1. His most recent acting credits are in Four Christmases, Iron Man, and The Break-Up, all of which he also produced. For ten points each:

1. Name this former child actor fondly remembered as little Ralphie from A Christmas Story.
   Answer: Peter Billingsley
2. Billingsley was nominated for an Emmy for producing this man's quasi-talk show Dinner for Five. He directed Iron Man and Zathura, which Billingsley produced, and he gave Billingsley a cameo as an elf in Elf.
   Answer: Jon Favreau
3. Billingsley recently made his feature directing debut with this 2009 farce, co-written by and co-starring Favreau and Vince Vaughn. Carlos Ponce, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, and Malin Akerman fill out the cast with eye candy.
   Answer: Couples Retreat

2. Answer questions about a classic American toy for ten points each.

1. Originally sold in Cincinnati as a wallpaper cleaner, its main ingredients are water, salt, and wheat flour.
   Answer: Play-Doh
2. This 1960 product allows you to extrude Play-Doh into various shapes.
   Answer: Play-Doh Fun Factory
3. Two new colors were added to the Play-Doh line in 1996 to celebrate the 40th anniversary. Name either.
   Answer: Gold, Silver

3. Answer the following questions about what the members of Red Hot Chili Peppers are doing now that the band has gone on indefinite hiatus for ten points each.

1. Guitarist John Frusciante is once again working with this band, an offshoot of At The Drive In, which plays experimental, Latin-flavored heavy rock. They released Octahedron in 2009.
   Answer: The Mars Volta
2. Drummer Chad Smith has formed this supergroup with Joe Satriani and ex-Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony; they released their self-titled debut in April 2009.
   Answer: Chickenfoot
3. Lead singer Anthony Kiedis is working with HBO on a TV series based on his upbringing, adapted from some chapters in this, his autobiography, named for the lead single from the Chili Peppers' Californication album.
   Answer: Scar Tissue

4. Answer the following questions about Little Shop of Horrors for ten points each.

1. In the musical Little Shop of Horrors, Audrey II comes to Earth during this event, which also serves as impetus for the great longneck migration in The Land Before Time X..
   Answer: solar eclipse
2. The original 1960 film upon which the musical was based was directed by this "King of the Bs" whose earlier works include It Conquered the World and Attack of the Crab Monsters.
   Answer: Roger Corman
3. Played by Steve Martin in the film adaptation of the musical, this sadistic dentist and Audrey's boyfriend gets fed to Audrey II after he dies from an accidental overdose on nitrous oxide.
   Answer: Orin Scrivello (either name)

5. Name these current members of the Avengers, who have all been recently resurrected, for ten points each.

1. Killed off in 19-freakin-45, and originally known as The Winter Soldier upon his shameful 2008 resurrection, Bucky Barnes has currently taken up this mantle as an Avenger.
   Answer: Captain America
2. The current leader of the Avengers, Clint Barton, died at the end of House of M while known as Hawkeye, but now wields a katana as well as a bow in this new identity.
   Answer: Ronin
3. Barton has recently been reunited with former spouse Bobbi Morse, an acrobat and master of the battle-staff, revealed to be not dead but merely kidnapped by Skrulls, still fighting under this name.
   Answer: Mockingbird

6. For ten points each, name these Spike TV shows:

1. This show has featured hypothetical match-ups such as Yakuza vs. Mafia, IRA vs. Taliban, and Spartan vs. Ninja.
   Answer: Deadliest Warrior
2. Scenarios on this show include two guys using poison sumac as a marijuana replacement, a woman having an air embolism after cutting herself internally while pleasuring herself with a carrot, and a man on shrooms attacked by a bear that he mistakes for a furry.
   Answer: 1000 Ways to Die
3. Dennis Farina is the new host of this show that previously aired on NBC, CBS, and Spike.
   Answer: Unsolved Mysteries

7. Ah, anise! Answer the following related to drinks with the flavor in common, for ten points each.

1. Contrary to urban legend, this German liqueur does not contain the blood of ungulates; it contains beet sugar, cane sugar and sweet sweet anise.
   Answer: Jaegermeister
2. Some root beers, such as this gourmet microbrew brand developed by Jill and Edward Crowley, use anise as a flavor.
   Answer: Virgil's
3. Hierbas is a local anise-flavored liqueur on this Balearic Island whose cuisine also includes botifarr�, an anise-flavored sausage.
   Answer: Majorca (also accept Mallorca(Ma-YOR-ka))

8. For ten points each, answer these questions about what is shaping up as a legendary season for the 2009 Detroit Lions.

