Showing posts with label Quiz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quiz. Show all posts

Thursday, 6 July 2017

Why Be Remotely Interested?

I'm sure by now you know via my extensive billboard campaign and that stunt where Kate Thornton and five orphans attempted to cross Niagra Falls in a suit made out of discarded quiz books (we shall miss them greatly) but I *do* have a new quiz book available for pre-order.



But why should you be interested? I get that there are a lot of similar books out on the market, many available in The Works with titles like "The Thousandest Most Pub Quiz Pints Questions Ever In The World Volume 96" and "Ian Botham's Big BovrilTM Book Of Trivia About The Sport Games". Well as this paragraph shows, I have a very...unique sense of humour and that permeates throughout the entirety of the fifty plus quizzes featured.

Thats not to say the questions are false...except for the ones in the true or false games, of which there are four special rounds devoted to "Probably Definitely True Facts About"... Doctor Who, soap operas, The Simpsons and season finales. Here are eight statements, which of them are true?

A. Cletus (aka "the slack jawed yokel") has children called Incest, Q*Bert and Stabbed In Jail. 
OR
B. In Russia, Homer Simpson is known as Mr American and his stupidity is used as an example of the West's weaknesses. 

A. Actor Don Hastings soiled himself during a live episode of "As The World Turns" after badly misjudging a fart.
OR
B. The cast of Eastenders once released a cockney knees-up party album. 

A. The sound The TARDIS makes on take off is a warped recording of a seagull being frightened.
OR
B. The Doctor is actually a trained medical doctor.

A. Upon reaching its final episode in 1983, “M*A*S*H” had been running longer than the actual Korean War itself.
OR
B. The finale of “Lost” ended in a satisfying way that tied up every single loose end from the series.


There are also fictional tweets by Donald Trump on a number of TV shows, past and present. Can you work out what the Wotsit-mawed lunatic is allegedly burbling about here?







And there's letters from similarly vexed humans to the television listings magazines - what shows are being discussed here?






There's also rounds about robots, catchphrases, The Beatles on TV, theme tunes, live programmes, Netflix and the online revolution, game shows, spin-offs, remakes, famous mothers, kids shows, booze, radio transfers, foreigners, Great Telly Years (1969, 1990, 1982 and 1977) and a bunch of Christmas stuff for good measure! The suggested age range is anything from 18 to 65, and probably beyond! Its accessible but challenging where it needs to be with lots of speciality rounds for all the family. 

The whole book took me about three months to research and write along with using my limited design skills to put together and edit. The title was Tanya Jones' suggestion though. (Go visit her blog Gypsy Creams about archaic magazine clippings right now!) I wrote every word, bar the excellent foreword by one of my best friends the writer, researcher and 'TV Clangers Man' Tim Worthington. So if you think all that effort was worth checking out or have a friend who loves telly and would welcome a unique, not in the shops, limited-edition pocked sized gift, then click the below link to read more and pre-order. 


I'm very proud of this book, as I am with my previous two quiz collections (which are still available on Lulu Press) and I hope people will buy it and enjoy it. Or at least buy it. Thats definitely the important part. And if you're still not sure yet, check out this 30+ page preview PDF I put together here. There's also a bonus package I'm putting together for fans with badges, a board game variant, downloads and my back catalogue. 


Thank you and happy quizzing! 

Monday, 20 June 2016

QUIZ: Looking Back At Look In 5

For children of the 1970s in Britain there were three certainties:

  1. Getting into a Rolls-Royce in Stoke Mandeville was ill-advised. 
  2. Look-In magazine will feature an alarming hand-painted front cover of the biggest in vogue celebrity, musician or TV star (assuming that star is on an ITV programme only)
  3. The Grimleys is on. 

Moving back to number two and its always a source of joy to compile quizzes about old magazines as they really are the closest thing to a direct time tunnel with access to everything you could possibly need from that period in history. Or more likely with Look-In, a selection of baffled "WHO THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT?" (I was born in 1980, we didn't allow Skiboys.) pointing. 

And I still haven't gotten over whatever this is...


So to help in my identification process, here are four front covers as its time to ask...
"Who the f**k ...in Look-In?" 



Click here for the answers: 

And as ever, if you like this quiz, please please share it! Thank you. 


All rise, Sir Gingerbeard Gwapenuts...

