ACRONYM VIII - Round 3
toss-ups
1. The first competition at one of these events was won by Tito Santana. The third of
these events set an attendance record for an indoor sporting event and saw victories by
The Hart Foundation and Roddy Piper. One man whose success at this event led to him
being named “Mr.” this event is named Shawn Michaels. The thirtieth of these events
occurred in 2014 and saw the end of a 21-match win streak when Brock Lesnar defeated the
Undertaker. For 10 points, name this annual event, the flagship pay-per-view of the WWE.
Answer: WrestleMania
2. One character on this show was named after Charlotte’s daughter on “Sex and the
City”, and that character was played by Jaden and Ella Hiller before being replaced after
two seasons by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons. That character’s father, a former University of
Illinois football player and classically trained clown, is played by Eric Stonestreet. This series
also features a real estate agent who is the father of Alex, Luke and Haley. For 10 points, name
this ABC series about the intersecting lives of the Pritchetts and Dunphys.
Answer: Modern Family
3. The Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” was the first program to depict a live performance
of this action. An offshoot of this action was introduced in India and involved rice as a
main component. This action was first inspired by Pete Frates, who performed it at Fenway
Park. Barack Obama declined Ethel Kennedy’s request that he perform this action, while SteveO criticized it in favor of donating money. For 10 points, identify this viral phenomenon in which
participants douse themselves to raise money and awareness for ALS.
Answer: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
4. This film’s makers digitally removed buttons from several characters’ military uniforms
to avoid accusations of blasphemy. Lizzy Caplan appears as Agent Lacey in this film,
which also co-stars Diana Bang as Sook. One scene in this film is set to an acoustic
cover of Katy Perry’s “Firework” and depicts a missile hitting a helicopter, and that scene was
revealed in a leak of information from Sony Pictures. For 10 points, name this controversial
2014 film about the assassination of Kim Jong-un at the hands of Seth Rogen and James
Franco.
Answer: The Interview
5. This game’s working title was Project Tiger, and the song “Hope For The Future” plays
during its end credits. This game’s Ishtar Sink contains the Vault of Glass, a raid that can
be accessed by groups known as fireteams. This game's Crucible mode can be accessed via
The Tower, a floating city, while other modes include patrols and strikes. This game depicts a
building that resembles a character that its developers created for the Halo series. For 10
points, name this 2014 online first-person shooter by Bungie.
Answer: Destiny
ACRONYM VIII - Round 3
toss-ups
6. Part of this novel is set in 19th century Latvia, where a song is sung to a pig in order to
win the favor of Myra Menke. The father of this book’s protagonist develops an antidote
to foot odor composed of fermented spiced peaches and onions and named Sploosh. In
this young adult book, Dr. Pendanski, otherwise known as “Mom” is hit in the face with a shovel
by Hector, who is also known as “Zero.” For ten points name this book by Louis Sachar (SACKer) that follows Stanley Yelnats, who digs the title openings in the ground.
Answer: Holes
7. A parody of this song released by NASA notes that “every spaceship needs
propulsion.” Sione Maraschino appears as dancer in the music video for this song, which
also features its performer singing next to a doll house. This song appears alongside “Close
Your Eyes” and “Dear Future Husband” on the EP “Title” and notes that the listener should “go
ahead and move along” if interested in a “silicone Barbie doll”. For 10 points, identify this trebledecrying debut single by Meghan Trainor.
Answer: “All About That Bass”
8. Description acceptable. Peter Nyong’o (nee-YON-go) was depicted as a part of this,
which occurred just before a video describing a ceremony hosted by Kristen Bell. The
instigator of this event had just ordered pizza for the other people depicted in it. The left
half of Jared Leto’s face can be seen in this image, which was accompanied with the phrase “if
only Bradley’s arm was longer”, and was ultimately revealed to be a promotion for Samsung.
For 10 points, identify this image taken at a major awards show initiated by Ellen DeGeneres.
Answer: the Oscars selfie (accept the Ellen selfie or anything else reasonably close)
9. The NBA rule that allows for a higher max salary after a rookie contract is named for
this player, who is the youngest NBA MVP in history. This player’s SAT scores were
invalidated, leading to the vacating of all of his collegiate wins at Memphis. In a 2012
playoff game against the 76ers, this player tore his ACL. After tearing his meniscus a year later,
this player missed another season before returning in 2014 to a team also led by Joakim (JOEkim) Noah. For 10 points, name this point guard for the Chicago Bulls.
Answer: Derrick Rose
10. This man directed the music video for the Ben Folds song “Rockin’ the Suburbs”. On
one song, this man wishes he could disconnect his brain from his eyes, while on another
song he notes that he name-drops celebrities “constantly”. Though he found success with
albums such as Straight Outta Lynwood and Poodle Hat, this man did not reach #1 until 2014,
when he released an album that featured the songs “Foil” and “Tacky” and was titled Mandatory
Fun. For 10 points, name this accordion-playing comedy musician.
