I once told Christine she was my favorite person I’ve never met. Since 1993, when I met our mutual friend, Lou, I have heard story after story about the legendary Christine. Fiercely loyal with a strong sense of justice, Christine would make you pay if you messed with someone she loved. Riotously funny with a flair for the dramatic, she could make the average day entertaining. When Christine and I became Facebook friends in 2012, it felt like coming home. We shared a love of cats, corgis (all creatures, really), football, good beer, great food, and – of course – pop culture. We bonded over The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Cars, Heathers, Midnight Oil, and The Alienist. She truly was my sister from another mother, and I will miss her every day.
This quiz is dedicated to Christine and some of her favorite pop culture things. Rest well, sweet girl.
What bassist, singer, and songwriter, born Benjamin Orzechowski, performed lead vocals on songs like “Just What I Needed”, “Moving in Stereo”, “Let’s Go”, and “Drive” for The Cars?
What English rock band, led by Ian Astbury, had their biggest hit in the U.S. with 1987’s “Fire Woman”, the first single off their fourth album, Sonic Temple.
“A Clubhouse is Not a Home”, which aired on October 31, 1969, and features the quotes “That almost hit Cindy!” and “This isn’t funny anymore”, is an episode of what sitcom?
What Australian musician, activist, and politician is best known as the lead singer of Midnight Oil, the band responsible for 1980s hits like “Beds Are Burning” and “Blue Sky Mine”?
What serial killer is the subject of the 2019 movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, as well as a 1988 song by Jane’s Addiction?
Nell Campbell, AKA Little Nell, is a singer and actor most famous for her performance as Columbia in what 1973 musical and its 1975 film adaptation?
What band, comprised of brothers Ron and Russell Mael, released a 1982 album titled Angst in My Pants that included songs like “I Predict”, “Eaten by the Monster of Love”, and the title track?
What NBC series, which was created by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo and aired from 1983 to 1987, featured characters with nicknames like Hannibal, Faceman, and Howling Mad?
Complete the following lyric with the title of a music and dance series that began its run in Philadelphia in 1952 and aired its final episode in 1989: “And I’ll jump, and hey, I may even show ’em my handstand / Because I’m on, because I’m on the ___________________ ___________________.”
The Partridge Family is loosely based on what Rhode Island sibling sextet, who had hits in the late 1960s with “The Rain, the Park & Other Things” and “Hair”?
What Italian-Canadian rock musician, who had a hit in 1982 with “Fantasy”, won a Grammy Award for his role as a producer on Celine Dion’s 1996 album Falling Into You?
What holiday – also the name of a long-running horror film franchise – has traditions rooted in Celtic harvest festivals such as Samhain?
Spouses Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, who formed the new wave-funk outfit Tom Tom Club in 1981, are also founding members of what post-punk-art rock band whose biggest US single is 1983’s “Burning Down the House”?
What English singer and actor, born Stuart Leslie Goddard, had hits (with his eponymous band AND as a solo artist) like “Dog Eat Dog”, “Stand and Deliver”, “Goody Two Shoes”, and “Desperate But Not Serious”?
What 1977 sports comedy, with Cool Hand Luke co-stars Paul Newman and Strother Martin, featured the fictional Hanson brothers, a trio of hockey-playing goons brought in to save a failing minor league team?
For what 1962 psychological horror thriller, in which she played the title character, an unhinged former child vaudeville star, did Bette Davis receive her tenth and final Academy Award nomination for Best Actress?
“Days Gone By” is the pilot episode of what 2010 post-apocalyptic horror series created by Frank Darabont, director of films like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile?
Among the real-life historical figures that feature in The Alienist, a 1994 mystery novel by Caleb Carr, are financier J.P. Morgan, Five Points Gang leader Paul Kelly, and what 20th century US President who was New York City Police Commissioner at the time of the novel’s setting (1896)?
A rickroll is an Internet meme involving the surprise appearance of “Never Gonna Give You Up” by what English singer?
In a 1988 black comedy, Winona Ryder plays high school student Veronica; what is the first name of all three girls in Veronica’s clique?
What Los Angeles glam metal band had their biggest hit in 1984 with “Round and Round”?
ANSWERS
Benjamin Orr (FUN FACT: Although never released as a single, “Moving in Stereo” is nevertheless one of the most iconic Cars songs, thanks largely to its use in 1982’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High.)
The Cult
The Brady Bunch
Peter Garrett
Ted Bundy (FUN FACT: Jane’s Addiction’s “Ted, Just Admit It…”, a response to Bundy’s bullshit claims that pornography and violence in media were at the root of his psychopathy, is from their 1988 masterpiece Nothing’sShocking)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show or The Rocky Horror Show
Sparks
The A-Team
American Bandstand
The Cowsills (FUN FACT: Their version of “Hair”, the title song from the 1967 American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was kept out of the top spot by the 5th Dimension’s “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In”, a medley of two other songs from Hair.)
Aldo Nova
Halloween
Talking Heads
Adam Ant
Slap Shot (FUN FACT: The Hanson brothers were based on real-life siblings Jack, Steve, and Jeff Carlson, who all played for the Johnstown Jets in the 1970s)
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
The Walking Dead
Theodore Roosevelt
Rick Astley (FUN FACT: “Never Gonna Give You Up” went to the top of the charts in more than 25 countries)
Heathers
Ratt
#1 Benjamin Orr performs with The Cars at Live Aid in 1985
#4 Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil, “Beds Are Burning”#5 Ted Bundy (as played by Zac Efron in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile)
It’s a new year, which means new pop culture content. These are some of the films and television series I’m most looking forward to in 2025. THIS POST CONTAINS POTENTIAL SPOILERS!!