Friday, 10 June 2016

QUIZ: One Way Or Another (Or Genuine Facts You Might Actually Want To Know)

No time for pleasantries today! We take you now live to Wikipedia where some facts are already in progress: "1829 – The first Boat Race between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge takes place on the Thames in London." 

Well exciting stuff there, Brian. But what I want to know is - WHO WON? Come on, its one of those really obvious 'either / or' fifty-fifty questions that are perfect for pub quizzes. Two possibilities! and the best part? You already have the answer! Its just next to the wrong answer too! Time's ticking! Hurry and you could win a boat*!!!! (*you will not win a boat)


*inevitable Countdown theme to zero*

And the correct answer was...



Did you get it right? Either way, there you go: a little bit of proper trivia ammo there for a future quiz night in the pub. More of those, you say? Well...alright then...

1. Personally I don't see colour but who has the first move first in chess: black or white?


2. What nationality was the first man to do a space-walk: American or Russian?




3. They both taste like cardboard and salt but which was founded first: McDonalds or Burger King? 




4. Assuming they aren't from [insert comedy backwards town of your choice], which has the most eyes: a human or a coconut?




5. Pretend to care! Which is taller: The Shard or The Eiffel Tower?





6. Go on then. Which point up: stalagmites or stalactites?

 

7. The brand name St. Michael is taken from the Christian name of one of the superstore's founders, but which one - Mr. Marks or Mr. Spencer?





8. With which foot did Neil Armstrong first step onto the moon? His right or his left?





9. If I'm in Skipton, does the sun rise in the East or West? 


10. Which was invented first: Monopoly or Hitler? 







Wednesday, 8 June 2016

QUIZ: Stripped Down

Character 1: How's it going, underling?

Character 2: My long hours and insane workload are causing fatigue, depression and organ failure. I'll probably be dead in a month

Character 1: (thinks) When did people stop saying 'fine'?

HAHAHAAHAHAHA. Not my funny words there but those of birthday boy Scott Adams, creator of the always hysterical "Dilbert" comic strip about the funny nerd who is funny. You probably just didn't get it without the painstakingly hand drawn artwork to really push the funnies along. I mean look at this lot...





















....how many of these hugely recognisable newspaper comic strips would you recognise if just reduced to their dialogue with no pictures? Sounds like a quiz to me...

Name the comic strip minus the comic strip part from these sample pieces of genuine dialogue....

COMIC STRIP ONE:

Character 1: Isn't this a beautiful valentine? I think i'll give it to the little red haired girl.

Character 2: She'll probably laugh right in your face.

Character 1: At least i'd be near her!


COMIC STRIP TWO:

[Characters both sigh]

Character 1: My life isn't turning out like I planned

Character 2: Mine either.

Character 1: I wanted to accomplish something.

Character 2: I wanted tuna.


COMIC STRIP THREE: 

Character 1: Helga, would you get me a cold beer while you're up?

Character 2: Can't you see I have my hands full?

Character 1: That's okay...I'll wait till you put it down


COMIC STRIP FOUR:

Character 1: Hullloooooooo zeeba neighba....How you like try 'Box O' Funn'?

Character 2: Why would I step into a box of crocodiles?

Character 1: Is Box O' Funn! No can you see?

Character 2: Yeah I can see...but why would I believe it?

Character 1: Because it printed right dere in words. Dat make it true.


COMIC STRIP FIVE: 

Character 1: It says here by the age of six most children have seen a million murders on television.

Character 2: I find that very disturbing! ...It means I've been watching all the wrong channels.


COMIC STRIP SIX: 

Character 1: Here's the milk you wanted

Character 2: What took you so long?

Character 1: I noticed your mum in the street, struggling with some shopping bags

Character 2: So you had to take the long way home to avoid helping her?

Character 1: Exactly


COMIC STRIP SEVEN: 

Character 1: Fred, what happened to the sausages?

Character 2: What a stupid question!



Sides suitably sore? Ready for the newsprint fingered answers?



And if you liked this quiz, please share it. Its hugely important to a tiny site like mine and makes all the difference getting the word out. Thank you!

Wednesday, 1 June 2016

QUIZ: Milk Quiz (Milk)

Thrash your wilkins and climb onto the GPO roof because It's World Milk Day! That special occasion we've been waiting for all year round as Santa Milkmas comes round and brings special milks for us, as long as we leave him out a plate of Playstation 4s and cookies.

#Worldmilkday is even the 2nd biggest trending topic on Twitter right now...for some reason. And of course milk has been all over the tabloids and celebrity websites....

