Items to Identify Flashcards
Desi Arnaz
a. Cuban-Born Ameerican musician actor and television producer
b. Played Ricky Ricardo on I love Lucy
Jim Parsons
a. Best known for playing Sheldon Cooper on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory with his performance often cited as a significant reason for the program’s success
Stanley Kubrick
a. American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, and editor who did most of his work in the UK
b. Many of his films broke new ground in cinematography, including 2011: A Space Odyssey, Barry Lyndon (borrowed lenses from NASA), The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, Paths of Glory, Lolita
Spuds MacKenzie
a. Fictional dog character created for use in an advertising campaign marketing Bud Light beer in the late 1980s. During the height of his popularity, large amounts of Spuds merchandise was available, such as plush toys and t-shirts
b. Contraversial because the dog attracted a young audience
Star Trek
a. American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry and currently under the ownership of CBS and Paramount
b. Followed interstellar adventures of James T. Kirk and the crew of an exploration vessel
c. Cult phenomenon. Fans called Trekkies or Trekkers. Spin-offs included games, figurines, novels
d. Noted for its influence of the world outside of science fiction and inspiration for technology such as a cell phone and for its progressive civil rights stances
South Park
a. American adult animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network
b. Intended for mature audiences the show has become famous for its crude language and dark, surreal humor that satirizes a wide range of topics
The Beatles
a. English rock band formed in 1960
b. Became widely regarded as the greatest and most influential act of the rock era
c. According to the RIAA , the Beatles are the best-selling band in the US, and have had more number-one albums on the British charts and sold more singles in the UK than any other act
Duck Dynasty
a. American reality television series on A&E that portrays the lives of the Robertson family, who became wealthy from their family-operated business, Duck Commander
b. Show has broken several ratings records with the fourth season premier drawing in 11.8 million viewers (the most watched nonfiction cable series in history
c. In mid-December 2013 controversy from an interview Phil Robertson gave resulted in A&E’s indefinite suspension of Phil, the family patriarch, from the show over remarks which were anti-gay and bigoted
VW Beetle
a. Economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003. Need for the car was formulated by Hitler wishing for a cheap, simple car to be mass-produced for the new road network of the country. Mass production put on hold during war and came out in 1945
a. Online social networking service. Name comes from colloquialism for the directory given to students at some American university. Founded in 2004. As of January 2014 has about 1.2 billion monthly users
Lucille Ball
a. American comedian, model, film and televison actress and studio executive
b. Star of sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here’s Lucy and Life with Lucy
Kaley Cuoco
a. First came to attention for her role as Bridget Hennessy on ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules
b. Has gained international recognition for her role as Penny on CBS comedy series The Big Bang THeory
Quentin Tarantino
a. American film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor
b. Films have been characterized by nonlinear storylines, satirical subject matter, and an aestheticization of violence that often results in the exhibition of neo-noir characteristics
c. Been dubbed a “director DJ” comparing his stylistic use of mix and match genre and music infusion
d. Career as an independent filmmaker began with release of Reservoir Dogs in 1992. Released Pulp Fiction in 1994 and Kill Bill in 2003
Pac Man
a. Arcade game developed by Namco and first released in Japan in 1980
b. Created a new genre appealing to both genders and is often credited with being a landmark in video game history
c. One of the highest grossing video games of all time
Dirty Harry
a. American crime thriller film produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan
Gary Coleman
a. American actor known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Different Strokes as well as his short stature
Teletubbies
a. British BBC children’s television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 31 March 1997 to 5 January 2001
b. Teletubbies particularly notable for its high production values and for its cult following with older generations
Honey Boo Boo
a. American reality television series on TLC featuring the family of child beauty pageant contest Alany “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson. She was originally on Toddlers & Tiaras and had her first season of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo in August 2012
Bell Bottoms
a. Style of pants that became wider fro the knees donwards, forming a bell-like shape of the pant leg
Snapchat
a. Photo messaging application developed by 2 Stanford University students. Allows users to control time recipient can see a picture
Lenny Bruce
a. American stand-up comedian, social critic and satirist
b. Renowned for his open, free-style form of comedy which integrated politics, religion, sex and vulgarity
c. His private life was marked by substance abuse and promiscuity as well as efforts to prevent his wife from working as a stripper
Johnny Galecki
a. American actor best known for his role as Leonard Hofstadter in Big Bang Theory and as David Healy in the sitcom Roseanne from 1992-1997
b. Has appeared in films including National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and I Know What You Did Last Summer
Martin Scorsese
a. American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian
b. Widely regarded as one of the greatest directors of all time
c. Body of work addresses such themes as Italian American identity, Roman Catholic concepts of guilt and redemption, machismo, modern crime and gang conflict. Films use violence and profanity liberally
d. Landmark films include Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Departed
Donkey Kong
a. Series of video games featuring the adventures of a large gorilla
b. Original DK game was the first appearance of Mario, Nintendo’s flagship character
c. Hallmark of the DK series is barrels
Ylvis
a. Comedy duo from Norway. Deuted as professional variety artists doing string of variety shows in 2000.
