Champaign, IL
graduate student
$500: Even when it's viewed from a telescope millions of miles away, what does Britannica claim is "arguably the most sublime object in the solar system"?
A - Chris Hemsworth
B - Saturn
C - a Big Mac
D - the new 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan
Spoiler
Answer: B (Saturn)
$1000: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends 62% of their money on just three things. Which of these is NOT one of them?
A - housing
B - transportation
C - bail
D - food
Spoiler
Answer: C (bail)
$2000: Which of these is NOT the name of one of history's most powerful ruling empires?
A - Persian Empire
B - Holy Roman Empire
C - Ottoman Empire
D - Galactic Empire
Spoiler
Answer: D (Galactic Empire)
$3000: With his "Achy Breaky Song" in 1993 and "Party in the CIA" in 2011, "Weird Al" Yankovic parodied both a father and daughter with what last name?
A - Sinatra
B - Tyler
C - Cyrus
D - Cole
Spoiler
Answer: C (Cyrus)
$5000: Due to the nature of the footwork involved, what sport's shoes commonly feature spikes in the heel?
A - bowling
B - high jump
C - beach volleyball
D - wrestling
Spoiler
Answer: B (high jump)
commercial break
Sam has an unorthodox educational history. He skipped the 3rd grade and took his first college class when he was 12. He got his master's, then took off to start his career and now is going back to finish his Ph.D.
$7000: Both a type of rice cake, banh chung and banh day are traditionally eaten during Tet, the New Year's celebration in what country?
A - China
B - Vietnam
C - Thailand
D - South Korea
Sam says that rice cakes imply Asian cuisine. He knows that
Spoiler
bahn mih is a Vietnamese sandwich and the Tet Offensive was part of the Vietnam War
Spoiler
Answer: B (Vietnam)
$10,000: In the world of musical instruments, sustin, una corda and sostenuto are the names of the three standard what?
A - valves on a trumpet
B - holes on a flute
C - sides of a triangle
D - pedals on a grand piano
Sam doesn't know of any musical significance of the
Spoiler
sides of a triangle
Spoiler
Answer: D (pedals on a grand piano)
commercial break
MILLIONAIRE "QUESTION OF THE DAY": "Navis Amoris" is a loose Latin translation of what classic TV show's title?
A - Love, American Style
B - Fantasy Island
C - The Love Boat
D - Family Ties
Spoiler
Answer: C (The Love Boat)
commercial break
$20,000: Despite being one of the world's richest men, who admitted in his autobiography that he installed a pay phone for his guests to use when they visited his house?
A - William Randolph Hearst
B - Joseph P. Kennedy
C - J. Paul Getty
D - Malcolm Forbes
Sam says this is a tricky one. It had to be a time when pay phones were a thing. He decides to use a lifeline and asks the audience.
Spoiler
Ask the Audience results:
A - 15%
B - 2%
C - 50%
D - 33%
A - 15%
B - 2%
C - 50%
D - 33%
Sam was leaning toward the audience's answer.
Spoiler
Answer: C (J. Paul Getty)
END OF SHOW "NOISE"
Sam will be back on Monday.