 Who is seen here stepping out with Some Milk in a series of paparazzi photographs and definitely not pisspoor re-edits done in Paint by me earlier? 




Who hasn't had any sleep? You haven't more like. Pffftt. I'm fine.

Where am I? MILK!

Friday, 27 May 2016

QUIZ: He's Not. He Died On March 17th 1999.

Well, we started the week with a pop quiz so lets end with one. On May 26th 1933, United Artists and Walt Disney released the "Silly Symphony" cartoon "The Three Little Pigs" which gave the world the inescapable hit song "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" Its hard to believe that there was ever a time when musical staples like that were ever not a thing, as familiar and ubiquitous as "Happy Birthday", "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "The Boiler".


Its also an incredibly easy question to answer, no matter what those damn porcine pricks suggest, EVERYONE should be afraid of of the big bad wolf. He's got two adjectives in his name and they're both distinctly unfriendly, plus this particular wolf developed the skill to walk on two feet, speak and wear pants. (Not to mention be a tad anti-Semitic.) If only every song title was so easy to answer... hmm, that gives me an idea...

Which song titles could the following statements be answering? 
The year of each record's original release has been added for an extra clue. 


1. Firstly, not my name. Secondly, be more specific. Radio Leeds for example is on 92.4 FM or 774 AM. (1994)

2. You're 44, Mark (although you were 27 when you first asked). (1999)

3. According to Google Maps, the third-largest city by population in California has a large freeway system so take Route 152 onto Route 101 for a more direct route. (1968)

4. It is Robyn Fenty, although you're better known by your middle name. (2010) 

5. Considering Christianity is one of the two most widely practiced religions in Africa, they probably do yes, Bob. (1984)


6. Personally, I hold little truck with the concept of real sorcery but do enjoy watching tricks. (1965)

7. Predominantly between November 1987 and July 1991. (1987) 

8. Depends if you live anywhere near my house, Lenbert old boy. (1993) 

9. Netdoctor.co.uk suggests it could be angina, an aortic aneurysm or pericarditis. (1999)

10. Because of the traffic and public decency laws, you silly Beatles. (1968)


Answers after I get these dogs back in. 

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

QUIZ: Burt Kwouk There

Its been a weird, unsettling and occasionally shocking year for celebrity deaths. Indeed, despite my non-believer status, I'd love to think there's an afterlife like a party full of incongruous stars having a knees up with an all-star band of Bowie, Victoria Wood, Lemmy and Prince entertaining a clapping Ronnie Corbett, Alan Rickman, Paul Daniels and Terry Wogan. And as the centrepiece, the late, dearly missed Burt Kwouk appears in his "dog bed pants" singing "Hey Little Hen" to a standing ovation from the delighted millions. 

Of course, Burt played a myriad of beloved roles including, most famously, Cato in the Pink Panther films, plus Tenko and every oriental gentleman part David Yip wasn't offered in everything from Doctor Who to T-Bag, Space Precinct, The Avengers and Boon on British telly. But it was his role in the 1997-2000 Channel 4 "Harry Hill" shows, initially as a hapless chicken catcher, that cemented my love for him. Series two expanded his role and gave us the mini-sitcom "Harry And Burt At Home"... 


These four to five minute segments would frequently revolve around the two in their shared bunk bed bedroom coming up with ways for Harry to get on zeitgeist-riding sports comedy panel show "They Think Its All Over" and befriend comedian Rory McGrath. Later, in a twist of supreme irony, the final series for Channel 4 (who repeatedly delayed series 3 then completely buried it) featured Harry and Burt trying elaborate schemes to get the former one of those "big ITV cheques". The highlight, however, was the sudden cutaways to snippets of songs, featuring both dressed fully as whoever they were impersonating. Kwouk clearly looked baffled by some of it but was having a whale of a time and gave it a real lift with some fantastic comic timing. 

Here's Burt dressed up in ten of his funniest outfits. Can you work out who he is meant to be in each one? Answers below, after the parade...



And now the Badger Parade! Unless...PARADE'S OFF?! I'd better get down that grooming bay. Quick Burt, do one of your hit songs...


Its going to be bigger than Tenko! Rest in peace, Burt. Thank you for all the laughs.

