way into the hearts of millions of gamers over decades...
How many dogs were involved in filming the movie adaptation of Stephen King’s Cujo? At the end of any movies that have animals in them, you always get to see the line about how none of them were harmed and there were people supervising and all that jazz. But for Cujo, you'd almost expect it to be the other way around. No...
The truth about the Kessel Run line in Star Wars (sort of) You've certainly heard about it before: The big mistake in Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (or more simply, Star Wars when it first came out), in the form of a piece of dialogue written by none other than George Lucas himself. The line, uttered by Han...
How many no. 1 hits does Bruce Springsteen have? There's a reason they call him The Boss. Bruce Springsteen has had a career that can be rarely, if at all, paralleled. His shows are legendary, his hits span generations, and by all accounts he's just a good dude. He's produced 21 studio albums,...
July 25th in nerd history: Mars, golf movies, and thrash metal Happy National Hot Fudge Sundae Day! The origins of this treat can be traced to the early 1900s when ice cream sundaes were going viral across the country. Clarence Clifton Brown, the owner of C.C. Brown’s Ice Cream Shop in Hollywood, California, decided to add his flair of...
What star from That ‘70s Show is an avid gamer? There's something I love about finding out that famous people are gamers — yet it's also kind of shocking. Like when you were a kid and you saw your teacher doing something normal, like grocery shopping. It's surprising and exciting when you find out they&...
The number one song on this day in 1982 Happy National Tequila Day, which coincides with International Self Care Day. Coincidence? Probably, but a pretty good one. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. July 24 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on July 24 at the intersection of nerd and pop...
The filmmakers from Twister slowed down what animal’s sound to create the noise of the tornado? When we lost Philip Seymour Hoffman, it was a blow to film as a whole. His acting skills were among some of the greatest to ever do it. Yet I'm not sure anyone was watching Twister and thinking, "That dude is going to become one of the...
What year was the Barbie doll introduced? No matter what you think about the line of dolls, it’s hard to argue with the sheer perseverance of Barbie. The brand has adapted to seemingly every era of popular culture since its inception, and to this day finds new ways to leave its mark on society. It’s...
What punk rock musician has been a vocal advocate that aliens are real? Things that are definitely punk: calling people fascists, Mohawks, trashing your hotel room. Things that are questionably punk: advocating for the existence of life beyond our planet. Despite the fact it doesn't necessarily add anything to their street cred, this famous musician has been convinced of extraterrestrial life...
Who voiced Optimus Prime in the 1980s Transformers animated series? I frankly don't care if was all a concoction to sell me toys — I loved the original '80s Transformers cartoon (and bought the toys, too). And among all of the characters, none felt so safe nor strong as Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots and defender...
What famous comedic actor was offered the role to play Fred in Drop Dead Fred? 1991's Drop Dead Fred is a movie that could only have been made in the '90s. It definitely was not the kid-friendly comedy I thought I was heading into, but instead a pretty dark and strange journey into one woman's mental health. I mean, sure,...
July 19 in nerd history: The day cinema hit peak '90s Happy National Hot Dog Day! There’s always a little bit of hesitation around what hot dogs are made out of, but hopefully you don’t think they’re made of wild dogs, as my child apparently did for many years. Throw a few of your fave weiners on the...
Twisted Metal is getting its own ice cream flavor It's the sweet treat we never knew we needed on a hot summer day — a scoop of ice cream inspired by a murderous, psychotic clown. I'm not sure how many hours I spent just rolling around in Sweet Tooth's ice cream truck, trying to...
Who wrote and originally recorded "Respect" before Aretha Franklin? There are the most popular singers of all time, and then there's Aretha. Across a career that successfully spanned multiple decades and eras, Aretha Franklin's global record sales have topped over 75 million. And among her many, many other accolades, she even received a Presidential Medal...
July 18 in nerd history: Happy birthday Vin Diesel Happy National Sour Candy Day. I get it, this day isn’t for everyone. And yes, it includes both your “traditional” sour candies, like Sour Patch Kids, and the fringe stuff, like Warheads. I don’t make these rules, but by creed I am bound to them. This is The...
Outrageously dangerous '90s toys that could never be sold today Some may groan when people say that ‘90s kids are built different, but when you look at the so-called "toys" we were playing with, you had to be built different to survive. One false move with one of these and your ass was grass. We’re looking at...
Name the Jack Russell Terrier who irks Frasier Crane. If you randomly think about tossed salads and scrambled eggs, there are two likely scenarios: You're a fan of the '90s Cheers spin-off sitcom, Frasier, OR you are having a stroke and should seek immediate medical attention. Even in the shadow of one of the most-beloved TV...
The number one movie on this day in 1991 Happy World Emoji Day! Today, we encourage you to communicate with friends and family solely through emojis — yes, even if you’re a doctor delivering bad news to a patient. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. July 17 in Nerd History Here are 5 things...
In Blade Runner, what’s the name of the test that determines replicants? If you’re like me, the only thing you think about when you hear the hubbub around ChatGPT, AI, and whether homework means anything anymore is Blade Runner. In the visionary 1982 film, far in the distant future of 2019, androids (called “replicants”) have become so sophisticated that sometimes you...
Which actor holds the record for fewest film appearances as James Bond? Getting a gig as James Bond must be a good feeling. Not only do you know you'll have the chance to deliver your own version of the character's many classic lines, but you have a pretty sure bet that your next few acting gigs are essentially...
July 11 in nerd history: Celebrating a decade of Sharknado Happy 7-11 Day! Aka, the day you can go into a 7-11 and get a free Slurpee. That’s what summer is all about. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. July 11 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on July 11 for...
Which Pink Floyd song was dedicated to former band member Syd Barrett? I remember the first time someone asked me that ominous question: "Have you ever listened to the Syd Barrett Pink Floyd albums?" It's like a secret society, yet one that can easily be accessed by anyone (these days) with a streaming music service account. And if...
July 6 in nerd history: The day Forrest began to run Happy National Fried Chicken Day! Frankly, there’s not much else to say. It’s f*%$ing fried chicken. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. July 6 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on July 6 for those of us who know...
July 5 in nerd history Happy National Graham Crackers Day! Put ’em in milk right when you get home from school or stuff some chocolate and burnt marshmallows in between ’em. Let us honor this snack in whatever way you prefer. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. July 5 in...
July 3 in Nerd History Happy National Eat Beans Day! Don’t just buy ’em, you gotta eat ’em. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. We’ll be taking the day off tomorrow for the holiday. See you again real soon! July 3 in Nerd History Here are 5 things...
What was the no. 1 movie in July of 1975? Things that happened in July of 1975: Your dad played lawn darts after 4 beers, ARPANET just got going (soon to become the internet), and this movie topped the box office. There were definitely some bangers that came out that year, but in the middle of a sweltering summer, this...
June 30th in nerd history Happy International Asteroid Day! Not only did one help get those pesky dinosaurs out of our way, but we can rest assured that Ben Affleck and Aerosmith will keep us safe should one ever try to pull that crap again. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your...
Who was the inspiration for The Simpsons’ Troy McClure? I’m not sure what exactly my kid brain thought, other than maybe every Simpsons character was a unique inspiration that Matt Groening himself just thought up on his own. I definitely missed the stereotypes and archetypes and most of the satire at first, but damn, give me a break,...
June 29 in nerd history Happy National Waffle Iron Day! Waffles get enough love, it’s time we honored these hardworking appliances that do all their work behind the scenes. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 29 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on June 29...
In Groundhog Day, how long is Phil Connors stuck in a time loop? These days time loops are basically their own genre. But no one — not a single one — has ever really matched the comedic genius that is 1993’s Groundhog Day. The tale of how weatherman Phil Connors relives his nightmare, yet slowly turns it into a dream, is one I could...
June 27 in nerd history Happy National Bingo Day. Today, let’s all take the center space for free! This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 27 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on June 27 at the intersection of nerd and pop culture. I. Birthdays of...
When did "Never Gonna Give You Up" come out? We all know the things Rick Astley will NEVER do, from letting us down to giving us up. Still hazy about what he actually WILL do, but hey. Rick’s first no. 1 hit received an unlikely revival in the mid-2000s when the viral internet phenomenon of Rickrolling took off....
Who played the first Doctor in Doctor Who? It's bigger on the inside — with 2023’s season of Doctor Who, we’ll see the 14th actor to portray the Doctor. For some, portraying the coolest Time Lord has launched their careers or made them into beloved icons that can essentially retire into a life of fan...
The day David Lee Roth came back Happy National Barcode Day! Honestly, we never give these hardworking codes enough credit. They organize our products, make self-checkout possible, and never ask for anything in return. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 26 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on...
What type of dog is Lady from Lady and the Tramp? Is there anything more romantic than eating the same noodle of spaghetti as your crush? I’ve never done that, but I don’t imagine kissing someone with spaghetti in your mouth and sauce all over both of your faces would be that enjoyable. Then again, I’m not a...
The cinematic genius of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Happy National Porridge Day! I don’t care what that brat says, I like mine PIPING HOT! This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 23 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on June 23 that matter to those of us who still...
Who did Nirvana knock out of the top spot when they hit no. 1? I’m not sure how exactly to impart upon kids today just how shocking it was when Nirvana — the grungy, punky, antithesis of pop, loud band from the Pacific NorthWest — reached no. 1 on the Billboard charts. Given the number of Nirvana shirts I see teenagers wearing these days, it...
What Atari game was so bad thousands of copies of it were rumored to be buried in the desert? Not every game is a winner. Take the recently released The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, which was universally panned, went viral for how glitchy it was, and prompted a public apology from the game developer. We’ve all played some really terrible games — some of them so bad that...
Happy National Onion Ring Day! Happy National Onion Ring Day. When Beyoncé talks about rings, this is what she means. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 22 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on June 22 that matter to those of us who… I. Birthdays of...
Who played Scarlett O’Hara in 1939’s Gone With the Wind? Before there were the Kardashians, there was Gone With the Wind. The 1939 epic drama was essentially a reality show wrapped up in Civil War-era rich people having parties. And Scarlet O’Hara seems to have no problem being front and center in all the drama. She’s a driving...
What was the name of Michael Jackson's pet chimpanzee? One of the things you can do when you’re an insanely rich and hugely popular music star is to just start buying whatever in the hell you damn well please. Case in point: Michael Jackson, who once tried to buy the bones of the Elephant Man and built an...
The no. 1 song on this day in 1983 Happy National Cookie Day! Been stashing that pack of Oreos for a while? Today’s the day to bust out some milk and go nuts. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 21 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on June 21...
The day Jaws was unleashed on the world Happy National Hike with a Geek Day! Why would you want to hike with a geek? For starters, if you want your hike to be short and inside and to a GameStop, it’s perfect. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 20 in Nerd...
Happy 40th anniversary to Dragon's Lair Happy National Take Your Cat to Work Day! Why would you want to take your cat to work with you? Well, if your job is to knock random things off your desk, it seems self-evident. But in all other instances, it seems like a really, really terrible idea. This is...
