Totally Random Trivia - 2026

4. Carmen Electra

Posted by: @zwak

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5. Actors Patricia and Kate are sisters with the same middle name — but only Patricia uses it as her screen name. It’s the surname of their great-grandfather, who founded the Pittsburgh Steelers. What is that middle name?

Fun tidbit is that another great-grandfather founded the Giants. (Pat Mara)

Answers to Thursday,
April 30, 2026

Ex-Pats: Five questions about celebrities born with names like Patrick and Patricia who became famous under another name.

1. John Joseph Patrick Ryan is best known for playing Steve McGarrett on the original series of “Hawaii Five-O.” What name was he credited under?

Jack Lord

2. Actor and singer Patricia Kotero is better known by her middle name, which was also the name of her character in “Purple Rain.” What is her middle name?

Apollonia

3. Declan Patrick MacManus released his first single, “Less Than Zero,” in 1977, and worked with the backing bands The Attractions and The Imposters. What’s his stage name?

Elvis Costello

4. The model, actor, and sometimes singer born Tara Leigh Patrick appeared on “Baywatch” and “Singled Out,” and had prominent marriages to Dennis Rodman and Dave Navarro. By what name is she better known?

Carmen Electra

5. Actors Patricia and Kate are sisters with the same middle name — but only Patricia uses it as her screen name. It’s the surname of their great-grandfather, who founded the Pittsburgh Steelers. What is that middle name?

Rooney
(Mara)

Questions for
Friday, May 1, 2026

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in Monday’s email. 

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are four currently living, former first ladies of the United States. Name as many of those former first ladies as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

2. Robin Williams’ most notable voice acting work was probably the Genie in “Aladdin,” but he made his animated film debut voicing Batty Koda in what 1992 environmental movie?

3. Though they may not make the best dinner guests, an English rock supergroup, their 1974 debut album, and a hit song off that album all share what two-word name?
4. The Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem “Kubla Khan,” the film “Citizen Kane,” and a 1980 roller skating movie musical starring Olivia Newton-John all feature a place with what utopian name?  

5. Today is May 1. This date in 1851 was the opening day of London's Great Exhibition. Part of the celebration was the debut of what cast iron and glass structure that is the namesake for a soccer team currently in the English Premier League?

1. Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Michele Obama, Jill Biden

4. Xanadu

3. Bad Company

5. Crystal Palace

2. Ferngully

Answers to Friday, May 1, 2026

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are four currently living, former first ladies of the United States. Name as many of those former first ladies as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden

2. Robin Williams’ most notable voice acting work was probably the Genie in “Aladdin,” but he made his animated film debut voicing Batty Koda in what 1992 environmental movie?

“FernGully: The Last Rainforest”

3. Though they may not make the best dinner guests, an English rock supergroup, their 1974 debut album, and a hit song off that album all share what two-word name?

“Bad Company”

4. The Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem “Kubla Khan,” the film “Citizen Kane,” and a 1980 roller skating movie musical starring Olivia Newton-John all feature a place with what utopian name?

“Xanadu”  

5. Today is May 1. This date in 1851 was the opening day of London's Great Exhibition. Part of the celebration was the debut of what cast iron and glass structure that is the namesake for a soccer team currently in the English Premier League?

The Crystal Palace

Questions for
Monday, May 4, 2026

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. What city, while only the second-most populous in its own state, is the most populous city on the Mississippi River?

2. When someone describes a new technique or procedure to you, they might use the acronym “YMMV,” which means… what?

3. What shade of blue, commonly used in porcelain designs, takes its name from a magnetic metal originally used in its production?

4. In 2018, a man from Mali living in Paris was hailed as a hero after scaling several floors of an apartment building to save a small boy dangling from a balcony. He became known as what superhero of Paris?

5. In the Book of Leviticus, the prophet Aaron confides the sins of his people to an animal before sending it into the wilderness as a symbol of absolution. What kind of animal is it?

