1980s Trivia and Facts Eighties Trivia QuestionsEighties' trivia is one of my passions, mainly because it's the decade that saw me fumbling through my teenage years and graduating high school. I always look back on this time with a sense of nostalgia, and I rarely pass up an opportunity to test my knowledge of Miami Vice, Huey Lewis and the News, or the Iran-Contra scandal. If you share a similar interest in trivia about the '80s, this article will direct you to the best Trivial Pursuit editions to buy, as well as providing a number of questions on the subject for those who are too enthusiastic to wait. Trivial Pursuit Games Focusing on the '80s. Since I'm a child of the decade, I'm always looking for Trivial Pursuit games that focus on the 1980s. Luckily, the folks at Hasbro have created several releases with such a theme, and the following are just a few of the options for those excited by 80's trivia.1980s - When it comes to 80's trivia games, this is the ultimate. Released in 1989, it covers each year of the decade and has 4,800 questions in the following categories:.
Personalities. Entertainment. Sports & Leisure. In the News.
Wild Card. That's LifeFlicks - A mini-pack release from 1989, this set offers 720 questions about motion pictures. While questions are drawn from multiple decades, enough are dedicated to films of the '80s to make it worth tracking down on eBay.Sports - Released in 1987, this mini-pack game includes cards but leaves out the board and pie pieces. As you may have guessed, the emphasis is on sports, although the questions are far easier than those found in the All-Star Sports edition. While it doesn't focus exclusively on the '80s, enough questions revolve around the decade to make it worth seeking out.Star Wars - Since The Empire Strikes Back was released in 1980 and Return of the Jedi hit theatres in 1983, this 1998 edition and its 2,040 questions could be said to focus on trivia from the 80s. A 2005 release titled The Star Wars Saga covers the entire sci-fi series, although most of the questions about the original trilogy were taken straight from this set.Totally '80s - Released in 2006, this 2,400-question set focuses entirely on '80s pop culture trivia. From Ronald Reagan to Billy Crystal, you'll find enough questions on the decade to satisfy your craving for the foreseeable future.1980s UK - American trivia buffs wanting a real challenge should seek out this 2000 European release focusing on notable people and events in the United Kingdom during the 1980s.
80s Trivia QuestionsIf you're craving some trivia about the '80s but haven't had time to purchase one of the sets listed above, this section will get you started. I've included a dozen trivia questions related to the '80s, with an emphasis on pop culture, notable figures, and historic events.What was the first music video played by MTV?The first music video ever shown on MTV was 'Video Killed the Radio Star' by The Buggles. This occurred during the influential channel's debut on August 1st, 1981.Who was the first microcomputing billionaire?Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, became the first microcomputing billionaire in 1987 at the age of 32.What was the highest-grossing movie of the 1980s?The top-grossing film of the '80s was 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.'
When most people think of “Star Wars” style, Princess Leia’s side-buns hairdo and white robe or Darth Vader’s fearsome black helmet and cape probably come to mind. And there’s still enough stuff to fill every compartment of the Millennium Falcon – with more to be added as new projects are released or announced.Style guides can be dry, but I tried to instill some of the science-fiction adventure’s sense of fun.
Film titles and numbers“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opens Dec. 18 in the U.S.
And is directed by J.J. Abrams; screenplay credit goes to Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt (Arndt wrote a treatment; Abrams and Kasdan teamed on the script). The cast includes original trilogy actors Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels and Warwick Davis.
New-to-the-saga cast members include Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Gwendoline Christie, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis and Max von Sydow. “The Force Awakens” is the saga’s seventh live-action film and seventh episode. “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” (May 19, 2005) d. George Lucas“Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (May 25, 1977) d.
George Lucas“Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (May 21, 1980) d. Irvin Kershner“Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (May 25, 1983) d. Richard Marquand“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (2015) d. AbramsIt is acceptable to refer to any of these films by only its subtitle in most references, including first reference for flow, but include the full title somewhere.Special Editions / DVD releases / 3-D versions / digital releasesSpecial Editions and DVD: The original trilogy was theatrically rereleased in 1997 with some new scenes, new / refurbished special effects and new music overseen by George Lucas - “Star Wars” on Jan. 31, “The Empire Strikes Back” on Feb. 21 and “Return of the Jedi” on March 14 (U.S.
Release dates). One notably unpopular change was having the bounty hunter Greedo shoot at Han Solo before Solo kills him in “A New Hope.” These versions of the films underwent further changes for a 2004 DVD release.