Stranger Things 5
My most highly anticipated pop culture event of the year, Stranger Things‘s fifth and final season, may not happen in 2025. Filming on the season, delayed for months by the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, just wrapped on December 20. Given the timeline for previous seasons, the creators will need at least most of the year to complete post-production special effects and editing. But I’m hopeful we’ll see episodes by the end of the year; it would make a terrific Christmas gift!
We don’t have much information about the season, but here’s what we do know: StrangerThings 5 will consist of eight episodes and feature all of the series’ regular cast members – and one very special guest star. Linda Hamilton, the iconic badass best known for her role as Sarah Connor in the Terminator franchise, joins the cast for the final season in an undisclosed role (my theory, based on absolutely nothing: she’s the “Shock Jock” referred to in the title of episode five). Amybeth McNulty, so adorable as Robin’s crush Vickie, has been promoted to series regular. And Frank Darabont, director of iconic films like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, came out of retirement to helm two episodes.
We also know the titles of seven of the eight episodes (cryptically, the title of episode two was announced as “The Vanishing of…” with the name blurred out). The most intriguing title to me is “Escape from Camazotz”, a clear reference to my childhood favorite, Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle inTime (in the novel, Camazotz is a dark planet where Meg and Charles Wallace’s father is being imprisoned). I don’t know what it means, but I can’t wait to find out!
Cast and crew of Stranger Things
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
The new year will bring the third installment in the Benoit Blanc mystery franchise. Like the first two films, Wake Up Dead Man features an all-star cast that includes Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, and Thomas Haden Church. Writer-director Rian Johnson and star Daniel Craig have both stated that as long as the other is involved, they will continue to make more Benoit Blanc movies. Just take all my money now.
FUN FACT: All three films are named for pop songs. “Knives Out” is by Radiohead, from their 2001 album Amnesiac, “Glass Onion” can be found on The Beatles’ White Album, and “Wake Up Dead Man” is a track from the 1997 U2 album Pop.
Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in Glass Onion, the second film in the series
Yellowjackets, season three
On Valentine’s Day, season three of the Showtime psychological horror thriller series Yellowjackets will drop on Paramount+. It seems like a fitting release date for a show with a cannibalism storyline (especially when it’s combined with the tagline “This Valentine’s Day, eat your heart out”). The tantalizing teaser dropped about a month ago and includes a quick look at newest cast member Hilary Swank, whose role has yet to be revealed (among the popular theories: she’s the older version of Melissa or another survivor, she’s an agent or officer investigating the gang in the 2021 timeline, or she’s a mother/family member of a survivor in the 1998 timeline, which was introduced in season two).
The Life of Chuck
Mike Flanagan + Stephen King is a magical combination (see also Doctor Sleep, Gerald’s Game, and Midnight Mass, which was inspired by King’s 1975 masterpiece ‘Salem’s Lot). So when I heard Flanagan was directing The Life of Chuck, based on the King novella of the same name, I knew I was all in. The Life of Chuck, which stars Tom Hiddleston as the titular character and a cast of Flanagan favorites like Mark Hamill, Samantha Sloyan, Kate Siegel, and Carl Lumbly, premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People’s Choice Award. The film was acquired by Neon and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 30. In the vein of beloved King adaptations like The ShawshankRedemption and The Green Mile, The Life of Chuck could be a contender come next year’s awards season.
Tom Hiddleston in The Life of Chuck
FUN FACT: At the September premiere of The Life of Chuck, Mark Hamill fan-boyed out after being seated next to Stephen King.
Wednesday, season 2
Steve Buscemi, Joanna Lumley, Tandiwe Newton, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, Christopher Lloyd, and Lady Gaga will all appear in season two of Netflix’s Emmy-winning series Wednesday. Jenna Ortega will return as the titular character, along with most of the season one cast. No word yet on a storyline or release date; in fact, the only thing we know for sure is the title of the first episode – “Here We Woe Again”. But showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar have promised that season two “will be delightfully dark, kooky, and mysterious.” I’m counting on it.
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams
28 Years Later
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have reteamed for the third installment in the 28 Days Later franchise. The mesmerizing trailer, which features a 1921 recording of Rudyard Kipling’s poem “Boots”, garnered over 10 million views in 48 hours. Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell will star (initial reports that Cillian Murphy would reprise his role as Jim from the first film turned out to be incorrect). 28 Years Later, which is set for release on June 20, was shot immediately before the series’ fourth film, which should hit theaters in 2026.
Presence and Black Bag
Auteur Steven Soderbergh directed two 2025 films: Presence, a haunted house horror starring Lucy Liu and Julia Fox, and Black Bag, a spy thriller with Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. Soderbergh rarely misses for me, so I’m really looking forward to this one-two punch.
FUN FACT: The last year in which Soderbergh directed two movies was 2000. Those two films – Traffic and Erin Brockovich – grossed a combined $463 million dollars and garnered ten Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Gladiator beat them both, but Soderbergh did take home the Best Director prize for Traffic. Traffic also won Best Supporting Actor (Benicio del Toro), Best Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, while Erin Brockovich earned just one award (for Julia Roberts’ fearless, funny performance in the title role).
