Scoreboard - Tuesday Trivia CCLXXXI - CCXC

[Lilly]

Final Scoreboard as of Week 290 (points out of a possible 70)

Winner: Colin Smith with 10/10 on Question 7's

Code: Select all

Pos  Name                              Points  #7's  Weeks
1    Barry Ford                            68     9     10
     Rudolph, Alice                        68     8     10
3    Bud & the Buzztimers                  66     9     10
     Jenny Miller                          66     6     10
     Kate deRiel                           66     6     10
6    Alan Carver                           65     6     10
     Alison Jenik                          65     6     10
     Maryland Red Foxes                    65     9     10
     Midge Cousens                         65     7     10
10   Hogg, Twala                           64     7     10
11   Rael R                                63     8     10
     Steve Oshry                           63     6     10
13   Heather Broadhurst                    62     5     10
     Jake Le Master                        62     3     10
15   Chris Palmer                          60     2     10
     Dave Orozco                           60     4     10
     Duane Pawson                          60     4     10
     Lynn Mace                             60     5     10
19   Team Czeltistan                       59     4     10
20   Brendan Costello                      58     5      9
     Christiane Rodes                      58     5      9
     Joseph Finn                           58     6      9
23   Paul Pearson                          56     1     10
24   Rachel Dickenson                      55     6      9
25   Pozzuoli, Joseph                      54     4      9
26   Gary Kevin Ware                       53     7     10
27   Joshua Kreitzer                       52     2     10
     Rick Robertson                        52     7     10
29   Ileen Roos                            50     3      9
     Kris Fortomaris                       50     5      8
31   Daniil Brif                           49     6     10
     Dave Allen                            49     6     10
33   Mark Greenhalgh                       48     7      7
34   Adam Remsen                           47     3     10
     Keith Moser                           47     7      9
36   Sseziwa Mukasa                        46     0      9
37   David Johnson                         45     0      9
     James Callan                          45     6      8
39   Taurik                                44     1      9
40   Bill Penrose                          43     1     10
     Dave Filpus                           43     5      9
42   Mark Barrett                          42     3     10
43   Ben Scripps                           40     2     10
     John H. Skelton                       40     1      9
45   Ryan Reeder                           39     0      9
     Tom Duvall                            39     0      7
47   Fleming Free                          38     5      7
48   David Anthony Tice                    37     5     10
     Walter                                37     1      9
50   Isaac Cashman                         36     0      9
     Paul Frankenstein                     36     1      8
52   Adam Joshua Smargon                   35     0      6
     Jonathon Scruggs                      35     2      6
     Jordan and Anne                       35     4      6
55   Greg Brume                            34     5      6
     Judy Cole                             34     1     10
57   Kathleen Fuller                       33     3      9
     Ken Marks                             33     4     10
     Matt Scranton                         33     0     10
60   Tommy Owen                            32     3     10
61   Helen Kaluzny                         31     1      5
     James Humphrey                        31     3      7
63   Chris Jones                           30     1      9
     Margaret Fey                          30     4      5
     Matt Morrisson                        30     0     10
     Rebecca Watts                         30     2     10
67   Alex Drake                            29     1      7
     Fred Dingledy                         29     0     10
     Holger Waldenberger                   29     1      6
     Jacob Tripp                           29     2     10
     Larissa Jayne                         29     1      8
72   Colin Clarke                          28     0      8
     Gail Sneyers                          28     1      9
     Mitchell Kaufman                      28     4      4
75   Charles McGonigal                     27     0     10
     Mike                                  27     3      7
     Ragan Haggard                         27     1     10
78   Levitin, Michael                      26     1      9
     Melissa                               26     3      4
80   Amy F.                                25     0      9
     Andi Warren                           25     2      4
    Colin Smith                           25    10     10
     David Wasserman                       25     0      8
     Jamie Weiss                           25     0     10
     Lake Erie Lark                        25     3      8
     Matt Sandler                          25     0      9
     Matthew Shultz                        25     1      7
88   Brian Shuman                          24     1      5
     Christopher Cosci                     24     2      9
     Douglas Sterling                      24     1      7
     Hollie Schmidt                        24     1      8
     Katherine Friend                      24     0     10
     Robart, Kay                           24     0      7
     Seamus Sweeney                        24     1      7
     Tom Trogh                             24     1      5
     Wendell Watkins                       24     3     10
97   Douglas Chapel                        23     2      6
     Kristin Favaza                        23     0     10
     Matt Smeltzer                         23     0      8
     Robyniwitz                            23     1     10
     William Mullen                        23     0      8
102  Asad Jaleel                           22     0      8
     Jeff Morrison                         22     1      6
104  L Creager                             21     1     10
105  B.J. Potter                           20     3      7
     Kat Laney                             20     3      8
     Peter Lebron                          20     0     10
     Sarah Bree Hayden                     20     1      5
     Sheppard, Paul                        20     2      3
110  Andy Sydor                            19     1      5
     Dean Ryan                             19     1      9
     Josh Heit                             19     1      8
     Susan Herder                          19     1      4
114  Bradley Kirksey                       18     2      4
     David Ferguson                        18     1      6
     Josh Grischow                         18     0      8
     Stephen Fahey                         18     0      8
118  Charlene Ross                         17     0      9
     Ellen Jones                           17     0      9
     Kathleen Fisher                       17     1      4
     Katie Ketchum                         17     2      3
     Linda Forrest                         17     3      6
123  Adam Hallowell                        16     1      3
     Billy Tomber                          16     2      5
     Bob Chronley                          16     5      5
     Peggy Szymeczek                       16     0      3
     Red Menace                            16     1      5
128  George Paul Bailey                    15     1      6
     Mike McQuary                          15     0      8
     Ravi Fernando                         15     1      6
     Rom Glu                               15     1      5
     Sean Smith                            15     2      4
133  Brain Shuman                          14     0      3
     Brian Manson                          14     2      2
     Kathy Swango                          14     0      6
     Shane Stezelberger                    14     0      4
