QUIZ RECAP

When strangers wander unknowingly into the brainy battleground that is a Tuesday night at Tam O'Shanter's bar, it is at first a mystery whether they will seek shelter from the sound and fury or cautiously inquire about the potential for a taste of the thrill of victory (or agony of defeat).

Of Keith wasted no time presenting themselves to the table of trivia after they'd figured out what was what; they sought a dynamic struggle between facts and teams and beer, and they sure were treated to just such things.

Hi Ho Silver rode neck and neck with Aggressive Foreplay for much of the game, until Foreplay's step faltered following a Hi Ho Silver drinking round victory. Though AG salvaged a bronze finish, the excitement at the end featured a resurgent team of Mules catching up to HHS in the final round, forcing a tie breaking final question. With their superior number crunching leading them to deliver a number that was closest to the US McDonald's franchise count, Hi Ho Silver secured themselves a rewarding double victory for the night.

QUIZ RECAP

The smell of potatoes and alcohol swirls in the air.

The sound of the crowd grows and grows until it's just slightly louder than a casual coffee house.

The music fades up: Stevie Wonder's "I Wish".

It must be King Trivia night at the Tam O'Shanter.

The crowd is ready, palms are sweaty, mom's spaghetti (is not available to order).

The teams are ready for competition, and it shows with their confidence in Round 1 - a deceptively easy Round tonight. 4 teams go double or nothing...but only two come out the other end alive. Okay, well, the were all alive, but only two teams came out the other end...with 12 points. The other two are left at the starting line for Round 2, while two other teams played it safe and kept the Double or Nothing box unchecked.

Team Passive Foreplay (formerly Aggressive Foreplay - but in this day and age, it's safer to be passive rather than aggressive) came out swinging with a successful Round 1 Double or Nothing. Then they went double on nothing on Round 2. Another success! (Round 2 side note: I will happily accept a Laura Palmer Wrapped in a Sheet Funko POP figure as a gift). Do they dare go double or nothing on Round 3? They do! And it's another success!

Owen Wilson provided plenty of high scores for Round 4. 2 teams figured out who that mysterious Texan was at the 10-point clue. 3 teams got it at 8 points. And one team fell into the sibling trap, thinking it was Luke (you know, the less famous one...but at least he's more famous than Andrew Wilson).

It was at Round 5 that things got real interesting. Passive Foreplay continued their first place lead, but failed to double or nothing, leaving them vulnerable to Hi Ho Silver and General Washingtons. Both Silver and Washingtons went Double or Nothing on Round 5 (successfully), earning 20 points and placing themselves in a tie for second.

The crowd groaned when they found out Round 6 would be about Super Bowls. But not to fear! It was about Super Bowl half-time shows! They groaned even louder.

At the end of Round 6, the top three teams were all within 10 points of each other. It all came down to Round 7 and figuring out which US airlines had the most passengers.

Not on the list? Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin America, and US Airways (now merged with American).

The game came to a thrilling conclusion with Passive Foreplay taking first, Hi Ho Silver in second, and General Washingtons in third. Flux Capacitors fought valiantly and took fourth place. However, two-person team Won't You Be My Neighbor (celebrating a birthday) had the best average of players to correct answers! That may not win a gift card, but can you put a price tag on pride? Well, yes...$124,720...but that's not the point.

The game was thrilling. The teams were awesome. And Guest Host Uri did an amazing job on his two-round mic test.

QUIZ RECAP

The return (and in greater numbers) of Sista Fistin' Double Deuce brought them higher on the scoreboard than their debut night, but after playing neck and neck with the Mules for much of the game, Flux Capacitors brains hit 88 just in the nick of time to pull out the win!