Gen X Culture 2 the Max MiniLeague: Match Day 1 Recap
Would guest writer David be at the head of the class to start out this ML?
New this LL offseason: I am now accepting reader submissions for ML match day or 1DS recaps! If you are interested, email me at braphel@gmail.com or comment on this thread.
Our first Gen X Culture 2 ML Recap comes from David Abolafia (AbolafiaD).
Greetings, Llamas! Or should I say, Xamas? Given that this is a recap for a Gen X-themed ML, I'm assuming that many of you were (like me) born somewhere between 1964 and 1977. And if you were, these questions will be right in our respective wheelhouses. Or will they? Read on to find out.
Group 267 - Match Day 1 - Opponent: LynchT
1. Half the battles waged by the characters of what 1983–1986 TV show involved lurking around the homes and gathering places of unsuspecting children in order to teach them valuable life lessons?
Thoughts: Okay, not off to a good start here. None of this sounds familiar AT ALL. Lurking around homes makes me think of some kind of supernatural thing. Was there a show called "Ghosts" in the '80s? Maybe with a Casper tie-in. It's the best I can come up with.
Correct answer:Â G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
How much of LL got it right?: 42%
Points Assigned to Opponent: 2 - Obviously, he's good in TV, but I am so in the dark on this question I'm taking a wild stab with defense.
Was Opponent Correct?: No
Points Assigned to Me: 1
Was I Correct? No
Current Score: 0(0) - 0(0)
Follow-up: Of course I've heard of "G.I. Joe," but never watched it. Never had a chance here.
2. What name was given to the line of clothing that was produced using thermochromic dyes by Generra Sportswear Company beginning in 1991?
Thoughts:Â Thermochromic? Heat and color. Don't think I ever owned one of these, but it's Hypercolor.
Correct answer:Â Hypercolor
How much of LL got it right?: 43%
Points Assigned to Opponent: 2 - Even breaking down the etymology of "thermochromic," the name of the company is a YEKIOYD.
Was Opponent Correct?: No
Points Assigned to Me: 2
Was I Correct? Yes
Current Score: 2(1) - 0(0)
Follow-up:Â This stuff was pretty ubiquitous for a while, as people walked around and left their handprints on others' shirts.
3. A certain four-word phrase that ends a terse, sternly motivational admonition delivered in a 1980 film by a mentor to his much taller (and much, much, much younger) apprentice could readily be repurposed as a rugby official's disallowal of a score. Please provide that four-word phrase (using the exact wording from the film).
Thoughts:Â 1980 leads me to "Empire Strikes Back." That's the one where Luke starts training with Yoda. That fits the first part of the question, especially Yoda's warning: "Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." I have no clue how the latter half of the quote relates to rubgy, but it's all I've got.
Correct answer:Â There is no try.
How much of LL got it right?: 59%
Points Assigned to Opponent: 1 - This definitely seems gettable, but there are other quotes that might lead him/her/them astray.
Was Opponent Correct?: No
Points Assigned to Me: 2
Was I Correct? Yes
Current Score: 3(2) - 0(0)
Follow-up: According to Wikipedia, a "try" is a way of scoring points in rugby, by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area. Who knew?
4. Miner was a working title for what 1983 2D computer game in which players control a stick figure who collects gold bars and strategically digs holes in regenerative brick floors? This game was among the first to incorporate a level editor for user-generated content.
Thoughts:Â I got my first computer (a Commodore 64) in 1982. Spent much of high school trading games with friends, and even more time holed up in my room, playing the likes of Jumpman, MULE, Mr. Robot and Archon. Though it was never a favorite, this has to be Lode Runner.
Correct answer: Lode Runner
How much of LL got it right?: 15%
Points Assigned to Opponent: 3 - If you played it, you'll know it. Otherwise, it's a hard pull.
Was Opponent Correct?: No
Points Assigned to Me: 3
Was I Correct? Yes
Current Score: 7(3) - 0(0)
Follow-up: It's probably been 30+ years since I'd seen the name Broderbund, the company that published Lode Runner. But back in the day, I used Print Shop ALL. THE. TIME.
5. A nonsensical word that appears twice in the main title of a 1990 cover by Cher and twice in the subtitle of a 1995 song by Whitney Houston (and, though I can't imagine it will help anyone, twice at the beginning of the title of the 1982 single that constituted the biggest hit of New Zealand's Monte Video and the Cassettes) also serves as the one-word title of a 1993 hit song by what group?
Thoughts:Â I know exactly what they're going for here. Cher did "The Shoop Shoop Song" for the movie Mermaids, and Whitney Houston's theme song for the movie Waiting to Exhale was titled something like "Shoop Shoop (Waiting to Exhale)." So the word is "Shoop." And I know the song... but I always get the music of Salt-N-Pepa and TLC confused. For no reason other than that there was a TLC question in this past LL season, I'm going with Salt-N-Pepa.
Correct answer:Â Salt-N-Pepa
How much of LL got it right?: 34%
Points Assigned to Opponent: 0 - My opp has a decent Pop Music score and there are enough hints in the question to point players in the right direction.
Was Opponent Correct?: No
Points Assigned to Me: 0
Was I Correct? Yes
Current Score: 7(4) - 0(0)
Follow-up:Â Coming from the same album as "Whatta Man," this was one of Salt-N-Pepa's biggest hits.
6. What was the first American sitcom with an episode filmed in the Soviet Union? The two-parter, which aired in November 1988, involved a quiz-bowl rematch between students in the Individualized Honors Program at Millard Fillmore High and a team of Russians.
Thoughts: In November 1988, I was in college already, so really the only TV I was watching was "Jeopardy!" in the student union. But at that time, I knew Howard Hesseman was starring in a sitcom about high school students, and the name of the show, "Head of the Class," made me think this was about smart kids. So that's what we're going with.
Correct answer:Â Head of the Class
How much of LL got it right?: 46%
Points Assigned to Opponent: 1 - Seemed like an easier TV question than #1.
Was Opponent Correct?: No
Points Assigned to Me: 1
Was I Correct? Yes
Follow-up:Â In the film "Kick-Ass," students also attend Millard Fillmore High School.
Result: Win 8(5) - 0(0). Record: 1-0. First place in Group 267.
Final comments: Some challenging material here, with things I haven't thought about in decades. Will be a fun ML to participate in (and recap for you). As Yoda would say, "Ready are you? What you know of ready?"
Wasn't that "Hypercolor" rather than "Hydrocolor"?