Birds in Entertainment Trivia

1. In Robert Louis Stevenson's novel 'Treasure Island', what was the name of Long John Silver's parrot companion who was known for squawking out phrases such as "Pieces of Eight!"?

From Quiz Parrot Matters

Answer: Captain Flint

Long John Silver claimed that his pet parrot Captain Flint was as much as 200 years old, had travelled the globe and witnessed some of the legendary events of the 'Golden Age of Piracy'. The exact species to which Captain Flint belongs is not made clear in Stevenson's novel, but even if it was one of the longest-lived large parrot species such as a macaw, then it would still have lived at least twice as long as the known life expectancy of these birds. Captain Flint (the parrot) was named after Silver's former captain, the pirate responsible for burying his ill-gotten gains on the novel's titular island. Pieces of eight were Spanish silver dollars that were often carried by the merchant ships that plied shipping routes between Spain and its empire in the Americas. Since these ships were often targeted by pirates, the phrase "pieces of eight" eventually became synonymous with pirate treasure.

From Quiz 'Pigeonal' Characters

Answer: Yankee Doodle Pigeon

'Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines' originally aired on CBS in the United States between September 1969 and January 1970. The show featured Dick Dastardly and his dog, Muttley, as members of the Vulture Squadron, whose aim was to capture the carrier pigeon known as Yankee Doodle Pigeon. Each episode followed a different disastrously unsuccessful attempt which usually ended in Dastardly and Muttley falling from the wreckage of their destroyed aircraft. The premise of the series is (very) loosely based on the 1965 comedy film 'Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines' with similar numbers of destroyed experimental aircraft piling up following the various disasters. 'Yankee Doodle' is a comic song, probably dating from the time of the Seven Years War in the mid-18th century, often used as a nursery rhyme. 'Humpty Dumpty', 'Solomon Grundy' and 'Wee Willie Winkie' are other well-known nursery rhymes.

From Quiz Ducking the Question

Answer: mighty

The 1992 film became a trilogy with the next two installments (1994 and 1996). "The Mighty Ducks" follows a group of kids from Minneapolis, Minnesota on a inept youth hockey team. Emilio Estevez stars in this family friendly romp as Gordon Bombay, the kids hockey coach and mentor.

From Quiz If it Walks Like a Duck

Answer: Donald Duck

Donald Duck was one of the most popular Disney characters. You'd see him with his girlfriend, Daisy Duck. Clarence Charles "Ducky" Nash was the voice behind Donald Duck for almost fifty years. You can find a carving of Donald Duck on his tombstone.

From Quiz Celebrity Penguins: "Cute and Cuddly" 2

Answer: Iceburgh

He made his debut in 1992 alongside a number of other NHL mascots. He has also appeared in the 1995 Jean Claude Van Damme film "Sudden Death".

From Quiz Parrot Matters

Answer: Neighbours

Dahl first took up residence on Ramsay Street in 1994 as the much-beloved pet parrot of Brett Stark. When Brett left the street in 1996 to go travelling, Dahl moved across the road to live with Brett's friend Libby Kennedy and from that point became a fixture at the Kennedy's home. While Dahl has not been the focus of many key storylines over the years, the love-hate relationship between the bird and Libby's father, Karl, did become a running theme. Galahs are also known as rose-breasted cockatoos or pink and grey cockatoos, thanks to their pink and grey plumage. It is endemic to Australia and known for its loud squawking and gregarious behaviour. Their name is also an Australian slang term for a fool or an idiot.

From Quiz Don't Count Your Chickens

Answer: Robot Chicken

Although the opening sequence of the show almost always featured a chicken being transformed into a Frankenstein-like creation, the show usually unfolded in a random manner, flipping between stop-motion sketches of all lengths and genres. Beginning airing in 2005, the show was led by Seth Green who not only produced, directed, and wrote several sketches, but voice acted in the majority along with a few regulars and frequently rotating guest stars.

