Saw II is mostly plotless, so what fun facts could we possibly glean from it for a quiz? I guess we’ll see.
Pop Quiz Hot Shot!
1) Apparently a scene of an elevator was a reused scene from a 2000 sci-fi film. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 2001, losing to Gladiator. And while not a direct adaptation, it is easy to mistake the film as being part of a famous Universal series. What was this film?
2) The soundtrack features a song by Queens of the Stone Age. Their second major Billboard hit was Little Sister heavily featuring the cowbell. So much so that Will Ferrell performed with them when they played the song on SNL. In the More Cowbell sketch featuring Christopher Walken as fictional music producer Bruce Dickinson, what was the band and song being played?
3) Tobin Bell has a crazy career with his breakout role coming in his 60s as Jigsaw in the Saw Franchise. One of his minor roles was as Ted Kaczynski in the TV Movie Unabomber: The True Story. The Unabomber famously took part in Henry Murray’s unethical human psychology experiments as a 17-year-old, and some speculate he further participated in what theoretical CIA led brainwashing program?
4) Billy the Puppet is the little doll that really really wants to play a game. He is considered to be a ventriloquist dummy. What comedian had luminary dummies named “Peanut”, “Walter”, “Jose Jalapeño”, “Bubba J”, and “Achmed the Dead Terrorist”?
5) Saw II features Donnie Wahlberg who, of course, was (is?) a main member of New Kids on the Block. NKotB had three number 1 hit singles (that’s three more than I expected), the last of which shares a name with a TGIF show. What is that hit single?
Bonus NYTimes Listing Question: We talking about Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part II? Oh, we aren’t. Anyways, this was another after midnight treat on April 24, 1991 when TCMPII played at 2:45AM on Showtime:
What is that movie?
Answers
1) Hollow Man starring Kevin Bacon, and yeah, it isn’t technically based on The Invisible Man, but it is obviously an updated version of the same tale. There is a direct-to-video sequel starring Christian Slater as well. Weirdly, Slater did (kind of) play Michael Griffin the original name of The Invisible Man.
2) That would be Blue Öyster Cult and the song is (Don’t Fear) The Reaper. It got to 12 on the charts, and Blue Öyster Cult never did have a higher charting song. Bruce Dickinson puts his pants on the same way as you or me … it’s just that he makes gold records after putting them on.
3) Project MKUltra. The idea that the Unabomber was in the program is probably false. It is one of the craziest conspiracy theories that turned out to be true. The predecessor program was called Project Artichoke as well.
4) You know that is Jeff Dunham. He apparently is one of the highest earning comedians of all time (earning $30 million in 2008 alone) and also the only person ever to be voted Ventriloquist of the Year twice.
5) Step by Step. The song is actually genuinely good. The other two number 1 singles are both terrible. Like abominable. So it was good to see the later single was much better. Donnie looking absolutely ridiculous throughout this span of the NKotB phenomenon.
Bonus NYTimes Listing Answer: It’s Joe Versus the Volcano obviously! Pop Quiz Hot Shot! How many films have Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan starred in together … it is a surprising four. Everyone should know Joe Versus the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail. But there is also Ithica which no one remembers.
This new type of quiz is going swimmingly. And now you know all about the films of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan … oh and I guess Saw kind of.
Bad Movie Twins 