Companion
A horror sci-fi romance from first-time director Drew Hancock, Companion is slated for release at the end of January. The filmstars the luminous Sophie Thatcher, best known as teenage Natalie on Yellowjackets, and Jack Quaid (offspring of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan). I don’t know exactly what’s happening here, but it looks bonkers in the best way.
The Traitors, season 3
Alan Cumming returns with an all-new wardrobe and an all-new cast of reality stars, including four former Survivor contestants: Rob Mariano, Tony Vlachos, Jeremy Collins, and Carolyn Wiger. The Traitors is a murder mystery competition series in which reality television personalities compete in often ridiculous challenges and screw each other over (in other words – reality television). All of this is just a sideshow, though. The main attraction is Alan Cumming and his sublime sartorial choices. Cumming is always in on the joke, even when the contestants are taking the competition entirely too seriously. And that wardrobe! Distinctly Scottish, with lots of plaids and hats and scarves and shawls and kilts, every outfit is absolute perfection.
The first three episodes of The Traiters season one are available on Peacock now.
The Monkey
I wanted to love Longlegs, but it just didn’t do it for me. I found the secondary storyline, involving Agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) and her mother, Ruth (Alicia Witt), far more interesting than the title character (Nicolas Cage), and writer-director Oz Perkins (son of scream king Anthony) simply added too many elements to make a cohesive narrative. But there’s no denying that Perkins is a talented filmmaker, and I will happily give him another chance with 2025’s The Monkey, based on the terrifying short story by Stephen King. Neon released a teaser in time for Christmas; The Monkey is scheduled for release on February 21.
The Last of Us, season 2
Season two of HBO’s bonkers good series, based on the award-winning video game of the same name, returns in April. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who portray our heroes Joel and Ellie, will be joined by Kaitlin Dever, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright. The season takes place five years after the first season’s events and is expected to be seven episodes long.
Love Hurts
This action comedy features Ke Huy Quan in his first-ever starring role (thanks to that career-reviving, Oscar-winning turn in Everything Everywhere All at Once). Quan stars as Marvin, a former hitman turned realtor who finds himself drawn back into his former life by his brother Knuckles. The supporting cast includes Ariana DeBose, Daniel Wu, Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, and Sean Astin (Goonies reunion, yay!). Love Hurts will land in theaters on February 7.
Last Breath
Last Breath, based on the 2019 documentary of the same name, tells the terrifying true tale of deep sea diver Chris Lemons, who became trapped 100 meters below the ocean’s surface with no light, no heat, and only the remaining gas in his backup tank. Alex Parkinson, who also directed the doc (available to stream on Netflix), makes his narrative debut here. In addition to Finn Cole, who plays Lemons, the film’s cast includes Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Cliff Curtis, and Djimon Hounsou. Last Breath will hit theaters on February 28, and it looks like we’ll all be holding ours.
It: Welcome to Derry
As a Gen-Xer, I am contractually obligated to adore Tim Curry’s interpretation of Pennywise, but even I have to admit that Bill Skarsgård’s version is far more spine-chilling (a photo of Bill Hader running away from Skarsgård in actual terror on the set of It Chapter Two became a viral meme a few years ago). It: Welcome to Derry, a prequel series developed in part by Andy Muschietti, who directed both It films, will feature Skarsgård reprising his iconic role. The series takes place in the 1960s, prior to the events of the first film. That’s all we know now; HBO has not released a trailer or announced a premiere date.
Mickey 17
Bong Joon-ho took a six year hiatus after the release of the Best Picture-winning Parasite; he’s back in 2025 with the sci-fi black comedy Mickey 17. Based on the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton, the film stars Robert Pattison, Toni Collette, Steven Yeun, and Mark Ruffalo, and will premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. This feels like a Moon–Multiplicity hybrid, and I am 100% here for it.
The Running Man
Also back this year is Edgar Wright, helming his first feature since 2021’s Last Night in Soho. The Running Man, starring Glen Powell as the titular character, is the second movie adaptation of the dystopian sci-fi novel by Stephen King, published under his ’80s pseudonym Richard Bachman. Unlike the 1987 version directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the Wright film is expected to be much more faithful to the source material. The supporting cast will include Katy O’Brian, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim reunion, yay!), William H. Macy, Sean Hayes, and Colman Domingo. The Running Man is scheduled for release on November 7.
FUN FACT: Stephen King’s first choice for his pseudonym was Gus Pillsbury, the name of his maternal grandfather. After that name was outed, King changed it to Richard Bachman, inspired by the rock group Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Zero Day
Zero Day, a six-episode political conspiracy thriller created by Narcos showrunner Eric Newman, will hit Netflix on February 20. Zero Day features Robert De Niro in his first leading role in a television series; the stellar supporting cast includes Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Bill Camp, Dan Stevens, Angela Bassett, and Matthew Modine.
FUN FACT: Zero Day stars one Academy Award winner (De Niro) and three more nominees (Plemons, Allen, and Bassett).
The Studio
The Studio, an Apple TV+ series created in part by childhood friends and frequent collaborators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, will star Rogen as Matt Remick, head of the fictional Continental Studios. The first two episodes of the series, which also features Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Bryan Cranston, will debut on March 26.
