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Famous Runners-Up Trivia Quiz

Everyone remembers the winners of presidential elections, sports championships, and famous awards. But what about the near misses? This quiz is about the second place finishers that we may or may not have forgotten.

A multiple-choice quiz by jgranade. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jgranade

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
190,669

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1265

Last 3 plays: Guest 73 (1/10), Guest 185 (2/10), Guest 31 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This football team made it to four consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1990s. Unfortunately they lost every time. Which team lost four straight Super Bowls? Hint

Minnesota Vikings

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Atlanta Falcons

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Question 2 of 10

2. Franklin Roosevelt was elected President of the United States a record four times. Which of the following was not one of his Republican opponents? Hint

Thomas Dewey

Wendell Willkie

Herbert Hoover

William Jennings Bryan

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Question 3 of 10

3. "Star Wars" was nominated for, but did not win, the Best Picture Academy Award in 1978. What movie won the award that year? Hint

"Rocky"

"The Goodbye Girl"

"The Deer Hunter"

"Annie Hall"

4. This baseball team was notorious for coming close to winning the World Series only to lose in the most agonizing ways possible. Which team appeared in the World Series in 1946, 1967, 1975, and 1986 ... and lost each time? Hint

Boston Red Sox

Atlanta Braves

Chicago Cubs

Cleveland Indians

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who finished in second place 19 times in major golf championships? Hint

Ben Hogan

Tiger Woods

Jack Nicklaus

Phil Mickelson

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which popular soap opera actress finally won an Emmy Award in 1999 after being nominated 18 times without winning? Hint

Erika Slezak

Diedre Hall

Susan Lucci

Ruth Warrick

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which candidate won the popular vote, but not the all-important electoral vote in the 2000 United States Presidential Election? Hint

George W. Bush

Al Gore

Bill Clinton

Ralph Nader

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which horse lost to Seabiscuit in their famous match race on November 1, 1938? Hint

Secretariat

Man O' War

War Admiral

Sir Barton

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the Miss America pageant, if the winner cannot fulfill her duties as Miss America, the runner-up must be ready to step in. Who was the runner-up to Vanessa Williams in 1984 and later became Miss America when Williams resigned? Hint

Suzette Charles

Kellye Cash

Leanza Cornett

Phyllis George

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Question 10 of 10

10. The last episode of "MASH" was the highest rated television program of the 20th century. What show was the second highest rated program during the three decades 1970s to 1990s? Hint

"Winter Olympics 1994" (Nancy Kerrigan/Tanya Harding)

"Roots, Part 8"

"Dallas" (Who shot J.R. episode)

"Super Bowl XVI"

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 16 2024 : Guest 73: 1/10
Dec 12 2024 : Guest 185: 2/10
Dec 10 2024 : Guest 31: 2/10
Dec 07 2024 : Guest 94: 1/10
Nov 21 2024 : Guest 12: 4/10
Nov 19 2024 : Guest 90: 5/10
Nov 14 2024 : Dreessen: 8/10
Nov 06 2024 : Guest 73: 1/10
Nov 06 2024 : Guest 71: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This football team made it to four consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1990s. Unfortunately they lost every time. Which team lost four straight Super Bowls?

Answer: Buffalo Bills

The Bills were defeated by the Giants in 1991, the Redskins in 1992, and the Cowboys in 1993 and 1994. Despite never winning the big game, it was quite an achievement to reach four consecutive Super Bowls. No other team has reached three in a row.

2. Franklin Roosevelt was elected President of the United States a record four times. Which of the following was not one of his Republican opponents?

Answer: William Jennings Bryan

FDR defeated Hoover, Alfred Landon, Willkie, and Dewey. William Jennings Bryan made several unsuccessful bids for the White House. He is also famous for being the winning lawyer in the Scopes Monkey Trial - he prosecuted a school teacher for teaching evolution.

3. "Star Wars" was nominated for, but did not win, the Best Picture Academy Award in 1978. What movie won the award that year?

Answer: "Annie Hall"

"Rocky" won the award in 1977, and "Annie Hall" won in 1978. Richard Dreyfus won best actor for "The Goodbye Girl" in 1977.

Answer: Boston Red Sox

Unlike the lovable losers in Chicago, the Red Sox made it to the World Series many times (in 1946, 1967, 1975, and 1986) since their previous victory in 1918. They finally won a World Series again, after 86 years in 2004.

5. Who finished in second place 19 times in major golf championships?

Answer: Jack Nicklaus

The Golden Bear finished second 19 times in major tournaments. He also won 6 Masters, 5 PGA Championships, 4 US Opens, 3 British Opens, and 2 US Amateur Championships.

6. Which popular soap opera actress finally won an Emmy Award in 1999 after being nominated 18 times without winning?

Answer: Susan Lucci

Susan Lucci, who plays Erica Kane on "All My Children", had become the butt of many jokes for not winning so many times. I'm sure she was happy just to be nominated.

7. Which candidate won the popular vote, but not the all-important electoral vote in the 2000 United States Presidential Election?

Answer: Al Gore

Al Gore actually received more votes than the candidate who became president.

8. Which horse lost to Seabiscuit in their famous match race on November 1, 1938?

Answer: War Admiral

Called the Match Race of the Century, War Admiral was defeated on his home course, the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. I think this would make a great movie!

Answer: Suzette Charles

Phyllis George won in 1971, Kellye Cash won in 1987, and Leanza Cornett won in 1993. Despite relinquishing her crown, Williams went on to have a successful singing career.

10. The last episode of "MASH" was the highest rated television program of the 20th century. What show was the second highest rated program during the three decades 1970s to 1990s?

Answer: "Dallas" (Who shot J.R. episode)

"Roots, Part 8" is third on the list, followed by "Super Bowl XVI" (4th) "Super Bowl XVIII" (5th) and the "Winter Olympics, 1994" (6th). With more channels to choose from, it is very unlikely that any show will ever get a higher rating than the last episode of "MASH". Goodbye, farewell, and Amen!

Source: Author jgranade

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ArleneRimmer before going online.
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