Precious Moments

Due to popular demand, here it is: The "Precious Moments" fan tribute video from the 200th Episode Spectacular. Props again to EDP for putting this together; rock and roll.

Sorry to the shell-shocked-looking woman in the screen shot…

200!

It was all for you, folks…

Thanks for your glorious appreciation of our glorious appreciation, the "Precious Moments" video montage at last night's Big Quiz Thing 200th Episode Spectacular. It's nice to have fomented a cult. Thank you everyone—emphasis on every—for making this show and so many others such an amazing event. (Yes, some sincerity.) The show went off with nary a hitch, we packed 'em in (approx 250 in attendance, by my count), and fun was had all around. It was great to see so many old-timers in the crowd: Team! the Musical, Adam Smith's Invisible Hand Job, William H. Macy and the Sunshine Band, probably lots of other folks. You're doing a beautiful thing (there's that sarcasm).

In my opinion, last night the Bipolar Movie Challenge successfully defended its status as king of the BQT video rounds, and Slooow Songs will never cease to amuse me. Props to you all for laughing like giddy spider monkeys at the appropriate times.

And yes, I think the chances of a return engagement at (Le) Poisson Rouge are good. Let me know your thoughts on the venue. Other than the relative lack of seating situation, which I'm assured can be remedied, I (along with EDP and DJ GB) was very happy with the space: pretty and professional, everyone was cool to work with, good food and drink that's not stupidly expensive. Cool sculptures in the hallways, too.

Thanks also to everyone who supplied prizes: Your door girl, Sherry, has attested to me at least three times in the past 17 hours that the Cupcakes in Heels are absolutely the bomb; hope we can partner with them again. Thank you also to Heeb magazine and Rachel Kramer Bussel. E-mail info@bigquizthing.com if you have your own product/service to shill, and we'll team up to fight for synergistic justice.

And hey—I'm ordering more T-shirts. This time, you better buy some and not just attack each other to grab at ones that go flying through the air.

And the standings for the extra-big show. A nice mix of old and new regulars…

1. The Fantastic Fournicators: I suppose it was appropriate; they are the winningest team in Big Quiz Thing history.
2. Team! the Musical: Hopefully back to stay. You don't fuck with these guys.
3. Gerard Depardouche/William H. Macy and the Sunshine Band (tie)
5. Jefferson Davis Starship/Fat Kids Can Only Slow Dance (tie)

We're back at Crash Mansion in two weeks: September 14, 7:30pm again. But please watch this space: We'll be having an ongoing conversation about the future of the Big Quiz Thing, looking ahead to the big 300…

To-NIGHT!

Yes, finally, it is nigh: The Big Quiz Thing's 200th Episode Spectacular. Read the nice semimention in last Friday's New York Post, the write-up in Time Out New York, and of course, the hyperventilating press release. And here's a roundup of some of the prizes you just might possibly maybe win.

So remember: WE ARE NOT AT CRASH MANSION TONIGHT! I have no idea what will be happening there, but it will not be the Big Quiz Thing, unless I need to sue the crap out of someone. We will be at (Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street near Thompson. And it's 7PM, not 7:30. Tonight and tonight only. Excitement is in the offing, my friends.

Prizes! (part one)

For this Monday's 200th Episode Spectacular (handsomely blurbed in Time Out New York this week), I promised an extra-special slate of prizes, and I intend to deliver. Some details are still being ironed out, but here's what I can tell you now, immediately, at this moment (and now…and now…okay, I'll stop…now!):

First place gets, not $200, but $300! Incredible.

Second place gets, not $50, but $100! Unreal. Also, some treats: This week, it's cupcakes from a lovely place called Cupcakes in Heels, straight outta Bayside, Queens. I'm told "they specialize in delectably creamy cupcakes with a little bit of frosting in every bite…fresh baked goods that are both health conscious and delicious." Flavors include chocolate, tiramisu, pistachio, coconut and carrot walnut, and that urban-legend favorite, red velvet. Plus, until September 7, mention the Big Quiz Thing and get one dozen gourmet mini cupcakes for free with each order. We're hooking you up, kids. (And yes, more cupcakes throughout the evening.)