In The Karate Kid, what’s the name of the technique Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel? How do you beat a bully? That’s right, learn karate. We first learned this important lesson from 1984’s seminal The Karate Kid, when teen Daniel LaRusso, despite having the coolest Halloween costume ever, gets jumped on the beach by Johnny Lawrence and his fellow Cobra Kai members. After...
The price of a VCR in 1993 Happy National Fudge Day! If you’re not a big fan of eating fudge, you can totally use it in some puns. If you’re a dad, I’d highly recommend shouting “what the fudge?!” at some point today. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day....
In The Brady Bunch, Bobby and Cindy tried to break a world record with what playground equipment? While it never really did that much in the ratings, The Brady Brunch is indelibly entrenched in the history of TV pop culture. Running from 1969 to 1974, the show’s long run in syndication allowed it to be imprinted on multiple generations. Frankly, there are few life lessons that...
Finish the lyrics: Queen edition If you haven’t headbanged to Queen's iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody” while driving, ala Wayne’s World, then you haven’t really lived. And frankly, I’m suspicious of you. Despite it not at all following a traditional pop song structure, this is somehow one of the best songs...
The day we all started saying, "Yo, Adrian!" Happy National Megalodon Day! Meaning “big tooth”, we actually only know so much about Megalodons, piecing together fragmentary remains. We do know that its jaws were huge, and its size could have been as large as 60 feet — making it a potential predator of whales. But we can’t really...
What's the name of the first space shuttle to go into space? If you’re like me, you watched the 1986 movie SpaceCamp and assumed that would probably happen to you someday — meaning, you’d get to check out a space shuttle in a museum or whatever and end up in space. You also shouted at your family when watching Nickelodeon’s...
Which book is credited with popularizing the cyberpunk genre? With any genre, there’s never really a singular moment that creates it, but more like a series of moments leading up to it. This holds true for the cyberpunk genre, which rose to prominence largely in the late ‘80s and is still pretty darn popular today. Before Blade Runner,...
RIP Cormac McCarthy Happy National Strawberry Shortcake Day! Whether you celebrate by watching the cartoon or eating the dessert — or both — we hope it’s a sweet day. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 14 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on June 14...
Happy birthday Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen! A very happy International Community Association Managers Day to all the Community Association Managers out there. It’s one thing to have a community association, but it really doesn’t work if there’s not someone there to manage it — and that’s true on a global scale … apparently. BTW,...
What's the name of Michael Knight's evil twin? How would you picture your evil twin? If you said “me but with a mustache and goatee”, then you’re definitely right — at least, if you take the word of a little TV show called Knight Rider. If you didn’t know, Michael Knight does indeed meet his evil twin...
Today was a monster day for blockbuster movies Today is Superman Day. Whether you’re pro-Reeves, Cavill, or one of the other ones, today’s the day to wear that costume underneath your work clothes. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 12 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on...
What was the highest-grossing movie of the 1980s? The '80s saw the initial blockbuster era of the '70s go into overdrive. Like most things in the '80s, it seemed like movies were on steroids — and people were happy to cough up their dough to see things on the big screen. There are A LOT of...
That time a pop star burned down a house Happy National Donald Duck Day! Apparently, June 9 is Disney canon Donald Duck’s birthday — they even held a 50th birthday party for him at Disneyland in 1984. I say have a Donald Duck-style tantrum today about whatever you’d like. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting...
What game was Super Mario Bros. 2 built from? Perhaps even more so than in the movie industry, when a video game does well, you can rest assured that a sequel will follow. And there have been some great sequels in video game history — I mean, the first Grand Theft Auto was fine, but the sequels… Naturally, when Super...
In the video for “End of the Line,” a guitar in a rocking chair symbolizes which Traveling Wilburys singer? Remember when LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade teamed up? How about Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen? Well, I hate to break it to you, but those athletes got the idea of a super team from musicians. Long before LeBron announced where he was taking his talents,...
RIP The Iron Sheik Happy National Upsy Daisy Day! I’m not totally sure what that means, but I’d say go ahead and say “upsy daisy” as often as you can — going up the stairs, picking up your cat, literally any chance you get. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting...
Where did Weird Al record "My Bologna"? It’s difficult to imagine a world without Weird Al in it. But alas, there was a time when he wasn’t the most-famous parody musician in the world. We owe a huge debt to Dr. Demento for helping to bring Weird Al’s music to the world. After recording...
How many miles did Forrest Gump run? Run, Forrest, run! It’s one of those lines that even people who’ve never seen 1994’s Forrest Gump shout anytime they see someone running. Besides the double-cassette soundtrack completely rocking, there is indeed A LOT of running in this movie, mostly by Forrest. Even as a child, he...
That time Prince changed his name to a symbol Happy National VCR Day! Let us celebrate the device that brought home entertainment into an entirely new age and allowed us to accidentally record over cherished childhood memories with the Seinfeld finale. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 7 in Nerd History Here are...
What was the name of the first handheld electronic game? Did you own all the Game Boys? Did you cough it up for the PSP (I did – oops)? What about mobile games? Addicted to any? Being able to play video games without being tethered to a TV is pretty damn cool and if you begged your parents to get one...
How many no. 1 Hot Country Songs does Garth Brooks have? It doesn’t matter where you are, what you’re wearing, or what time of day it is — if “Friends in Low Places” comes on, every single person — old ladies, infants, social media influencers — sings along. That’s the kind of popularity Garth Brooks enjoys — and for good reason. His...
The day the cold November Rain began to fall Happy National Drive-In Movie Day! There aren’t many of these left, but maybe they’re overdue for a resurgence. Do your part and fill the cooler and stuff the car with as many people as possible and settle in for a triple feature. This is The Reset Button from...
June 5 in Nerd History: Happy Birthday Kenny G! Happy National Janet Day! Or, Miss Jackson Day, if you're nasty. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 5 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on June 5 that matter to those of us who ate the macaroni instead of...
June 2 in Nerd History: 34 years ago, we seized the day Happy National Donut Day! Whether you're going jelly-filled, classic chocolate frosted, or hipster-style, there's no question that this is one of the most sacred holidays in existence. This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day. June 2 in Nerd History Here are 5...
How fast is warp 1 in Star Trek? Unlike Star Wars where the distances and speeds are just made up out of other words that maybe mean something, much of the way technology works in Star Trek is actually based on theory — yep, even the holodeck (someone build one already!). As Gene Roddenberry himself wrote in 1966: “Science...
What songs does Ferris Bueller lip-sync to during the parade? What do you do when you have a day off? Maybe run some errands? Try to grab lunch with that friend you haven’t seen in years? Or maybe just binge some HGTV? Those are all perfectly good ways to spend a day off, even if you called in sick...
June 1 in Nerd History: Get your a** to Mars Happy National Dinosaur Day! One of the best ways to celebrate? Watch people get ripped apart by some CG dinos. We're playing through classic games to see if they're worth revisiting, so you don't have to. Today we're looking at the original...
Eddie Van Halen named his son after what classical composer? Name one thing that rocks more than classical music ... I'll wait. Fair enough, you probably named like 12 things. But still, classical music — and those that composed it — is pretty bad A. But you don't have to take my word for it. Just ask Eddie Van...
What year does Marty travel to in Back to the Future Part II? The ‘80s truly were a golden era for cinema, in particular movies that bent time and space, from Time Bandits to Terminator. But none did it in such a sneakily terrifying way — watching yourself slowly fade away from a picture. Yikes! When Marty McFly finally travels not just back to...
What pizza chain did the founder of Atari start? Inventing Atari is a pretty dang cool thing to do. Not only that, but Atari really ushered in the era of Silicon Valley as one of the first workplaces in the area to offer benefits like casual dress and kegs of beer on site. What does one do when you’...
What was the highest-grossing sports movie from the 1970s? There's nothing quite like a good sports movie — the beaten-down team, the unlikely hero, the winning shot. The '70s gave us some of the all-time great sports movies, championing tropes that still influence film and TV today. Whether we're talking about a ragtag bunch of...
What is John Wayne’s real name? John Wayne didn’t only star in Westerns, but there is no other actor more prominently associated with the genre. John Wayne is the American frontier, as far as most people are concerned. But not unlike other stars who rose to fame, he actually used a stage name. In fact,...
Revisiting Ninja Gaiden for the NES: Is it worth playing again? Sometimes arcade games lie to you. Case in point: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. If you visited an arcade sometime in 1989 with three of your friends, you probably easily blew $10 worth of quarters EACH on the TMNT arcade game. It was thrilling, fast-paced beat ‘em up alongside impressive...
What's the name Bastian gives the Childlike Empress in The NeverEnding Story? Let's say you're a young kid circa 1984. Not a lot of friends — in fact, bullies often force you to hide inside dumpsters. Not only that, your dad wears suits and has a mustache and just doesn't get you. What do you do? Try...
Which classic Disneyland attraction was NOT running on opening day in 1955? One of my favorite parts of Disneyland is that you can still get those opening day vibes, especially when you visit some of the old-school rides that have preserved much of their original charm — even after decades of refurbishments and small updates. There are some truly iconic attractions that have...
In “I Am the Walrus,” someone sits on a cornflake while waiting for what? It's hard to believe that as broad and varied as their catalog is, along with significant changes in their style, The Beatles' major releases only span roughly a single decade. The gap from Please Please Me to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is only about...
Whose ad slogan in the '80s was "Where's the beef?" Products of the '80s presented marketing teams with some pretty interesting challenges — New Coke, Crystal Pepsi, Reebok Pumps, and Teddy Ruxpin come to mind as head-scratchers. Some ad campaigns hit the mark, creating seismic, cultural moments. Others ... well, I mean, New Coke. But one phrase that was scripted by...
What was the first sequel to win an Academy Award when the original had no nominations? Whenever you see a sequel for a movie you liked is in the works, it's a fine balance between being excited to see more of what you enjoyed and praying they don't just phone it in — as sequels so often do. But every now and then,...
How many kids does Carla have by the end of Cheers? Does anyone actually have a bar they go to where everybody knows their name and the same six or seven people are there ... every night? Concerning underlying issues of the characters notwithstanding, Cheers remains one of the most beloved sitcoms ever produced and still acts as a well that new...
What are Sonny and Cher's real first names? I guess the moment I realized that not every performer uses their real name was around the same time I first saw The Ultimate Warrior without makeup on. Whether it's a stage name, or you just drop your last name, it's a little strange to find...
What's the name of the pilot from DuckTales? Racecars, lasers, aeroplanes — life in Duckburg really is a duckblur. If you hummed the theme song to the late '80s cartoon DuckTales while reading that, then we're friends now. Also, you might know the answer to this trivia question. DuckTales hit the airwaves in 1987 and opened...
What is the river made of in 1971's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory? I'll admit it: The whimsical amusement park inside Willy Wonka's factory is exactly how I still imagine every candy factory actually being on the inside — and I've been inside very real candy factories that are nothing like that. The 1971 film version of Roald...