b. Host a Norwegian talk show where they debuted The Fox
William Hung
a. American singer who gained fame in early 2004 as a result of his off-key audition performance of Ricky Martin’s hit sone “She Bangs” on the third season of American Idol
Yo Gabba Gabba!
a. American children’s television show that airs on the Nick Jr. cable network in the US and other countries
Mullets
a. The mullet is a hairstyle that is short at the front and sides, and long in the back
a. Online social networking and microblogging service that enables users to send and read “tweets” which are text messages limited to 140 characters
b. Created in 2006 and had 500 million registered users in 2012 who posted 340 million tweets per day
Richard Pryor
a. American stand-up comedian, actor, film director, social critic, satirist, writer, and MC
b. Known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity
c. Widely regarded as one of the mot important and influential stand-up comedians of all time
d. His body of work includes the concert movies and recordings
George Carlings
a. American comedian, writer, social critic, and actor who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums
b. Noted for his black humor
c. “Seven dirty words” comedy routine central to 1978 Supreme Court case
Tim Curry
a. English actor, singer, composer, and voice actor
b. Rose to prominence with his portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Edith Fore
a. The Mount Ephraim resident who turned a hip injury into the famous television commercial line “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”
Monty Python’s Flying Circus
a. British sketch comedy series created by the comedy group Monty Python and broadcast by the BBC from 1969 to 1974
b. Show often targets the idiosyncrasies of British life, especially that of professionals, and is at times politically charged
c. Members of Monty Python were highly educated
Joe Camel
a. Advertising mascot for Camel cigarettes from 1987 to 1997
Atari
a. Corporate and brand name that pioneered arcade games, home video game consoles, and home computers
b. Products such as Pong and the Atari 2600
c. Acquired by Hasbro in 1998
Psy
a. South Korean singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, record producer and television personality
b. Known domestically for humorous videos and stage performances, and internationally for his hit single “Gagnam Style”
Cee Lo Green
a. Thomas DeCarlo Callaay, best known by his stage name CeeLo Green, is an American recording artist from Atlanta
b. Came to initial prominence as a member of the southern hip hop group Goodie Mob, and as part of the soul duo Gnarls Barkley
Jamaican National Bobsleigh Team
a. Cool Runnings is a 1993 American sports film loosely based on the true story of the Jamaica national bobsled team’s debut in the bobsled competition of the 1988 Winter Olympics
Lady Ga Ga
a. Stefani Germanotta (Ga Ga) is an American recording artist, activist, recorder, businesswoman, fashion designer, philanthropist, and actress
b. Born and raised in NYC
c. Rose to prominence with her 2008 debut album with international number one tracks “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”
d. Recognized for her flamboyant, diverse, and outré contributions to the nusic industry through her fashion, performances, and music videos
“Baby On Board”
a. Message of a small sign intended to be placed in the back window of an automobile to encourage safe driving
b. First marketed in 1984 but declined rapidly by 1986 as parody imitations with lines like “Baby I’m Bored” and “Pit Bull on board” became popular
c. Still popular in the UK
SpongeBob SquarePants
a. American animated television series, created by a marine biologist/animator
b. Series’ popularity has made it a media franchise, as well as Nickelodeon network’s highest rated show, and the most distributed property of MTV Networks
c. Aired in 1999
d. Has a movie
e. Has been involved in several public controversies, including one centered on SpongeBob’s sexual orientation
f. Nominated for 15 Emmy Awards
Howard Stern