1. The Lions managed a regular season win by besting this NFC team 19-14.
   Answer: Washington Redskins
2. Not surprisingly, the leading scorer for the Lions with seven points was this long-time kicker.
   Answer: Jason Hanson
3. The Lions are once again cautiously hopeful about their prospects with the top pick of the draft returning from a knee injury after their bye week
   Answer: Matthew Stafford

9. Identify these real and not-so-real places that serve as venues for shows that take place in the game Guitar Hero: World Tour for ten points each.

1. One level of the game takes place at the real life venue of baseball's San Francisco Giants.
   Answer: AT&T Park
2. One earlier level occurs at the Hollywood Branch of this legendary three-store California music chain, famous for frequent in-store concerts much like the ones depicted in the game.
   Answer: Amoeba Music
3. In a not-quite-as-realistic depiction, the final level of the game happens aboard a chariot in this realm of the gods.
   Answer: Asgard

10. Who would have thought that a small town like Port Talbot, Wales, would have had such a big impact on the world of cinema? For ten points each:

1. This son of a coal miner took his stage name from the Port Talbot schoolmaster who encouraged him to go into acting. He earned 7 Oscar nominations for films like Becket, Equus, and The Robe and formed half of a Hollywood super-couple.
   Answer: Richard Burton
2. This Oscar winner from Port Talbot made his film debut as Richard the Lion-Hearted in The Lion in Winter and gave acclaimed performances as John Quincy Adams, C. S. Lewis, and Richard Nixon, but he is best known for having an old friend for dinner and eating a liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti.
   Answer: Anthony Hopkins
3. Soon to be seen as Aro in the Twilight sequel New Moon, this baby daddy of Kate Beckinsale is set to play Tony Blair for the third time in writer Peter Morgan's The Special Relationship. He was also Lucian in Underworld, Brian Clough in The Damned United, and David Frost in Frost/Nixon.
   Answer: Michael Sheen

11. Answer the following about the career of a British Invasion rock band and its offshoots for ten points each.

1. A major favorite of the mod subculture, this band scored several UK hits, including "Tin Soldier," "Lazy Sunday," and "All or Nothing"; their biggest hit in America was the psychedelic "Itchycoo Park."
   Answer: Small Faces
2. After the departure of original lead singer Steve Marriott, the remaining members of the Small Faces rechristened themselves the Faces, adding both future Rolling Stone Ron Wood and this singer from Jeff Beck's group, whose solo career has featured nearly 40 Top 40 hits.
   Answer: Rod Stewart
3. Marriott went and formed the band Humble Pie with this guitarist and longtime friend, whose talk-box-laden solo career reached its height with a famous multi-platinum 1976 live album that featured the oft-covered "Baby I Love Your Way."
   Answer: Peter Frampton

12. For ten points each, name these international sides upset by the U.S. men's soccer team:

1. This team was #1 in the FIFA World Rankings when it was defeated by the US in the semifinals of the 2009 Confederations Cup.
   Answer: Spain
2. The so-called "Miracle on Grass" was a 1-0 win in the 1950 World Cup that helped knock this squad out of contention.
   Answer: England
3. The team made the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals by defeating this team 2-0 in the round of 16, the same result as during the 2001 qualifiers.
   Answer: Mexico

13. For ten points each, name these cast members of Samantha Who?

1. She starred as amnesiac Samantha.
   Answer: Christina Applegate
2. Spin City, Related, and Rescue Me were previous series for this actress who played Samantha's best friend Andrea.
   Answer: Jennifer Esposito
3. Doorman Frank was played by this African-American actor who played Tuvok on Voyager.
   Answer: Tim Russ

14. For ten points each, name these rap-rock albums:

1. This EP had six tracks mashing up Jay-Z and Linkin Park, including the #20 hit "Numb/Encore".
   Answer: Collision Course
2. The entire gimmick of this 1993 soundtrack was rap-rock collaborations, including "Another Body Murdered" by Faith No More and Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. and "Fallin'" by Teenage Fan Club and De La Soul.
   Answer: Judgment Night
3. The All Music Guide lists as the prime example of the rap-rock sound this 1998 Kid Rock album that includes the songs "Only God Knows Why" and "Cowboy".
   Answer: Devil Without a Cause

15. His most memorable portrayer was Alec Guinness in the BBC miniseries Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. For ten points each:

1. Name this fictional spy for "The Circus" who faced off against a shadowy opposite number named "Karla" in a trilogy of novels by John Le Carre.
   Answer: George Smiley
2. Smiley was a minor character played by Rupert Davies in this 1965 classic centering on Alec Leamas' fake defection to East Germany. In a sly in-joke, Bernard Lee -- M from the James Bond series -- is cast as a lowly shopkeeper who gets beaten up.
   Answer: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
3. Renamed "Charles Dobbs," Smiley made his first onscreen appearance in Sidney Lumet's The Deadly Affair. In it, he was played by this actor better known as Nemo in Disney's 20000 Leagues Under the Sea and Humbert Humbert in Kubrick's Lolita.
   Answer: James Mason

