Totally Random Trivia - 2026

Answers to Thursday,
August 27, 2026

Round the Radio Dial: Tune in to a round of trivia dedicated to all things on the radio.

1. What long-running radio show hosted by Tom and Ray Magliozzi was known as the “Home of Click & Clack,” and encouraged listeners to call the toll-free number 888-227-8255 with questions?

“Car Talk”
(the toll free number is 888-CAR-TALK)

2. What Peabody-award winning radio show, co-founded in 2002 by Jad Abumrad, is described as the place “where deep-dive journalism, storytelling and sound design meet”?

“RadioLab”

3. Channel 34 on SiriusXM, the radio station for grunge rock and '90s alternative, is named after which element on the periodic table?

Lithium

4. What fictional Texas lawman — played by Clayton Moore, John Hart, and Chad Michael Murray — debuted on a radio program at Detroit’s WXYZ in 1933?

The Lone Ranger

5. What nonprofit organization’s radio jingle, written in 1999, is so universally reviled that it was chosen as the theme song to hell in the TV show “The Good Place”?

Kars4Kids

Questions for Friday,
August 28, 2026

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

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are five NFL teams that have made two or more appearances at the Super Bowl without ever winning the game. Name as many of those teams as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

2. 1957’s “Saxophone Colossus” is probably the best-known studio album from what legendary jazz musician who died at age 95 in May 2026?

3. Argentina, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, and Lebanon are four of the 120-plus countries in the world whose official names include what eight-letter word?

4. Mahershala Ali has won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor twice for films that also won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Name both films, released two years apart in the 2010s.

5. Today is August 28. On this day in 1968, protests fueled by civil unrest related to the Vietnam War at the Democratic National Convention culminated in the so-called Battle of Michigan Avenue in what city?

5. Chicago

2. Sonny Rollins

3. Republic ??

Quote: Zwak

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are five NFL teams that have made two or more appearances at the Super Bowl without ever winning the game. Name as many of those teams as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

1.  Minnesota, Buffalo, Cincy,...

Quote: Greyeagle

Quote: Zwak

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are five NFL teams that have made two or more appearances at the Super Bowl without ever winning the game. Name as many of those teams as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

1.  Minnesota, Buffalo, Cincy,...

Carolina

atlanta is the last one (matt ryan infamy and a viking connection for hte other)

Answers to Friday, August 28, 2026

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: There are five NFL teams that have made two or more appearances at the Super Bowl without ever winning the game. Name as many of those teams as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect.

Minnesota Vikings (4 appearances), Buffalo Bills (4), Cincinnati Bengals (3), Carolina Panthers (2), Atlanta Falcons (2)

2. 1957’s “Saxophone Colossus” is probably the best-known studio album from what legendary jazz musician who died at age 95 in May 2026?

Sonny Rollins

3. Argentina, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, and Lebanon are four of the 120-plus countries in the world whose official name includes what eight-letter word?

Republic
(Argentine Republic, Hellenic Republic, Kyrgyz Republic, and Lebanese Republic, respectively)

4. Mahershala Ali has won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor twice for films that also won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Name both films, released two years apart in the 2010s.

“Moonlight,” “Green Book”

5. Today is August 28. On this day in 1968, protests fueled by civil unrest related to the Vietnam War at the Democratic National Convention culminated in the so-called Battle of Michigan Avenue in what city?

Chicago

Questions for
Monday, August 31, 2026

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

1. Though it can only be found in South America, what snake may have gotten its name from a Tamil phrase roughly meaning “elephant killer”?

2. If you’re choosing between the “glide” style and the “spin” style, you probably participate in what Olympic event?

3. “Blazing Saddles,” “Bugsy Malone,” and Laurel and Hardy’s “The Battle of the Century” all end in fights conducted with what projectiles?

4. What actor provided the Mandarin and Cantonese-language dubs for Li Shang in “Mulan,” as well as the voice of Master Monkey in “Kung Fu Panda” and Splinter in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”?

5. What medical term, often used in drug testing, means “I shall please” in Latin?

2. Shot put

1 Anaconda

4 Jackie Chan

3. Pies

5. Placebo

Quote: The Rube

3. Pies

Answers to Monday, August 31, 2026

1. Though it can only be found in South America, what snake may have gotten its name from a Tamil phrase roughly meaning “elephant killer”?

Anaconda

2. If you’re choosing between the “glide” style and the “spin” style, you probably participate in what Olympic event?

Shot put

3. “Blazing Saddles,” “Bugsy Malone,” and Laurel and Hardy’s “The Battle of the Century” all end in fights conducted with what projectiles?

