Trivia Club: Kendrick Lamar

Saturday Night Live Fantasy League: Episode 39x13: Melissa McCarthy & Imagine Dragons

Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

QUALITY: Are you listening to the podcast? Listen to the podcast while you read the breakdown to tonight's episode and/or skim to see the updated scores.
PROBLEMATIC: Don't know how the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League scoring breaks down? Look no further! Have ideas for improvement? Let us know!
PROBLEMATIC: Full disclosure, even though I am the reviewer of this episode and the creator of the SNL Fantasy League… I’m also a participant in the League because, really?! Why would I create something so awesome and not get involved in it! It would be like not going to the After Party and you HAVE TO go to the AFTER PARTY(thanks to Rob for sending this link)! Though the point I was going to make, Melissa McCarthy is my first successful host prediction, personally. So I’ll try to be as unbiased a reviewer, as I am a commissioner. Speaking of “Really?!”, well, we’ll get to that actually.

QUALITY: With an opening panel such as this, my Fantasy League self is immediately warring with the reviewer in me. Honestly though, it’s a great sign to see Beck playing the kind of square-headed news-caster types you knew he would.

QUALITY: I enjoy the concept of the opener, Broadway singers filling in for Bruno Mars and the RHCP (as opposed to the Foo Fighters), you got to give the cast props for going ALL OUT when it came to belting and mugging in all their Broadway glory. Brava!

QUALITY: Goulet? GOOOOULET! I mean, they don't say it out right and Will certainly OWNED that character, but who else is Killam supposed to be in the cold open?

QUALITY: Beck, this is your first time saying, “Live from New York”, isn’t it? I can tell you were HYPED to say it, man! Congrats!

PROBLEMATIC: Don’t worry, Seth Myers will be showing up during the weekend as opposed to the weekend. You really won’t miss him at all from the credits! THIS dude jumping into the Rep Cast as the new co-anchor of Weekend Update WILL take some getting used to though.

QUALITY: Melissa McCarthy and Richard Sherman? I’m alright with this pairing! He’s a smart dude.

QUALITY: I had no problem with that insane opening monologue where-in a simple “you were an ASS last time you were here” cut away allowed Bobby Moynihan and Melissa McCarthy to have a full on wire-assisted fight that included multiple flips from both parties. BOOM!

QUALITY: I feel like the Aidy Bryant ‘Best of…’ DVD (no YOU keep dreaming!) will be a compilation of awkward moments in horrible relationships. And I’m alright with that.

QUALITY: Though yes, they nailed it with the CVS commercial parody, and the “Who would be tha—oooooh, right.” See also: Dollarama.

QUALITY: Now I was warned by some in the Fantasy League that this was a subpar episode, but I have to say… I enjoyed the rampage sketch too. Melissa McCarthy as a crazy as all hell Freshman Congresswoman Sheila Kelly is pretty amazing. Especially with the escalating violence and mayhem gag.

QUALITY: “And, coincidently… I also have yogurt.” And also, “It was mostly ears. And one penis.”

QUALITY: I admire a sketch that ends with someone jumping through a closed window. Also that makes the SECOND shattered object, care of McCarthy tonight.

PROBLEMATIC: No host announcement for March 1^st? I see how it is, SNL… and JESUS CHRIST, March 1^st?! Wow, I mean… I think we can make it… but MAN.

QUALITY: When Kenan was shown as a contestant, I couldn’t help but smile… knowing Beck would be hosting. You’ve made, buddy! This is your golden egg, you baritoned son of a gun!

QUALITY: “Pass the maaaash!”

QUALITY: Like with the final sketch in the Kerry Washington episode, half the fun is in the contestant bios.

QUALITY: Guess That Phrase was… incredible. Oh, Kathleen.

QUALITY: WOW, Black History Month bringing the truth doooown. There’s comedy in the Chappelle-sense, being funny through haaard truths. Pharoah seems to have added these music videos into his toolbelt this season. So whether it be from himself as a writer or with a specific writer on the show, I’m loving it.