Finish the lyrics: '80s pop edition There's nothing more humbling than belting out the lyrics to your favorite song in your car, only to find out later you were totally wrong. Pop music from the 1980s was catchy as hell, and there are probably hundreds of tunes you can hum to yourself from memory...
What was the best-selling home video game of the '80s? Today, the video game industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars. But in the 1980s, home video game systems had to go from proving they could even work to becoming the next big thing in home entertainment. Eventually, consumers began to open their wallets — by which I mean kids begged...
In 1987's Spaceballs, how does Pizza the Hutt die? Someday we will be without the genius of Mel Brooks — the artist who is not only unafraid to satire literally anything, but nails it every damn time. 1987's Spaceballs — a send-up primarily of Star Wars, but really of any space movie of your choice from the 1960s up...
Before Heath Ledger, how many actors were offered the role of Joker in The Dark Knight? From Jack Nicholson setting out to scare kids to Cesar Romero's gleeful trickster, Joker is a role that can make or break your career. Actually, if you just go down the list, updated with an Oscar-winning performance from Joaquin Phoenix, playing Joker is generally pretty good for your...
The top 5 episodes of the original Quantum Leap — according to IMDB By Nicholas Yanes A few months ago, the Quantum Leap revival was renewed for a second season. With fans waiting for the continuation of the reboot to return, it’s a perfect time to look at the original series — focusing on its top five episodes. For those new to this...
How many people has John Wick killed onscreen? I love the idea that even the greatest hitmen that ever lived eventually hang it up and simply retire. Of course, then you run the risk of doing something that prompts them to come out of retirement. Here's a little tip — never mess with a retired hitman'...
Who won the first-ever MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year in 1984? When I was a kid I looked forward with hushed anticipation to the VMAs every year. I was the perfect target for MTV's incredible marketing engine that essentially controlled popular culture for the better part of two decades. Video of the Year was THE big one, and if...
Which legendary musician voiced a character for King of the Hill? To this day, I can't hear the word "propane" without thinking of one of TV's greatest dads: Hank Hill. Is it possible that King of the Hill is one of the most underrated TV shows ever — and not just animated, but in general? Not...
What does Ariel call a fork in 1989's The Little Mermaid? Live-action remakes are interesting and all, but personally I prefer the old-school days of hand-drawn animation. 1989's The Little Mermaid was a hit in every way you can possibly imagine — despite the fact that Ariel's knowledge of human artifacts isn't exactly spot on. What...
The actor who played Hodor on Game of Thrones is also a professional what? This is how bad the wait for Winds of Winter has gotten — all of the actors associated with GoT projects have started taking up other professions. Alright, that joke doesn't really make sense, but I do always love finding out about the secret lives of actors — and I&...
What was the first heavy metal album to hit no. 1? A few years ago I caught Slayer on one of their "farewell" tours. It was sort of a mini-festival, with like 5 metal bands spanning multiple eras and subgenres. And as much as I do like a couple of Slayer albums, I realized one thing: I am not...
What year did Apple introduce the iPad? Steve Jobs was really good at introducing things — besides, maybe, possibly, the iPad. I remember it getting pretty much panned by everyone I knew when it was first announced. It wasn't really clear what it was, or why you needed it. Flash forward to today, and those same...
What's the name of the high school in Grease? Somehow movie high schools never seem to match up with real life — and I'm not just talking about a bunch of 30-year-olds pretending to be 16. Movie high schools always seem to conveniently have everything a film's character (or plot) might need — a big library perfect...
What's the name of the robot daughter on Small World? There are those who would say that Small Wonder is clearly an ALF rip-off. A light sci-fi plot where a family has to keep one of the family members secret for whatever reason, there’s a nosy neighbor always about to find out, and the main character learns what it...
Name the movie: "The hardest choices require the strongest wills." Sometimes I realize just how much of my everyday conversation is comprised of movie quotes. Whether I'm telling my lunch to just "get ... in ... my ... BELLLYYYY" or reminding my kid that, "No, I am your father," movie lines are intertwined with our daily lives....
How many forms of communication is C-3PO fluent in? It's really incredible the amount of galactic history that C-3PO has been a part of. Besides being built by THE chosen one, Anakin Skywalker, he has also been present at every single important battle or event that's taken place since Ani powered him up. Not bad...
Which singer led Woodstock’s opening act in 1969? If you're talking Woodstock, it better be about two things: Snoopy's bird friend, or the original music festival from 1969 that has become cultural mythology. In this case, we're talking about the latter. Pretty much every big name musician from the time ultimately showed...
Where does Garfield keep trying to send Nermal? Garfield is my kind of dude: hates Mondays, likes Lasagna, and always has a witty quip for seemingly any situation. On the other hand, he's completely incapable of maintaining any kind of relationship and I'm pretty sure is a narcissist. Unless it's Jon'...
How much was Jon Heder paid for the lead role in Napoleon Dynamite? I saw Napoleon Dynamite in the theater back in 2004 before anyone really knew what it was. Of course, even after seeing it and following all its success, I'm not sure anyone still really knows what it is. All I know is that I laughed, and I was...
What’s the name of the frog in Star Fox? If you don't remember Star Fox, first of all, shame on you and your family, and second of all, let me refresh your memory. Star Fox premiered on the Super Nintendo as the first game to use the Super FX chip. Yeah, that's right. Seriously, this...
In the band Hootie & the Blowfish, who is the Blowfish? The '90s were an insane time in popular music. Let's take May of 1994 as an example. Among the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 were the following artists: Ace of Base, Prince, Crash Test Dummies, Richard Marx, and Mariah Carey. That kind of broad mix...
Which is NOT a Garbage Pail Kid? The '80s were truly f***ed up. Case in point, the collectible trading cards/franchise based upon the hugely successful Cabbage Patch Kids — whose entire premise was strange enough (cabbages that give birth to dolls) — that provided some of the strangest, most grotesque artwork you will ever see. That&...
What does the Scarecrow want in The Wizard of Oz? We all want things out of life — success, health for our families, a new season of our favorite shows... but for the characters in The Wizard of Oz, their needs are even more simplified than that. Considering it might be the most-famous movie ever made, and one that forever changed...
What's the name of the island in Jurassic Park? I mean, if I could have the chance to bring dinosaurs back to life, I don't think I'd worry too much about if I should either. One of the things that always made Michael Crichton books so good was their settings — no matter how ridiculous the...
What's the name of the arcade in Wayne's World? Chances are on this day in 1992, I was loading up the VHS of Wayne's World into my top-loading VCR and watching it for maybe the third or fourth time that day. If you're like me, you can't see the word Milwaukee without pronouncing...
What to know before you visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood It was always my destiny to visit a video game in real life. I believed as much when the first incarnation of Super Nintendo World opened at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. This was in the middle of the pandemic, and they were like, we’ll risk it all because...
What R.E.M. song is about an '80s street attack on journalist Dan Rather? I was once in a karaoke bar in Athens, Georgia, filming a video for my work, when the bartender politely noted: "If Michael comes in here, you'll have to put that camera down." In Athens, with all due apologies to everyone else with this name, there...
Who was Marvel Comics first superhero? Today the MCU is so big that we're debating if it's worth putting out just 20 movies every year instead of like 50. It's no stretch to say that Marvel is one of the most well-known brands in the world. But even Earth'...
What does Bill Murray list as his one regret in Zombieland? Zombieland was one of those movies that really surprised me — it's pretty dang good. And a big part of that was the unexpected cameo from comedy legend Bill Murray. Not only did he show up out of nowhere, he played himself ... well, himself dressed as a zombie in...
What character from The Simpsons was killed off in the year 2000? Things that The Simpsons is older than: Daisy Ridley, the iPhone, the first PlayStation, the Soviet Union breaking up, Microsoft.com, Dollar Tree ... you get the idea. And it's already been renewed through at least 2025. In all those seasons, only a handful of Simpsons characters have passed...
What did Andy Serkis base Gollum’s voice on for the Lord of the Rings movies? Go ahead, you know want to — say "my precious" in your best Gollum voice. Andy Serkis rules. Whether he's acting as a cursed hobbit in a motion capture suit, stealing vibranium, or engineering an escape from an Imperial prison, if he's in something you&...
What game is the French restaurant in The Super Mario Bros. Movie named after? Look, there's definitely a trivia question (probably several) for the original, live-action Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993. But we're looking to get in on all that cash that the 2023 version, cleverly titled The Super Mario Bros. Movie, is generating. So, just to be clear,...
What's the name of the beer in Laverne & Shirley? If you ask me, it's hard to go wrong with a cold beer. In fact, I don't even care if it's a real beer. Fictional beers play an important part in TV, movies, and my dreams. In Laverne & Shirley, beer played a central...
What is the name of the serial killer in The Silence of the Lambs? If you could pinpoint the exact moment when it became acceptable to joke about serial killers who eat people, it was probably when The Silence of the Lambs was released in 1991. From quipping that you'll eat whatever it is with a nice "side of Chianti"...
90s song lyrics you've been getting wrong for decades There’s nothing better than driving down the road on a hot day, windows down, radio blasting, and completely butchering your favorite song at the top of your lungs. Even with our favorite songs, those we’ve heard hundreds of times, there are still those verses where we kind of...
What Aerosmith song was inspired by the L.A. riots? It feels like Aerosmith has had like 14 careers, and I'm sure they've still got a few more in 'em. Just one look at the band and you can tell they've seen some sh**. Through many historical moments, Aerosmith has been a constant....
Which British rock star had a dinosaur named after him? Dinosaurs and rock & roll are really no strangers. You've got your musicians (Dinosaur Jr., T-Rex), your songs (B.O.C.'s "Godzilla", "Walk the Dinosaur"), and your — uh, not sure what to call 'em (that Cadillacs and Dinosaurs game for the...
Which is NOT a villain in the first Mega Man? Also known as Rockman in Japan, Mega Man first came on the scene in 1987 for the NES in all of its multi-power glory. About 7,000 or so sequels later, Dr. Wily is still finding robots with very specific abilities that he can turn into killing machines to get...
What crime did Sophia try to jump bail for on The Golden Girls? Look, we get the joke here — that sweet old lady, a criminal? But of course Sophia Petrillo was anything but sweet, and there were plenty of hints that her family was connected in some way to the Sicilian mafia. Was she capable of something a bit more sinister, or was...
What is Madonna's last name? Some people only need one name to get the point across. Among this echelon are some of the greatest within their discipline: Pelé, Slash, Cher, Bono, and Flea, to name a few. But then there's Madonna, who seems to hover above nearly all other one-namers in pop-culture history....
April 12 in nerd history Here are 5 things that happened on April 11 that might be of interest to those of us who think the dryer still works just fine, damn it. I. Birthdays of honor: Ed O'Neill (1946), David Letterman (1947), Tom Clancy (1947), Claire Danes (1979), David Cassidy (1950), Shannen...
