Totally Random Trivia Quiz

Answer: Elmer Gantry

Burt Lancaster (1913-1994) was nominated for his performance in the 1960 movie "Elmer Gantry", portraying a lustful, fast-talking con artist and preacher. It was the beginning of violent emotions being portrayed on the cinema screens. The picture of the manly, traveling-salesman joke was the very center of this pious, hypocritical 'man of God', Elmer Gantry. Lancaster was nominated for Best Lead Actor Oscars for all of the above choices, for the 1943 film "From Here To Eternity" with Donna Reed, and Frank Sinatra; as Robert Stroud in "The Birdman of Alcatraz" in 1962, and "Atlantic City" in 1980 with Susan Sarandon, but Burt only won once for "Elmer Gantry".

Answer: Arnold Schwarzenegger

The progeny of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mildred Baena, Joseph Baena might have been one of the precipitating causes of the split between Arnold and his wife, Maria Shriver. Now that Joseph (born on October 2, 1997) is growing up, the paparazzi have started commenting on how much he looks like his father. Personally, I think he resembles his mother. Schwarzenegger - 'action' hero indeed!

Answer: Cleveland, Ohio

Personally, if I didn't know better, the correct answer, i.e., Cleveland, Ohio, would have been my last choice. The other cities had greater populations, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had not been built yet. The first light was installed on August 5, 1914 by the American Traffic Company on the corner of East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue.

It used only red and green lights, with a buzzer that warned when the signal was about to change.

Answer: Bugs Bunny

While Mickey Mouse might be a bigger international 'star', it is our carrot loving Bugs Bunny who was the first to appear on a United States postage stamp in 1997. Printed by Avery Dennison, the Bugs Bunny stamp sheet featured a special ten stamp design, and was the first self-adhesive souvenir sheet issued. That's "what's up, doc"! BTW, in 1984 there was a stamp which pictured McGruff, the cartoon dog who "takes a bite out of crime", but McGruff is not nearly as animated as Bugs.

Answer: Ceausescu

Good for you if you got this one right! Ceausescu (1918-1989) was the General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989. He was preceded by Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, making Ceausescu (if you spell it enough, you might learn to spell it correctly) the second and last Communist leader of the country.

His regime was particularly brutal and repressive, with strict control over the media. With his secret police, the Securitat, internal dissent was not permitted. His regime collapsed on December 17, 1989 in the only violent removal of a Communist government at the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

He and his wife were tried, convicted and shot by a firing squad.

Answer: Poland

The pierogi is also called a Polish dumpling, having originated in Eastern Europe, specifically Poland. Pierogi are also called 'varenyky', and are made by wrapping pockets of unleavened dough around a savory (like meat) or sweet (like fruit) filling and cooking them in boiling water. It's sort of East meets West, i.e., like if a crepe and a blintz had an offspring.

Answer: Jenny McCarthy

If you picked Joseph McCarthy, "do not pass GO, do not collect $200" and, perhaps, go on to a different quiz! Mary McCarthy (1912-1989) was an American author and writer of the best-selling novel "The Group", and the sister of Kevin McCarthy from the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Melissa McCarthy, from "The Gilmore Girls" and "Mike and Molly", has become a well known movie actress, and happens to be the first cousin of Jenny McCarthy.

The answer is Jenny McCarthy. She was voted Playmate of the Year in 1994 and parlayed that into a TV and film career. From 2005 to 2010, she cohabited with Jim Carrey. On August 31, 2014, she married Donny Wahlberg.

Answer: Nigeria

The USA has Hollywood; India has Bollywood; Nigeria's film industry is sometimes known as 'Nollywood'. The term 'Nollywood' was first used in a New York Times article by Matt Steinglass in 2002, where he used the word to describe Nigerian cinema (who knew?).

It is one of those 'portmanteau' words that combines Nigeria with 'Hollywood'. Participants in the Nigerian stage and film industry include: John Okafor, Chief Hubert Ogunde, Chief Amata, Baba Sala, Ade Love and others. Nigerian actors who have been successful in England and the US include Sophie Okenedo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and David Oyelowo.

Answer: Tampa Bay

The answer among the choices given is the Tampa Bay Lightning (but I think they do, occasionally, strike twice in the same place). The other choices were the Edmonton Oilers, the San Jose Sharks and the Buffalo Sabres, then there are the Rangers, Devils, Bruins, Red Wings, Flyers, Canadiens - well, you get the idea. For those fans of the hockey teams I left out, I apologize.

The only other hockey teams which don't end in an 's' are the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche.

Answer: donut

Mmmm, D'oh-nuts! That's not to say that Homer wouldn't eat a peanut or a chestnut or, if he were hungry enough, even a lug nut (washed down with some Duff beer)! But donuts are Homer's (not that Homer) favorite food. They are a circular pastry, usually containing large amounts of fat, much like Homer himself. On "The Simpsons", the donuts are usually pink with multi-colored sprinkles.

As an aside, there is even a progressive, classic rock band in the DC area called Homer's Donut.