PROBLEMATIC: Was that a Colin Jost appearance in the Black History Month video? What do you mean I can’t immediately recognize the Weekend Update co-anchor?

QUALITY: Kendrick Lamar.

QUALITY (surprisingly): More then anything, SNL gives a chance to the rock n’ roll that still exists out there. Well, SNL and the Grammys (probably have something to do with Lorne being of the same generation as the Grammys control board), but that said as a child of rock n’ roll I appreciate a good amount of hard guitar and percussion work… especially since I didn’t expect to see a Kendrick guest spot on SNL, even post-Grammys. ESPECIALLY post-Grammys. Though, scope/size understood there Grammy work is still heads and shoulders above (even with all the unnecessary fog machining/blinding jet streams of THAT performance).

QUALITY: Buford Calloway. Another knock-out Killam Update character. This is all very apropos from the perspective of a Canadian. Suck it, Atlanta. And thank you New York, for having our back. “Sethery…”

QUALITY: “Yer my favorite union newscaster!”

PROBLEMATIC: Wait, THAT was your last Update joke, Seth? You never did close strong, did you?

QUALITY: His best friend and the man of his dreams, come and wish Seth Myers a fond farewell on Weekend Update! I was betting on a Stephon appearance, but it was especially nice to see Golden Globe award winner Amy Poehler in the house.

QUALITY: Shout out to SNL Fantasy Leaguer, Kevin!

PROBLEMATIC: Not to take away from this beautiful moment, but it sounds weird to hear about Seth Myers being the “heart of this show for over a decade”… I mean he seems like a nice and funny chap, Amy, but let’s not get hyperbolic.

QUALITY: “YOU BARELY KNOW HIM… hssssss!”

PROBLEMATIC: Samberg and Armisen were… necessary? I suppose it is Seth’s party, he can invite whoever he wants!

QUALITY: Honestly, never a more heart felt, tear jerking good-bye has been had on SNL… since Kristen Wiig. Christ, Lorne is getting sentimental in his grey years.

PROBLEMATIC: I know it’s hard to follow up the emotional good-bye of a 12 year-running cast member, but it’s even more difficult when the opening to a sketch is THAT sloppy. It was a weird mix up of audio and video cues.

PROBLEMATIC: Yeah, I could not connect this sketch involving a utilities work at a museum interrupting an exhibit of a live painting. What’s the point? Why is it so long? Is it just option G of allowing McCarthy to play this same character, just within a more uncomfortable setting?

QUALITY: Props to the kid for keeping a straight face though. He did better in this scene then Mike O’Brien. You had ONE line, O’Brien!

QUALITY: Girlfriend’s Talk Show! NO, I am not unreasonably excited for Morgan exasperatingly trying to keep up with her much more… “mature” friend.

QUALITY: Well, THIS is perfect casting for Morgan’s mom’s friend Donna.

PROBLEMATIC: The Girlfriend’s Talk Show sketch was flatter then I expected, with no real rhythm to speak of and even the Keera story landing like it usually does.

PROBLEMATIC: Maybe it’s my general mood since Weekend Update, but… if you sign people up with “Radioactive” you have to give them something better then “Demons” with your follow-up, Drag ons.

PROBLEMATIC: As much as Bobby wants to romanticize it in the same of “It’s funny because it’s not” school, why are we having the bigger-bodied host (or we she, under her own power for that matter) look like such a slob? Bad form, SNL.

QUALITY: Kyle Mooney doesn’t need your characters; he’s incredibly strange and awkward all by himself! “And don’t forget… to watch the game.”

PROBLEMATIC: The current cast was ENTIRELY walled out by the returning cast members and Imagine Dragons. Fitting, for the feel of the show post-Update.

QUALITY/PROBLEMATIC: Before Weekend Update, McCarthy’s hosting duties were on pace to place her somewhere in the top five episodes so far this season… but after Seth’s goodbye nothing really seemed to click with the pacing of the episode, putting the last half hour (and the show as a whole, really) somewhere in the season’s lower third. The good news is, when the show returns on March 1^st, there isn’t a strong draw to bring back any old faces… so we’ve got a truly brave new world to look forward to.

