Entertaining Common Bond Quiz 3

Answer: a beautiful doting wife

"The Stepford Wives" was a cautionary tale of a woman who feels she's losing her identity when she moves to a town where no one shares her interests, and the women only live to serve their husbands and homes. When her only friend seems to change over the weekend, she begins to fear she's losing her grip on reality. Nicole Kidman stars in the 2004 remake.

The original marked the film debut of a little girl named Mary Stuart Masterson.

Answer: cookie

Snickerdoodles are similar to sugar cookies, but most recipes include cream of tartar and cinnamon.

Answer: Alexander

Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated his new invention at a Philadelphia event known as the Centennial Exhibition on June 25, 1876. This event was held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Maybe he made the phone ring so people would remember his last name.

Answer: a catering business

One funny episode involved a them catering a private dinner for a woman celebrating an anniversary. They call the woman's husband with the details, only to find out later that the dinner was NOT intended for him! When the series started, Kate was a travel agent.

Answer: dithers

Cacophonies are harsh noises, spectres are ghostly entities, and plantains are like bananas, but firmer and less sweet. Dithers are "states of indecisive nervousness", according to dictionary.com. A common expression is, "Don't get yourself into a dither [over it]." When someone or something makes you very uncomfortable, it gives you the heebie-jeebies.

Answer: DAG

His initials. Grier's character had been demoted from guarding the President after jumping the wrong way when an assassin opened fire. From then on he had to guard the First Lady (Burke), who treated him like a servant. "Guarding Tess" was a feature film with a similar theme. It starred Shirley MacLaine and Nicolas Cage.

Answer: wood

Usually people give a wooden music box or jewelry box of some sort. Cotton is traditional for the second anniversary, and pottery or china is for the ninth. Rubber does not appear on the list, but I think it would make an ideal divorce gift, symbolizing a wish for the person to "bounce back".

Answer: the mail carrier

She delivered mail by buggy to the area southeast of Vicksburg. Every single website I visited has only that same statement about her, and not a word on whether or not she steered the buggy from the right side.

Answer: Daisy

Daisy was one of the original literary Material Girls. She was supposedly in love with Jay before he went into the service, but he didn't have enough money for her. When he gets rich, he tries to recreate the passion they once shared. Mia Farrow played Daisy in the 1974 movie. And to promote it, she posed (in character) for the cover of the very first issue of a new magazine called People. Read the book instead.

Answer: Herb

Ditched after a few months, the "Herb" ad campaign was a flop, but at least it was a memorable flop. Anyone remember the Arch Deluxe?

Answer: door to door solicitors

At one time or another, all of these have sent someone to your home hoping to make a sale (or gain a convert). Bet you could go for some Thin Mints right now.

Answer: Tootsie

The only Oscar "Tootsie" won was Jessica Lange's for Best Supporting Actress. "Gandhi" won most of the awards "Tootsie" would have won in any other year. And the one award "Tootsie" did win should have gone to Lesley Ann Warren for "Victor/Victoria", in my opinion.

Answer: sandwiches

A Croque Monsieur is a fancy French ham and cheese sandwich, served warm. A Reuben sandwich is made with corned beef, saurkraut, and Swiss cheese. Though for years, the only Reuben I knew was Reuben the manager on "The Partridge Family".

Answer: "Heart of Glass"

"Last Dance" was from the movie "Thank God It's Friday", won an Oscar for Best Original Song, and is still a school prom staple. "MacArthur Park" is the one about the cake being left out in the rain. And as for "Bad Girls", all that can be said is "Toot Toot, hey, Beep Beep."

Answer: Blondie

"Blondie" was created by CHIC YOUNG in 1930, when gold-digging bimbo Blondie Boopadoop met rich ne'er-do-well playboy DAGWOOD Bumstead in their first comic strip. Young decided to give the strip longevity by having them fall in love and by turning Blondie from a bimbo into the perfect DOTING WIFE. Blondie then became the smart one, Dagwood was disinherited, and they went off on their own. They had two children: ALEXANDER (formerly Baby Dumpling) and COOKIE. They also got a cute doggie, DAISY. Their home life became the focus of the strip, but Dagwood did get a job working in Mr. DITHERS' office. He's always running late for work, and often crashes into the MAIL CARRIER on the way out. Their friends and neighbors are TOOTSIE and HERB. Whenever Dagwood is home, he always seems to be summoned off the couch or out of the tub, only to find a SOLICITOR at the DOOR (or paper boy Elmo). That's okay, he cheers himself up by making gigantic SANDWICHES (now named after him) out of anything and everything he can find. And Blondie herself? She made national headlines in the early 1990s when, after over sixty years as the perfect homemaker, she decided to get a job, starting her own CATERING BUSINESS. As if that wasn't enough, I threw in a song, HEART OF GLASS, which was a 1978 #1 hit recorded by the versatile music group, Blondie.

"Blondie" is still printed in newpapers worldwide under the supervision of Chic Young's son, Dean. It is copyrighted by King Features Syndicate. There were 28 movies made from 1938 to 1950, starring Penny Singleton (who lived until age 95 in 2003) and Arthur Lake. A TV series followed. Unfortunately, Blondie also set the tone for decades worth of sitcoms with a competent wife and a bumbling husband who works, from "The Honeymooners" to "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Still Standing". Thanks for playing!