When is Bilbo and Frodo's birthday? Whether you still look forward to celebrating your birthday or it's become a tiresome ritual reminding you of your own mortality, I bet you aren't as old as Bilbo turned in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. You may recall that Bilbo...
What's the name of the spaceship in Alien? I know what you're thinking — Alien is in space? Believe it or not, this 1979 sci-fi-horror epic did indeed, take place in space. (I should have worked in a Ripley joke there — the believe it or not thing... get it? Yeah? Fine.) In fact, most of Alien takes...
What ‘90s sci-fi flick was Kaley Cuoco’s theatrical movie debut? At some point, somewhere, there's something to be said about The Big Bang Theory. But today, there's not much else to say, besides that believe it or not it's not a documentary. They are actors, and they actually all got their start somewhere else....
What was the name of Stevie Ray Vaughan's favorite guitar? I'm guessing a few of you have done this, but in my opinion, you need to be a guitar badass to actually name your guitar. I have many guitars, and I have never named a single one. Which explains why I'm writing trivia right now and...
Weezer's Rivers Cuomo dropped out of which college in 1996? Whenever I hear a Weezer song on the radio these days, it's usually one of their newer pop songs. Sure, it's nothing like the band's glory days, but hey, good for them. While you hear about a lot of famous people that dropped out...
The stabbing sound effect from Halloween is really a knife stabbing what? Being a Foley artist seems really fun. For one thing, you're basically just watching movies all day, and you also get to hit random objects with other random objects. It should come as no surprise that for John Carpenter's original Halloween, they didn't actually...
What year did Disneyland open? I mean, Disneyland is pretty cool. It's somehow timeless yet always changing and pushing the boundaries of human creativity. Also, the churros. I'm betting you have a vague sense of when this happy place first opened its gates for kids and kids at heart alike, but...
What was the no. 1 movie in April 1982? The films of 1982 offered everything from adventure to sci-fi to screwball comedy. And since there was no streaming, hitting the theater was the only way to be entertained without having to watch a commercial. But of all the great movies that came out this year, which one would you...
Which cult classic did they pull sounds from for Predator 2? I think we can all agree: Predators make cool sounds. Not that I would ever want to hear that sound in real life, but still. The sound artists for Predator 2 came up with a clever way to both creep us out AND honor one of my favorite early '...
Who wrote "I Will Always Love You"? There are a lot of songs that I had to be told were covers. From Sinead O'Conner's rendition of "Nothing Compares 2 U" to Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn", sometimes updated versions simply outshine the originals. Whitney Houston's '90s...
How many possible combinations does a Rubik's Cube have? How many sides of a Rubik's Cube can you solve? 1, 2, more? If you're one of those people that can solve the entire thing at all, I'm jealous. If you're one of those that does it in like 30 seconds, well,...
What movie has no Star Trek characters but was voted the 7th-best Star Trek film? Between the original film series, the Next Generation, and the reboots, it's not too surprising that there are some 13 theatrical Star Trek movies in all (and counting). But what was surprising was when Trekkies got together to rank their favorite Star Trek movies — and somehow this one...
What did Kurt Cobain think Weird Al's Nirvana parody would be about? Weird Al is a genius. That's one of those sentences that almost seems a waste to write, since it's so damn obvious. But sometimes we need to be reminded. Kurt Cobain, the Anointed One of grunge, was clearly no stranger to Al's music. Since...
What main character died less than halfway through the movie? I get it — to make a movie exciting, the stakes need to be high. When anyone can just come back at any time (**cough cough** Palpatine **cough**), it takes away from the levity of the story, and frankly the entire experience. But in some cases, folks can go a little...
What famous comedian turned down the role of Winston in Ghostbusters? I guess I just assume every actor or actress cast in any movie ever was the perfect fit for that role from the get-go. But turns out a lot of classic movies could have been way different had those originally offered the roles actually taken them. I can't...
WonderCon exclusive — X-men: The Animated Series director Larry Houston's secret cameos How the legendary animation producer and director snuck Thor, Spider-Man, and more into the '90s X-Men cartoon....
What did D.A.R.E. stand for? I'm not sure how worried I needed to be about some random person offering me free drugs as a fourth grader in a rural town in New Mexico, but the officer who came into our classroom as part of the D.A.R.E. program sure made me...
The coolest old-school things we saw at WonderCon 2023 There’s nothing quite like opening your doors to thousands of nerds in a confined space and pumping them full of sugar, caffeine, and nostalgia. WonderCon was back in full force for 2023, packing Anaheim with more cosplay and expensive collectibles than any sane person should possibly be able to...
March 24 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on March 24th that might be of interest to those of us who remember wood paneling on video game systems. I. Birthdays of honor: The Undertaker (1965), Jim Parsons (1973), Harry Houdini (1874), Steve McQueen (1930), Alyson Hannigan (1974), R. Lee Ermey (1944), Louie...
What inspired the Bangles song “Walk Like an Egyptian”? How songs come to be is a mystical, unknown process for most of us. Unless we're talking about this iconic '80s hit from the Bangles. "Walk Like an Egyptian" actually has a really clear origin story. Any ideas what that story is? Click START to...
What year did Dungeons & Dragons come out? While it feels like it's been with us since the time of the ancients, it turns out there was a time when Dungeons & Dragons didn't actually exist. Whether it's informing basically all of Stranger Things, bringing us new movies to look forward to,...
The actor who played Sloth in The Goonies played for which NFL team? From the rambling tale of One-Eyed Willie (delivered in perfect kid-speak by Sean Astin) to a future Oscar winner blinding bullies, The Goonies truly stands the test of time while serving as a perfect encapsulation of its era. And of course, it wouldn't be nearly as lovable of...
How many Catwoman costumes were needed to film Batman Returns? Batman movies have really given us a lot, and much of it has centered around the costumes. Whether you're a fan of the Adam West gray, or you like the, er, replica of muscles and nipples, there's a little something for everyone. 1992's Batman...
Who won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1976? 1975 was a good year for movies: Jaws, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Rollerball — I could go on, but unlike your coworkers, I respect your time. Which meant that the Academy Awards of 1976 had a pretty big pool to pick from. Of all...
How long did the opening action scene from The Matrix take to shoot? I'm the kind of person who always takes a moment whenever they're holding a spoon, just to see if, you know, there is no spoon. Turns out there always is a spoon, but that doesn't really ruin my enjoyment of 1999's The...
What old-school 3D game recently sold for $1.5 million? We all remember it — that game cartridge that we bought with our hard-earned allowance, only to let it go at a garage sale a few years later for a few measly dollars. And today it's worth hundreds of dollars. Well, this game makes that one look like a...
Every game you can play on Nintendo Switch classic consoles Updated 5/5/2023 I get it — there are emulators, handhelds, and all kinds of other ways you can play classic console games these days. But they can be buggy and unpredictable. Nintendo made a really savvy move, at least for consumers like me, when they essentially built their own...
March 23 in Nerd History Here are 5 things that happened on March 23rd that might be of interest to those of us who ate out of a salad bar at Wendy's. I. Birthdays of honor: Chaka Khan (1953), Victoria Pedretti (1995), Randall Park (1974), Akira Kurosawa (1910), Moses Malone (1955), Joan Crawford...
What song does Elton John refuse to play live? As Elton John winds down what by all accounts is one of the all-time greatest careers of any musician to have ever lived, it's fair to wonder if he'll play one particular song live ever again. Currently embarking on what he's called his final...
What does VHS stand for? Tyson vs. Holyfield. Celtics vs. Lakers. VHS vs. Betamax. These are the iconic rivalries of a generation. By the time I was really paying attention, the format wars had already been settled, and home entertainment was revolutionized forever when you could watch or record whatever you damn well pleased, all...
How much money do the kids have for supplies in Stand by Me? I love the entire vibe of Stand by Me, right up to the final moments when the author of the memoir wraps up just in time to head outside and play with his young son. Because that's totally how writing anything goes. How close were you paying attention...
Which sci-fi superstar voiced Joker in Batman: The Animated Series? Have you ever watched a really good voice actor, who you don't recognize as a cartoon character, as they speak in your favorite character's voice? It can actually be pretty unsettling. And of course, it also seems like a pretty sweet gig. Apparently, it must be,...
Complete the lyrics: "I Will Survive" edition This 1979 hit from Gloria Gaynor has been the anthem to a lot of things in our lives — getting over breakups, quitting a job, beating Ninja Gaiden, and so on. Surely you've belted the chorus to this song hundreds of times. So this one should be a breeze....
March 21st in nerd history March 21st is Big Bang Day. Do you celebrate by sorting through the latest in astrophysical theory, or by watching the TV show? Tough choice. Here are 5 things that happened on March 21st that might be of interest to those of us who tasted Crystal Pepsi. I. Birthdays of...
Which iconic '90s TV character was supposed to be a one-off? I'm not sure how to adequately explain to a young person today what it was like when a TV character would get popular back in ye olden days. Sort of like going viral, except instead of them filling up your social media feed the local Kmart would be...
In what Tarantino movie did actors have to wear their own clothes? With word spreading that Quentin Tarantino could be prepping to direct his 10th — and according to his own promises, final — film, it's time to look back at his humble beginnings. He wasn't always just ringing up Brad Pitt whenever it damn well pleased him. He started...
What was the first movie to make over a billion dollars? Movies entertain us. They inspire us. They allow human creativity to reach new, unforeseen heights. And they make a small group of people super rich. While it seems like anyone can basically sneeze out some CGI and rake in oodles of cash these days, someone had to be the first...
What video game was proven to increase brain power? Video games are good for you. I'm not sure how many times I made that argument to my mom (and still do), but it's a high number. And now, thanks to science, we can say it's been proven true. Take that mom! Of course,...
Who played the leprechaun in ... uh, Leprechaun? What would you do if you found a pot of gold? I mean, an actual, real little black cooking pot, full of gold coins? Well if you've ever seen 1993's Leprechaun, you immediately shouted "LEAVE IT ALONE" at your screen. This movie gave us...
How long did it take John Hughes to write the screenplay for The Breakfast Club? There's a family legend that my older brother loved The Breakfast Club so much that as soon as he left the theater he turned right around, bought another ticket, and watched it again. There's no question that The Breakfast Club is one of the most iconic...
What else is the Atari logo called? Atari was a revolutionary company in more ways than one — from making home video game systems a reality to creating the original "let's drink beer and play ping pong" culture in Silicon Valley. I still don't understand why wood paneling on consoles didn'...
Which color of M&M was outlawed by Van Halen on tour? Let's face it — there's a reason the term "diva" originated with musicians (referring to opera singers). Over the years we've heard about the ridiculous demands of musicians, from Madonna wanting new toilet seats at each venue to Justin Timberlake allegedly getting his...
How many seasons of Mr. Bean are there? Tea. Soccer. Mr. Bean. Of all the things we've imported from Britain in modern times, Mr. Bean belongs right at the top of the list, if not at the very top. As I often do, I like to muse about how the pitch for this show went down....