REPARATORY CAST

Jay Pharoah, 60 points

15 points - cold open
5 points - reoccurring (Michael Strahan)
5 points - crying
20 points - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK...!"
10 points - digital short (Black History Month)
5 points - singing/dancing

Cecily Strong, 60 points

10 points - commercial parody (CVS)
5 points - sketch (Women's Group)
10 points - Weekend Update
5 points - along-side former SNL cast member (Bill Hader)
10 points - along-side former SNL host (Amy Poehler)
5 points - along-side former SNL cast member (Andy Samberg)
5 points - along-side former SNL cast member (Fred Armisen)
5 points - sketch (Girlfriend's Talk Show)
5 points - reoccurring (Keera)

Kenan Thompson, 60 points

5 points - promos
15 points - cold open
5 points - sings/dances
10 points - opening monologue
5 points - sketch (Guess That Phrase!)
10 points - digital short (Black History Month)
5 points - singing/dancing
5 points - sketch (Living Paintings)

Taran Killam, 55 points

15 points - cold open
5 points - sings/dances
10 points - opening monologue
10 points - commercial parody (CVS)
5 points - sketch (Delaware News 1)
10 points - Weekend Update

Bobby Moynihan, 49 points

15 points - cold open
10 points - opening monologue
2 points - "I'mma kick your ass!"
10 points - commercial parody (CVS)
10 points - digital short (Black History Month)
2 points - sketch post-second song (The Summer of Diane)

Aidy Bryant, 40 points

15 points - cold open
10 points - commercial parody (CVS)
5 points - sketch (Women's Group)
5 points - sketch (Girlfriend's Talk Show)
5 points - reoccurring (Morgan)

Kate McKinnon, 30 points

15 points - cold open
5 points - sings/dances
10 points - digital short (Black History Month)

Vanessa Bayer, 25 points

10 points - commercial parody (CVS)
5 points - sketch (Women's Group)
5 points - sketch (Guess That Phrase!)
5 points - sketch (Living Paintings)

Nasim Pedrad, 10 points

5 points - sketch (Women's Group)
5 points - sketch (Living Paintings)

FEATURED CAST

Beck Bennett, 55 points

15 points - cold open
20 points - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK...!"
10 points - commercial parody (CVS)
5 points - pre-taped sketch NPC (Delaware News 1)
5 points - sketch (Guess That Phrase!)

Kyle Mooney, 45 points

15 points - cold open
10 points - commercial parody (CVS)
10 points - pre-taped sketch (Delaware News 1)
5 points - sketch (Living Paintings)
5 points - digital short post-second song (Kyle goes to Super Bowl Fan Fest)

John Milhiser, 32 points

15 points - cold open
5 points - sings/dances
10 points - pre-taped sketch (Delaware News 1)
2 points - sketch post-second song (The Summer of Diane)

Sasheer Zamata, 27 points

10 points - commercial parody (CVS)
10 points - digital short (Black History Month)
5 points - singing/dancing
2 points - sketch NPC (Living Paintings)

Noel Wells, 24 points

15 points - cold open
5 points - sings/dances
2 points - digital short NPC (Black History Month)
2 points - sketch NPC (Living Paintings)

Mike O'Brien, 20 points

10 points - cold open
5 points - pre-taped sketch NPC (Delaware News 1)
5 points - sketch (Living Paintings)

Brooks Wheelan, 12 points

10 points - pre-taped sketch (Delaware News 1)
2 points - sketch NPC (Living Paintings)

HOST

Melissa McCarthy, 90 points

20 points - cold open
5 points - sings/dances
10 points - pre-taped sketch (Delaware News 1)
30 points - swears x5 "You f***ing film me?" & "Motherf*cker"
2 points - sketch (Women's Group)
2 points - sketch (Guess That Phrase!)
5 points - kiss
2 points - sketch (Living Paintings)
2 points - sketch (Girlfriend's Talk Show)
5 points - dances (the Dolphin)
2 points - sketch post-second song (The Summer of Diane)
minus 5 points - unbleeeped swear "Watch my shit..."
5 points - "... jackass"
minus 10 points - no hugging the host
15 points - POST-SHOW BONUS for show getting 5.0 rating or higher (5.4)