Pies

4. What actor provided the Mandarin and Cantonese-language dubs for Li Shang in “Mulan,” as well as the voice of Master Monkey in “Kung Fu Panda” and Splinter in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”?

Jackie Chan

5. What medical term, often used in drug testing, means “I shall please” in Latin?

“Placebo”

Questions for
Tuesday, September 1, 2026

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

1. In plastic surgery, rhinoplasty is to nose as otoplasty is to… what?

2. A pre-solo career Steve Winwood band that gave us the songs “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “Light Up or Leave Me Alone” shares what name with a 2000 Best Picture nominee directed by Steven Soderbergh?

3. “When Jeff left home, Jack got fat” is a mnemonic device to remember what?

4. There were no Nobel Peace Prize winners from 1939 through 1943. In 1944, the prize was won by what organization, which also won in 1917 and 1963?

5. Major Martin R. Delany was a writer and abolitionist who became the U.S. Army's first Black field officer. He served during and after what war?

2. Traffic

5. The Civil War

4. Red Cross

1. Ear

3. People on bills as you move up in value. 

Answers to Tuesday, September 1, 2026

1. In plastic surgery, rhinoplasty is to nose as otoplasty is to… what?

Ear

2. A pre-solo career Steve Winwood band that gave us the songs “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “Light Up or Leave Me Alone” shares what name with a 2000 Best Picture nominee directed by Steven Soderbergh?

Traffic

3. “When Jeff left home, Jack got fat” is a mnemonic device to remember what?

People featured on U.S. paper currency
(Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Hamilton, Jackson, Grant, Franklin)

4. There were no Nobel Peace Prize winners from 1939 through 1943. In 1944, the prize was won by what organization, which also won in 1917 and 1963?

(International Committee of the) Red Cross  

5. Major Martin R. Delany was a writer and abolitionist who became the U.S. Army's first Black field officer. He served during and after what war?

The Civil War

Questions for
Wednesday, September 2, 2026

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

1. “The Future Is On Me” and “Absolutely Psychic” were working titles for what supernatural mid-2000s Disney Channel sitcom, which was ultimately named after its star? 

2. Near Halloween, a former roadside fruit stand turned amusement park in Buena Park, California changes its name to become what punny, spooktacular attraction?

3. Fill in the blank in the analogy: Jon Taffer is to “Bar Rescue” as BLANK is to “Kitchen Nightmares.”

4. The tradition of drinking a certain beverage in Victory Lane after the Indy 500 began in 1936 when Louis Meyer drank it because his mother told him it would refresh him on a hot day. Name that beverage.

5. A Greek goddess associated with growth and fertility is the likely namesake for which month of the year?

3.  Gordon Ramsay ??

4.  Milk

2. Knott's Berry Farm?

4. Milk

5. May

1. That’s So Raven

Answers to Wednesday,
September 2, 2026

1. “The Future Is On Me” and “Absolutely Psychic” were working titles for what supernatural mid-2000s Disney Channel sitcom, which was ultimately named after its star? 

“That’s So Raven”

2. Near Halloween, a former roadside fruit stand turned amusement park in Buena Park, California changes its name to become what punny, spooktacular attraction?

Knott’s Scary Farm
(Knott’s Berry Farm)

3. Fill in the blank in the analogy: Jon Taffer is to “Bar Rescue” as BLANK is to “Kitchen Nightmares.”

Gordon Ramsay

4. The tradition of drinking a certain beverage in Victory Lane after the Indy 500 began in 1936 when Louis Meyer drank it because his mother told him it would refresh him on a hot day. Name that beverage.

Milk (specifically, buttermilk)

5. A Greek goddess associated with growth and fertility is the likely namesake for which month of the year?

May
(Maia)

Questions for
Theme Thursday, September 3, 2026

American Idiom: I’ll describe something whose title or name is a common idiomatic phrase in American English, and tell you what that phrase means. You identify the idiom! Example: “A Keanu Reeves supernatural drama from 1997. It means ‘pretending to support the opposing argument.’” Answer: “The Devil’s Advocate.”

Answers in tomorrow’s email. 

1. A Tennessee Williams play adapted to film in 1958. It describes someone in a nervous state of mind.

2. A 2008 song by Adele. It describes someone or something that’s perfectly fit and well.

3. The title of albums by the Rolling Stones, Lou Rawls, and the Backstreet Boys. It means “bruised.”

4. A Hasbro board game for children. It means “keep a secret.”

5. An 11-season drama series on the WB starring Jessica Biel. It means “intense happiness.”

1. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

5. "7th Heaven"

3. Black And Blue

2. Right as Rain

4 Don't spill the beans

Answers to Thursday,
September 3, 2026

American Idiom: I’ll describe something whose title or name is a common idiomatic phrase in American English, and tell you what that phrase means. You identify the idiom! Example: “A Keanu Reeves supernatural drama from 1997. It means ‘pretending to support the opposing argument.’” Answer: “The Devil’s Advocate.”