From Quiz 'Pigeonal' Characters

Answer: Valiant

'Valiant' charts the adventures of Valiant (voiced by Ewan McGregor) and his squad as they battle to deliver a message back to England while pursued by the evil German falcon General Von Talon. Wing Commander Gutsy (Hugh Laurie) played a key role in encouraging Valiant to sign up with the pigeon service and Sergeant Monty (Jim Broadbent) was Valiant's commander while he was still in military training. Unsurprisingly, in real life war pigeons were not actually given military ranks... Homing pigeons have been used to carry messages during wartime for over 2,500 years with records suggesting that they were used by the King of Persia in the 6th century BC. They played a vital role in communications during the Second World War, but their use did lead to a variety of somewhat amusing official titles such as the 'United States Army Pigeon Service' and the UK's 'Air Ministry Pigeon Section' and 'Pigeon Policy Committee'. However, the 'Royal Homing Pigeon Service' that Valiant the pigeon and his friends joined is a purely fictional invention. 'Fearless' is a 1993 drama starring Jeff Bridges; 'Lionheart' is a 1990 action film featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme; and 1995's 'Braveheart' is an epic about William Wallace and the fight for Scottish independence, starring Mel Gibson.

From Quiz Celebrity Penguins: "Cute and Cuddly" 2

Answer: Coca-Cola

Although both animals evoke the cool and fresh nature that Coca-Cola wants to project, their meeting is a complete impossibility. Outside of zoos and Sea World these two species will never be even remotely close to each other. All penguins are native to the southern hemisphere, while polar bears inhabit the northern climes.

From Quiz Celebrity Penguins "Cute and Cuddly" 1

Answer: Linux

The idea for a penguin mascot came from Linux creator Linus Torvalds after he claims to have received "penguinitis" from a bite by a little penguin in Australia.

From Quiz Parrot Matters

Answer: Paulie

In the film 'Paulie', the title character is a blue-crowned conure (a type of parakeet native to South America) who is able to speak fluent English - not just mimic or repeat English words, but actually hold an intelligent conversation. The US actor and comedian Jay Mohr provided Paulie's voice as the bird's part in the script was clearly beyond the capability of any actual parrot. Paulie had apparently developed his unlikely command of language as a baby, when he was the much-loved pet of a little girl named Marie. However, Marie's parents gave him away and he then spent years being passed from person to person. The main plot of the film followed Paulie's journey to find his way home to Marie, which included the bird beginning a life of crime as a jewel thief and being locked up as a science experiment. The incorrect options are all 1998 films named after title characters who were not members of the Psittacidae family.

From Quiz Don't Count Your Chickens

Answer: Germany

Originally known as the 'Little Birdie Dance', "The Chicken Dance" was more of a drinking staple than a beloved wedding reception standard and children's classic. Allegedly created for Oktoberfest in Germany, the accordion tune was composed by a Swiss musician as 'Der Ententanz'. The song has since become somewhat of a novelty hit covered by many musicians and bands over the years, sometimes appearing on international music charts (somehow) and becoming synonymous with the less technical side of line dancing.

From Quiz 'Pigeonal' Characters

Answer: Mo Willems

'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!' won a Caldecott Honor in 2004 - meaning that it was a runner-up for the Caldecott Medal given to the "most distinguished American picture book for children" each year. It is about a pigeon that tries a range of tricks and tactics to persuade a group of bus passengers to let it drive them, despite explicit instructions to the contrary from the absent bus driver. The unnamed pigeon also starred in further books in the series including 'The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog!', 'The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!' and 'The Pigeon Needs a Bath!'. Mo Willems is a former writer for the children's TV series 'Sesame Street' and 'Codename: Kids Next Door'. His other series of children's books include the 'Knuffle Bunny' and 'Elephant and Piggie' series. The incorrect options are all children's authors, although only Lane Smith (not to be confused with the actor of the same name) and E.L. Konigsburg are American.

From Quiz If it Walks Like a Duck

Answer: Marx Brothers

This 1933 movie featured four Marx brothers. Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo. "Duck Soup" was one of, if not the most popular of their movies. The brothers filmed at least ten movies together over the years. Their last movie together was "Love Happy" in 1949.