EBERSOL GROUP

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 30

Cecily Strong - 60

Beck Bennett - 55

John Mihiser - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: 1) Demons & 2) On Top of the World

2 points – Andy Samberg appearance

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 179

RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - Rob

Taran Killam - 55

Aidy Bryant - 40

Mike O' Brien - 20

Kyle Mooney - 45

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: 1) Demons & 2) Radioactive

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 160

FIVE TIMERS CLUB - Leah

Kenan Thompson - 60

Nasim Pedrad - 10

Mike O'Brien - 20

Beck Bennet - 55

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: 1) Demons & 2) Monsters

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 145

EXTREME CLOSE-UP! - Jack

Jay Pharoah - 60

Brooks Wheelan - 12

Noel Wells - 24

John Mihiser - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 128

DAN AYKROYD RAGE - Mark

Vanessa Bayer - 20

Bobby Moynihan - 49

Kyle Mooney - 45

Noel Wells - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: 1) Demons & 2) Radioactive

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 118

DOUMANIAN GROUP

MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - Russel

Bobby Moynihan - 49

Jay Pharoah - 60

Kyle Mooney - 45

Beck Bennett - 55

Melissa McCarthy - 90

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: 1) Demons & 2) Radioactive

2 points - Amy Poehler appearance

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 301

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah

Kenan Thompson - 60

Brooks Wheelan - 12

Noel Wells - 24

Kyle Mooney - 45

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: 1) Radioactive & 2) Demons

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 156

THE TEAM YOU WISH YOU HADN'T STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH AT A PARTY - Brian

Kate McKinnon - 30

Cecily Strong - 60

Mike O' Brien - 20

Noel Wells - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: 1) Radioactive & 2) Demons

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 149

BILL BRASKY - Saad

Taran Killam - 55

Aidy Bryant - 40

Mike O'Brien - 20

John Mihiser - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 147

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE TEAM THE HIGH-WASITED MIDGETS THAT HAVE, LIKE, THE RED PANTS AND THE BIG ASS - Kevin

Nasim Pedrad - 10

Vanessa Bayer - 20

Beck Bennett - 55

John Mihiser - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - Imagine Dragons - SONGS: 1) Radioactive & 2) Demons

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE THIRTEEN TOTAL 132

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY OVERALL STANDINGS (after Episode 39x13)

MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - 1, 994
THE IGNORANT SLUTS - 1, 941
THE TEAM YOU WISH YOU HADN'T STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH AT A PARTY - 1, 901
RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - 1, 741
SUCK IT TREBEK - 1, 734
DAN AKROYD RAGE - 1, 724
BILL BRASKY - 1, 697
FIVE TIMERS CLUB - 1, 641
YOU KNOW IT'S THE TEAM WITH THE HIGH-WAISTED MIDGETS THAT HAVE, LIKE, THE RED PANTS AND BIG ASS - 1, 419
EXTREME CLOSE-UP - 1, 399

Stay in the conversation! Trivia Club would LOVE to hear feedback on Saturday Night Live Fantasy so far, either in the blogs comment section, on Trivia Club's facebook page or in our twitter feed. For now we'll be taking a week away to discuss, debate, and possibly trade amongst ourselves.

Miss the Deep Thoughts/Saturday Night Quotes? LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Have you heard about it? we’re doing a podcast for the SNL Fantasy League! And by we I mean championed by, and hosted by, the wonderful Rob Moden (Reclusive Peninsula), alongside Brian Edwards (The Team You Wish...) and Leah Sueko (Five Timers Club). I will be popping in from time-to-time, but Trivia Club’s is a growing empire and I trust Rob, Brian, and Leah on most all things funny, so enjoy your time with THEM most of all.