Back in Action
After a ten-year hiatus from acting to focus on her family (husband Benji Madden and their two children), Cameron Diaz returns with an action comedy called, appropriately, Back in Action. The Netflix film, which will arrive on January 17, pairs Diaz with Jamie Foxx as married former spies who find themselves pulled back into the espionage business. This just looks like an absolute delight.
Death of a Unicorn
In horror comedy Death of a Unicorn, Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega star as father and daughter Elliott and Ridley, who cause the titular event while on their way to the home of Rudd’s boss (he works for a pharmaceutical company). Upon discovering that the unicorn has curative powers, the wealthy Leopold family attempts to harness those powers for financial gain, with deadly consequences. The excellent supporting cast includes Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, and Will Poulter, and the film’s music will be scored by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies.
FUN FACT: Daniel Davies is the son of The Kinks’ guitarist Dave Davies and the godson of John Carpenter.
The Battle of Baktan Cross
Paul Thomas Anderson’s tenth feature, tentatively titled The Battle of Baktan Cross, will star Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, and Alana Haim. Apparently based loosely on the Thomas Pynchon novel Vineland, the film will be Anderson’s most expensive to date, with a budget exceeding $100 million. Warner Bros. execs feel DiCaprio’s presence in the film justifies the budget, even though Anderson’s highest-grossing film – 2007’s There Will Be Blood – only made about $76 million. The Battle of Baktan Cross is expected in theaters on August 8.
FUN FACT: P.T. Anderson previously adapted another Thomas Pynchon novel, Inherent Vice, in 2014.
The Gilded Age, season three
No release date has been announced for season three of HBO’s The Gilded Age, but it is expected by the end of the year. Among the actors reportedly joining the cast for season three are Bill Camp, Merritt Wever, Leslie Uggams, Andrea Martin, and Dylan Baker.
Name the movie that depicts a New Year’s Eve celebration based on the trivia pulled from its IMDb page.
In the opening scene, set in 1977, [title character]’s hair is styled after that of Farrah Fawcett from the popular TV series Charlie’s Angels. It was the most widely copied women’s hairstyle of the era. [1989]
Hyman Roth’s character is loosely based on real-life mobster Meyer Lansky. Lansky, who was living in Miami at the time of the film’s release, reportedly phoned Lee Strasberg and said, “Now, why couldn’t you have made me more sympathetic? After all, I am a grandfather.” [Hint: won the Best Picture Oscar – 1974]
Several funny moments in the film came about by accident. Mortimer Duke (Don Ameche) having trouble catching the money clip wasn’t supposed to happen that way, but the actors kept going with it and not breaking character, so it was kept in the movie. Ophelia’s Swedish disguise came about because Jamie Lee Curtis couldn’t do the correct Austrian accent. [1983]
Alfred Molina wore noise-canceling earpieces to appear oblivious to the sound of the firecrackers. The involuntary flinching of the other actors in the scene was genuine. [1997]
The famous interior “capsizing” sequence was done in two parts. The first part had the hydraulically-controlled set tilted to its maximum 45 degrees. The cameras were then stopped and the set was redressed so that the floor (deck) became the ceiling (overhead), and vice versa. The actors were then returned to the set which was then tilted further to complete the sequence. [1972]
The scene between Tom Hanks and Victor Garber crying over the movie The Dirty Dozen was completely improvised. [1993]
C.C. Baxter is given a ticket to The Music Man and asks Fran Kubelik to meet him at the Majestic Theater on 44th Street. The Music Man ran at the Majestic from December 19, 1957 to October 22, 1960. It won the 1958 Tony Award for Best Musical. [Hint: won the Best Picture Oscar – 1960]
First-time producer Betsy Beers was a huge Elvis Costello fan and told him on set that Imperial Bedroom was her favorite album. He was pleasantly surprised and told her, “No one ever mentions that album.” He became instrumental in securing rights to songs they never could have afforded on their limited budget and even recommended little-known artists to whom the characters would likely be listening in 1981. [1999]
The exterior shots of the firehouse were filmed at Hook & Ladder 8 in the Tribeca neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. [1989]
The name “Norma Desmond” was a combination of silent film star Mabel Normand and director William Desmond Taylor, whose still-unsolved murder is one of the great scandals of Hollywood history. On the morning of February 2, 1922, Taylor – who had been romantically involved with Normand – was shot and killed in his Hollywood bungalow. His killer was never identified. [1950]
The drawings in the tail section of [film title] were illustrated by Jean-Marc Rochette, the original artist of the graphic novel Le Transperceneige. [2013]
As of 2020, this is the only PG-rated movie directed by the Coen Brothers. All of their other films have carried either R or PG-13 ratings. [1994]
Chuck Jones, who directed the animated opening and ending segments, starred as Mr. Jones in the original 1984 film. [1990]
One of three movies – the other two being Apollo 13 and The Green Mile – in which Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise appear together. All three movies were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, but only [film title] won. [1994]
This was the Disney Channel’s most successful movie at its time, with 7.7 million viewers for the premiere broadcast. [2006]
The shot of Will reflected in the mirror when he is depressed was actually taken when Hugh Grant was taking a break. The directors [the Weitz brothers] noticed him doing this, and from behind he looked depressed, so they shot it without him knowing. [2002]
This film was referenced in the movie Sleepless inSeattle, in a scene where Rita Wilson’s character explains the story to Tom Hanks [and Victor Garber] and breaks down in tears doing so. [1957]
During the car burning scene, Angela Bassett’s monologue was completely improvised. [1995]
This was Daniel Day-Lewis’s final film role. On June 20, 2017, he announced that he was retiring from acting. [2017]
All the scenes in the [film title] were filmed last, after the cast got to know each other. The dialogue in those scenes is a combination of scripted and improvisational. Although not part of the “boys’ club”, Ellen Barkin got along well with the actors. Steve Guttenberg later noted how she was “really cool to talk to” and would set him straight about his own problems with women. [1982]
Name the winter-set horror movie based on the trivia pulled from its IMDb page. Answers in photo collage form; collage by Nikki K. (find her on Facebook @horrorfrenzy). Thank you, Nikki!!