The distribution of other prizes is TBD, but we got tickets to the snappy Off Broadway hit The Marvelous Wonderettes. I have it on good authority that it's "a cotton-candy colored, nonstop pop musical blast from the past!": a '50s and '60s jukebox musical, basically, which actually sounds like a crapload of fun to me. Very pretty website, too.

My friends at Heeb magazine are offering a one year's subscription to their fine publication, featuring everything that a self-respecting hipster NYC Jew needs to know. I'm so happy to shill for them; I've written an essay for their forthcoming book, Sex, Drugs & Gefilte Fish.

Another friend of the show, Rachel Kramer Bussel (expected to be in attendance at the big show), is offering a bunch of her erotically themed book collections, including the new Bottoms Up: Spanking Good Stories (yes, it is). Don't believe anyone who says trivia will never get you laid, or a reasonable simulation thereof.

Plus, we have random yet sweet other books and DVDs, including The DC Vault and seasons one and two of the Bialik-riffic Blossom. More prize details later; off the hook is how it's all going to be.

BQT in TONY

Now it's official: This Monday's 200th Episode Spectacular is most definitely on, judging by this nice piece in the new issue of Time Out New York. Hurray for twisting arms. Click here, my friends…

Phenomenon? Object?

The fucked-up question of the night at last evening's Big Quiz Thing: "What natural phenomenon is believed to be the most photographed object of all time?" Well, is the moon a phenomenon or an object? Both? Neither? Who knows? All that matters is that one of my favorite teams, Robin Hood and His Merry Meningitis, got it right. We move on…

Last night was an especially high-scoring BQT. Out of 78 possible points, victorious squad Strippers for Stephen Hawking—or "Death Panel for Stephen Hawking," as they were known for one night only—scored 76. The runners-up were not far behind: All five of the teams (!) that were tied for the lead halfway through scored at least 73 points. Too easy last night (0ther than that moon question)? Perhaps. You all did better at "Ice in Us (That's 'Cuisine' Anagramized)" than I anticipated, and the 40th-anniversary Woodstock audio round was a piece of cake for pop-culture enthusiasts like you. And of course, you live, eat, and breath John Hughes. It's back to super-obscure vice presidential-trivia from now on.

S0 much success for episode 199 of the Big Quiz Thing. Next time: The big show, No. 200. We're taking it up to the Village, to (Le) Poisson Rouge, for the big 200th spectacular. Bipolar Movie Challenge, "Slooow Songs," and a whole lot more. Can you feel the electricity?

Last night's standings:
1. Death Panel for Stephen Hawking
2. Gerard Depardouche
3. Sugah Titz
4. The Fantastic Fourincators
5. Jefferson Davis Starship

We're back at Crash in four weeks, September 14. See you on the 31st, o wise ones…

The curse (?) is broken

Getting to the ending, last night, the Fantastic Fournicators won, again, yet for the first time in many months. As EDP pointed out, they hadn't yet triumphed during the Obama administration, so perhaps they were cursed. Or in league with Dick Cheney. Or perhaps being fed answers from Karl Rove via a secret earpiece. Alas, no more, and the FFs return to their place at the top, as opposed to near the top. We're all so proud.

The computer worked perfectly last night, thank Buddha, and we enjoyed "Movies Go Kaboom!," which I'm proud of, since for a remarkably simple concept, it took me a long time to come up with it (I played with a half-dozen explosion-related video round concepts, including juxtposing them with the sounds of children at play). All's well that ends well, some guy always said.

The only other especially notable news from last night was my continual hyping for the big anniversary show on August 31—our 200th episode, at (Le) Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village. (Details here.) I can't say too much at the moment, but I think you'll be pleased. I know you people by now.