137  Myles Nye                             13     1      6
     Suzy Smith                            13     2      5
139  Alex Coelho                           12     0      2
     Chris Talvacchio                      12     0      3
     Dan Wardwell                          12     0      5
     Gary Boyer                            12     0     10
     Jakob Weisblat                        12     0      7
     Ken Smith                             12     0      9
     Steven Ganeshram                      12     0      5
146  Alina V                               11     0      3
     Debbie White                          11     0      2
     Janelle Whelen                        11     0      6
     Jenica Jessen                         11     1      6
     Michael O'Neill                       11     0      4
     Nick                                  11     0     10
     Steve Butler                          11     3      5
     Team Quartus                          11     0      3
     Wynn Tran                             11     0     10
155  Amelia Hershberger                    10     0      2
     Andy Rich                             10     1      2
     Curt Lavallee                         10     2      2
     Mark                                  10     2      2
     Rich LB                               10     1      3
     Vanessa Prolow                        10     0      4
161  James Young                            9     0      5
     Mark Paulson                           9     0      3
     Mike Wolf                              9     0      2
     Mr Marcus Gatlin                       9     0      6
     Will Carbone                           9     0      4
166  Amy Paris                              8     0      5
     Bill Patschak                          8     0      5
     Edward Mack                            8     0      6
     Janel                                  8     0      3
     Nicole Oparaeke                        8     0      7
171  Brian Schwartz                         7     1      4
     Foggy Brume                            7     1      1
     Jenny Vehlow                           7     0      2
     Lance Frank                            7     1      1
     M W                                    7     0      3
     Paul Schoenwetter                      7     1      1
     Prashanth Khambhammettu                7     0      4
     Shaye Lynne                            7     1      1
179  Amanda Grace Shu                       6     0      3
     Andrew Silikovitz                      6     2      2
     Ash                                    6     0      6
     Bill Zeilinger                         6     0      1
     Bryan, Trevor                          6     1      1
     Cannon Alsobrook                       6     0      1
     Coreen Steinbach                       6     0      1
     Damian Aufiero                         6     1      1
     Dan Goldman                            6     1      1
     Devon Edwards                          6     0      1
     Eddie Yoon                             6     0      1
     Joon Pahk                              6     1      1
     Matt Leavitt                           6     0      1
     Melissa Muendel                        6     0      1
     Mike Melville                          6     1      1
     Ron Milovac                            6     0      1
     Vanessa Roberts                        6     1      1
     Will Irving                            6     1      1
197  Aathmika K.                            5     0      2
     Ben Fiechter                           5     0      1
     Didymus Hylobates                      5     0      1
     Doug Warner                            5     0      1
     Graessmere                             5     1      1
     James Bryan                            5     0      1
     Jessica Shortall                       5     1      1
     karatekaii                             5     0      1
     Patricia Dubowski                      5     0      4
     Pinegar, Angela                        5     0      1
     Rahul Sabbineni                        5     0      1
     Ridicholas                             5     0      2
     Sean Thompson                          5     0      1
     Shalanna Collins                       5     0      1
     Thomas Kelso                           5     0      1
     Tiffany Coyle                          5     1      1
     vmack                                  5     0      1
214  Alec Arceneaux                         4     0      1
     Baca, Pam                              4     0      1
     Bernard Gregoire                       4     0      2
     Edmund Boys                            4     0      1
     Elizabeth H.                           4     0      1
     Jill Liles                             4     1      2
     Kelly Rozwadowski                      4     0      3
     Marc Davidson                          4     0      1
     Marc Dubowski                          4     0      4
     Micah Hitt                             4     0      1
     Niree Perian                           4     0      1
     Phil Castagna                          4     1      1
     Randall Rush                           4     0      1
     RPH                                    4     1      2
     Schmitz, JoAnne                        4     1      1
     Sujit Roy                              4     0      1
     Thomas O'Connor                        4     0      1
231  Aimee Wagner                           3     0      1
     Andrea Herrera                         3     0      1
     Ben Ostrowsky                          3     0      1
     Benjamin Stonier                       3     0      1
     Emily Somers                           3     0      2
     Emily Stivers                          3     0      1
     Evan MacDonald                         3     0      1
     Jean Walter                            3     0      1
     John Skvasik                           3     0      1
     Karl Brogren                           3     0      2
     Mark Sun                               3     0      1
     Matthew Brier                          3     0      1
     Megan Vincent                          3     0      1
     Michael Berger                         3     0      1
     Mike M                                 3     0      2
     Paul Bailey                            3     0      1
     Penelope of Ithaca                     3     0      2
     Summer Hiatus Challenge                3     0      1
249  Andrew Mezo                            2     0      1
     Casey Mizzone                          2     0      1
     Ernie Haynes                           2     0      1
     Gavin Griffin                          2     0      1
     Haley Houtwed                          2     0      1
     Heidi Ambler                           2     1      1
     Hiten Parmar                           2     0      1
     Janice Greer                           2     1      1
     Joanne Dixon                           2     1      1
     Jonathan Van Dusen                     2     0      1
     Julia Suits                            2     0      1
     Michael McCauley                       2     0      1
     Nicole Hersh                           2     0      1
     Sara Cauvin                            2     0      1
     Tom Nelson                             2     0      1
     warrenusui                             2     1      1
265  Alli Delavan                           1     1      1
     Bscfan181                              1     0      1
     Chuck Singer                           1     0      1
     David Regal                            1     0      1
     Gabe Sher                              1     0      1
     Jane Addams Brooks                     1     0      1
     Megan Stroup                           1     0      1
     Robert Farnham                         1     0      1
     Robert Walker                          1     0      1
     Shawn Tracey                           1     0      1
     Teena                                  1     0      1
     Zach Grosz                             1     1      1