Stanley Kubrick decided that having the hedge animals come alive (as they do in the book) was unworkable, due to restrictions in special effects, so he opted for a hedge maze instead. [1980]
The title of the film (as well as the novel upon which it was based) refers to the fact that, according to myth, vampires must be invited in before they can enter someone’s home. [2008]
The sounds of the vampires were created through a mix of the screams of the actors with recordings of local death metal singers and various marsupials. The signature roar of the vampires was the actors screaming while inhaling. [2007]
Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider is the voice from the top of the mountain who announces “Last chair is through.” Dee’s son Cody was the director’s assistant on the picture, and cameos in the lodge wearing a Twisted Sister t-shirt. [2010]
Max’s mom alludes to “the noodle incident” that estranged the family from a neighboring one. The noodle incident was often referred to but never explained in the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon strip, and [film title] also leaves it unexplained. [2015]
After seeing The Shining (1980), Rob Reiner was inspired to make a movie based on a Stephen King novel. He ended up directing two Stephen King adaptations, Stand By Me (1986), based on King’s novella The Body, and this film, based on King’s 1987 novel of the same name. [1990]
Unused music composed for this film was later used by Ennio Morricone in Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. Ironically, Morricone’s [film title] score was nominated for a Razzie for worst score, while his score for The Hateful Eight won him an Oscar. [1982]
The second of two ghost story horror pictures that veteran actors John Houseman and Melvyn Douglas made in a two-year period (the first films were The Fog and The Changeling, respectively). [1981]
Originally, Stripe and Gizmo were the same character. This changed when executive producer Steven Spielberg insisted one of the [title characters] be a good guy with whom the audience could identify. Director Joe Dante has said that this decision was the reason why the film is so fondly remembered. [1984]
Partially, and very loosely, inspired by the “Donner Party” disaster of 1847. [1999]
Graphic designer Burt Kleeger created the infamous poster art of Santa going down the chimney with an axe. [1984]
Oliver Reed was arrested by the Canadian police during the production of this film after he made a bet with someone that he could walk from one bar to another without wearing clothes in freezing cold weather. [1979]
Hauser Hall is a reference to Kaspar Hauser, an enigmatic child who turned up in a German town in the 16th century. Hauser’s origin is considered a great mystery, akin to the Bermuda Triangle, the Mary Celeste, or Count St Germain – very fitting for a film about the equally mysterious Dyatlov Pass. [2013]
Thomas Jane starred in the film because his mother, a big fan of Stephen King, told him to. Jane would later star in two more King adaptations, The Mist (2007) and 1922 (2017). [2003]
The movies Grace and the children watch at [film title] are TheThing (1982) and Jack Frost (1998), which both feature snowy settings.
Zach Gilford and Connie Britton also starred together in Friday Night Lights. [2006]
The hotel room in which Ingunn is killed and later the others hide is room number 237. This is an homage to The Shining (1980),in which the notorious room number was also 237. [2006]
When Emma Roberts read the script for the film, she couldn’t sleep afterward because it scared her so much. [2015]
The Nazi zombies in this film are a combination of typical zombies in popular culture and ancient Norse mythical beings known as draug. A draug is an undead being who would inhabit graves, often the graves of important men, as they often had treasures in them. A draug would protect these treasures as if they were their own. [2009]
Originally conceived for theatrical release, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paramount decided to change its release strategy and make it a Paramount+ exclusive, making this the first film in the franchise to not be given a theatrical release. [2021]
Top row, L to R: #1 – The Shining, #2 – Let the Right One In, #3 – 30 Days of Night, #4 – Frozen; Second row, L to R: #5 – Krampus, #6 – Misery, #7 – TheThing, #8 – Ghost Story; Third row, L to R: #9 – Gremlins, #10 – Ravenous , #11 – Silent Night, DeadlyNight, #12 – The Brood; Fourth row, L to R: #13 – Devil’s Pass, #14 – Dreamcatcher, #15 – The Lodge, #16 – The Last Winter; Bottom row, L to R: #17 – Cold Prey, #18 – The Blackcoat’s Daughter, #19 – Dead Snow, #20 – Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin
Name the holiday movie by three minor characters and the film’s year of release.
