Extraterrestrials in Entertainment Trivia

1. This terrifying book by H.G. Wells about an aggressive alien species whose only goal is to wipe out humanity has been adapted into a panic-causing radio broadcast, movies and television series. What is this masterpiece of fear?

From Quiz Space Invaders

Answer: War of the Worlds

H.G. Wells first serialized "War of the Worlds" in 1897 in magazines in the UK and United States. This was followed by a novel in 1898. The story of Martians who invade Earth, it's been adapted into so many forms of entertainment. It was famously adapted into a radio programme in 1938 that was narrated by Orson Welles. Although there were likely not a ton of listeners and not quite the widespread panic that has become part of the legend associated with it, it was reported in newspapers following the broadcast that it caused massive panic. The book has also been adapted into television series, an album, comic books and movies. In 2005 Steven Spielberg directed a movie version starring Tom Cruise that garnered three Academy Award nominations.

From Quiz Sci-Fi Spaceships 2

Answer: Jupiter 2

For several years the Robinson family and their saboteur were "Lost In Space" in their earth-built flying saucer, Jupiter 2. In 1998 the Jupiter 2 was brought to the big screen in the movie adaptation of "Lost In Space". Although the ship's saucer-shape was gone, the Jupiter 2's ascent stage, the Jupiter 1, would have been instantly recognizable to any fan of the '60s TV show.

From Quiz Orson Welles and "The War of The Worlds"

Answer: Columbia

During and after the broadcast, Welles took some pleasure in describing the destruction of CBS.

From Quiz Sci-Fi Spaceships

Answer: Discovery One

The spaceship "Discovery One" as originally presented in Arthur C. Clarke's novel "2001: A Space Odyssey" is based on real science and engineering; thus "Discovery" is described as having wing-mounted radiators. The director of the film version, Stanley Kubrick, thought audiences might believe that a winged "Discovery" was intended to fly through an atmosphere.

From Quiz Our Favourite Martians

Answer: O'Hara

Tim O'Hara (played by Bill Bixby), a newspaper reporter, had discovered the Martian. He passed Martin (played by Ray Walston) as his uncle.

From Quiz Space Invaders

Answer: Paul

Actors and writers Nick Frost and Simon Pegg wrote the screenplay for the 2011 movie "Paul" which also starred Frost and Pegg. They play two sci-fi nerds who meet a snide alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) who appreciates cigarettes and alcohol. They travel across America together and help him get back home, while being chased by Secret Service. Jason Bateman plays the agent on the case and Sigourney Weaver plays 'the big guy', his female boss. The movie is a sci-fi parody that gives nods to the genre and plots that include conspiracies and aliens who just want to get back home. It won a National Movie Ward for Best Movie.

From Quiz The Three-Legged Hootch Dancer

Answer: Azmuth

Azmuth is a Galvan; they have grey skin and are about five inches tall. Galvan technology is famous throughout the galaxy, and they even made themselves a new planet after their original Homeworld, Galvan Prime, was destroyed in a war. The original animated "Ben 10" series was originally shown on the Cartoon Network channel in the USA, in 2005, and has since been shown in many different countries worldwide.

From Quiz Orson Welles and "The War of The Worlds"

Answer: October 30, 1938

Welles mentions the date at the top of the broadcast. Within one year, an all too real war would be making more radio news.

From Quiz Sci-Fi Spaceships

Answer: Thistledown

In Greg Bear's novel "Eon", the "Thistledown" is nicknamed "The Potato" by the Soviets and "The Stone" by the Americans after it travels back in time to a pre-"Death" Earth. The conflict begun between the two powers over who would control the "Thistledown" ironically results in the "Death" under different circumstances than those that inspired the creation of the "Thistledown" in the first place.

From Quiz Our Favourite Martians

Answer: Bacteria

"War of the Worlds" was first published in 1898.

From Quiz The Aliens that Made Sci-Fi Great

Answer: Worms

The sandworms of Dune live on the mostly desert planet of Arrakis. They are a very territorial creature and are very sensitive to vibrations on the sand. They will come from far away to attack creatures that are walking on the surface. They are also linked to the spice, Melange. The fremen, the wandering nomadic people of the planet, even use these sandworms to travel, since they can grow to be up to half a kilometer long. The world of "Dune" was created by author Frank Herbert and continued by his son, Brian. Apart from the original books, the story and world of "Dune" has been adapted into film, television, as well as video games.

From Quiz Space Invaders

Answer: X-Files

This television show that was created by Chris Carter first aired in 1993. It follows two FBI agents, Fox Mulder (played by David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Mulder is an agent who earnestly investigates strange phenomenon and Scully is the agent who is initially assigned to work with him to keep an eye on him. Although they investigate all kinds of mysterious and unexplained events, the main theme and driving force behind Mulders obsession with the unexplained is the truth about aliens. Throughout the series, the agents uncover the truth about alien existence and the governments awareness of it, involvement in it and the lengths taken to cover it up. Mulder and Scully both have first hand encounters with aliens that impact their lives in dramatic ways.

From Quiz The Three-Legged Hootch Dancer

Answer: Gort

The 1951 film starred Michael Rennie as Klaatu, and was directed by Robert Wise. A remake was released in 2008, directed by Scott Derrickson and starring Keanu Reeves. Both films were based on an original short story from 1940, written by Harry Bates and called "Farewell to the Master". Although in 1951 Klaatu came to warn humanity away from war and the threat of atomic weapons, and in 2008 his object was to end environmental damage and pollution, in both cases it was made plain that if mankind did not "clean up their act," then earth would be destroyed by the alien races observing us from space.

From Quiz Orson Welles and "The War of The Worlds"

Answer: Ramon Raquello at the Park Plaza

Ramon Raquello and his orchestra play "La Cumparsita" and "Stardust" before being interrupted by a news bulletin.