1.  Memphis 

4.  Spiderman ??

5) Goat

Took me a minute to think of it… 

3) Cobalt blue

2. Your Mileage May Vary

Answers to Monday,
May 4, 2026

1. What city, while only the second-most populous in its own state, is the most populous city on the Mississippi River?

Memphis
(Nashville is No. 1 in Tennessee)

2. When someone describes a new technique or procedure to you, they might use the acronym “YMMV,” which means… what?

“Your Mileage May Vary”

3. What shade of blue, commonly used in porcelain designs, takes its name from a magnetic metal originally used in its production?

Cobalt

4. In 2018, a man from Mali living in Paris was hailed as a hero after scaling several floors of an apartment building to save a small boy dangling from a balcony. He became known as what superhero of Paris?

“Spider-Man”

5. In the Book of Leviticus, the prophet Aaron confides the sins of his people to an animal before sending it into the wilderness as a symbol of absolution. What kind of animal is it?

Goat
(that's where the word “scapegoat” comes from)

Questions for
Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. The full title of what 1729 satirical essay by Jonathan Swift ends with “For Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and For Making Them Beneficial to the Publick”?

2. Chopin’s “Waltz in D-flat major” is 140 measures long and a typical performance lasts somewhere around 150 seconds, despite the piece being commonly known in English as what?

3. Mathematician Blaise Pascal designed the first modern public transportation system, the “carrosses à cinq sols,” or “five-penny carriages,” which began running in 1662 in what European city?

4. Named after a traditional Korean folk song, what is the title of BTS’s latest album — their first since the group temporarily disbanded to perform required military service?

5. The Javanese Wars of Succession were three military confrontations between the Mataram Sultanate and what chartered company on the island of Java in the 1700s?

2. The Minute Waltz

5.  Dutch East India Co.  ??

1. A Modest Proposal

3. Paris 

Answers to Tuesday,
May 5, 2026

1. The full title of what 1729 satirical essay by Jonathan Swift ends with “For Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and For Making Them Beneficial to the Publick”?

“A Modest Proposal”

2. Chopin’s “Waltz in D-flat major” is 140 measures long and a typical performance lasts somewhere around 150 seconds, despite the piece being commonly known in English as what?

Minute Waltz

3. Mathematician Blaise Pascal designed the first modern public transportation system, the “carrosses à cinq sols,” or “five-penny carriages,” which began running in 1662 in what European city?

Paris

4. Named after a traditional Korean folk song, what is the title of BTS’s latest album — their first since the group temporarily disbanded to perform required military service?

“Arirang”

5. The Javanese Wars of Succession were three military confrontations between the Mataram Sultanate and what chartered company on the island of Java in the 1700s?

Dutch East India Company

Questions for
Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. “What takes this show from an amusing distraction about an idiot American to one of the most lovable shows of 2020 is its enormous heart,” is a critical reaction to Season 1 of what Emmy-winning show starring Jason Sudeikis?

2. Referring to one of her most famous epithets, which U.S. state is named after the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth I?

3. Anne-Sophie Mutter, Sarah Chang, and Hilary Hahn are all former child prodigies who have achieved lasting careers as classical soloists on what stringed instrument?

4. What beloved children’s book character first appeared as a 4-year-old neighbor who mispronounces her sister’s name in the 1950 book “Henry Huggins”?

5. When a group of them is circling, they're called a “kettle.” When they're roosting in a tree, they're called a “committee.” When they're feeding, they're called a “wake.” Name that scavenger bird!

1.  Ted Lasso

2.  Virginia 

5. Vulture

3. Violin

Answers to Wednesday,
May 6, 2026

1. “What takes this show from an amusing distraction about an idiot American to one of the most lovable shows of 2020 is its enormous heart,” is a critical reaction to Season 1 of what Emmy-winning show starring Jason Sudeikis?

“Ted Lasso”

2. Referring to one of her most famous epithets, which U.S. state is named after the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth I?

Virginia
(from “the Virgin Queen”)

3. Anne-Sophie Mutter, Sarah Chang, and Hilary Hahn are all former child prodigies who have achieved lasting careers as classical soloists on what stringed instrument?

Violin

4. What beloved children’s book character first appeared as a 4-year-old neighbor who mispronounces her sister’s name in the 1950 book “Henry Huggins”?