(Industrial Light & Magic)Original trilogy on DVD: The untouched original theatrical versions are on DVD, but only as bonus discs to their updated versions in a 2006 limited-edition set. The untouched original theatrical releases are not available on Blu-ray.Blu-ray: The updated versions had a “Star Wars: The Complete Saga” Blu-ray release with the prequel trilogy in 2011; those six films were released digitally via streaming services in April 2015.3-D: The prequels were scheduled to be theatrically rereleased in 3-D format in 2012. “The Phantom Menace” was released in 3-D on Feb.
10, but planned 3-D releases of “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” were scrapped after Disney acquired Lucasfilm.Planned films“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is the first of the announced stand-alone “anthology films” (Lucasfilm’s term) set in the “Star Wars” galaxy, and is scheduled for a Dec. 16, 2016, release. The director is Gareth Edwards (“Godzilla”).
The writers are Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz. The cast includes, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk (as a performance-capture character) and Riz Ahmed. Lucasfilm has announced it’s set between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope” and will be about resistance fighters uniting to steal plans for the first Death Star. (Jonathan Olley, Leah Evans / Lucasfilm )“Episode VIII” is not yet formally titled and is scheduled to open May 26, 2017.
It will be directed by Rian Johnson (“Looper”).A not-yet-titled Han Solo anthology film is scheduled to open May 25, 2018. It will be directed by Christopher Lord and Phil Miller (the team behind “The Lego Movie”) and written by Lawrence Kasdan and son Jon Kasdan.“Episode IX” is not yet formally titled and is slated for a 2019 release.
It is to be directed by Colin Trevorrow (“Jurassic World”).Academy AwardsTo date, the “Star Wars” franchise has received nine Oscars, all for films in the original trilogy.“Star Wars” was nominated in 10 categories; it won six of those - art direction, costume design, film editing, music (original score) (John Williams), sound and visual effects - and it received a special achievement award for sound effects artist Ben Burtt, for a total of seven Oscars at the ceremony in 1978. It was nominated, but did not win, for best picture, director (George Lucas), original screenplay (Lucas) and supporting actor (Alec Guinness).“The Empire Strikes Back” was nominated in three categories and won one, for sound, and received a special achievement award for visual effects at the ceremony in 1981. It was nominated, but did not win, for art direction and music (original score).“Return of the Jedi” received a special achievement award for visual effects at the ceremony in 1984. It was also nominated in four categories that it did not win – art direction, music, sound, sound effects editing.
(Keith Hamshere / Lucasfilm)“The Phantom Menace” was nominated in three categories (sound, sound effects editing, visual effects) but won none at the ceremony in 2000.“Attack of the Clones” was nominated for visual effects but did not win at the ceremony in 2003.“Revenge of the Sith” was nominated for makeup but did not win at the ceremony in 2006.TV projects“The Star Wars Holiday Special” aired in November 1978 on CBS. It featured film cast members Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels; TV stars including Bea Arthur, Art Carney, Diahann Carroll and Harvey Korman; and the band Jefferson Starship.
It features a story about getting Chewbacca home to Kashyyyk and his family for Life Day. There’s also a cartoon that marks the first screen appearance of Boba Fett. The special is not officially commercially available, though the cartoon was an Easter egg on the 2011 “Star Wars: The Complete Saga” Blu-ray set.“Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure” was a 1984 TV movie on ABC. Warwick Davis returns as Wicket.
Burl Ives narrates. The Ewoks help two shipwrecked human kids find their parents.“Ewoks: The Battle for Endor” was a 1985 TV movie on ABC. Warwick Davis as Wicket. Cast includes Wilford Brimley. (Lucasfilm)In “A New Hope,” Darth Vader captures Princess Leia and later kills his old master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in a lightsaber duel on the Death Star. Vader pilots a TIE fighter in the Battle of Yavin but is taken out of it by the Millennium Falcon before he can stop that strong-in-the-Force X-wing pilot from destroying the Death Star. By “The Empire Strikes Back” he’s realized that the X-wing pilot is his son and tells him so during a lightsaber duel, adding that Luke can destroy the emperor, and that they can rule the galaxy together as father and son - an offer that’s declined.
Vader severs Luke’s hand during the fight. In “Return of the Jedi,” he again tries to recruit Luke to the dark side but then turns on Palpatine, redeems himself, and gets to be an all-healed-up ghost Jedi Anakin Skywalker hanging out with fellow ghosts Obi-Wan and Yoda.Played by Jake Lloyd in “The Phantom Menace,” then by Hayden Christensen in “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith.” In “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back,” David Prowse is in the costume, with the voice by James Earl Jones. In “Return of the Jedi,” Jones voices and Prowse is in the full costume, but the actor who plays the unmasked, dying Anakin and the character in spectral form in the original theatrical version and theatrical Special Edition is Sebastian Shaw. In the 2004 DVD release and subsequent releases, Shaw is replaced in the scene with spectral Anakin by Christensen.AT-AT is the common shorthand for All Terrain Armored Transport, a four-legged Imperial vehicle used in the Battle of Hoth in “The Empire Strikes Back.”. (Lucasfilm)Bespin is the gas planet where Cloud City is located in “The Empire Strikes Back.”Ben Burtt is an Oscar-winning sound designer and editor who has worked on all seven live-action “Star Wars” films to date.