Gus Polinski, Officer Balzac, Uncle Frank McAllister [1990]
Mr. Gower, Harry Bailey, Cousin Tilly [1946]
Gimbel’s Manager, Miles Finch, News Reporter Charlotte Denon [2003]
Jamie’s Bad Brother, Natalie’s Replacement, Billy’s Video Vixen [2003]
Eliot Loudermilk, Mouse Wrangler, Frank as Child [1988]
Big Johnson, Little Johnson, Thornburg’s Assistant [1988]
Detective Nunzio, Judy the Elf, Judy the Waitress [1994]
Sheriff Frank, Mrs. Deagle, Bank Teller [1984]
Grover Dill, Freight Man, Black Bart [1983]
Movie Trailer Narrator (voice), Arthur’s Nurse, Graham’s Friend [2006]
Todd Chester, Margo Chester, Frank Shirley [1989]
Joe Jr., Ashley Bacon, Man in Peter’s Room [1995]
Christina Whoterberry, Officer Wholihan, Crazy Mose [2000]
Heritage Club Doorman, Penelope Witherspoon, Duke & Duke Receptionist [1983]
Bob Chipeska, Milwaukee Mom with Photo, Woman in Food Court [2003]
Commander Thorp, Techie, Al the Security Guard [2022]
Oogie Boogie, Corpse Kid, Harlequin Demon [1993]
Julian Shellhammer, Judge’s Clerk, Child on Santa’s Lap [1947]
Lumpy, Dumpy, Clumpy [2015]
Organ Grinder, Shreck Security Guard, Cobblepot Supporter [1992]
Catherine O’Hara and John Candy (Gus Polinski) in #1 – Home AloneGrand L. Bush (Little Johnson) and Robert Davi (Big Johnson) in #6 – Die HardPolly Holliday as Mrs. Deagle in #8 – Gremlins
Home Alone
It’s a Wonderful Life
Elf
Love Actually
Scrooged
Die Hard
The Santa Clause
Gremlins
A Christmas Story
The Holiday
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
While You Were Sleeping
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Trading Places
Bad Santa
Violent Night
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Miracle on 34th Street
Krampus
Batman Returns
Nicholas Guest and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Todd and Margo Chester in #11 – National Lampoon’s Christmas VacationOogie Boogie (voiced by the late, great Ken Page) in #17 – The Nightmare Before Christmas
Name the holiday-themed television series or special based on the trivia pulled from its IMDb page.
“Shiny Happy People” by R.E.M. is played in the beginning of the New Year’s Eve party scene. This was the original theme song from the pilot. [Episode title “The One with the Monkey”, 1994]
Chuck Jones, a lifelong lover of Rudyard Kipling, was inspired to cast Boris Karloff as the [title character] after hearing a recording of Karloff reading Kipling’s Jungle Book stories. [Special, 1966]
The fictional store at which Sheldon buys Penny’s gift is called Le Bain Quotidien (daily bath), a pun on the phrase ‘le pain quotidien’ (daily bread). [Episode title “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis”, 2008]
Fred Willard is credited as “Phil’s Dad” in the end credits and not “Frank Dunphy.” [Episode title “Undeck the Halls”, 2009]
Broke many of the rules prevalent for animated holiday specials during the 1960s: it didn’t make use of a laugh track, real children were used for the character voices instead of adult actors imitating children’s voices, and Biblical references were used to illustrate the true meaning of Christmas. [Special, 1965]
The holiday of “Festivus” was created in 1966 by Daniel O’Keefe, the father of Dan O’Keefe, one of the show’s writers. He invented many of the traditions later included in the [series title] episode, including the airing of grievances. [Episode title “The Strike”, 1997]
Desmond’s condition following the mishap during the helicopter flight to the boat is very similar to that of Billy Pilgrim, the main character of the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, who becomes “unstuck in time” and has multiple experiences in which his consciousness jumps backwards and forwards to different points within his own lifespan. [Episode title “The Constant”, 2008]
When Bart is imagining what Christmas would be like in juvenile hall, the Christmas tree in the detention center looks just like the one Charlie Brown brought back to the theater on A Charlie Brown Christmas. [Episode title “Marge Be Not Proud”, 1995]
A stuffed penguin is on a table during a scene in which Charlie and Ms. Landingham are discussing why Ms. Landingham is depressed over Christmas. This is the same penguin called “Hugsy” that Joey from Friends gives away to Rachel’s daughter Emma. [Episode title “In Excelsis Deo”, 1999]
One of the [radio] callers in this Christmas-themed episode is played by Rosemary Clooney, who starred in the classic holiday film White Christmas. [Episode title “Miracle on Third or Fourth Street”, 1993]
The animation was “shot on the 2s”. Instead of shooting one frame of film and then moving the puppet, two frames of film were shot before moving the puppet for the next exposure. This saved time and, therefore, money. The “jerky” motion which resulted became part of the Rankin/Bass style. [Special, 1964]
Edward Asner plays Maurice, who tells Scully that he knows people in the ACLU. Asner was involved with the ACLU in his real life as an activist. [Episode title “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas”, 1998]
The bar scene where Don and Joan have a drink after test driving the Jaguar bears some resemblance to the famous Edward Hopper painting “Nighthawks”. [Episode title “Christmas Waltz”, 2012]
References are explicitly made to Alien (1979), a significant film in the career of John Hurt, who would later go on to play the Time War incarnation of the [title character]. [Episode title “Last Christmas”, 2014]
Burgermeister Meisterburger accidentally sits on a toy soldier’s bayonet. In the next scene, he has a pillow strapped to his rear. [Special, 1970]
The closest Benihana to Scranton, PA is actually nearly 2 hours away in Plymouth Meeting, PA. [Episode title “A Benihana Christmas”, 2006]
The “HI TED” writing on the pavement mirrors the “HI BOSS” from “The Diamond Dogs” in season one. [Episode title “Carol of the Bells”, 2021]
Jackie Vernon, who voices [title character], was known for his drab stand-up comedy acts and X-rated jokes. Gene Wilder and Art Carney were also considered for the role. [Special, 1969]