From Quiz Celebrity Penguins: "Cute and Cuddly" 2

Answer: Bugs Bunny

Bugs finds the little fella all alone and tries to get him back home to Antarctica. Unfortunately at the end, and much to Bugs chagrin, he learns that Playboy is actually from Hoboken, New Jersey. Playboy has had very few appearances in the shorts but has popped up a number of times in cameos in the various "Looney Tunes" movies.

From Quiz Don't Count Your Chickens

Answer: Friends

First appearing in the 1997 episode "The One with a Chick and a Duck" from the show's third season, the Chick and the Duck became recurring animal roles in the show as they were adopted by Joey and Chandler to save them from being killed. The animals grew throughout the seasons with the chick inevitably becoming a mature rooster and crowing in the fourth season. This ended up spurring a battle during which Rachel and Monica had to swap apartments with the guys for a brief spell. Over time, the birds stopped appearing in the show.

From Quiz If it Walks Like a Duck

Answer: Chandler

Phoebe told Chandler that he should return the chick to the animal shelter, however, Chandler didn't return the chick and also came home with a duck. The chick's name was Yasmin, but the duck only went by the name of Dick.

From Quiz Parrot Matters

Answer: Charlie Chan

'The Chinese Parrot' is a 1926 novel by Earl Derr Biggers who wrote six novels featuring his detective, Charlie Chan. The novel in question was the second book in the series and featured Chan travelling to California from his home in Hawaii in order to deliver a string of pearls to their wealthy new owner. After his arrival he discovers mysterious events thanks to the death of the parrot and decides to remain undercover in order to investigate. The titular parrot wasn't a Chinese species but did have the ability to talk in that language.

From Quiz Don't Count Your Chickens

Answer: Ratchet & Clank

One of the zanier weapons in this series loaded to the brim with guns of all sorts, the Morph-o-ray first appeared in the first game in the series on the PlayStation 2. One of the last weapons to get in the game, it could not be bought-- only found. Later games would introduced the Qwack-O-Ray, to transform foes into ducks, and the Sheepinator, which transformed them into sheep...who would then explode. The Pork Bomb Gun also appeared in the PSP game "Secret Agent Clank", transforming enemies into pigs.

From Quiz 'Pigeonal' Characters

Answer: An American Tail

'An American Tail' was directed by Don Bluth and produced in collaboration with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment company. The main character is Fievel Mousekewitz, who after being separated from his parents and sister when he was washed overboard en route to the US, spends the rest of the film attempting to locate them amongst the very much cat-infested streets of New York. Since the world depicted in 'An American Tail' is not devoid of humans - the Mousekewitz's lived with a human family named Moskowitz in Russia and various humans are seen throughout the film - it seems odd that the construction of one of America's greatest landmarks was left in the wings of a pigeon - even a French sounding one voiced by Christopher Plummer. Despite this apparent flaw in the plot, 'An American Tail' was hugely successful at the box office - taking over $80 million worldwide. The incorrect options are all animated feature films starring mice, but not pigeons.

From Quiz If it Walks Like a Duck

Answer: You Bet Your Life

"You Bet Your Life" first aired in 1950. The show ran for eleven years. Groucho Marx hosted the show the entire time, with George Fenneman as the announcer for the entire time. The show was nominated for an Emmy for seven years but never won one award.

From Quiz Celebrity Penguins: "Cute and Cuddly" 2

Answer: Argentina

Néstor Carlos Kirchner of Argentina served as the countries president from 2003-2007. His nickname derives from his birthplace in the cold southernly climes of Patagonia. He was s uprising candidate and victor, winning by default when his opponent former President Carlos Menem withdrew form the race. He famously vowed to "a cold wind of change" despite many critic's belief that he would be an impotent leader. His actions in office were so well received that his wife was elected to replace him when he left office in 2007.

From Quiz Celebrity Penguins "Cute and Cuddly" 1

Answer: Fight Club

"Fight Club" is about a split personality anarchist. It is a psychological exploration of the power of one man over many and the realm of mental disorders (albeit in a slightly twisted way). Power animals are related to native concepts of universal connectedness and reveal the inner true essence of people.