Which Princess Bride actor made Rob Reiner nauseous? If your life hasn't been spent watching 1987's The Princess Bride roughly twice a year, then I honestly feel sorry for you. Although, maybe not as sorry as I feel for Rob Reiner, who directed Princess Bride but had to leave the set whenever this actor...
'90s fads we’re embarrassed about today Every decade has its fads. The '80s had things like suits with shoulder pads, parachute pants, and leg warmers, while the 2000s and 2010s dropped the ball with fidget spinners, twerking, and eating all that damn avocado toast! But what about the '90s? As much as we glorify...
Who was the original voice of Captain Planet? Ever seen a Millennial shudder when someone throws a plastic bottle into the trash instead of recycling? Yeah, that's the Captain's fault — Captain Planet, that is. Somehow this early '90s show became a cultural phenomenon that every adult remembers to this day. What's...
What was the first music video aired on MTV? There was a time when MTV was more powerful, in theory, than any other organization in the world. Yes, I'm counting the U.S. government. I mean, even if he had wanted to, Reagan couldn't just point at a musician and say "You're...
What Pixar movie was almost lost forever when someone accidentally deleted it? We've all done it — closed the wrong browser window, saved over the wrong thing, or replied to the wrong email. But I highly doubt any of your workplace blunders compare to what nearly happened to this beloved Pixar movie. As one of the most successful and loved animated...
Which movie won the most Oscars? At the 2023 Academy Awards, it sure did seem like the cast of Everything Everywhere All at Once was, well, you know, what the title says. It was pretty cool to see such a weird, sci-fi-inspired movie that also featured some nerd-favorite cast members do so well. But did Everything...
What N64 game caused Nintendo to offer free gloves to prevent injuries? There's something sort of satisfying about watching all those videos where people accidentally throw their Wii controller into their TV or punch something with a VR headset on. Although if I were a PR person for gaming companies in the videos, I would probably like it less. We&...
What was Elijah Wood's first movie? Frodo and Samwise. Go ahead, put 'em up there with some of the all-time classic film duos: * Harold & Maude * C-3PO & R2D2 * Abbot & Costello * Beavis & Butt-Head If Elijah Wood and Sean Astin aren't weirdly close in real life, I might cry. But even Frodo...
What were the first words Mickey Mouse ever spoke? It’s a simple fact that I’m just not very good at a Mickey Mouse impression. It ends up sounding like some kind of tortured cat. And sorry, but you aren't either. Of course, that’s only if we’re talking about Mickey once he got into...
What was the highest-grossing movie from 1978? It was the year of the Jonestown Massacre, but also the first Garfield comic strip. Will that help you answer this question? We’re about to find out. Between all the feathered hair and Argentina winning the World Cup, sometimes I feel like I’m right back in ‘78. And...
10 SNES game soundtracks better than anything on your playlist Look, taste in music is subjective. I won’t argue that, but you also shouldn’t argue the fact that if you don’t have at least one Super Nintendo game soundtrack on your playlist, you’re objectively wrong. I don’t want to hear any whining about “oh, video...
Stranger Things season 5 predictions based on 80s movies The fifth and final season of Netflix’s uber-hit, Stranger Things, is filming. Naturally, that leads us to wonder what will happen next. Will Eleven get back to her waffle-eating ways? Does Will finally get a new haircut? And what about Enzo’s? What about Surfer Boy Pizza? WHAT HAPPENS...
What model of car is KITT from Knight Rider? There are those of us that simply chuckle every time someone gushes about how impressive ChatGPT is. Why? Because long before OpenAI was ever a thing, there was a far superior artificial intelligence: KITT. The Knight Industries Two Thousand, frankly, makes ChatGPT look like a toddler whose only word is...
What 1991 movie was the most expensive ever when it was released? When you hear James Cameron going around saying his movie needs $2 billion just to break even, it starts to lose meaning. At this point someone could say a movie cost a zillion trillion dollars, and I’d just be like, OK, sure. It’s all funny money to me....
The state-of-the-art computer used for 1982's Tron had how much memory? 1982 was a time when computers were seemingly on the verge of making lots of jobs obsolete and possibly even taking control of humanity in some very sinister ways. Luckily, today we’re totally past that! Even though it’s still full of practical effects, Tron was one of the...
Which movie was the first from a female director to break $100 million? I wonder what $100 million looks like? If you were to break it out into individual $1 bills, would you be able to Scrooge McDuck it and go for a cash swim? Anytime I hear about that kind of money, I want to ask them to give me like $10,...
What arcade game was the first to save a high score? Video games were always about getting the highest score, even from the early days of Pong. But, while it’s hard to believe, there actually was a time when your highest scores were only recorded in your head (or on film if you thought to bring a camera along and...
Who turned down the role of Yoda for The Empire Strikes Back? You can go on and on about how much you hate the Special Editions, but we all know if you were in a room with George Lucas there isn’t a single damn thing you wouldn’t do if he asked you. But in the annals of Star Wars history,...
Which sci-fi star filmed a cameo in E.T. that was cut before release? Steven Spielberg holds a lot of sway in Hollywood. I mean, who else could pull off a power move like getting a movie star to make a cameo in your new movie, and then cut the scene entirely? Spiels does not give an eff, and he will clearly steamroll anyone...
What was the name of Screech’s dog on Saved by the Bell? When it comes to TV pets, there’s no shortage of furry (or not-so-furry) friends that have graced our screens. You’ve got your cats (Salem from Sabrina), horses (take your pick of westerns, we’ll go with Silver), monkeys (Marcel from Friends), dinosaurs (Dino from The Flinstones), bears (Ben...
10 Seinfeld episodes that kids today wouldn't understand This is going to sound a lot like “old man yells at clouds” type stuff, but it's a simple fact that kids today just can’t understand how things used to be. I’m not saying that to make it sound like they’re spoiled, only that I’...
What's the name of Holly's cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's? Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of the most romantic movies of all time — as long as you consider sordid affairs, lying, and backstabbing romantic. Whatever romance means to you, 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s occupies an honorable place in the history of American cinema. I’m guessing because...
Which ‘90s cult classic has a Starbucks cup hidden in almost every scene? Ahh, ‘90s movies — the only decade when being a slacker with no motivation in life was gloriously celebrated onscreen over having a stable income. From Tarantino to Parker Posey to the Coen Brothers, the 1990s were truly a great time for film — and many movies from that time have gone...
Who gets murdered in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Rewatching Who Framed Roger Rabbit as an adult is a fascinating experience. The number of jokes and innuendo that went way over my head in 1988 is pretty impressive. And while the mix of live action with animation was certainly nothing new at the time, the seamless integration of animated...
Who is the protagonist in The Secret of Monkey Island? George Lucas is a damn magician. Let’s consider the things that have been invented if not directly by him, then because of him: basically every innovation in special effects; Pixar; digital filmmaking; and, perhaps most importantly, the point-and-click adventure game. That’s right, Lucasfilm Games was behind 1990’s...
Who directed Big Trouble in Little China? Pulling from a genre known as Wuxia — famous for telling tales of ancient heroes that both know martial arts and often have supernatural abilities — Big Trouble in Little China is just some good ol’ fashion beat ‘em up fun. Plus, ‘80s-era special effects from the Industrial Light & Magic tree...
What was the best-selling rock album from the 90s? Sometimes I think Spotify is pretty novel, but then I remember when I signed up for Columbia House. 5 CDs for a penny! Then forget to cancel and buy three more CDs for $80 each. Spotify is really just a glorified, if somewhat less malicious, mail-subscription music company. The five...
What was the first full-length animated movie from Walt Disney Animation Studios? Founded in 1923 by ol’ Walt and ol’ Roy, Walt Disney Animation Studios is iconic. And they’re still churning out top-notch stuff. When their full-length movies first came out, they were truly revolutionary. I’m assuming people just wept and fell to the floor when this movie came out...
Name the quote from Field of Dreams It’s not that often that a movie can inspire a bunch of professional athletes to walk out of a cornfield, but that’s the kind of power Field of Dreams wields. Beyond getting MLB teams to play out of scenic Dyersville, Iowa, this is a movie full of memorable...
What's the name of the town in Jaws? You know what ticks me off? Great white sharks who don’t give a damn about the local economy and scare all the tourists away from the beach. Jaws is an iconic film that not only put a youngster named Stephen Spielberg on the map, but also terrified many children...
What type of animal is Knuckles? The world of Sonic is a strange, fantastical place that will break your mind if you think about it for too long. Luckily, the live-action movies cleared most stuff up. Right? But there’s still one thing tugging at our minds: What is Knuckles, anyway? Click below to submit your...
Classic Sci-Fi Books There's nothing more enjoyable than opening up a good book and reading about the genocide of an alien species from a distant planet. Sci-fi books fuel our imaginations, our movies, and our dreams. You might say all of civilization would probably fall apart without them. You'd...
Andor proves why Rian Johnson deserves another chance at Star Wars I remember the crossed arms, the tense faces, the utter look of confusion, and maybe a tinge of fear. As my friends shuffled into the bar after watching The Last Jedi, I have to admit that I was a bit surprised. You see, I’m one of “those people,” the...
Which is NOT a name for a Jedi? Whether you're talking some Obi-Wan, some Qui-Gon, or even good ol' Yoda, you have to admit that Jedi get to have all the cool names. Thanks for nothing mom and dad! In fact, Jedi names are so interesting you can kind of just mumble some random sounds...
90s TV It was a time when boys met worlds, friends hung out in coffee shops, and the truth was totally out there. Television in the '90s was the last great era of TV before the internet came in and started effing with everything — the last era of everyone watching the...
90s commercial jingles you can't get out of your head I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets irrationally pissed off at kids today who complain about having even a single 30-second commercial play while they binge-watch 10 episodes of "True life of a squid tamer" or whatever the hell is popular these...
What was the first feature-length movie directed by James Cameron? Call us shrewd, but requiring nearly $1.5 billion just to break even on a movie seems like a risky business model. Still, that’s exactly how much James Cameron has said Avatar: The Way of Water needs to make to do just that. But there’s no doubting this...
What was the last no. 1 song from 1984? The end of a year is a time to reflect — on the news stories that shaped the headlines, the personal milestones we achieved, the hard-fought victories, and the bitter defeats — and take a moment to learn from it all. Or if you were a certain artist in late 1984, it...
Revisiting Tecmo Bowl: Is it worth playing again? Is there anything more American than sitting back, putting on the game, and watching a bunch of dudes try to give each other CTE? Actually, yes, yes there is — playing a video game where you pretend like you’re one of those dudes. Football video games have come a long...
Terry Hall’s best songs with The Specials I’m getting to that age where if I hear certain musicians on the radio often enough I start to wonder if it’s because they died and those are the tributes. But there are some whose passings still seem to come out of nowhere and punch me right in...