Code: Select all

Number of people who got #7 correct
Week 281: 2   (1.3%)     
Week 282: 19 (13.9%)   
Week 283: 82 (51.3%)   
Week 284: 42 (34.1%)
Week 285: 52 (38.2%)
Week 286: 27 (17.6%)
Week 287: 36 (29.3%)
Week 288: 25 (19.5%)
Week 289: 65 (44.5%)


[bradleyk]

Just 2 people got question number 7?

Am I the only one who thought it had something to do with their spouses being producers, or was that just really hard?

[Ken Jennings]

I'm pretty surprised too. The "bookstore-ness" of their roles is a pretty big plot point in many cases (You've Got Mail, 84 Charing Cross Road, Notting Hill). And Hugo just came out!

Much harder than I thought, I guess.

[Ponch]

Completely forgot to submit answers last week (not that I knew #7 anyway), but I'm glad I'm tied in third with everyone else!

[SMWinnie]

Much harder than I thought, I guess.

Ken, I'm curious (and I'm at least half-serious) to hear any thoughts you have on what made it a surprisingly hard question.

I would guess that it's a misfiring heuristic. Trivia is too broad to memorize, so one has to use rules of thumb.

Speculating further, a big part what makes your Question 7s solvable is the ability to blow off the pieces one doesn't understand. Take a couple of weeks ago. If a reader only knew that (1) the Holy See has an even weirder name and (2) when someone says "Samoa" you need to ask clarification ("American or Independent State?"), then the reader had a fighting chance of seeing the pattern. (Personally, I think I knew maybe three of the counting sequence songs.)

