TV and movie writers went on strike. Three-quels boosted the movie box office. The Anna Nicole Smith tragedy played out on CNN. And Britney Spears was one of many stars who were overexposed. How well do you remember the 2007 pop culture landscape?
[ ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, REDEYE ]1. Three-quel was the catch phrase of the summer with four fan-favorite series releasing new films. Although each film finished in the top 25 of the U.S. all-time box office, one film managed to obliterate the “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” record for biggest opening weekend of all time. Which film was it?
A.”The Bourne Ultimatum”
B. “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”
C. “Shrek The Third”
D. “Spider-Man 3”
2. Speaking of threes, Russell Crowe’s portrayal of real-life cop Richie Roberts in “American Gangster” marked the third pairing of Crowe with director Ridley Scott since “Gladiator” in 2000. What other movie did the duo team up for?
3. Jim Dale, the narrator of the “Harry Potter” film series, has a new job now that J.K. Rowling’s last book has been published. His voice can be heard narrating which new TV show about a piemaker?
4. After a long hiatus, Bravo’s fashion design competition “Project Runway” reappeared with 15 new contestants and their mentor Tim Gunn. In the second challenge, the designers had to create a look for under $15 for which fashion icon?
A. Barbie
B. Nicole Kidman
C. Sarah Jessica Parker
D. Gwen Stefani
* Bonus: What is the name of this celebrity’s fashion line?
* Bonus No. 2: Who won the design challenge?
5. Gerard Butler’s starring role in the film “300” made him a sex symbol and a household name. What badly reviewed romantic comedy did he star in at the end of the year?
6. Who was the first late-night talk show host to return to the air during the TV writers’ strike?
7. What movie writer-director-producer is the new king of comedy, with “Knocked Up” and “Superbad” both grossing almost $300 million?
8. Match the inane lyrics to the hot summer songs:
1. “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” T-Pain
2. “Hey There Delilah,” Plain White T’s
3. “Beautiful Girls,” Sean Kingston
4. “Umbrella,” Rihanna
A. “A thousand miles seems pretty far / but they’ve got planes and trains and cars / I’d walk to you if I had no other way”
B. “You have my heart / and we’ll never be worlds apart / May be in magazines / but you’ll still be my star”
C. “Let’s get gone / walk it out (now walk it out) / just like that / that’s what I’m talkin’ bout”
D. “See it started at the park / Used to chill after dark / Oh when you took my heart”
* Bonus: Which act listed above is from Chicago?
9. “The Sopranos” producer Matthew Weiner finally saw his TV show — seven years in the making — debut on AMC. “Mad Men” portrays the life of advertising executives in what decade?
10. More than 9.9 million visitors on YouTube have viewed about 1,500 inmates from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines performing the choreography to which Michael Jackson video?
A. “Bad”
B. “Billie Jean”
C. “Smooth Criminal”
D. “Thriller”
11. Thanks to much campaigning by pals George Clooney and Brad Pitt, who was named People’s Sexiest Man of the Year?
12. First-time Oscar nominee Jennifer Hudson (left) won the award in 2007 for her first-ever movie role in “Dreamgirls.” What was the role?
* Bonus: On what TV show did Hudson first gain fame?* Bonus No. 2: From which city does Hudson hail?
13. Sanjaya Malakar’s changing hairstyles on “American Idol” often overshadowed the performances. Match each hairstyle to the song Malakar performed while sporting it.
1. “Waiting on the World to Change” 2. “Bathwater” 3. “Besame Mucho” 4. “Something to Talk About” 5. “Cheek to Cheek”
14. After hosting “The Price Is Right” for 35 years, Bob Barker passed the torch to funnyman Drew Carey. Barker appeared as himself in what Adam Sandler movie?
15. TRUE OR FALSE?
The 17.2-million viewers who tuned in to Disney Channel’s premiere of “High School Musical 2” on Aug. 17 made it the highest rated basic cable broadcast ever.