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

QUIZ: My Beautiful Ratmobile

It'll come as a surprise to the few of you regular readers of this blog that, to keep things fresh, I like to base my quizzes around anniversaries or historical events of note and it was while researching today in history that I saw the following:

May 24th 1988 – Section 28 of the United Kingdom's Local Government Act 1988, a controversial amendment stating that a local authority cannot intentionally promote homosexuality, is enacted.

Even though I was young when it was first introduced, I still remember this ridiculous, insulting and offensive bill being brought to power, not least of all because of various comedy shows ridiculing it. Its a fascinating if depressing bit of recent British history and I urge you all to read up further on it so we are always ready to fight such old-dated unpleasantness if such thinking. I knew I had to do a powerful, thought-provoking quiz to mark the occasion....

...and then I noticed it was also the anniversary of Ray Alan's death. He was never off television with that sodding "posho" puppet Lord Charles when I was a kid but no matter how good a ventriloquist Alan was, he could never hide the fact he had a rubbish puppet. 


And so after a fabulously unnecessary and long-winded introduction, I figured "sod it" and threw both ideas together. The following are all screenshots from ten films voted amongst the 50 greatest pieces of LGBT cinema as voted for by a distinguished panel of experts for Time Out magazine. In the place of an actor however I have silkily and with great skill replaced them with a rubbish TV puppet of the past. If I hadn't told you, you'd never know, I swear. 

And so now, may I proudly present the Official Punk Rock Pub QuizTM round....

"PUPPETS AND GAYS".



Point for the film, point for the puppets. If it helps, I meant well...

1. Kevin The Gerbil in My Beautiful Laundrette, Edd The Duck in Midnight Cowboy, 3. Pob in My Own Private Idaho, 4. Nobby The Sheep in Pride, 5. Badger (Bodger and Badger) in Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, 6. Dooby Duck in Heavenly Creatures, 7. Zippy in Milk, 8. Baby Sinclair (Dinosaurs) in Boys Don't Cry, 9. Orville in Dog Day Afternoon, 10. Rodge and Podge in Brokeback Mountain.

Friday, 20 May 2016

QUIZ: Don't Cut Me Down (Anthropophagous The Beast In Blue)

For someone like me who grew up in the 80's with the dawn of video recorders in many homes and a boom of tapes to play on it, there's always a real nostalgia when looking back, in particular to those days "pre-cert" when anyone could release anything without an official rating from the BBFC, the British Board of Film Censors who judged releases at that time solely for cinema viewing. Whilst being too young to truly appreciate it, there were plenty of news reports and references in comedy programmes to "Video nasties" which became the phrase to describe anything vaguely naughty on VHS.


It was this along with the problems films such as "Reservoir Dogs" had when I was just about going to video shops on my own (still far too young but nobody batted an eyelid at what I got out) and the controversy surrounding films like the rotten "Child's Play 3" that made me grow up assuming the film censors were just humourless gits who wanted to cut all the good bits out of films. In recent years however, the BBFC have made a complete shift towards openness and encouraging interaction with the public, with a fascinating podcast and a website featuring lots of archive reports on old movies. And its into those reports we dig today...

Which ten well-known films are being discussed here in genuine snippets from the real BBFC reports of the time? 

(Names of characters and the films themselves have been 'carefully' censored by me)

 1.



2. 










3.

4. 



5.
                                                                           6. 
7.
 
8. 
                                                                         9.
10.
All images (bar the dodgy bloke) copyright BBFC


The answers are here:


 If you like this quiz, please share it!


Thursday, 19 May 2016

QUIZ: Looking Back On Today 1

Telly telly telly. We've all watched it, we've all erm...watched it some more. But can you work out these ten TV programmes that aired in the UK on this very day - 19th May - throughout the past when given their accompanying TV Times and Radio Times write ups?



Answers after this informative article on Boon at home and 37 adverts for sheds... 













































































And if you like this quiz, please share it! 

Wednesday, 18 May 2016

QUIZ: Comedy Books - My Part In Their Downfall

In 2014, I released a book devoted to my love of the TV comedy spin-off books that were frequent stocking fillers from the seventies to the nineties when audiences wanted to spend more time in the company of their favourite telly characters outside of the inevitable six episodes a year. No repeats or video releases? A comedy cash-in would tide you over whilst making a rather cheap and easy Christmas gift for that relative you remember laughing once in 1973.

Today, back in 2016, inspired by the latest Backlisted Podcast, I'm reissuing my "Comedy Cash-In Book Book" in a heavily expanded and revised form as an eBook exclusive for just 99p. You can go buy it here. And my other blog has some more information on what it all means here.