From Quiz Parrot Matters

Answer: Aladdin

Jafar and his parrot sidekick Iago appear in the 1992 Disney film 'Aladdin'. Jafar was the Sultan's Grand Vizier and right-hand man who captured a poor boy named Aladdin and used him in an attempt to obtain a certain lamp. However, Jafar's plan went awry when he double-crossed Aladdin and it was Aladdin who ended up with the lamp, a Genie and three wishes at his disposal. Iago's role in the storyline was limited, but the scarlet macaw's evil character did show through in his sarcastic remarks and unpleasant behaviour. The bird was named after the evil Iago from Shakespeare's 'Othello'.

From Quiz Don't Count Your Chickens

Answer: Royal Canadian Air Farce

Although "Royal Canadian Air Farce" began as a radio show featuring comedic impressions, it went to television in the 1990s and became a popular CBC comedy fixture, showing for a number of seasons and then restricting itself to a once-a-year special airing on New Years Eve. One of the many recurring sketches on the show was the Chicken Cannon, a high-powered weapon that was loaded with a random assortment of items and (usually) a rubber chicken and fired directly at a topical target onstage, usually by Don Ferguson's Colonel "Teresa" Stacy.

From Quiz 'Pigeonal' Characters

Answer: Homer Pigeon

In 'Pigeon Patrol' a slightly scrawny Homer Pigeon, bedecked in a waistcoat, bow-tie and boater hat, decides to inflate himself with bottled air in the hopes of making himself look more like the type of carrier pigeon employed by the Pigeon Patrol service. Needless to say the effort fails miserably, but he does get his chance to deliver an important message when a carrier pigeon loses a battle with a Japanese vulture. As the hero of the hour, Homer also gains the affection of his sweetheart Mazie and lives happily ever after with her and their brood of squabs (baby pigeons). Homer Pigeon made relatively few appearances, with the Walter Lantz Studios being much more well-known for creating the character Woody Woodpecker. He appeared in three further cartoons (including 'Spook-a-Nanny' in 1964 which also featured Woody Woodpecker) and a handful of comic book stories between 1942 and 1973. The incorrect options are all first names of characters from 'The Simpsons' - Bartholomew 'Bart' Simpson, Montgomery Burns and Waylon Smithers.

From Quiz If it Walks Like a Duck

Answer: Howard the Duck

Many actors portrayed the sarcastic, cigar smoking, rude alien duck. Chip Zien supplied the voice while Ed Gale, Tim Rose, Jordan Prentice and others appeared in costume as Howard.

From Quiz Celebrity Penguins: "Cute and Cuddly" 2

Answer: Surfing

Cody (voiced by Shia LaBeouf) is the star of the 2007 film "Surf's Up". He has dreams of being a surfer after meeting one during a tour of Antarctica. He is able to convince a talent scout to take him along to a major surfing tournament where he will face beach bully Tank. Ultimately Cody and Tank clash but in a twist ending, neither wins and the championship goes to the most unlikely candidate.

From Quiz Celebrity Penguins "Cute and Cuddly" 1

Answer: Budweiser

The penguin was brought in to promote Bud Ice but his tenure was short lived. He infamously warbled out "Dooby Dooby Doo" as he swiped each bottle, a rumored allusion to the last lines of the Frank Sinatra song "Strangers in the Night"

From Quiz Parrot Matters

Answer: The Sims Medieval: Pirates and Nobles

'The Sims Medieval' was released in 2011 as a spin-off from the main 'The Sims' series. Instead of building houses and managing your sim's love life and career, the aim of the game was to build a medieval kingdom and have the sims complete quests to increase the power and influence of that kingdom. Unlike the ongoing game play of the original series, a game of 'The Sims Medieval' could actually be won by successfully completing the ambition associated with a kingdom. 'The Sims Medieval: Pirates and Nobles' was the only expansion pack released for the game and added in the opportunity to own and deploy useful pets in the form of parrots and falcons. Clearly, the idea was that a pirate would want a pet parrot, while any self-respecting noble sim would want to indulge in falconry.

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Last Updated Apr 13 2024 5:50 AM

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