The NSFW Thundercats outtakes you need to hear Imagine yourself as a full-grown adult, a professional voice actor, stepping up to speak into an expensive microphone. You’re getting paid real money, lots of it, to do this. You look at the script and begin to read, and hear yourself uttering this line: We should have known the...
What's the name of Star-Lord's ship in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie? Guardians of the Galaxy, despite a dubious past of sci-fi franchises doing it wrong, took the bold step of releasing a holiday special. And like most things Guardians, it's really entertaining. Not only that, but hype is building for the third and final film in the MCU trilogy....
What's the name of the movie from Home Alone? If you were a kid and you suddenly had an impossibly huge suburban Chicago house all to yourself, what’s the first thing you would do? Yeah, I said “watch violent movies” too. And that’s exactly what Kevin McCallister does in Home Alone. But do you remember the name...
Which movie won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture? Even with viewership falling off a cliff, winning an Academy Award means something. This movie paved the way for all others to follow. See if you can guess which one it was... Click START to play trivia. The Academy Awards Which movie won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture?...
The top 10 TV sitcom theme songs from the 1980s What happens inside your brain when you read the following words? Making your way in the world today Takes everything you've got Taking a break from all your worries Sure would help a lot It’s time to get a drink with Norm and the gang, that’s...
Who won the main event at the first Wrestlemania? The first Wrestlemania marked a turning point, not just in the realm of professional wrestling, but for society as a whole. Ushering in the era of the Rock N' Wrestling Connection in earnest (aka, the crossover of pro wrestling and pop culture), Wrestlemania remains a cultural force to this...
Which team was NOT playable in Tecmo Bowl? Tecmo Bowl is simultaneously the first football video game many of us played and the first true rage game. 90% of every play I made — of which there are only four to choose from to begin with — was either the other team getting a touchdown or me throwing an interception...
Name the no. 1 song from November 1993 Chances are on this day in November 1993 you turned on MTV and this video played ... AGAIN. According to the Billboard Top 100 charts, what song was it? Play interactive trivia now to see if you know the answer... 90s Jams What was the no. 1 one song in November...
'90s child stars that gave up acting I will never forgive my parents for not forcing me into a child acting career. I mean, if they had, I wouldn’t just be a depressed manchild with childhood trauma and no sense of responsibility — I’d be all those things and rich. Which, you know, kind of justifies...
Who won the first World Cup? Get out those really long scarves and prepare to explain how offsides works to all your friends, because it's World Cup time. Any idea who won the first-ever preeminent international soccer tournament? Let's find out. Click START to answer. World Cup Soccer Who won the first...
Movies That Time Forgot: Explorers (1985) Would you believe me if I told you that I’m just learning, right now as I clack-clack-clack away at the keyboard, as I sit down to write an article about the 1985 movie Explorers, right now, this instant, I just learned that both Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix are...
How many Godzilla movies are there? November 3 marks Godzilla’s birthday, marked by the premier of 1954’s Godzilla. In 2022, that makes Gojira 68 years old. Must say, Godzilla looks spry for his age. How many Godzilla movies are there? Press START to answer. The Godzilla Franchise How many Godzilla movies are there? You...
When was Dune published? Long before Timothy Chalament was tasked with carrying on the legacy of House Atreides, Dune was a breakout science fiction novel. When was it first published? Dune When was the original Dune novel published? You let the Harkonnens take control of the spice. Now you have to see Sting in...
Who was originally cast to play Marty in Back to the Future? Look, it’s difficult to imagine anyone besides Michael J. Fox squeaking their way through Back to the Future — I get that. But the fact is, he very nearly was never in this movie. So who was originally cast as Marty? Click START to submit your answer. Back to the...
The top 10 Stephen King horror adaptations While he’ll probably never be regarded in the same literary echelon as H. P. Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe, you can’t deny Stephen King has commercialized horror on a scale that’s never been seen before him or since. He could take a sweatshirt and turn it into...
How many endings does the original Metroid have? It was a challenge only for the courageous of heart and spirit. How many endings did the original Metroid, released for NES in 1987, actually have? Click Start to play. NES Games Upon its release in 1987 for the NES, how many endings does the original Metroid have? You don’...
What is Blink-182's only top 10 hit? Dads everywhere recently rejoiced when Blink-182 announced a reunion tour and new album. When you think of ’90s pop punk, you can’t help but think of how Blink-182 dominated the doofier side of the spectrum (not a bad thing). Yet, our faces were recently melted when we learned that...
The best Halloween TV specials from the '90s Halloween is the best holiday and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise. Halloween specials were some of the most exciting events as a kid leading into the spooky season. These specials were a chance for a show to really go off the rails and get nuts with concepts and...
Who created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? They’re mean, green, and each one has a unique personality that is relatable to our innermost selves. But do you know who came up with this unlikely set of superhero teenage reptiles? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Who created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? You pushed the franchise too far....
When did the X-Files premiere? The truth is out there … but can you remember that truth without looking it up? No pressure, but Mulder and Scully are counting on you. The X-Files When did the X-Files premiere? They’re coming for you. The truth WAS out there. Turns out you put it in the fridge...
The most valuable NES cartridges of all time If Biff were actually smart, he wouldn’t have brought back a sports almanac from the future but just mugged his younger self of all his NES games before he had the chance to trade them in for 25 cents a pop. We’ve all been there — broke kids whose...
Ten of the cheesiest horror movies from the 1990s When my son first saw a tab open for a website called Classic Nerd, he was intrigued — and then he immediately started making demands. First and foremost, he demanded I write an article of his choosing. For some reason, a kid who knows literally nothing about horror movies or the...
What was the no. 1 song in September, 1988? Where were you in September of 1988? If you’re like me, probably sitting in the way back of a station wagon jamming out to the no. 1 song of the moment. Can you name what that song was without looking it up? You have 15 seconds to answer. Click...
When was the Sega CD released? I wanted the Sega CD so bad that I essentially bullied my parents (er, I mean, Santa) into giving me one. My memory is pretty hazy in terms of what year that was—but maybe you remember. Classic Video Games: Sega What year was the Sega CD released in North...
The 15 nerdiest pop songs from the 80s The 1980s were a turning point in nerd culture. From Revenge of the Nerds premiering in 1984 to The Breakfast Club breaking down high school caste barriers to Patrick Dempsey exploring the meaningless void of popularity in Can’t Buy Me Love to Blade Runner just being badass, the booming...
The craziest TV fan theories from the 90s that could actually be true Fan theories have been around forever, but once the internet let people actually spread their insane babble across the web instead of as mad crayon scribblings on their bedroom walls, they really took off. I’ve spent many an afternoon (OK, many a 3 a.m.) pouring through these theories...
How many Oscars did the original Star Wars win? In a galaxy far, far away—aka Hollywood—movies of the science fiction genre rarely get their due recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Sure, they’ll get a token “best sound and visual editing that’s mixed and then re-edited” type of technical award, sometimes...
Every GoldenEye N64 single-player level ranked For an entire generation, whenever GoldenEye was mentioned you were talking about a video game, not a movie. And when you were talking about that video game you were almost always talking about getting the gang together for a few rounds of its legendary multiplayer option. Even just typing about...
What was the no. 1 song from August 1991? In August 1991 this song dominated radio, MTV, and your brain. Do you remember what the top song from this time was? 90s Music What was the no. 1 song from August 1991? Your heart will be cut out with a dull spoon. You proved that you are the best...
The top retro-future movies from the 1970s The 1970s were all like: But also: You get the point: It was pretty much hell on Earth. But it was also a time when science fiction movies often invoked a vision of the future where apparently everything was different except for the hairstyles and clothing. "Hey, we'...
Name the movie: "If it bleeds, we can kill it." Being cornered by something that seems downright invincible is not an uncommon theme in many of the great sci-fi movies of yesteryear. Do you remember this quote? Click START to answer. Sci-fi Movie Quotes Name the movie: "If it bleeds, we can kill it." You were easy prey....
Games that Time Forgot: Ground Zero Texas There was an age when people like Cory Haim, Tia Carerre, and Mark Hamill were starring in video games: The Golden Age of Live-Action Video Games, or simply GALAVG as some call it (no one calls it either of those). Of course. today we're not talking about Wing...
What year was the Atari 2600 released? Pretty sure I remember a sort of radioactive hum coming from this thing whenever I turned it on as a kid. Oh well, I’m sure there’s no way they would have released it if it wasn’t completely safe for children. Old School Video Games What year was...
The 10 most important lessons from '80s vampire movies Once seen as dusty, old dental cases in frilly shirts who’d lounge in their coffins and listen to baroque between victims, vampires received a major makeover in the ‘80s. They rocked out to Bauhaus. They invaded high schools and suburbia. They wore an absolute ton of sunglasses. The decade...
What was the top-grossing movie of 1992? The decade was still new, meaning most of us were just trying to figure out if we should go acid-washed or tie-dye. In many cases, we chose both. Test your ‘90s movie knowledge by clicking below — and try it without Googling first. Click START to play trivia. 90s movies What...
The worst gaming mascots of the '90s As soon as Mario jumped on his first Goomba, other companies began falling over themselves to create a mascot that could rival the ethnically-ambiguous plumber. It made sense — all the biggest companies in the ‘90s had a recognizable mascot they could weaponize to trick consumers into thinking they actually had...
8 awesome Super Nintendo games that are worth playing again We all have fond memories of playing games on the consoles of yesteryear, don't we? Unfortunately, most of the time when we actually go back and play those games, we realize there's a reason we left that technology behind forever. But the Super Nintendo Entertainment System...
Name the no. 1 song from July, 1984 Chances are really good that exactly 38 years ago, you heard this song on the radio in the backseat of your mom’s station wagon on the way to the bank. According to the Billboard Hot 100, do you know what the number 1 song was in July 1984? Submit...
The strangest things from old-school Super Mario console games I'll never forget when I got my first Nintendo Entertainment System (aka NES, aka just straight up Nintendo, aka Original Nintendo). Picture 7-year-old me, in a K-Mart somewhere in the middle of New Mexico, with my older brother, 4 years my elder, pointing to the pile of NES...
What is the best-selling Super Nintendo game of all time? There are many gems from the 16-bit glory days of the Super Nintendo, but only one sold more than all the others. Which one was it? SNES games What is the best-selling Super Nintendo game of all time? SNES time, baby. You're dead, no continues. Take off the...
What was the name of the arcade in TRON? Get this right or Master Control Program will – you know, do the thing. Click START to play trivia. 80s sci-fi movies What's the name of the arcade in TRON? We're talking the original 1982 movie. Master Control Program defeated you and now has control of all...
What is the Super Nintendo called in Japan? The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES, goes by many names, depending on where you bought it. Let’s travel back in time and across the sea — what was it called in Japan? Classic video game trivia: SNES What is the Super Nintendo called in Japan? You lost the console...
How many NBA MVPs does Larry Bird have? Growing up in the 80s, and in an Irish-Catholic family, Larry Bird was basically another deity for me. But how many regular season MVPs did he win? Click START to play. NBA MVPs How many regular-season MVPs did Larry Bird win? Aaaaiiirbaaaaalll. Don't quit your day job for...