His first Oscar was a special achievement award for his work on the 1977 “Star Wars.”Biggs Darklighter was a Rebel X-wing pilot who grew up on Tatooine with Luke Skywalker. He’s reunited with his old friend on Yavin IV, but dies in the attack on the first Death Star in “A New Hope.” Played by Garrick Hagon.blaster: generic term for energy-blasting pistols and rifles in the “Star Wars” galaxy.Boba Fett is a Mandalorian-armor-wearing bounty hunter and a clone of Jango Fett, who raises him as a son. He’s the one who tracks the Millennium Falcon to Bespin and gets to take the frozen-in-carbonite Han Solo in “The Empire Strikes Back.” In “Return of the Jedi,” he’s seen in Jabba’s palace, where he’s delivered Solo, and on Jabba’s barge before being knocked into the pit of the sarlacc. In “Attack of the Clones,” he’s seen as a child helping Jango escape Obi-Wan Kenobi and witnesses Jango’s death at the hands of Mace Windu.
Played by Jeremy Bulloch in “Empire” and “Jedi.” Played in “Attack of the Clones” by Daniel Logan. Also had a cameo added to Special Edition of “A New Hope” with other people in the costume.Bothan spies are unseen characters, many of whom Mon Mothma says died getting information about the second Death Star - and the Emperor’s presence there - to the Rebel Alliance in “Return of the Jedi.”. (Keith Hamshere / Lucasfilm)Darth Sidious was an alias of Palpatine. (Lucasfilm)Disney: the Walt Disney Co. (Lucasfilm)the Empire: This term is acceptable in all references to the Galactic Empire founded by Palpatine as the successor state to the Galactic Republic.
It is the opponent of the Rebel Alliance in the original trilogy. As an adjective, Imperial is capitalized.Endor is home to the Ewoks and site of the generator for a shield protecting the unfinished second Death Star in “Return of the Jedi.” The phrase “the forest moon of Endor” in “Return of the Jedi” might make it seem as though Endor is a planet and the Ewoks live on an unnamed moon that orbits it, but Lucasfilm uses the name Endor for the moon itself.Expanded Universe: The “Star Wars” Expanded Universe encompasses all the loosely interconnected novels, comic books, video games, etc. That filled out the history and space of the galaxy outside of the first six episodic films. The EU was officially written off in April 2014 as having no bearing on any new “Star Wars” stories produced thereafter, though many are still commercially available and now labeled as Star Wars Legends.Ewoks are a furry, short and resourceful species who live in the forests on Endor.
They are prominent in “Return of the Jedi,” in which they help the Rebels defeat Imperials who are guarding the second Death Star’s shield generator. They also featured in two TV movies and an animated series in the mid-1980s.Finn is a character played by John Boyega in “The Force Awakens.”First Order: the villainous organization in “The Force Awakens”.
(Lucasfilm)the Force: In “A New Hope,” Obi-Wan Kenobi explains it as “what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us. It penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.” Darth Vader says the ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to it.Fox: 20th Century Fox distributed both the original and prequel trilogy films and retains full distribution rights for “A New Hope.”Galactic Republic: The Republic, known in the original trilogy as the Old Republic, is seen in its final years in the prequel trilogy.Galactic Senate and Imperial Senate. The former was the legislative body of the Galactic Republic. The latter was its successor under the Galactic Empire, but was dissolved during the time period of “A New Hope.”Gary Kurtz was the producer of “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back.”Gen.
Star Wars Trivial Pursuit Saga Edition
Grievous is a robotic-bodied villain with a nasty cough in “Revenge of the Sith,” a military leader of the Separatist Alliance who abducted Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. He’s killed in a fight with Obi-Wan Kenobi on the planet Utapau.
The computer-generated character was voiced by Matthew Wood.Gen. Hux is a First Order officer played by Domhnall Gleeson in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”Geonosis is a planet seen in “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” where battle droids are manufactured by Geonosians for the Separatist Alliance.