On another note, they are going crazy with specials this season. They average two, maybe three, a season max. A Christmas one, plus maybe an Update special or something different. So far this season? Five. Including Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, a Best of This Season (So Far) aaaand a Sports special to tie into the Super Bowl. Look for the Easter Special, an early Summer special, a Best of This Season (Now That We’re Done), a Weekend Update Thursday (or four to throw the new kids into the deep end), as well as something to do with President’s Day. What was that? How about an SNL Black History Special? Yes, that’s my punch-line.

Back to the Fantasy League though... the Million Dollar Bill Murrays ride again with a strong team performance across the board, from both Rep and Featured players, not to mention a solid and expletive littered appearance by the forceful female presence of host Melissa McCarthy. With 301 points, that also bests Suck It Trebek's 265 for highest single episode team score (from the John Goodman episode)! It was a well spread out week for the cast, with more of a diverse selection of sketches then last week's Jonah Hill hosted episode. Beck Bennett followed up a season-high LAST episode with an even BETTER episode this week, capped in the cold open by those for simple words, "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."

POST-SHOW UPDATE: With a 5.4 rating, the second-highest of the season, McCarthy also gets the host bonus that Lady Gaga, Paul Rudd, and Jonah Hill juuuust missed out on, likely supported by it Seth Myer's farewell. It's also a number that seven hosts were able to reach at this time last year.

And now... we've got the Olympics to look forward to, and no SNL until March. For Canadians this means an avoidance of NBC's always shoddy and especially skewed Olympics coverage in favor of CBC's offerings. If you're an American, I recommend finding a CBC feed if you want to watch anything more then highlight packages starring American athletes.

Russel Harder hosts Trivia Club at Cardinal Rule (5 Roncesvalles Ave) every WEDNESDAY, at Hitch (1216 Queen St East) every SECOND and FOURTH MONDAY of the month, and Handlebar (159 Augusta Ave) on the FIRST TUESDAY of every month!

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, by Russel Harder

Anna Kendrick

ASK TRIVIA CLUB #002: THE GREATEST SEQUEL NEVER MADE & ANNA KENDRICK LAMAR

Have a question related to pop culture, comics, movies, or music, to trivia that you need a second opinion on? Heck, even a first-rate opinion? Ask Trivia Club’s host Russel Harder anything! With a new column posted every SATURDAY! Ask Trivia Club on twitter @trivia_club or send us a message on the facebook page /TriviaClub!

Q: “What is the great lost sequel?” -- @raygun_factory of Sam Rockwell

A: Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League.

With the short answer out of the way, here is the longer one. If you’ve seen The Adventures of Buck Banzai Across the 8^th Dimension then you know what you’re missing. The first of, I’m sure many, planned films of the like was a heady science fiction plot in a comic book world starring the coolest rock and roller you might ever meet against ridiculous aliens. Suffice to say it was too weird to survive, even in the 80’s. Yes, EVEN the 1980s.

Oh, and Jeff Goldblum plays a cowboy, while still being unquestionably at his Goldblumiest.

I... uh... I'm thinking... um...

As the titular character, Peter “Robocop” Weller rocks oh so hard. And not just on a guitar. Though he also does that. He’s the smartest, coolest, bravest dude in the room with parts Doc Savage, Indiana Jones, that guy from Duran Duran, and Doctor Emmit Brown all rolled into the 80’s version of a pulp hero. Meaning his band of motley sidekicks, ala Doc Savage, is in fact a kick-ass rock band. And speaking of Doc Brown, Buckaroo invents a DeLorian looking dimension spanning supercar a good YEAR before Brown did so and forced Marty into test-driving the sucker 30 years in the past.

And we haven’t even started talking about John Lithgow’s character and we really SHOULD talk about it, because honestly look at this. Look at this!

We really should talk about John Lithgow's Lord John Whorfin...

Which does not begin to describe this movie mind you. Or the highly comedic, incredibly meta aspects of the film. Director W.D. Richter had a strong vision, and he brought it to the studios at the perfect time that they would bankroll such a crazy plan, and seemingly not ask a lot of questions. You can see the money at play, on the film, and cheer at the entertaining audacity. Unsurprisingly, this weird-ass movie (see above image) was NOT a hit, not only that but it is only because of the continued cult interest, and the fact that those who starred in it went on to make bigger movies, that we’re even talking about it now in this sense.