a. American radio personality, television show host, author, actor, and photographer whose radio show was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005
b. Gained wide recognition in the 1990s and is labeled a “shock jock” for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style
c. Topped the box office chart and grossed $41.2 million domestically
Devil Baby
a. Video depicts an animatronic Deil Baby scaring unsuspecting New Yorkers
b. Made by a small digital agency promotion 20th Century Fox film Devil’s Due
Clara Peller
a. Retired manicurist and American character actress who, at 81, starred in the 1984 “Where’s the beef?” advertising campaign for Wendy’s fast food restaurant chain
Malcom McDowell
a. English actor known for his boisterous and sometimes villainous roles, whose career spand more than 4 decades
b. Known for the controversial films “If…, O Lucky Man!, and A Clockwork Orange for his portrayal of Alex DeLarge
Matt Frewer
a. Canadian American stage, TV and film actor
b. Known for portraying the 1980s icon Max Headroom, the retired villain Moloch in the film adaptation of Watchmen, and Doctor Leekie in the BBC series Orphan Black
Star Wars
a. American epic space opera franchise centered on a film series created by George Lucas
b. Has spawned an extensive media franchise called the Expanded Universe including books, television series, computer and video games, and comic books
c. Franchise depicts a galaxy described as far, far away in the distant past and it commonly portrays Jedi as a representation of good in conflict with the Sith, their evil counterpart
d. Weapon of choice, the lightsaber, is commonly recognized in popular culture
e. Released May 1977 by 20th Century Fox
f. Fourth highest grossing film series leading to multiple re-releases in theaters for the series
The Rachel Haircut
a. Bouncy, square layered hairstyle Aniston wore on Friends and named after her character
Leg Warmers
a. Originally used as dancewear by ballet and other classic dancers in order to keep the leg muscles warm
b. In the early 1980s leg warmers became a fad and wearing them was fashionable among teenage girls
c. Popularity partly due to the influence of the films Fame and Flashdance and the concurrent aerobics craze
Moon Walking
a. A dance in which the dancer slides backwards though the feet move as if he was walking forwards
Napolean Dynomite
a. 2004 comedy film starring Jon Heder (who was just paid $1,000 to play Napoleon)
Pet Rock
a. Pet Rocks were a 1970s collectible conceived in Los Gatos, California by advertising executive Gary Dahl
Apollo Theater
a. Music hall which is a noted venue for African-American performers
b. Home of Showtime at the Apollo, a nationally syndicated television variety
c. Became Apollo in 1934 when it opened to black patrons (previously had been whites only venue)
CBCG & OMFUG
a. CBGB (country, bluegrass, and blues) was a music club at 315 Bowery
b. Originally intended to feature its namesake styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bads like the Ramones, Misfits, Patti Smit Group, and more
c. Storefront and large space next door served as CBGB Record Canteen (record shop and care) for many years. Replaced by a performance space and art gallery
Studio 54
a. Popular New York nightclub from 1977 until 1981 when it was sold
b. Called the most famous nightclub of all time and was a sophisticated groundbreaking multi-media visual extravaganza
Andy Warhol
a. An American artist who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art
b. Works explored relationship between artistic expression, celebrity culture and advertisement (renowned but sometimes controversial artist)
c. Pioneer in computer-generated art
d. Notable as a gay man who lived openly as such before the gay liberation movement
J.R. Ewing
a. Fictional character in the US television series Dallas and its spin-offs
b. One of the show’s most iconic figures, central to the series’ biggest storylines, depicted as covetous, egocentric, manipulative, and psychopathic
c. Original character concept was a blent ofBonanza, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Romeo and Juliet
d. Considered one of television’s most popular characters