Jamie Lee Curtis was a fan of [series title] before joining the cast in season two. She said that as soon as she saw the first episode, where Sugar/Natalie asks Carmy about their mother, she “knew that she would play her.” [Episode title “Fishes”, 2023]
Janine (Quinta Brunson) hands a non-holiday-themed cookie to a student who is a Jehovah’s Witness. Quinta was raised as a member of that religious faith. Jehovah’s Witnesses typically don’t celebrate Christmas, which is why the cookie is blank. [Episode title “Holiday Hookah”, 2022]
The title is based on a “mondegreen” (a misheard, spoonerized, or comically misinterpreted phrase from a song or poem). The title comes from the lyric “all of the other reindeer” from “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. [Special, 1999]
Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, and Jim Parsons in #3 – The Big Bang Theory, “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis”Sonya Walger as Penny Widmore in #7 – Lost, “The Constant”
Friends
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
The Big Bang Theory
Modern Family
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Seinfeld
Lost
The Simpsons
The West Wing
Frasier
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The X-Files
Mad Men
Doctor Who
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
The Office
Ted Lasso
Frosty the Snowman
The Bear (fun fact: Jamie Lee Curtis won a Primetime Emmy Award for her performance)
Abbott Elementary
Olive, the Other Reindeer
Edward Asner and Lily Tomlin in #12 – The X-Files, “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas”Steve Carell, Ed Helms, and John Krasinski in #16 – The Office, “A Benihana Christmas”Jamie Lee Curtis in #19 – The Bear, “Fishes”
Name the holiday-themed movie based on the trivia pulled from its IMDb page.
The voice of the jack-in-the-box laugh is that of Dal McKennon. The audio clip is taken from Lady and the Tramp (1955), in which McKennon performed the voice of a laughing hyena. [2003]
While making this film, cinematographer Jan de Bont got trapped in an elevator. This later gave him the inspiration for the opening scene of Speed (1994), which he directed.[1988]
An elaborate fantasy sequence, in which Ralphie joins Flash Gordon to fight Ming the Merciless, was filmed but dropped from the final cut. [1983]
The original title of the film’s script was Stop Me. It was director Bob Clark who came up with the film’s title, saying that he liked the irony of something dark occurring during such a festive holiday. [1974]
In this film, the Ghost of Christmas Past claims she can remember nearly 1900 years, implying that unlike the book and other film versions, this spirit is the universal ghost of all past Christmases, instead of the ghost of Scrooge’s personal past. [1992]
The kid who asks for a snowboard in the video letters is Kurt’s actual grandson, Bing Bellamy, whose mother is Kurt’s daughter, Kate Hudson. [2018]
The locomotive in the movie is based on the Pere Marquette 1225, a restored steam locomotive located in Owosso, MI. Many of the film’s train sound effects are recordings of the actual train. The train runs between Owosso and nearby Ashley during the holiday season. [2004]
In 2010, as part of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act, which was to regulate financial markets, a rule was included which barred anyone from using secret inside information to corner markets, similar to what the Duke brothers tried to do in the movie. Since the movie inspired this rule, it has since become known as the Eddie Murphy Rule. [1983]
After failing to get the Christmas lights to work one last time, [main character] takes his frustration out on the plastic decorations in the front yard. [Lead actor] actually broke his pinky finger while punching Santa Claus. He resorts to kicking and clubbing the decorations after that. The film kept rolling, and the take was used. [1989]
In an interview for television, [legendary makeup and special effects artist] Stan Winston told a little anecdote about how his crew were collecting the mechanical penguins after a day’s shoot, and found one of the live penguins snuggled up asleep against a mechanical one. [1992]
The airport greeting footage at the beginning and end of this movie is real. Writer and director Richard Curtis had a team of cameramen film at Heathrow airport for a week, and whenever they saw something that would fit in they asked the people involved for permission to use the footage. [2003]
Bedford Falls is a fictional town in upstate New York, as seen on the death certificate telegram received by Mr. Gower. It is a combination of two real towns: Bedford Hills (in Westchester County) and Seneca Falls (midway between Rochester and Syracuse). [1946]
Zero’s nose is actually a tiny glowing jack-o’-lantern. [1993]
“The Trolley Song” was ranked #26 and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was ranked #72 by the American Film Institute in 2004 on the 100 Greatest Songs in American Films list. [1944]
Many of the scenes were filmed at Fairhaven High School in Fairhaven, Massachusetts in February 2022 during the school’s February break. At this time, the area received a snowstorm, to the delight of the film crew since many of the scenes took place during a snowstorm. They took full advantage of the weather and the snow you see in the film was from an actual snowstorm. [2023]
Unbeknownst to most parade watchers, Edmund Gwenn played Santa Claus in the actual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade held on November 28, 1946. He fulfilled the duties of most parade Santas, including addressing the crowd from Macy’s marquee after it was over. [1947]
When the Ghost of Christmas Present (Carol Kane) first appears in the movie, she says to Frank Cross, “I’m a little muddled.” This is a direct quote from Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz when she first meets Dorothy in Munchkinland. [1988]