But that doesn't put quiz on the table, does it? So as a bit of crafty self-interest, here's a trivia teaser about books by comedians. Not these comedy cash-ins, autobiographies or lazy reworked stand-up routines crammed on paper but actual - gosh - NOVELS by comedy types! Some serious, some for kids, none by Rob Newman, tell me which funny person wrote the following books?

1. Stark (1989), Popcorn (1996), Inconceivable (1999)

2. Puckoon (1963), Badjelly the Witch (1973), The Looney: An Irish Fantasy (1987)

3. Getting Rid of Mister Kitchen (1996), SilverFin (2005), The Enemy (2009)

4. The Liar (1992), Making History (1996), The Stars' Tennis Balls (2000)

5. Shopgirl (2000), The Pleasure of My Company (2003), An Object of Beauty (2010)

6. Flight From Deathrow (2002), Tim the Tiny Horse (2006), The Further Adventures of the Queen Mum (2007)

7. Small Harry and the Toothache Pills (1982), Hemingway's Chair (1995), The Truth (2012)

8. The Boy in the Dress (2008), Mr Stink (2009), Gangsta Granny (2011)

9. A Tiny Bit Marvellous (2010), Oh Dear Silvia (2012), According to Yes (2015)

10. Mr Lonely (1981), The Reluctant Vampire (1982), The Vampire's Revenge (1983)

And while you're thinking about them, maybe buy a book? 

Answers after Rob Newman invents some oil.

Thursday, 5 May 2016

QUIZ: Vote For Me!

Strap your opinions to your face and run to the nearest Scout hut to cast your constitutional right in a little booth because (if you're in England because that's where I perhaps foolishly assume most of my readers come from) Its Voting Day! Whether it's Police commissioner, local council or which flavour delicious New Covent Garden SoupTM you want for dinner, it's important to make sure your voice is heard. Because god knows, the people who disagree with you will be! Donald Drumpf etc.

But what if you could only vote for people whose birthday it is today? Well, thats a frankly ludicrous suggestion and should not be considered. But imagine if that was the premise of a quiz! Which ten candidates born on May 5th are represented here by their campaign pledges?

1. My P.R.O.M.I.S.E. to you is that no matter what happens, I will stand by my manifesto. 

2. No matter where I am flying in the world, I will keep an note in my diaries to stick to the mission and never spam you with yarns.

3. I pledge instant contact. No calls diverted to answer phone. Maybe I could take you for a drink on Tuesday and see how the week goes from there. (Except Sunday.)

4. Some may say it's a fable but as a syndicate of humanity, black and white, we can all make this populous great.

5. Steel yourself for a man who knows what is best for this world, even if I am not from here myself.

6. Despite what my surname suggests, I am neither a sitcom hologram or like to put my wilbus up around the bottom area. No cooking of the books but lets do brunch.

7. I promise a sparing of cutters across the board by 1984. (A sparing of cutters across the board by 1984.) Sorry, is there an echo in here?

8. If elected, I will increase the use of terrifying electronic noises on them big reel to reel tape machines and some oscillator things. If you've got the Time, then I'm your Lady.

9. Hello, its me. I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet to go over increased EU subsidies on corn and wheat by-product importation.

10. You want a manifesto? I got your manifesto right here. Top marks.

Today is also rapper and repeated woman puncher Chris Brown's birthday but he can, of course, die in a fire. And now the results from the Buttocks (South) council...

Friday, 29 April 2016

QUIZ: Everything But Sensible Soccer

When compiling a new quiz, I tend to have a nose at the history of that day and see if there was anything going on in the past that would be a neat hook for a few daft questions. When I looked and saw for today: "April 29th 1994: Commodore International declares bankruptcy." my brain instantly thought "ooh I should do a quiz about all my favourite Amiga games of the time!" because I was a huge fan of my Amiga 500 and played it throughout the majority of the nineties. Then sense and reason kicked in and said "nah, that's far too niche, nobody is going to enjoy that!"

And then I thought "sod it" and did it anyway...








So here are twenty of my favourite Amiga games that weren't Sensible Soccer (because I simply couldn't just choose one version of it and if I'm honest SWOS was the superior game but I missed being able to score piss easy goals from the centre) because I...well, just because really. Answers after no doubt a barrage of "YOU LIKED THAT??!?!" on Twitter...