From Quiz Our Favourite Martians

Answer: Grover's Mill

Grover's Mill is located in the West Windsor township. It isn't far from Trenton, the capital of New Jersey. The radio play became famous because many people who tuned into it thought that it was real and that the world had been invaded. All over the USA there was mass panic.

From Quiz The Aliens that Made Sci-Fi Great

Answer: Klaatu

Klaatu was an alien sent to promote a peaceful and scientific Earth society in the movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still". It was originally released in 1951 and starred Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal. "Klaatu barada nikto" became such an iconic phrase that when the 2008 remake of the original film was scripted, actor Keanu Reeves insisted that it be included. The film was remade in 2008 and remains an iconic example of science fiction with extraterrestrials.

From Quiz Space Invaders

Answer: Doctor Who

"Doctor Who" first aired in 1963 on the BBC in the UK. It's the story of an alien Time Lord who time travels and saves the Earth from various invaders and threats. The Doctor looks like a human but has two hearts and can take on the form of a new body when the existing one becomes damaged. This ability to regenerate is brilliant because different actors can play the doctor. In 2017 the Doctor was played for the first time by a woman. Each version of the Doctor has unique personality traits but all Doctors are tied together into a single overall storyline. The Doctor is accompanied by various companions, some from Earth and some not, and this makes for some interesting storylines as the relationships between the travellers develop. The Doctor travels in an old police box called the TARDIS and fights enemies such as Daleks and Cybermen.

From Quiz The Three-Legged Hootch Dancer

Answer: Doctor Ub'x

Ch'p, who resembled a sort of squirrel or chipmunk type creature, made his first appearance in the DC Comics issue number 203 of "Green Lantern Corps". In later issues, he and Doctor Ub'x met up again, and through a bizarre twist of circumstance became friends of a sort, as they were among the very few people who could actually remember that Ch'p was alive and a Green Lantern. Ch'p's signature move was his devastating Acorn Attack.

From Quiz Sci-Fi Spaceships 2

Answer: Sulaco

In "Aliens", Ellen Ripley, the lone human survivor of the alien's rampage aboard the Nostromo in "Alien", accompanies a squad of Colonial marines to find out what has happened to the colony settled on the moon LV-426. Unknown to the ill-fated colonists, but well-known to the company that founded the colony, LV-426 is where Nostromo's crew found the first alien. The troop ship's name comes from Joseph Conrad's novel "Nostromo", which takes place in the fictional town of "Sulaco".

From Quiz Orson Welles and "The War of The Worlds"

Answer: Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory

Professors Farrell and Gray are both mentioned briefly, while Professor Pierson is the defacto protagonist of the performance.

From Quiz Sci-Fi Spaceships

Answer: Serenity

The crew of the "Serenity" is pursued by Alliance warships, ruthless criminals, government assassins, and the cannibalistic Reavers throughout Joss Whedon's television program "Firefly" and the movie "Serenity", which follows the show chronologically. Both the captain and the first mate of the ship are veterans of the "Battle of Serenity Valley".

From Quiz Our Favourite Martians

Answer: Indian Love Call

"Indian Love Call" was a hit for Slim Whitman in 1952.

From Quiz Space Invaders

Answer: Zaphod Beeblebrox

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is a comedy sci-fi franchise that was created by Douglas Adams and was originally published as a radio programme. It has been adapted into books, comics, films and plays. It is the story of a human named Arthur Dent who is the last surviving human after Earth is destroyed. In his space travels he meets the President of the Galaxy, a fascinating character named Zaphod Beeblebrox who is pretty far from being what would typically be considered presidential. Zaphod invented a drink called the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster, he's been named the "Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe" seven times and he's a thief, stealing a ship called the Heart of Gold at the ships unveiling ceremony. Portrayal in books and movies of Zaphod differs as he is portrayed as pretty dumb in movies, including a surfer type portrayal by Sam Rockwell. A bar called Zaphod Beeblebrox existed in Ottawa, Canada until 2017, serving a drink called the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster.

From Quiz The Three-Legged Hootch Dancer

Answer: Doomsday

The story of Superman's death at the hands of Doomsday (and his subsequent return to life!) covered several issues of DC Comics "Superman" title. The actual battle to the death between the two took place in "Superman Volume 2" Issue number 75, published in 1992. The "Death of Superman" storyline proved to be extremely popular with fans, and a spin off film and video game were both released to cash in on the popularity.

From Quiz Orson Welles and "The War of The Worlds"

Answer: A red disk swimming in a blue sea.

Professor Pierson assures the radio interviewer and the audience that the transverse stripes he sees are not canals.

From Quiz Sci-Fi Spaceships

Answer: Planet Express Ship

Matt Groening's and David X. Cohen's animated program "Futurama" was both a satire of and an homage to science fiction TV, movies, and literature. Many of the ship's sound effects, most notably that of the automated doors, were lifted directly from the original "Star Trek". In the episode, "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" all but two members of the cast of the original "Star Trek" make a guest appearance.

From Quiz Our Favourite Martians

Answer: Black

Marvin first appeared in a cartoon in 1948. He wanted to blow up the Earth because it blocked his view of Venus.

From Quiz Sci-Fi Spaceships 2

Answer: Executor

The Executor, Darth Vader's flagship from "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back", is destroyed in "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi". After losing its bridge deflector shields due to Rebel attacks, a small A-wing fighter loses control and crashes into the Executor's bridge. The damaged warship soon crashes into the nearby Death Star, leaving behind a miles-long tongue of flame.

From Quiz Orson Welles and "The War of The Worlds"

Answer: Grover's Mill

Grover's Mill is an actual town in New Jersey, supposedly chosen by Welles at random.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:51 AM

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