16. With which of these stars has hitmaker Timbaland not teamed up?
A.Ginuwine
B. Missy Elliott
C. Bjork
D. All of the above
17. After 11 years, the Spice Girls came out of retirement and launched a reunion tour. Do you remember their original stage names?
A. Victoria Beckham
B. Emma Bunton
C. Melanie Brown
D. Geri Halliwell
E. Melanie Chisholm
1. Baby Spice
2. Scary Spice
3. Posh Spice
4. Sporty Spice
5. Ginger Spice
18. “Ugly Betty” won an Emmy for best TV comedy and kept the laughs coming in its second season. Match the quote with the cast member who said it:
A.”You’ve taken a lover, and that lover has a creamy center!”
B.”I’ve been drinking … I mean, thinking. Actually they’re both right.”
C. “Friends do not let friends wear glitter before noon.”
D. “Yes, he’s mean, like Simon Cowell, but with a Pulitzer. And I can’t just be Jordin Sparks good, I have to be Kelly Clarkson, Miss Independent good.”
E.”For his 28th birthday, he tried to buy an island. And Jennifer Lopez.”
1. Amanda
2. Marc
3. Wilhelmina
4. Claire
5. Betty
19. In May, Rosie O’Donnell got into a verbal battle with which “The View” co-star?
20. “Gone Baby Gone” marked the directorial debut for which actor?
21. Which “American Idol” alum had the No. 1 album of the year?
22. Justin Timberlake’s second solo album, “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” has scored how many top 20 hits?
23. Diablo Cody, who wrote the script for the teen pregnancy comedy “Juno,” was discovered by a talent manager who came across her blog about her year working as a stripper. What book did her blog become?
24. “Lost” creator J.J. Abrams is directing a “Star Trek” prequel that may open next Christmas. Match the new actors to the characters they will play.
Chris Pine
John Cho
Zachary Quinto
Simon Pegg
Karl Urban
1. Scotty
2. Kirk
3. Sulu
4. Bones
5. Spock
25. Which of these celebs spent the shortest time behind bars?
A. Paris Hilton
B. Lindsay Lohan
C. Nicole Richie
D. Kiefer Sutherland
– – –
ANSWERS:
1. D. “Spider-Man 3” took in roughly $151 million. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” earned about $137 million.
2. “A Good Year” (2006)
3.”Pushing Daisies”
4.C. Sarah Jessica Parker; Bonus: Bitten Bonus No. 2: Victorya Hong
5. “P.S. I Love You”
6.Carson Daly
7.Judd Apatow
8. A-2 B-4 C-1 D-3 Bonus: Plain White T’s
9. 1960s
10.D. “Thriller”
11. Matt Damon
12.Effie WhiteBonus: “American Idol” Bonus No. 2: Chicago
13.A-4 B-5 C-2 D-1 E-3
14.”Happy Gilmore”
15.False. December’s Monday Night Football game featuring the undefeated New England Patriots’ near loss to the Baltimore Ravens bested HSM2’s numbers by about 300,000 viewers.
16.D. All
17.A-3 B-1 C-2 D-5 E-4
18.A-2 B-4 C-1 D-5 E-3
19.Elisabeth Hasselbeck
20.Ben Affleck
21.Chris Daughtry
22.Six
23.”Candy Girl”
24. A-2 B-3 C-5 D-1 E-4
25.C. Nicole Richie checked out in 82 minutes.
HOW DID YOU DO?
How to score: Give yourself one point for each correct answer. For questions that require multiple answers (such as 8), give yourself one point for each correct answer. Give yourself one point for each correct answer to the bonus questions as well.
Above 44: Reading RedEyehas paid off. Give yourself a pat on the back.
30-44 points: We know you tried your hardest, and so many answers were on the tip of your tongue. Spend more time surfing redeyechicago.com.
15-29: You could have done worse, but not much worse. You’re prone to spending too much time outdoors and not much time at the theaters or in front of the TV.
Below 14: Better luck next year!