Ramona Quimby

5. When a group of them is circling, they're called a “kettle.” When they're roosting in a tree, they're called a “committee.” When they're feeding, they're called a “wake.” Name that scavenger bird!

Vulture

Questions for
Theme Thursday, May 7, 2026

AAPI Women: Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Here are five questions about AAPI women who broke barriers.

Answers in tomorrow’s email.

1. Who was the first Asian American woman to anchor a major nightly news program in the U.S.? She was the subject of a 2023 New York Times article about the many Asian American women, now in their 30s and 40s, who were named after her.

2. In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first Asian American vice president of the United States. That also made her the first Asian American president of what other political body?

3. What actor and flapper fashion icon starred in one of the first films in Technicolor, 1922’s “The Toll of the Sea”?

4. In 2001, Eden’s Crush became the first girl group to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, with the song “Get Over Yourself.” What Hawaiian-born singer and future Pussycat Doll was a member of that short-lived group?

5. What author became the first Asian American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000, for her short story collection “The Interpreter of Maladies”?

1.  Connie Chung

2.  The Senate

1. Connie Chung

2. The U.S. Senate

3. Anna May Wong

4. Nicole Scherzinger

Answers to Thursday,
May 7, 2026

AAPI Women: Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Here are five questions about AAPI women who broke barriers.

1. Who was the first Asian American woman to anchor a major nightly news program in the U.S.? She was the subject of a 2023 New York Times article about the many Asian American women, now in their 30s and 40s, who were named after her.

Connie Chung

2. In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first Asian American vice president of the United States. That also made her the first Asian American president of what other political body?

The U.S. Senate

3. What actor and flapper fashion icon starred in one of the first films in Technicolor, 1922’s “The Toll of the Sea”?

Anna May Wong

4. In 2001, Eden’s Crush became the first girl group to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, with the song “Get Over Yourself.” What Hawaiian-born singer and future Pussycat Doll was a member of that short-lived group?

Nicole Scherzinger

5. What author became the first Asian American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000, for her short story collection “The Interpreter of Maladies”?

Jhumpa Lahiri

Questions for Friday,
May 8, 2026

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in Monday’s email. 

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: British actor Emily Blunt has starred in five direct-sequel feature films. Name as many of those sequels as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

2. Spider-Man villain Flint Marko, wrestler Jim Fullington, Apollo Theater dancer Howard Sims, and Adam Sandler all share what dreamy nickname?

3. Broadway theaters have 500+ seats. Theaters with 100–499 seats are Off-Broadway. What are theaters with fewer than 100 seats called?

4. The Chicxulub Crater is a 110-mile bowl that resulted from the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. In what country is it located?

5. Today is May 8. On this day in 1970, the Beatles released their 12th and final studio album, which contained words of wisdom in songs like “Across the Universe,” “I’ve Got a Feeling,” and what title track?

4.  Mexico

5.  Let It Be

3. Off-off-Broadway

2. Sandman

1. Mary Poppins Returns, A Quiet Place Part 2, The Devil Wears Prada 2

Posted by: @mnnavy

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3. Off-off-Broadway

I seriously thought “off-off” either referenced distance or something else…

Answers to Friday, May 8, 2026

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: British actor Emily Blunt has starred in five direct-sequel feature films. Name as many of those sequels as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

“The Huntsman: Winter's War,” “Sherlock Gnomes,” “Mary Poppins Returns,” “A Quiet Place Part II,” “The Devil Wears Prada 2”
(and come to “The Devil Wears Prada” theme nights all throughout May!)

2. Spider-Man villain Flint Marko, wrestler Jim Fullington, Apollo Theater dancer Howard Sims, and Adam Sandler all share what dreamy nickname?

Sandman

3. Broadway theaters have 500+ seats. Theaters with 100–499 seats are Off-Broadway. What are theaters with fewer than 100 seats called?

Off-off Broadway

4. The Chicxulub Crater is a 110-mile bowl that resulted from the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. In what country is it located?

Mexico

5. Today is May 8. On this day in 1970, the Beatles released their 12th and final studio album, which contained words of wisdom in songs like “Across the Universe,” “I’ve Got a Feeling,” and what title track?