That doesn’t take away form the fact that Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League is not the single biggest lost sequel. Usually when you call your shots like that, at the START of the end credits, it’s hard to miss. Hell, Richter and his fellow filmmakers are still trying to make the sequel happen. Except maybe it’s better that it’s lost, that such a wild and crazy film added such a strange tough to end things off, is almost perfect. Sure, a world in which Lithgow and Lloyd play some bad-ass bad guys the World Crime League would TOTALLY work… but it doesn’t have to.

Just play that end credit music, go for a walk and remember one thing.

Q: “3,720 to 1?I like those odds.” – Peter M. of SPARTACUS

A: You know what, so do I!

I mean, the odds of an adult having to visit the ER due to an injury from a drinking straw are a little wider at 100,600 to 1, sure sure, but say a bar of soap? 11,380 to 1! That means only 8,500 fewer people unsuccessfully navigate an astroid field then a bar of soap. Not too shabby, in my books.

Q: “What is Russel's favorite Trivia Club moment so far?” -- Michelle C. of SPARTACUS

A: That’s a tough one let me ask him, er—me, let me ask me? Excuse me for stalling, pay no attention to the man behind the use of the “royal we”. But this isn’t a question that I can give a single answer to. There’s a lot of stuff that I’m really proud of, whether it’s the first Trivia Club ever, which debuted at Cardinal Rule (5 Roncesvalles Ave) in April of 2012, and began as a monthly. Or when I started doing Trivia Club twice a month, or weekly (every Wednesday at Cardinal Rule, natch), or HECK, when I started a new location for Trivia Club. I mean, honestly, the first Trivia Club at The Gladstone was a HUGE moment for me as a trivia night host, producer, and promoter.

Still, there are proud moments and there are FAVORITE moments. Some of the most fun I have had are with the questions that not only make people proud that they know the answer, but angry with themselves or with me that the answer wasn’t the one they expected or wanted. It’s a perfect encapsulation of the fact that participants are invested, and that they care about the results at the end of the night. In that vein, no moment caused as much Trivia Club chaos as the reveal of the author to the Holografik Dancer.

The Holografik Dancer was the sci-fi story set in post-Cold War America, supposing that the Ruskies had won. It involved, love, desperation, and yes a holograph of a dancing girl. This question took place during Jeopardo, at a time when 100s of points could possibly be wagered, and the same question could be attempted multiple times, each time with not only your points but the points of others on the line. Every single Cold War-era sci-fi luminary was tossed forward as a possibility. They were all wrong.

The answer?

Noted science fiction author and friend to wizards.

Beautiful chaos ensued. It was one of my favorite moments, no doubt.

Q: “Hey Russel! One of my favorite parts of Trivia Club is the Mash-Up Madness question! Is there a mash-up that doesn’t exist that you want to hear?” – Krissy R. of All The King’s Women

A: Glad you enjoy it; it’s got to be one of my favorite questions to curate as well! Of any of the questions, it is by far the one I get asked about more often in terms of sources and whether or not I’m responsible for the mash-ups. Sadly I don’t have the musical talents to make some of the more all-time mash-ups, like most recently “Nothing Compares To Wrecking Ball”.

STILL that doesn’t stop me from dreaming, and one of the mash-ups I anticipate hearing the most, one day?

ANNA KENDRICK vs. KENDRICK LAMAR.

Courtesy of the Anna Kendrick Lamar tumblr.

Tell me Anna Kendrick Lamar wouldn’t be an amazing mash-up! I’ve gone as far as cutting together what I could from Anna Kendrick’s “Cups (When I’m Gone)” song to be honest, but I can never find the right Kendrick Lamar song to bridge the gap. YES, I’ve heard the mash-up of that Drake song featuring Kendrick Lamar mashed-up with “Cups”, and no that isn’t good enough. So I put out the call to YOU the readers, MASH these two UP and you will have Trivia Club's eternal gratitude.