So, if I'm right, the "library role" question stumped everyone because it made a heuristic spit out a wrong answer. The answer to any question involving Kate Capshaw is presumed to be either "Steven Spielberg" or The Indiana Jones Movie That Used to Be the Crappy One Before the Fridge Got Nuked. If you ask about The Love Letter, you stump everyone because (1) nobody - including Steven Spielberg - has actually seen the film and (2) you can't just blow it off - once you see Kate Capshaw in the list, the answer must be either Spielberg or Temple of Doom.

If that's right, then you could stock up on these to drive scores down. (E.g., a list including Rick Astley where the connection is Nat King Cole, a Ford Ranger that's an Edsel rather than a light pickup truck, Lord Carnarvon on a list of people who raised horses, Clara Peller on a list of famous manicurists, etc.)

Full example: What unusual distinction ties these guys together?
Jason Alexander, Steve Carell, Bernard Goetz, Jason Lee, Bill Murray, Roy Oswalt

[Ken Jennings]

So, if I'm right, the "library role" question stumped everyone because it made a heuristic spit out a wrong answer. The answer to any question involving Kate Capshaw is presumed to be either "Steven Spielberg" or The Indiana Jones Movie That Used to Be the Crappy One Before the Fridge Got Nuked. If you ask about The Love Letter, you stump everyone because (1) nobody - including Steven Spielberg - has actually seen the film and (2) you can't just blow it off - once you see Kate Capshaw in the list, the answer must be either Spielberg or Temple of Doom.

I don't know. If I tried to start with Kate Capshaw, I would definitely look for Spielberg-like spouse connections with the other actors, true. BUT when those didn't pan out, I think my next step would be, "This is clearly about some Kate Capshaw role/biographical fact I'm not aware of. Let me ignore her and try one of the other actors."

Just spitballing here, but I think the real culprit might be the fact that the three (arguably) most accessible parts of the list--Notting Hill, You've Got Mail, and 84 Charing Cross Road--are 80s/90s chick-flicks. That might not be an area of strength for Question Seven solvers, who might be of the right era but are overwhelmingly male. This was an unfortunately non-diverse set of movies all around: no hit action movies, no youth comedies for any generation, no classic Hollywood, nothing less than a decade old (except the brand-new Hugo). I think the problem might be as simple as "I didn't remember those movies."

But I'd like to hear from others with more hands-on Question Seven-solving experience than me. (That is, everyone here.)

[Ken Jennings]

PS: if my suspicion is correct and lots of Question Sevens are converted using copious Internet research, this was also a hard one to research. No Wikipedia page would suffice. You'd have to drill down to plot summaries in many lengthy filmographies, and lots of those wouldn't have mentioned the relevant character's occupation.

[Le Master]

Lame that my response of "Songs sung by artists with the same name as a sports team" didn't count as correct. It's not wrong.

[bwouns]

Lame that my response of "Songs sung by artists with the same name as a sports team" didn't count as correct. It's not wrong.

But, how do you know it wasn't counted as correct? That question was part of week 2 and this scoreboard is only updated as of week 1.

[Lilly]

Just 2 people got question number 7?

Am I the only one who thought it had something to do with their spouses being producers, or was that just really hard?

You're not the only one - MOST of the wrong answers were along those lines...

[Le Master]

Lame that my response of "Songs sung by artists with the same name as a sports team" didn't count as correct. It's not wrong.

But, how do you know it wasn't counted as correct? That question was part of week 2 and this scoreboard is only updated as of week 1.

Because I'm an idiot and thought last week was week one when reading the scoreboard.

[Lilly]

Lame that my response of "Songs sung by artists with the same name as a sports team" didn't count as correct. It's not wrong.

But, how do you know it wasn't counted as correct? That question was part of week 2 and this scoreboard is only updated as of week 1.

Because I'm an idiot and thought last week was week one when reading the scoreboard.

It's updated now :) Sorry for the delay

[Ponch]

Lame that my response of "Songs sung by artists with the same name as a sports team" didn't count as correct. It's not wrong.

But, how do you know it wasn't counted as correct? That question was part of week 2 and this scoreboard is only updated as of week 1.

Because I'm an idiot and thought last week was week one when reading the scoreboard.