“Let It Be”

Questions for
Monday, May 11, 2026

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. Members of what organization, founded in 1905 by Mother Jones and Eugene Debs, among others, are often called “The Wobblies”?

2. The fictional KVWN Channel 4 News Team consists of two people whose name contains a variation of the color red. One is Ron Burgundy. Who is the other?

3. “Anon Pls.” is a novel co-written by Jessica Goodman and what publisher of celebrity gossip, whose Instagram pseudonym sounds French to me?

4. In 1971, East Pakistan declared its independence, becoming what present-day country?

5. Throwing, pinning, and submission are three main objectives of what martial art, whose name means “the gentle way” in Japanese?

5. Judo

1. Industrial Workers of the World

4. Bangladesh 

2. Brick Tamland

Answers to Monday,
May 11, 2026

1. Members of what organization, founded in 1905 by Mother Jones and Eugene Debs, among others, are often called “The Wobblies”?

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

2. The fictional KVWN Channel 4 News Team consists of two people whose name contains a variation of the color red. One is Ron Burgundy. Who is the other?

Brick Tamland

3. “Anon Pls.” is a novel co-written by Jessica Goodman and what publisher of celebrity gossip, whose Instagram pseudonym sounds French to me?

Deuxmoi
(“deux moi” roughly means “two me” in French)

4. In 1971, East Pakistan declared its independence, becoming what present-day country?

Bangladesh

5. Throwing, pinning, and submission are three main objectives of what martial art, whose name means “the gentle way” in Japanese?

Judo

Questions for
Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Five questions to wake up your noodle. Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. What company’s mascots include Captain CupCake and Fruit Pie the Magician?

2. A hidden plaque called “The Original Stash Tribute Plaque” can be found at the site where what outdoor activity was invented in 2000?

3. What household product introduced perforations in 1877, and was frequently marketed as “splinter-free” in the early 20th century?

4. Akira Kurosawa's “Seven Samurai” was remade as a Western in 1960 with Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner, and again in 2016 with Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. What were both of those remakes called?

5. Which of the baseball players who appeared in the classic 1992 “The Simpsons” episode “Homer at the Bat” finished his career with the most home runs, hitting 630 homers for the Mariners, Reds, and White Sox?

1.  Hostess

4.  The Magnificent Seven

3. Toilet paper

5. Ken Griffey Jr.

2. Geocache

Answers to Tuesday, May 12, 2026

1. What company’s mascots include Captain CupCake and Fruit Pie the Magician?

Hostess

2. A hidden plaque called “The Original Stash Tribute Plaque” can be found at the site where what outdoor activity was invented in 2000?

Geocaching

3. What household product introduced perforations in 1877, and was frequently marketed as “splinter-free” in the early 20th century?

Toilet paper

4. Akira Kurosawa's “Seven Samurai” was remade as a Western in 1960 with Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner, and again in 2016 with Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. What were both of those remakes called?

“The Magnificent Seven”

5. Which of the baseball players who appeared in the classic 1992 “The Simpsons” episode “Homer at the Bat” finished his career with the most home runs, hitting 630 homers for the Mariners, Reds, and White Sox?

Ken Griffey Jr.

Questions for Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Five questions to wake up your noodle. 

1. A two-pair of aces and eights, along with an unknown hole card, is known as the “Dead Man’s Hand” in poker because it was reportedly held by what gunslinger shortly before he was assassinated?
2. What word describes a unit of measurement equal to 1/8 of a mile or 220 yards, or an actor who played John Connor?
3. Major Ripley A. Arnold founded what city along the Trinity River in 1849, which began as an outpost that he named after one of his former military commanders?
4. What 2021 movie is the highest-grossing film worldwide in the Marvel Cinematic Universe without “Avengers” in its title?
5. Carrie Bradshaw revealed in “And Just Like That…” that a tulle Versace dress was her “pride and joy,” despite never having been worn out in public. That dress shares what name with a layered French puff pastry treat meaning “thousand sheets”?

1. Wild Bill Hickock