And yes, this is the second of two Ask Trivia Clubs with Anna Kendrick in it.

Seriously, Rule #1.

And I’m right, because you asked me.

If you’ve got a question you’d like to see Russel tackle in a future column, just send it to @trivia_club on Twitter with the hashtag #AskTriviaClub.

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, by Russel Harder

awards

Trivia Club's QUARTERLY AWARDS : July to September 2013

It's a Monday, so don't think there isn't going to be SOME content on the Trivia Club blog! Yes, it's that time of the year again (for the first time), put on your black bow-ties 'cause we're having an awards show! I love awards. If that wasn’t evident by the Golden VHS or the Golden VCR, or the Summer Movie Wager Trophy, the Oscar Betting Pool Trophy, or the SNL Fantasy League Cup, I don’t know what is!

Hell, if I had the time to do this every day (would someone like to pay me?) I would. Trivia Club's Quarterly Awards celebrate everything cool and creative, and anything that might be interesting to those who participate in Trivia Club, over the last three months. So the inaugural awards will (mostly) have to do with the notable bits of pop culture that I enjoyed through July, August, and September of 2013!

(Also of note: Sound City, The World’s End, The To Do List)

This is cheating a bit for the first QAs (Q AND A! I'm so clever!), since I saw Frances Ha in theatres in June, but if anything I'll make an exception for Frances Ha if it means I can get you to watch a smaller film you might have otherwise missed. Ha is a beautifully understated examination of friendship and life in the big city, when you're 20 going on 30, and responsibility rears its ugly head (not taking any care with what you wanted from life). Shot on beautiful black and white by Noah Baumbach, and co-written by Baumbach and Frances Ha herself Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha easily gets my pick for film of the summer (and that's with some awesome movies this summer).

(Also of note: A Brief History of John Baldessari, Cutthroat, Free Pie)

Attack The Block was my favorite film of 2012 so the greatest compliment I can give this film is the comparison to said film. It’s the same sort of character driven energy as that feature length film, but… how can I say this… better? Funny, surprising, charming, and jaw-dropping. It is equal and all parts entertaining. Enough chatter from me, here is the short film in all of its glory. Enjoy it.

What, you thought it was going to be Dexter?

The last half season of Breaking Bad was already running at a fever pitch, and then Hank with Gomez used Jesse to entrap Walt and instead got a cloud of Nazis raining down on their heads. Which isn't even a description of this episode, this episode is the aftermath but is by and large on turning point the last three episodes of Bad hinges on. Directed by Rian fuckin' Johnson (Brick, Looper, Breaking Bad's 'Fly' episode), the show holds some incredible moments for Hank, Jesse, and the entire White family. Forget about Walt and Skyler, Walt Jr. and yes, even Hazel, act circles around the likes of A.J. Soprano entire televised run, in just this single episodes.

Thank you to my friend Craig for recommending this to me, now it's my turn to recommend it to you. The Idea Channel is a special kind of YouTube video that takes HUGE ideas like creative influence on a project influencing your enjoyment of that project, especially in the age of info but even including the works of Mark Twain, and then presenting these ideas in a hyper-kinetic, pop culture saturated package that entertains while it enlightens. Now here is a picture of a cat (because THE INTERNET IS CATS).

I'm a sucker for a good trailer, ever since becoming addicted to the apple movie trailer page some ten years ago, this has been the case. So when I saw the trailer for the Secret Life of Walter Mitty I fell in love with this song as much as I did the upcoming movie, not since Wake Up by Arcade Fire accompanied Wild Things Are did a song so perfectly encapsulate a set of cinematic moments. Stepping away from that even, there is a certain twee glee that accompanies this single from Of Monsters And Men, an all encompassing happiness that filled and still fills the room when I hear this song. As you will see, I listened to some good mash ups since, but none of them quite reached the heights of where this one band took me.