Nerdy movies to watch for July Fourth When it comes to the movies, America really can’t be beat. And when it comes to nerdy movies? Put the two together and you actually have a lot of movies that straddle the line between nerd and patriotic. Here are some films that you can watch over July 4th...
What does ALF stand for? You may already be aware of my take on ALF, so I’ll leave you to it. Let’s see what you know about this ‘80s sitcom from a golden era of TV. 80s TV shows: ALF What does ALF stand for? You let ALF eat the cat. But at...
The 10 best cereals that only existed in the 90s Let’s be real for a second: the ‘90s were peak-cereal era. No decade prior or since has even come close to the level of pure madness going on in that industry. Companies were basically throwing as many insane ideas at the wall as they could to see what stuck....
What was the highest-grossing movie of the 1990s? Think you know all there is to know about ’90s movies, huh? WELL LET’S FIND OUT. Click START to play trivia. Movies from the 1990s Things got weird in this decade. What was the highest-grossing movie of the 1990s? You failed to recoup the cost of your film. This...
Name this TV show: "And to our future. No matter who it may take us up against or where." There’s nothing quite like staying up until 2 a.m. on a random night in the middle of summer binging reruns of a classic sci-fi show. Can you name this TV show based on a quote? Name the TV show. What 80s show is this quote from? "And...
The top 5 retro cars you can play in Rocket League For a game that’s free to play, Rocket League sure is good at getting me to give it money. In large part, that’s because they do a really great job of creating scarcity. The item shop only has a limited number of items each day, so if you...
5 retro movies to celebrate AI (probably not) becoming conscious Here at Classic Nerd, the news that a Google engineer thinks the AI chatbot he’s been working on has become sentient wasn’t shocking or scary. That’s because we’ve been preparing for this moment for decades. Whether or not it actually is (almost certainly not really) sentient,...
Name the release date of this Sega Genesis game What do you remember about this home console? Click Start to play Classic Nerd Trivia. Classic Video Games Trivia: Sega Genesis The Console Wars represented a golden age for home video games. What year was Sonic the Hedgehog released for Sega Genesis? You lost all your coins. Try again. You...
Every dinosaur in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies — ranked Note: This list was written before and does not include new Dominion dinos. There’s something about dinosaurs that just takes you right back to childhood. Both Michael Crichton and Steven Spielberg cited their own childhood fascinations with dinos as what sparked their passion for Jurassic Park. It is pretty...
6 questions about the Jurassic Park films The first time I heard about Jurassic Park was from my science teacher in sixth grade. He told us about this novel, written by this guy, where these scientists did this thing … with DINOSAURS. Being an annoying overachiever, I found the hardback edition of Michael Crichton’s iconic novel at...
Which Mario character is this? Nintendo has produced many lovable characters. I mean, even Bowser is likable on some level. See if you can name this Mario character. Classic Video Games Trivia: Mario Characters Name this character. Yeah, you're dead. No more lives, no continues. Unlimited 1UPs. Go ahead, knock yourself out on...
6 old school video games ready for a reboot It seems like everything is getting a reboot these days, from superheroes to Jumanji to Bonkers. But they're getting it all wrong. Why waste time remaking a perfect movie, like Dirty Dancing, when there are oodles of old-school games that would make for killer titles on next-gen consoles?...
What type of spaceship is the Millennium Falcon? What kind of Star Wars fan are you? You might be the type that swears you can feel the force and can't get enough lore. Or maybe you become obsessed with the details, learning every class and rank of the Imperial military. Perhaps, you just really enjoy learning...
Star Wars Trivia: Obi-Wan edition The man, the myth, the miniseries. Answer three questions about Obi-Wan Kenobi. Star Wars Trivia: Obi-Wan Kenobi edition Who is Obi-Wan's master? Who does Obi-Wan cut in half? Where was Obi-Wan born? You were turned to the dark side. Not wizard. You became one with the Force. But...
Ten '90s cartoon episodes that were way too dark for children It’s easy to forget, but cartoons were originally targeting adult audiences. Even Bugs Bunny was originally aimed at adults, but soon began to appeal to youngsters on Saturday mornings. This eventually paved the way for the rise of iconic channels like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network producing cartoons specifically for...
Movie quotes: Name the sci-fi movie Name the movie based solely on a quote. Can it be done? Click START to play trivia. Sci-fi movie quotes Name the movie: "The unknown future rolls toward us. I face it, for the first time, with a sense of hope." The robots won. Thumbs up, human. You...
Who was the first athlete to appear on the cover of a Madden video game? From the alleged "Madden Curse" to some of the biggest names in the sport gracing the cover of the preeminent video game in American football, there's always a sense of hushed anticipation when the next year's cover athlete is announced. But back when the...
The top 10 John Hughes movies There are some directors you think of when certain movie genres come up: Alfred Hitchcock mastered the psychological thriller, Akira Kurosawa cornered the market on the samurai epic, Sergio Leone dominated the spaghetti western—and John Hughes wrote the book on movies about teens. Of course, Hughes branched out into...
What does 'Nintendo' translate to? This means something … See if you know this obscure fact about Nintendo. Classic Nerd Trivia: Nintendo What does "Nintendo" translate to in English? You didn't even hit the goose. You didn't do that well ... oh wait, no you got it! Nice job....
Guess the Star Wars movie line You quote Star Wars to your friend and on Twitter ad nauseam, so this should be easy for you. Click START to answer. Guess the movie line Which line is said in Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back? Seriously, you were brought down by a tow cable? The...
5 retro toys that had to be taken off the shelves for being too dangerous Absentee parents and stupid kids always spoil the fun for the rest of us. Case-in-point: Rad toys that met their demise because they were deemed too dangerous to our precious youth. Here, we’re breaking down some of the most infamous toys that met the banhammer in epic ways. Lawn...
What 80s show does 'and knowing is half the battle' come from? Back in the ‘80s, TV liked to teach kids stuff about life. BOOORRRING! But, if you were paying attention it will help you answer this trivia question. Click START to play Classic Nerd Trivia. 80s TV shows What show is this line from? "And knowing is half the battle....
Which is NOT a call sign from the original Top Gun (1986)? After you watched Top Gun for the first time (the original, of course), you know you did the same thing everyone else did: come up with your own call sign. And yes, even if you were 40. Supposedly the latest release in this franchise did pretty well, but the original...
The Cartoon Network shows you don't remember Since its debut in 1992, Cartoon Network has been host to a wide variety of animated shows. From the likes of The Powerpuff Girls to modern series like Craig of the Creek, the network has triumphed in its prolific history of entertaining kids and kids at heart. But for every...
6 extremely unsettling things from ALF that no one talks about I wish I could have been in the room when the concept for ALF was pitched. I imagine some greasy guy with a look that says he’s constantly late for things, those huge ‘80s glasses that get dark in the sun (so they’re like halfway dark when he’...
5 of the weirdest 80s sci-fi music videos The 1980s were a golden decade for sci-fi — one that lived out its dystopian Cold War-laced paranoia vicariously through futuristic David vs. Goliath stories on the silver screen. It all added up to some of the best sci-fi cinema ever made, in my humble opinion. Empire Strikes Back, Flash Gordon,...
Every theatrical Star Wars film — ranked Across four decades, three trilogies, 12 theatrical films, seven animated series, countless theme park rides, a holiday special, all kinds of continuation novels, and enough merchandising deals to fill the belly of a Sarlacc, Star Wars has pervaded pop culture like no film franchise before or since. Like Luke Skywalker...
80s children's movies that would freak kids the hell out today The 1980s were all like ... and ... but also ... The point is, the '80s were a time when anything seemed possible: The Russians could nuke you at any second, you could become a magical tiger warrior, or you might even end up on Star Search. But behind all that glitz...
The Mario game you probably never played Every self-respecting Nintendo fan knows what Mario Party is. The four-player board/video game mashup that destroys friendships has seen tons of variations over the past couple decades since its debut on the Nintendo 64. But what if I told you that there was a Mario Party game that was...
The top 10 Weird Al Yankovic parodies from the 1990s A long, long, time ago… If you just hummed the tune to “American Pie” to yourself as you read those words, you might be a Weird Al fan. Or, technically, a “Weird Al” fan, but for purposes of entertainment, we’ll be leaving the quotation marks off from here on...
8 sci-fi TV shows from the '90s you forgot existed “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.” I don’t really need to remind you what show that line is from (I hope). This is not a ranking of the best sci-fi TV shows from the 1990s—which means there will be no Next Generation. No Star Trek shows at all, in...
Every theatrical Batman film, ranked Whatever name you prefer to call him by—Batman, the Batman, Batsy, the Caped Crusader, the World’s Greatest Detective, the Dark Knight, the Dork Knight, Beloved—Bruce Wayne’s alter ego has taken many forms over the years in his efforts to protect Gotham from clowns, plant ladies, and...
The top 10 WWF wrestlers of the 1980s Explore the top WWF wrestlers of the 1980s, featuring legends like Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior. Relive the iconic moments and matches that defined '80s wrestling....
The top 10 live-action fantasy movies from the ’80s With new advancements in special effects and the success of Star Wars in particular, studios and filmmakers turned their attention as they headed into the 1980s towards a genre of storytelling that has been entertaining audiences since time immemorial: fantasy. With special effects wizards who could now build life-sized dragons...
The top 10 representations of nerds in cinema The Nerd has a long history in the movies, one that probably dates back to silent comedian Harold Lloyd and the bespectacled klutz he played in films like Safety Last! (1923) and The Freshman (1925). The term “nerd” was apparently first popularized in the mid-seventies by Happy Days when it...
The top 10 sweetest pads owned by James Bond villains From their laser beam tables to their bionic eyeballs to the fluffy white cats that sometimes follow them around, there’s never been anything subtle about Bond villains. That includes the lairs from which they conduct their dastardly business. In the latest (and last) from Daniel Craig, No Time to...
10 music videos that homage classic horror cinema Thanks to directors like David Fincher (Madonna’s “Vogue”), Michel Gondry (Kylie Minogue’s “Come into My World”), and Spike Jonze (Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” and Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice”) the music video has been elevated to an art form—one that challenges filmmakers to tell a complete narrative...
Top 10 kills of the Jurassic Park films For many, Jurassic Park brings to mind warm, nostalgic memories of graceful long-necked Brachiosaurs munching treetops or the InGen chopper soaring by pristine, green Hawaiian hills as John Williams’ iconic JP theme plays majestically. But as everyone’s favorite cynic Ian Malcolm points out in The Lost World, it’s...
The 10 most underrated films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe I’ll admit something feels a bit oxymoronic about a list of the most underrated films of the MCU. From Star Trek to Star Wars, Marvel’s film franchise is about as popular at the moment as any ever has been and doesn’t show any sign of slowing soon....