And last night's standings. All regulars…

1. The Fantastic Fournicators: But for how long?
2. Cash Cab for Cutie: Only perfect score in the first round.
3. Gerard Depardouche: Playing with only four men. Less douchy?
4. Strippers for Stephen Hawking
5. Jefferson Davis Starship/Sugah Titz (tie)

We're back at Crash on August 17 with fun fun fun, then the big show: August 31. I will certainly see you there…

August 31: The BQT's 200th Episode Spectacular

As hyped at last Monday's quiz, we have big plans afoot…


One month away, give or take, on Monday, August 31, for one night only, the Big Quiz Thing will be at (Le) Poisson Rouge in the Village for The Big Quiz Thing's 200th Episode Spectacular. (The number isn't exact, but the trivia certainly is.) Plans are still taking shape, but we're aiming for a mondo night of the usual BQT shenanigans, including out most popular video round, The Bipolar Movie Challenge, and more audio fun with Sloooow Songs.

Plus, perhaps best of all, supersized prizes: First place will get $300, second will receive $100, and we're looking to score especially cool swag for other players. And this venue is ridiculously beautiful.

Text of the press release is pasted below. Two important details to note: The show will start at 7pm, and admission is $10, still a steal. You will be there…

THE BIG QUIZ THING, NEW YORK’S PREMIER TRIVIA SHOW, CELEBRATES ITS 200TH EPISODE AT (LE) POISSON ROUGE, AUGUST 31, WITH $400 IN CASH PRIZES.

“It might save us from the hell that is karaoke,” declared MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann. He was talking about The Big Quiz Thing, New York’s No. 1 live trivia event, packing in hipster-nerd acolytes twice a month since 2002. And now, to celebrate their 200th "episode," the stars of the BQT bring the game to the lovely (Le) Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village for a super-sized live trivia blowout, with $400 in cash prizes at stake.

Quizmaster Noah Tarnow, joined by sidekick EDP and DJ GB, plus The B-Cuties, presents the ultimate high-tech, video-based test of meaningless information, for the glory of knowing that you possess more useless knowledge than your peers. For this special show, the BQT will be rolling out some of its most beloved signature games: The Bipolar Movie Challenge (video from one film juxtaposed with audio from a different one; name both films), Sloooow Songs (ID the pop songs at half speed), the famed Lightning Round, the big Four-Part Questions, clever banter and semantic arguments. Plus, a mega-sized slate of prizes, including $400 in cash (usually it's $250, but we're feeling generous). And even when players can’t hazard a guess, there’s hope: If a wrong answer makes the crowd laugh, it’s counted as correct and earns a Smart-Ass Point. Everyone gets to play, everyone gets to laugh.

Over the years, the Big Quiz Thing has established itself as New York's premier source of trivia entertainment. It's entertained in special events and corporate retreats throughout the country, and Quizmaster Noah has hosted stand-up comedy, variety, and burlesque shows in all five boroughs and along the East Coast.

Trivial times call for trivial trivia, and in a culture ruled by bite-size information and prepackaged wisdom, nothing is nobler than a live quiz show. Come see The Village Voice’s pick for “The Best Place to Show Off Your Inner Nerd.”

The Big Quiz Thing's 200th Episode Spectacular is at (Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St at Thompson Street, Monday, August 31 at 7pm. Admission is only $10, and there is $400 in cash prizes. For more info, visit bigquizthing.com, or contact quizmaster Noah Tarnow at noah@bigquizthing.com.

Quiz me this…
Q: What product has 20 answers: ten affirmative, five negative, and five noncommittal?
Q: Who’s the only past People’s Sexiest Man Alive who is no longer alive?
Q: Though unavailable in stores, what's the third bestselling cookie brand in the U.S.?
Q: Who were the two U.S. vice presidents who shot a man during their terms?

FOR MORE, VISIT BIGQUIZTHING.COM