1. A Tennessee Williams play adapted to film in 1958. It describes someone in a nervous state of mind.

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

2. A 2008 song by Adele. It describes someone or something that’s perfectly fit and well.

“Right as Rain”

3. The title of albums by the Rolling Stones, Lou Rawls, and the Backstreet Boys. It means “bruised.”

“Black and Blue”

4. A Hasbro board game for children. It means “keep a secret.”

“Don’t Spill the Beans”

5. An 11-season drama series on the WB starring Jessica Biel. It means “intense happiness.”

“Seventh Heaven”

Quick programming note: No newsletter on Monday. Happy Labor Day! We’ll be back in your inbox on Tuesday.

Questions for
Friday, September 4, 2026

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

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: The Great Basin is the largest endorheic, or “closed,” watershed in North America. It touches six U.S. states — none of which is Colorado. Name as many of those states as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect. 

2. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels were two of the first competitors in what WWE wrestling event with a rhyming title that takes place entirely inside a locked cage?

3. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize “in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with” what neighboring country?

4. What field sport has banned left-handed play since the 1970s, in an effort to prevent head-on collisions?

5. Today is September 4. On this day in 2022, what author received her fifth Hugo Award for writing the comic series “Far Sector,” following earlier wins for “Emergency Skin” and the Broken Earth trilogy?

3. Eritrea

4. Field hockey

2. Hell in a Cell

Quote: MNNavy

3. Eritrea

4. Field hockey

4.  I think it’s polo.

Quote: Zwak

Quote: MNNavy

3. Eritrea

4. Field hockey

4.  I think it’s polo.

That does seem to make more sense (although, I believe field hockey also prohibits left handed players).

1 California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, ???

Quote: Steve MN

1 California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, ???

Wyoming?

Quote: Norm

Quote: Steve MN

1 California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, ???

Wyoming?

Either that or Washington, I can't remember which, hence, not including it

Quote: Steve MN

Quote: Norm

Quote: Steve MN

1 California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, ???

Wyoming?

Either that or Washington, I can't remember which, hence, not including it

Ok this is a cool question since I had never heard of The Great Basin nor closed watersheds.  I always presumed watersheds eventually drained into an ocean.  

(close enough to the answer I don't feel bad about posting the answer 😉 )

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Basin

5 nk jemison

@greyeagle Looks like the state I guessed has about 10 acres in the basin lol.

Quote: MNNavy

Quote: Zwak

Quote: MNNavy

3. Eritrea

4. Field hockey

4.  I think it’s polo.

That does seem to make more sense (although, I believe field hockey also prohibits left handed players).

Jai Alai (although not a field sport) also bans left-handed players 

Answers to Friday, September 4, 2026

1. Quit While You’re Ahead: The Great Basin is the largest endorheic, or “closed,” watershed in North America. It touches six U.S. states — none of which is Colorado. Name as many of those states as you can for one point each. Zero points total if you get any incorrect. 

California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming

2. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels were two of the first competitors in what WWE wrestling event with a rhyming title that takes place entirely inside a locked cage?

“Hell in a Cell”

3. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize “in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with” what neighboring country?

Eritrea

4. What field sport has banned left-handed play since the 1970s, in an effort to prevent head-on collisions?

Polo

5. Today is September 4. On this day in 2022, what author received her fifth Hugo Award for writing the comic series “Far Sector,” following earlier wins for “Emergency Skin” and the Broken Earth trilogy?

N.K. Jemisin

Questions for
Tuesday, September 8, 2026

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

1. Of the 50 most expensive paintings ever sold at auction, 48 were sold by one of two famous auction houses. Name either of them.

2. Levi Stubbs was a prominent baritone who provided the voice for the alien plant Audrey II in the 1986 film “Little Shop of Horrors.” Before that, he was a member of what Motown quartet, known for “Baby I Need Your Loving”?
 
3. Stars appear on many U.S. state flags, but only one state’s depicts a real asterism, or small pattern of stars. The Big Dipper can be seen on the flag of which state?

4. “The BLANK failed because it was a good product”: That’s a quote from The Atlantic, about the bankruptcy of what kitchen appliance, which appeared in 2010 and peaked in 2020?

5. South African golfer Ernie Els got his nickname from his 6-foot-3 height and his fluid golf swing. If you put that nickname into Wikipedia, it will take you to the page for what U.S. city?

3. Alaska

5. New Orleans

3. The Four Tops