Top 10 spooky movies that are actually set on Halloween Halloween’s a pretty theatrical holiday. Maybe the most theatrical holiday. I mean, we carve faces in pumpkins and light them up with candles, dress our lawns with cardboard tombstones and cotton cobwebs and creaking coffins, and go out in elaborate costumes — or stay in and scare ourselves sleepless with...
10 movie aliens we wish really existed More often than not, movies depict aliens as monstrous beings out to destroy us, invade us, enslave us, assimilate us, or simply use us in ungodly experiments involving Chihuahuas. No question about it, when it comes to the pictures, aliens tend to get a bad rap. There are, however, those...
The best TV shows to stream with your kids The main thing we learned over the last 2 years or so is that not doing stuff outside of your house sucks. On the other hand, not leaving the house is pretty great – unless you have little ones stuck in the house with you. I mean, we all love our...
Every Friday the 13th film, ranked There’s something about Friday the 13th… Friday the 13th certainly wasn’t the first of its kind. Well before 1980 you had a long history of slashers and proto-slashers from the likes of Hitchcock, Bava, Fulci, Argento, Canada… Friday the 13th’s writer Victor Miller was even given the...
10 best-selling PlayStation 1 games you forgot about Some of the best times we spent as kids – even now – have been playing PlayStation 1 games. Released in 1994, there are a countless number of PS1 games we loved, liked, and weren’t all that crazy about. Some games we could play by memory at this point. If you...
The best home video game systems of the '90s — ranked Oh, the '90s. For many, this was a golden era of movies, TV and video games. The beauty of it all! We’re going to ignore the fact that it’s 2020, and the '90s were now three decades ago. In my head, it’ll always be last...
The 10 best rides from Roller Coaster Tycoon The key to a flourishing theme park in Roller Coaster Tycoon is the perfect balance of rides for all guests. The roller coasters are going to make you money and attract the most guests, but you have to cater to smaller wallets and lower ride intensities as well. Some rides...
5 toys from the 1980s that still give us nightmares The more I remember the decade of my young childhood, the more I understand why my doctor gave me that seemingly large prescription for Xanax. It was like all the marketers of the world got together sometime in 1981 and just said, "What if we did our best to...
1990s children’s movies that were actually terrifying With each generation comes a little more worry and supervision from parents. I can’t imagine being a kid nowadays; asking your parents to watch a movie, and them scouring the internet for reviews, warnings, and general advice from other parents about what is and isn’t okay. The '...
The best Mario Kart: Double Dash powerups, ranked It’s a tale as old as time. You’re in first place, on the last lap of a race. The victory is essentially guaranteed. But suddenly, you get a warning at the bottom of the screen: a blue shell is coming. The shell hits you, and the vehicle spirals...
Movies from the '80s for nerds to watch this holiday season The snow is falling, gifts are being wrapped and a strange green creature is gnawing at your face—that's right, it's the winter holidays! As you curl up in front of your digital fire with a smartphone in hand and telling Alexa to order your groceries...
The 10 best Super Smash Bros. melee stages If you don’t think Melee is the best Super Smash Bros., you’re simply wrong. The graphics are fantastic, the controls are superb, and the character list is at its peak in the franchise. But what I think truly sets Melee apart from the other Super Smash Bros. games...
The top 10 Nintendo GameCube games of all time I’ll never forget the months my brothers and I spent pitching my parents on the latest video game system we had to have. I mean, it was a CUBE that you could play games on. Ahh, the Nintendo GameCube. Though it wasn’t Nintendo’s best-selling console of all...
The top 10 Nintendo DS games of all time Do you remember how cool the Game Boy was? A gaming console that you held in the palm of your hand – mind-blowing! It was black and white, everything was so tiny, and the sounds were so cool. All out of a small little box. It’s incredible to think how...
C-3PO’s top 7 moments The final Rise of Skywalker trailer has sparked a great number of theories online. One moment from the trailer, in particular, caused a great deal of emotional agony for a lot of fans… Is this the end of C-3PO? In the trailer, when asked what he's doing by...
Movies That Time Forgot: The Ewok Adventure As an 18-year-old graduating high school, I remember hating Jar Jar Binks when Episode I came out. The Phantom Menace was possibly the biggest cinematic moment of my life, and yet despite the fact the special edition reworks of the original Star Wars trilogy sat uneasily in my mind, I...
The top 7 kids' video game characters from the '90s The 1990s spawned an entirely new generation of gamers; ones who craved fantasy worlds made of impossible colors and creatures. Maybe we knew we’d need an escape from the harshness of reality a few decades later? That took a dark turn. Anyway, with those games we loved came characters...
The four best LEGO Star Wars games of all time Editor's note: This was written and published years before the Skywalker Saga game was released. “What’s in a game? That which we call a LEGO, by any other game would be as fun.” The word “LEGO” has a pretty impressive affect on most people. Take a normal...
4 nerdy costumes you can wear this Halloween from stuff you already have There’s nothing like expecting to not get invited to anything for Halloween only to get an invite to a sweet party at the last second because someone cooler than you couldn’t make it. Not that I would have any personal experience with pity invites… Of course, the challenge...
The creepiest old-school video games Growing up, a lot of us had our video game systems connected to the TV in the basement. This was usually a fantastic setup, as we could turn our volume loud and yell at each other even louder. Mom would just shut the door, and she wouldn’t have to...
The top 10 Weird Al parodies from the 1980s He's the man who, unbelievably, is over 60 years old, yet somehow hasn't lost a single step — not when it comes to his songwriting, his wit, and sure as hey-all not when it comes to rocking the accordion. That’s right, we’re talking “Weird Al”...
Kids movies from the '90s to watch this Halloween It’s finally that time of year again. The temperature drops about two degrees from the scorching summer, and suddenly we’re all excited for leaves, pumpkins, and being terrified under a blanket fort. That’s right, blow the inches of dust off your VCR and get the blankets out...
7 mini-games from Pokémon Stadium N64 you forgot were awesome You’ve seen just about every nostalgia-riddled article that lists the best Nintendo 64 games of all time. We’ve all dusted off our consoles (and blown into the cartridges once or twice to get of in-game glitches) and fired up Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros recently. The one...
8 horror films from the '80s for (almost) every mood Halloween is just around the corner, which means it’s time for an annual binge of horror films. But sometimes picking the right movie isn’t as simple as plopping down on the couch and firing up the first classic scream flick you see. We’re humans, and humans have...
Games That Time Forgot: Adventures of Lolo Sometimes being a blue ball with eyes and feet has its benefits. That's more or less the premise behind the underground, quirky puzzler, Adventures of Lolo. Besides being a blue ball, Lolo is also out to save his girlfriend, cleverly named Lala (a pink ball with eyes and...
Why the original Animal Crossing was and always will be the best Close your eyes. Hear the whistle of the train. The high-pitched babbling of your neighbor. The “ding ding” of your full mailbox. Since 2002, Animal Crossing has continued to call us home. It stole our hearts on GameCube, and our captivation with it endured through the Nintendo DS, 3DS, Wii,...
The galaxy's worst Star Wars quotes, ranked — Prequels edition Few stories have managed to captivate the hearts of so many like that of Star Wars, with its gorgeous musical score, dramatic cinematography, and unforgettable quotes and one-liners that have been repeated and parodied for generations. But for all the iconic phrases it has given us, there have been some...
5 predictions from The Running Man that came true In the 1987 Arnold-helmed sci-fi thriller, The Running Man, the opening scroll sets up the movie by painting this cheery picture: “Television is controlled by the state and a sadistic game show called ‘The Running Man’ has become the most popular program in history. All art, music and communications are...
7 life lessons we learned from Roller Coaster Tycoon Nostalgia is a funny thing. The second I hear a classical German or Austrian song from the 1800 or 1900s, I immediately picture the merry-go-round from Roller Coaster Tycoon spinning slowly, a short queue line of guests who prefer less intense rides waiting for their turn on “Merry-Go-Round 1.” Go...
Movies that Time Forgot — Starchaser: The Legend of Orin There's nothing quite like a Star Wars movie. Next to that, there's nothing quite like a Star Wars ripoff. But the first time I experienced the story of Orin, the hard-on-his-luck kid who's been raised his entire life under the guise of a lie,...
6 Star Wars characters who totally got screwed on their deaths The epic, beloved space soap opera — er Star Wars saga — is not lacking in fatalities. Attack of the Clones alone sees about 160 characters meet their endings onscreen; this doesn’t even include the Jedi that perish on Geonosis offscreen. Some of the residents of this galaxy far, far away...
Old-school Star Wars video games you forgot were awesome I must have been five years old the first time I sat down and played the original Star Wars arcade game. It was just flipping awesome. Sitting INSIDE an arcade game, first of all. And second of all, it was flipping Star Wars. F*#$#$@ A! And since then, it'...
Five MCU characters that should get their own movie If you haven't seen Avengers: Endgame at this point ... well, we don't what to say to you. We might have spoilers somewhere in here, and you know what? We're not sorry, you should have seen it by now if you're reading this...
Movies That Time Forgot: Naked Space Everyone knows the classic exchange from Airplane! "Surely, you can't be serious." "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley." But how many of you know this even more classic exchange from the movie spawned out of a desire to capitalize on...
A Guide to Overwatch For Old People So you’ve been playing video games since way back when, have finished Red Dead Redemption 2 twice, and rock Fortnight. You might have strong opinions about the games you play and keep up to date on new releases, but you’re still wondering what this Overwatch thing is about....
Why I've only read the Game of Thrones books and not watched the show Lately, I've been turning away from every glance of Facebook. No, not because they steal my data and let trolls sway how I vote: it's much worse than that. My feed is filled with nothing but Game of Thrones posts. From random friends to the New...
Marvel Cinematic Universe movies you can watch with your 5-year-old My son started seeing previews for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies and understanding that there was something cool about them before he was even three. And thus began the refrain now seemingly uttered in our house daily: "When you're a little older..." The MCU offers entertainment...
Games That Time Forgot: Road Avenger I don't know that I begged my parents for anything more than I did the Sega CD. It was the Christmas of 1992 when they apparently caved, likely putting themselves back into credit card debt at the time, and I screamed in joy as I unwrapped the insanely...
5 video games I still find time to play as a dad One of the most annoying parts of being a parent is the amount of time it takes away from playing video games. That and being pooped on. But there are those hallowed games that are just too good, too alluring, too its-better-than-being-pooped on to NOT find time to play. As...
We played Game of Thrones Risk with 6 players and it was epic AF As you gear up for the Season 8 premiere of Game of Thrones, ask yourself a critical question: What happens when you get six old nerds together in a cabin somewhere in the mountains of Colorado after a huge snowstorm? Yep, you guessed it — a game of Game-of-Thrones-themed Risk breaks...
2 big things we hope don't get effed up in Star Wars Battlefront 3 Star Wars Battlefront 2 is now selling for as low as $14.99 for digital versions. While Anakin as a playable hero has revitalized the game slightly, it's clear this title's days are numbered. It's pretty likely there will be a new developer for...