It's updated now Sorry for the delay

Looks like only 1 of the people who got the Bookstore owner #7 also got the Sports team/Band #7 this week.

I was wondering—you already do so much, so if this is too difficult just say no—do you think something could be amended to the bottom of the scoreboard such as

Week 1: 2
Week 2: 19
Week 3: ??

Where the number tells us how many people got that week's Q7 correct? It's easy to tell in the first week or two, but after that, since you edit the post instead of posting a new chart, it's impossible to tell.

Just an idea to see how the Q7 ranges in "difficulty" week to week...

[Lilly]

Lame that my response of "Songs sung by artists with the same name as a sports team" didn't count as correct. It's not wrong.

But, how do you know it wasn't counted as correct? That question was part of week 2 and this scoreboard is only updated as of week 1.

Because I'm an idiot and thought last week was week one when reading the scoreboard.

It's updated now Sorry for the delay

Looks like only 1 of the people who got the Bookstore owner #7 also got the Sports team/Band #7 this week.

I was wondering—you already do so much, so if this is too difficult just say no—do you think something could be amended to the bottom of the scoreboard such as

Week 1: 2
Week 2: 19
Week 3: ??

Where the number tells us how many people got that week's Q7 correct? It's easy to tell in the first week or two, but after that, since you edit the post instead of posting a new chart, it's impossible to tell.

Just an idea to see how the Q7 ranges in "difficulty" week to week...

It would definitely be possible, since I already have the spreadsheet set up to calculate stats like that for each week. I will ask Ken if he wants to share that info publicly. (Unless he sees this and responds before I get a chance to email him)

[Ponch]

It would definitely be possible, since I already have the spreadsheet set up to calculate stats like that for each week. I will ask Ken if he wants to share that info publicly. (Unless he sees this and responds before I get a chance to email him)

Thanks! I probably love numbers and data as much as Ken loves trivia and maps.

[Ken Jennings]

Yeah, I think that would be interesting too. Feel free.

[Lilly]

Thanks! I probably love numbers and data as much as Ken loves trivia and maps.

Me too I added the Question 7 stats for the past two weeks to the scoreboard post above.

[melissa]

I suppose I don't get a mulligan for getting married last week?

[Ponch]

Thanks! I probably love numbers and data as much as Ken loves trivia and maps.

Me too I added the Question 7 stats for the past two weeks to the scoreboard post above.

With percentages even?! You just made a stat guy very happy.

Thank you!

[Lilly]

Finally updated for Week 285

[grumpy_city_face]

Perhaps I am missing it, but I have scoured the forum for an answer to this question:

how is TT scored? Is it a rolling 8-week thing, i.e. points out of a possible 56, 7 points per week x 8 weeks = 56 possible points + bonuses for 7s? If so, why 8 weeks and not say quarterly? Are there invitationals or tournaments for high scorers?

Just curious. And competitive.

Thanks in advance for your replies/direction.

I am thrilled to be here among so many other Mapheads!

-ct

[econgator]

Perhaps I am missing it, but I have scoured the forum for an answer to this question:

how is TT scored? Is it a rolling 8-week thing, i.e. points out of a possible 56, 7 points per week x 8 weeks = 56 possible points + bonuses for 7s? If so, why 8 weeks and not say quarterly? Are there invitationals or tournaments for high scorers?

Just curious. And competitive.

Thanks in advance for your replies/direction.

I am thrilled to be here among so many other Mapheads!

-ct

They're 10-week blocks. Each question, including #7 counts a point. I believe Ken usually uses the numbers of #7's answered to break any ties.

[Lilly]

As mentioned, each "round" is 10 weeks. (This round is 281-290). The winner of each 10 week round gets a signed copy of Ken's latest book.

The ONLY score that really counts is your "Question 7" score, though. Since all the other questions are easy to cheat on (with Google, etc), Ken only gives prizes based on the Question 7's.

Scores are updated here each Tuesday (usually) and we start a new thread for each 10-week round.

Perhaps I am missing it, but I have scoured the forum for an answer to this question:

how is TT scored? Is it a rolling 8-week thing, i.e. points out of a possible 56, 7 points per week x 8 weeks = 56 possible points + bonuses for 7s? If so, why 8 weeks and not say quarterly? Are there invitationals or tournaments for high scorers?

Just curious. And competitive.

Thanks in advance for your replies/direction.

I am thrilled to be here among so many other Mapheads!

-ct