16. Name these agony aunt columns now run by agony nieces.

1. This advice column, formerly run by one of a pair of advice-giving twins, is now run by her daughter Pauline Phillips.
   Answer: Dear Abby
2. This column founded by a Honolulu housewife is now run by her daughter Poncé Kiah Evans.
   Answer: Hints from Heloise
3. Great-Granddaughter-in-law Peggy has taken over for granddaughter-in-law Elizabeth as a columnist for Good Housekeeping, while great-great-granddaughers Lizzie and Anna cover weddings and 20-something life.
   Answer: Emily Post

17. For ten points each, name these college coaches who switched jobs in 2009:

1. Perhaps the biggest splash was made when this coach jumped from Memphis to Kentucky.
   Answer: John Calipari
2. His bringing Washington State to two NCAA tournament appearances in three seasons earned him the helm at Virginia.
   Answer: Tony Bennett
3. Given his one NCAA tournament appearance in 13 seasons at Arkansas State, perhaps the most notable thing about this new Southeast Missouri State coach is his name.
   Answer: Dickey Nutt

18. October saw the 43rd annual broadcast airing of a Fall Classic, which still beat such fare as So You Think You Can Dance in the ratings. For ten points each answer questions about a TV tradition.

1. ABC aired this cartoon at 8pm on October 27th that features a World War I flying ace getting shot down and a pair of kids waiting in a field.
   Answer: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
2. This 1972 special was paired with the Great Pumpkin to complete the hour on ABC this year. In spite of the name, it's Linus that loses votes because of his spoken belief in the GP.
   Answer: You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown
3. Schulz collaborated with producer Lee Mendelson and this Mexican-born animator who passed away in September 2008 for The Great Pumpkin and dozens of other shows.
   Answer: Jose "Bill" Melendez

19. After fifteen years Jim Rice and his pre-juice-ball 382 home runs finally made it into the Hall of Fame last Summer. For ten points each answer questions about Rice�s career

1. Rice was forced to miss this historic series featured in Ken Burns� Baseball because of an injury sustained late in his rookie year. The injury gave Bernie Carbo a chance to hit against his former team as Rice�s replacement
   Answer: The 1975 World Series (also accept Red Sox vs. Reds)
2. In the 1978 AL East playoff game, Rice served as a substitute right-fielder for this eight-time Gold Glover who hit 385 career homers, which is why Carl Yastrzemski is featured in all those Bucky Dent replays.
   Answer: Dwight "Dewey" Evans
3. Rice led the league in this negative category yearly from 1982 to 1985. It didn't help that Bill Buckner was the top base-stealer for the Red Sox for all those years with a high of 18 in 1985.
   Answer: Hit into double-plays

20. Feeling a little tired? For ten points each answer these questions about companies who make soft comfy things to lie down on.

1. This manufacturer of the BeautyRest line headquartered in Atlanta filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2009.
   Answer: Simmons
2. Simmons is now held under Ares Management LLC, the same holding company that manages this competing brand famous for its rejected counting sheep campaign.
   Answer: Serta
3. With stock ticker ZZ, this PosturePedic maker claims to be the largest mattress manufacturer in the world
   Answer: Sealy

21. It stars Takashi Shimura as Kanji Watanabe, a middle-aged bureaucrat coming to terms with his impending death. For ten points each:

1. Name this 1952 Japanese classic, possibly the most famous film made by its director that is set in the present day.
   Answer: Ikiru or To Live
2. Ikiru was directed by this master, perhaps better remembered for jidaigeki like Throne of Blood, Yojimbo, and The Seven Samurai.
   Answer: Akira Kurosawa
3. "To Live" is the English translation of the titles of both Ikiru and Huozhe, a 1994 epic about the Cultural Revolution directed by this Chinese maker of Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, and Hero.
   Answer: Zhang Yimou (prompt on "Zhang")

22. Answer the following related to a fast food franchise, for ten points each.

1. In 2009, this fast food chain started testing a spicy variety of their pressured-cooked in peanut oil staple, still featured with pickle slices.
   Answer: Chick-fil-A
2. Chick-fil-A was founded by this Georgian and devout Baptist who's been kind enough to ensure that his employees don't have to work on Sundays.
   Answer: Samuel Truett Cathy
3. In 1984 Truett Cathy established this charitable organization, which now has branches for college, home, camp, wilderness, retreat, marriage and international interests.
   Answer: WinShape Foundation