The exterior of the McAllister residence was filmed in front of a house in the outskirts of Chicago. Because it was too small for filming inside and Chicago didn’t have large movie studios, the interior was completely built inside an abandoned high school. [1990]
When Irving Berlin won an Oscar for his song “White Christmas” from this movie, he became the first artist to present himself with an Academy Award. [1942]
Miles’s (Jack Black) studio setup, seen in the opening scene, with keyboard, monitors, sound modules, etc., was copied directly from the studio of Hans Zimmer, who composed the score for the film. [2006]
Zach Galligan had already auditioned for parts with Phoebe Cates before and felt very comfortable with her. When it came to the session, he rested his head on her shoulder and gazed at the camera. Executive producer Steven Spielberg said, “Oh my God, look at that! He’s in love with her already. I don’t need to see anything else.” [1984]
#1 – ElfRalph Bellamy and Don Ameche as the Duke brothers in #8 – Trading Places
Elf
Die Hard
A Christmas Story
Black Christmas (fun fact: Bob Clark also directed A Christmas Story)
A Muppet Christmas Carol
The Christmas Chronicles
The Polar Express
Trading Places
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Batman Returns
Love Actually
It’s a Wonderful Life
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Meet Me in St. Louis
The Holdovers
Miracle on 34th Street
Scrooged
Home Alone
Holiday Inn
The Holiday
Gremlins (fun fact: everyone was in love with Phoebe Cates in 1984)
#13 – The Nightmare Before Christmas#15 – The HoldoversCarol Kane as the Ghost of Christmas Present in #17 – Scrooged Kate Winslet and Jack Black in #20 – The Holiday
I’ll give you a quote from a holiday movie and the year of release, and you name the movie’s title.
“Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.” (1946)
“He looks like a deranged Easter bunny!” (1983)
“WORSE? How could things get any worse? Take a look around here, Ellen. We’re at the threshold of hell.” (1989)
“Don’t you got any Christmas music?” “This *is* Christmas music.” (1988)
“You smell like beef and cheese, you don’t smell like Santa.” (2003)
“Keep the change, ya filthy animal!” (1990)
“Look Mister, there are some rules that you’ve got to follow.” (1984)
“Sometimes you have to *slap* them in the face just to get their attention!” (1988)
“We’ve got to find Jack! There’s only 365 days left until next Halloween!” (1993)
“Iris, if you were a melody… I used only the good notes.” (2006)
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! And when I wake up, I’m gettin’ a CAT scan!” (1994)
“$45 for a Christmas tree and they don’t deliver? You order $10 worth of chow mein from Mr. Wong they bring it to your door.” (1995)
“Ho Ho holy shit.” (2022)
“Why, to the North Pole, of course! This is [FILM TITLE]!” (2004)
“Inside a snowflake like the one on your sleeve, there happened a story you must see to believe.” (2000)
“Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind… and that’s what’s been changing. That’s why I’m glad I’m here, maybe I can do something about it.” (1947)
“If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that [FILM TITLE] is all around.” (2003)
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a real family Christmas like this before. Thank you, Mary.” (2023)
“You’re catnip to a girl like me. Handsome, dazed, and to die for.” “Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it.” (1992)
“We came up here for the snow. Where’re you keepin’ it?” “Well, we take it in during the day!” (1954)
“You’ve been Christmas Caroled, bitch!” (2022)
ANSWERS:
#2 – A CHRISTMAS STORY
“Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.” – IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
“He looks like a deranged Easter bunny!” – A CHRISTMAS STORY
“WORSE? How could things get any worse? Take a look around here, Ellen. We’re at the threshold of hell.” – NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
“Don’t you got any Christmas music?” “This *is* Christmas music.” – DIE HARD
“You smell like beef and cheese, you don’t smell like Santa.” – ELF
“Keep the change, ya filthy animal!” – HOME ALONE
“Look Mister, there are some rules that you’ve got to follow.” – GREMLINS
“Sometimes you have to *slap* them in the face just to get their attention!” – SCROOGED
“We’ve got to find Jack! There’s only 365 days left until next Halloween!” – THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
“Iris, if you were a melody… I used only the good notes.” – THE HOLIDAY
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! And when I wake up, I’m gettin’ a CAT scan!” – THE SANTA CLAUSE
“$45 for a Christmas tree and they don’t deliver? You order $10 worth of chow mein from Mr. Wong they bring it to your door.” – WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
“Ho Ho holy shit.” – VIOLENT NIGHT
“Why, to the North Pole, of course! This is [FILM TITLE]!” – THE POLAR EXPRESS
“Inside a snowflake like the one on your sleeve, there happened a story you must see to believe.” – HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
“Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind… and that’s what’s been changing. That’s why I’m glad I’m here, maybe I can do something about it.” – MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
“If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that [FILM TITLE] is all around.” – LOVE ACTUALLY
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a real family Christmas like this before. Thank you, Mary.” (2023) – THE HOLDOVERS
“You’re catnip to a girl like me. Handsome, dazed, and to die for.” “Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it.” – BATMAN RETURNS
“We came up here for the snow. Where’re you keepin’ it?” “Well, we take it in during the day!” (1954) – WHITE CHRISTMAS
“You’ve been Christmas Caroled, bitch!” – SPIRITED
PB & Julie + Julie C. Trivia 