The semifinals aren't happening yet, but My Favorite Team did get tripped up by the final question this week.  My post-mortem advice was that the final answer is almost always something you could have guessed, even if you didn't.

What character created by Stan Lee was supposed to be unlikeable because "everyone hates war"?

What tech company founded in 1939 was named based on the flip of a coin?

What was Elvis Presley's first number one hit?

What automobile device was first used to try to gain an advantage in the 1894 Paris-Rouen race?

My wife is watching a video titled "Pride and Prejudice 1995 More Things You Might Have Missed".  My immediate thought was "Good grief, that's a lot of things to have missed!"

And then I laughed and laughed and laughed at myself.  

Still rocking, My Favorite Team is in the semifinals.  We'll see how we do against tougher competition. 

Rehoboam is the name of an AI in what dystopian sci-fi series on HBO?

What sportswear company founded in 1938 is named for a river in Oregon?

Miss Trunchbull is the headmistress in what novel by Roald Dahl?

After his death in 2022, whose nickname was added to his home country's dictionary as a synonym for "exceptional, incomparable, unique"​​​​​​​?

Because One Day I'll Leave You
​​​​​​​A Phantom To Lead You

Fan(s?) of nerdsholmferret crosswords will recognize the first one, which I answered with glee.  Do not get me started on "Rick Pitino" or "Malcolm Gladwell", which I nearly answered, with gnashing of teeth.

In the movie "Better Off Dead", Johnny the paperboy repeatedly demands what quantity of money?

What Paul Simon song starts with "When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I can think at all" ?

What movie features this quote:  "We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they've come" ?

What 18th century Prussian monarch composed flute sonatas and corresponded with Voltaire about philosophy, in addition to waging wars of conquest?

Remember that you are dust, and also these bits of trivia:

This science-fictional character had the prime directives "Serve the public trust.  Protect the innocent.  Uphold the law."

This capital city has an unofficial slogan urging its inhabitants to keep it weird.

This politician appeared in a short film depicting his 1896 Republican nomination for the presidency.

Portrayed by Frank Langella, Adam Sandler, and Nicholas Cage, this is the most portrayed literary character.

I am grateful for the oppportunity to do trivia nights, and tonight was another fun one.  We had a guest emcee who played a pleasing (to me) playlist of Billy Joel and Simon & Garfunkel.  It didn't hurt that My Favorite Team has continued its winning ways!

On November 17, 1968 an NFL game between the Jets and the Raiders was interrupted by this scheduled made-for-TV movie.

This 1962 children's picture book by Ezra Jack Keats features an African-American boy enjoying wintry activities.

The franking privilege permits members of Congress to do what?

A major U.S. airport is named for this aviator who was the Navy's first fighter ace of World War II.

After several auditions as a substitute, I was formally inducted into a trivia team tonight, and we won a runaway victory.  I'm sure the emcee was gratified to announce "My Favorite Team are the winners with 108 points."  Memorable questions included:

Better known by this pen name, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson​​​​​​​ published his most famous children's novel in 1865.

This desert covers parts of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa.

After Pac-Man and Space Invaders, the second installment of this martial arts arcade game is the third highest-grossing arcade game of all time.

This Dallas-based department store chain founded in 1907 is known for its Christmas catalog with outlandish gifts.