(Also of note: Yeezus, Modern Vampires of the City, My Head Is An An Animal)

Another choice that should be too early, but this being the initial QAs, I’m still sticking to the sliding timeline on this one. Also Kendrick Lamar couldn’t be denied this summer so I would be remised if I didn’t give the award to my favorite album of the last five months, let alone three. The man is on a tear right now, whether it’s making sub-par peers relevant and irrelevant at the same time thanks to a verse on their song, or the best Cypher verse since (and surpassing) Busta Rhymes, this is where it began for him on the year. Such a clear artistic voice for such a talented artist, telling a tale of a good kid lost in the fight, trying to live and survive and maybe one day leave Compton against all odds. It’s Kendrick telling the What If life-story, from a survivors point-of-view.

(Also of note: Hawkeye, Locke & Key, Avengers, Nowhere Men)

As diverse as the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, are the worlds of Alana and Marko. And I guess that's the point. Yet Brian K. Vaughan and Fionna Staples find a perfect marriage between the two, as strange and stupid and amazing and funny as you might suspect, never underselling the humanity in a talking mouse person or a giant and his giant testicles, among many other things. You will grow to love characters enough that there inevitable fates will make you cry, but don't worry you'll laugh and cheer before then anyway. Oh and the use of the Wonder Years trope, with baby Hazel narrating our story from an undetermined point in the future, pencilled into the preceding by Staples, is pitch perfect.

The Manhattan Projects is all kinds of strange and wonderful, bringing familiar scientific minds into an almost sci-fi-splotation kind of world, with the requisite action and violence to go with it. The story of Robert Oppenheimer is no different, taking one of the most familiar names to the layman (save for Einstein, natch) and makes him a cannibalistic sociopath with SO MANY multiple personalities that a civil war has broken out. Suffice to say you should read the Manhattan Projects and Oppenheimer is but one of the reasons why.

Let me take a step back from pop culture for a second. Cancer is something that is or will effect you or someone you know, directly or indirectly. Without getting too personal this last several years has certainly put cancer front and centre in my mind, so it was an unexpected comfort that this fact rich 'Biography' gave me. With both personal first hand accounts from the front line (the author is an oncologist) as well as historical perspective on different facets of the emperor of maladies, it really does its best to demystify something that has been seen as almost supernatural until just this last century where the technology to fight cancer finally started to catch up to the trauma it caused.

Your SNL Fantasy League award! I wrestled back and forth with doing the first episode (the premiere aired during my 'time of eligibility') or the first three (the initial set that aired before I posted this baby). I went with the first three, because when you make your own rules they're really just guidelines in the end. Still, I have to stick with Bobby Moynihan (shut up I'm not biased), even though Vanessa Bayer has had a stronger overall show thanks to the Miley Cyrus hosted episode, and even if Taran Killam has been the go to choice these first three episodes for SNL, it's Moynihan who has made every segment he's in better for being there (yes, even Kirby) with the character high point of the season going to his initial appearance as Drunk Uncle on Weekend Update.

And THAT is the initial Trivia Club Quarterly Awards! Leave your thoughts in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter. No doubt categories will be added as needed, too! We'll look to continue these every three months, and if YOU have any recommendations for US at Trivia Club... please make them. Who knows, you could see it celebrated in an upcoming edition of the QAs.

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, by Russel Harder

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Saturday Night Live Fantasy League: Episode 40x06: Woody Harrelson & Kendrick Lamar

Saturday Night Live Fantasy League: Episode 39x13: Melissa McCarthy & Imagine Dragons

ASK TRIVIA CLUB #002: THE GREATEST SEQUEL NEVER MADE & ANNA KENDRICK LAMAR

Trivia Club's QUARTERLY AWARDS : July to September 2013

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Saturday Night Live Fantasy League: Episode 40x06: Woody Harrelson & Kendrick Lamar

Saturday Night Live Fantasy League: Episode 39x13: Melissa McCarthy & Imagine Dragons

ASK TRIVIA CLUB #002: THE GREATEST SEQUEL NEVER MADE & ANNA KENDRICK LAMAR

Trivia Club's QUARTERLY AWARDS : July to September 2013

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