(Jonathan Player / For the Times)George Lucas is the creator of “Star Wars” and wrote and directed the 1977 original and the prequel trilogy (Jonathan Hales shared a screenplay credit on “Attack of the Clones”). He founded Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic.Grand Moff Tarkin was the commander of the first Death Star and the man who orders the destruction of Alderaan in “A New Hope.” He underestimates the Rebels’ chances.
Played by Peter Cushing.Greedo is a Rodian bounty hunter who confronts and is killed by Han Solo in the Mos Eisley Cantina on Tatooine in “A New Hope.” In the original theatrical film, Han shot first. In the Special Edition and subsequent releases, Greedo shoots first.Han Solo is the Millennium Falcon-owning smuggler who becomes a Rebel leader over the course of the original trilogy.
In “A New Hope,” he and Chewbacca are hired by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker to take them to Alderaan, help rescue Princess Leia, and appear to take their pay and leave before returning to help in the attack on the Death Star. In “The Empire Strikes Back,” he rescues an injured Luke on Hoth before helping Princess Leia escape the Imperial attack on the planet and pursuit through an asteroid field, and proceeding to Cloud City. There, he’s betrayed by old pal Lando Calrissian, has a memorable exchange with Leia (“I love you,” she says; “I know,” he replies) before being frozen in carbonite (as a test case before Luke), and is turned over to Boba Fett. In “Return of the Jedi,” he’s thawed by Princess Leia and rescued in an elaborate operation on Jabba’s barge. Solo is declared a general in the Rebellion and leads a strike team in disabling the second Death Star’s shield generator on Endor. He’ll also be in “The Force Awakens,” and has been played in all films so far by Harrison Ford, though an upcoming anthology film about Solo is to feature the character as a younger man. Never tell him the odds.
(Lucasfilm)proton torpedo: a weapon used in space battles; X-wing fighters have them. Not “photon torpedo,” which is used in “Star Trek.” Someone will complain if we get it wrong.Qui-Gon Jinn was a Jedi master who trained Obi-Wan Kenobi and discovered young Anakin Skywalker’s strength in the Force, believing the boy to be the prophesied chosen one who will bring balance to the Force in “The Phantom Menace” (so, story-wise, this is all his fault).
He helps Queen Amidala and is killed in a lightsaber duel with Darth Maul. Played by Liam Neeson.R2-D2 is the droid paired with C-3PO that’s entrusted with Death Star plans and a message for Obi-Wan Kenobi by Princess Leia in “A New Hope” and serves as Luke Skywalker’s X-wing astromech in all three of the original trilogy films. Artoo also helps Luke and company out of a number of scrapes (by plugging into the systems of the Death Star, Millennium Falcon and Cloud City, or launching Luke’s hidden lightsaber), and often frustrates Threepio. You’ve never seen such devotion in a droid.
Artoo also appears in the prequel films. It’s Kenny Baker inside.
Star Wars Trivial Pursuit Questions
The little droid’s sound effects were designed by Ben Burtt.Ralph McQuarrie did conceptual art and design on the original trilogy.rancor: the type of beast Luke Skywalker faced in the pit at Jabba’s palace in “Return of the Jedi.”Rebel Alliance: The group that fights the Empire in the original trilogy. Also known as the Rebellion, the Rebels.Rey is a character played by Daisy Ridley in “The Force Awakens.”. (Lucasfilm)Rick McCallum produced the prequel trilogy.Salacious Crumb is the little laughing creature that sits by Jabba the Hutt in “Return of the Jedi.”the sarlacc: It lives in the Pit of Carkoon in the Dune Sea of Tatooine.
Jabba the Hutt plans to feed Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca to it in “Return of the Jedi.” As Threepio puts it in translating their death sentences, “in his belly you will find a new definition of pain and suffering as you are slowly digested over a thousand years.” Mandalorian armor might make it burp.Sith are the dark side counterparts to the Jedi. Palpatine, Darth Vader, Darth Maul and Count Dooku are all Dark Lords of the Sith, also called Sith Lords.Shmi was the mother of Anakin Skywalker and a slave on Tatooine in “The Phantom Menace.” She became wife to Cliegg Lars and stepmother to Owen Lars, and died from injuries inflicted by Tusken Raiders in “Attack of the Clones.” Played by Pernilla August.“Splinter of the Mind’s Eye” by Alan Dean Foster was the first “Star Wars” spinoff novel. It was published in 1978.Star Destroyer: A large Imperial starship. There’s also a larger version called a Super Star Destroyer.Star Tours is a “Star Wars”-themed motion simulator ride at various Disney parks. The first one opened at Disneyland in 1987. A revamped version with 3-D and variable story lines opened at Disneyland in 2011.Star Wars Land refers to planned themed areas at Disneyland in Anaheim and at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios park in Orlando.Starkiller Base is a setting in “The Force Awakens.”Stormtroopers are white-armor-clad, blaster-wielding Imperial troops.
(Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)Supreme Chancellor Valorum is the character in “The Phantom Menace” whose ouster from office is engineered by Senator Palpatine from Naboo, who then succeeds him. Played by Terence Stamp.Supreme Leader Snoke is a character played by Andy Serkis in “The Force Awakens.”Tatooine is a crime-ridden desert planet orbiting twin suns that’s a major setting in “A New Hope” and “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones.” Home at various times to Anakin Skywalker, Jabba the Hutt, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker. If there’s a bright center to the universe, this is the planet it’s farthest from.tauntaun: The type of animal Han Solo put an injured Luke Skywalker inside for warmth in “The Empire Strikes Back.” Its innards stink.TIE fighter: a single-pilot starfighter used by the Empire; TIE is an acronym for Twin Ion Engine. There are also TIE bombers (doubly wide) and TIE interceptors (bent wings).Timothy Zahn wrote the Thrawn trilogy (1991’s “Heir to the Empire,” 1992’s “Dark Force Rising” and 1993’s “The Last Command”), bestselling novels that played a role in rejuvenating the “Star Wars” franchise and growing the Expanded Universe in the 1990s; the new villain was Grand Adm. Thrawn.Trade Federation: A group opposing Republic taxes on trade routes that blockades Naboo in “The Phantom Menace.” It’s secretly under the influence of Darth Sidious.Tusken Raiders are a dangerous group on Tatooine who ride banthas and attack humans. Some attack Luke Skywalker in “A New Hope” (Obi-Wan Kenobi scares them off); some are responsible for the death of Shmi in “Attack of the Clones.” The latter group is slaughtered by Anakin Skywalker.
Also known as Sand People. Both terms are acceptable.Uncle Owen is the common name for Owen Lars, who with his wife Beru raised Luke Skywalker on Tatooine and wanted the young man to stay on the farm for one more season, as seen in “A New Hope.” He’s killed offscreen by Stormtroopers.
It’s revealed in “Attack of the Clones,” in which he’s seen as a younger man, that he’s the stepson of Shmi and stepbrother to Anakin Skywalker. Played by Phil Brown in “A New Hope” and Joel Edgerton in “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith.”wampa: The type of creature that knocks out Luke and loses an arm to his lightsaber on Hoth in “The Empire Strikes Back.”Watto was a junk dealer on Tatooine and owner of Shmi and Anakin Skywalker before losing Anakin to Qui-Gon Jinn in a bet when the boy won a podrace in “The Phantom Menace.”. (Lucasfilm)Wedge Antilles is a Rebel pilot. He’s a member of the X-wing Red Squadron in “A New Hope,” pilots a snowspeeder against AT-ATs on Hoth in “The Empire Strikes Back,” and leads the Red Squadron of X-wings against the second Death Star in “Return of the Jedi.” Played by Denis Lawson.Wicket is the common name for Wicket W. Warrick, an Ewok who befriends Princess Leia and helps the Rebellion in “Return of the Jedi.” First name only is acceptable in all references. Played by Warwick Davis in that film and the Ewok TV movies.
Davis is also in the cast of “The Force Awakens” in an as yet unknown role.X-wing: a single-pilot-with-droid attack spaceship used by the Rebel Alliance. There are also A-wing and Y-wing fighters.Yavin IV was where the Rebels were hiding in “A New Hope.” The first Death Star is destroyed in a battle above it.Yoda was a Jedi master who trained Luke Skywalker on Dagobah in “The Empire Strikes Back.” Among his words of wisdom: “Do, or do not. There is no try.” The character dies in “Return of the Jedi,” after confirming to Luke, re: Vader, “Your father he is” and revealing “there is another Skywalker”; he appears in spectral form at the film’s end. A puppet in those films and “The Phantom Menace,” he’s computer-generated in “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” and got CG treatment in the 2011 Blu-ray release of “The Phantom Menace.”In the prequels, he’s seen as a member of the Jedi Council. He initially opposes the training of Anakin Skywalker in “The Phantom Menace” but relents.
In “Attack of the Clones,” he has his first onscreen lightsaber duel, with Count Dooku. In “Revenge of the Sith,” he has a lightsaber duel with Palpatine; he recommends the infant Luke and Leia be hidden.Voiced in all the films by Frank Oz, who was also the primary puppeteer for the character in the original trilogy films and did some puppet work in “The Phantom Menace.”Twitter:For more ‘Star Wars’ news head toMORE.