Answer: “Weird Al” Yankovic (accept either underlined part; accept Alfred Yankovic)
ACRONYM VIII - Round 3
toss-ups
11. Scenes from the beginning of this film are interspersed with stock footage of wild
animals. This film’s antagonist is a mob boss named Mr. Jang, and it depicts the lectures
of Samuel Norman, a professor played by Morgan Freeman. The ingestion of the drug CPH4
sets this film’s events into motion, including its title character gaining telekinetic powers and
extreme intelligence. For 10 points, name this film, in which the Scarlett Johansson-played title
character approaches the ability to use 100% of her brain.
Answer: Lucy
12. The winning song at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest has a title that eludes to one
of these creatures. One of these creatures is the mascot for Swarthmore College. This
animal appears in the title of a 2000 EP by punk band AFI, as well as the title of a 2012
album by Tenacious D. A band with this name released the 2013 album Bankrupt!, as well as
the singles “1901” and “Lisztomania”. X-Men member Jean Gray is sometimes known as, for 10
points, what fictional bird that appears in the title of the fifth book in the Harry Potter series?
Answer: Phoenix
13. On That 70’s Show, Eric Foreman kept his money inside a box for this game, which
was frequently stolen. Older versions of this game featured a character named Plumpy,
while newer versions of use a spinner in place of cards to determine movement. A creature
named Jolly appears in this game, as does the Duke of Swirl, who replaced the “woodsman” Mr.
Mint. Gloppy is found in a swamp after meeting Princess Frostine in, for 10 points, what
children’s board game based in a world filled with sweets?
Answer: Candy Land
14. The only man to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of this team
was the leading vote-getter in 2011, Roberto Alomar. This team’s general manager is Alex
Anthopoulos (an-THOP-o-liss). The last World Series-clinching home run was hit by this
team’s Joe Carter in 1993. Roy Halladay played his first twelve seasons with this team, whose
2014 season saw 30-home run performances by Edwin Encarnacion (en-car-noss-ee-OWN)
and Jose Bautista. For 10 points, name this AL East team, the only franchise in Canada.
Answer: Toronto Blue Jays (accept either, prompt on ‘Jays’)
15. At the wedding of these people, the bride’s dress and veil were adorned with
cartoons drawn by this couple’s children. In 2014, one child of these people revealed a
preference of the name John over the birth name Shiloh, and they also have three adopted
children including a boy named Maddox. These people met on the set of a film in which they
played assassins hired to kill each other, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. For 10 points, name this Hollywood
couple, one of whom directed the 2014 film Unbroken and the other of whom starred in Fury.
Answer: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (accept Brangelina; accept Angelina Jolie Voight in
place of ‘Jolie’; prompt on partial answer)
ACRONYM VIII - Round 3
toss-ups
16. Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS shoes based on his experiences traveling to
Argentina on this show. Lawyers and best friends Rob Frisbee and Brennan Swain were
the first winners of this reality show. Obstacles on this show require people to complete
“Road Blocks” and “Detours”, while “U-Turns” require contestants to go back and do another
detour. New Zealand-born Phil Keoghan (KAY-gin) is the host of, for 10 points, what competition
show that requires teams of two to partake in a voyage around the world?
Answer: The Amazing Race
17. This person played the handler of a bear who attacks the ABA commissioner in the
film Semi-Pro. This actress voiced the founder of Miss Hattie’s Home for Girls in
Despicable Me and, in that film’s sequel, voiced the lipstick-taser-wielding Lucy Wield. This
actress appeared as Ben Stiller’s love interest in the Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and co-wrote a
film in which she starred as Maya Rudolph’s maid of honor. For 10 points, name this Saturday
Night Live alum, the star of Bridesmaids.
Answer: Kristen Wiig
18. On an episode of Seinfeld, Jerry uses this word to emphasize the importance of the
second button of his shirt. A comic on theoatmeal.com discussing this word cites a Jerry
Falwell quote that also mentions a steamroller. An XKCD comic deriding improper use of
this word noted that a character was not glued to his seat in this way. This word is frequently
used by Chris Traeger, a Rob Lowe-portrayed character on Parks and Recreation. For 10
points, name this often misused word that is not synonymous with ‘figuratively’.
Answer: literally
19. This artist performed as a dancer in multiple Jessie J music videos and released a
collaborative single whose chorus addresses “my fallen dove”. That single also features
the band Inc. This singer’s eyes grow continuously larger in the video for her song
“Water Me”. This woman’s stage name comes from her ability to crack her joints, and her debut
album, LP1, was preceded by the singles “Two Weeks” and “Pendulum”. For 10 points, name
this singer whose stage name uses a three-letter initialism to reference her previous name.
Answer: FKA twigs (accept Tahliah Barnett)
20. This character was created in response to a 1999 Screen Actors Guild strike and has
been voiced by Kelsey Grammer and Jake Wood. This character’s real name is unknown,
though in one appearance he stated it was not Stanley. In his first appearance, this
character insists that the audience stop calling him, while in a later appearance he dramatically
laments having a flat tire. For 10 points, name this advertising mascot, a lizard who wishes to
save you 15% or more on car insurance with GEICO.
Answer: the GEICO gecko (prompt on ‘lizard’ before mention)