# Botticelli -- June 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [May 31, 2026, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504 "2026-05-31T02:12:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/1 "2026-05-31T02:12:17Z")
Here’s a periodic repost of the rules of the game for anyone interested in joining: **How does this work?** One person, the host, is thinking of someone and gives an initial (“I am B.”). Could be a real person, could be fictional, initial could start the first name, initial could start the last name, whatever. Everyone else is trying to figure out who it is. Players first ask indirect questions, usually three per post, about people with that initial (“Did you paint a picture of Venus on a giant clamshell?”) and the host answers them (“I am not Botticelli.”). **What if the host is correct?** Nothing happens. **What if the host doesn’t know the answer?** The player gets to ask a direct yes-or-no question (“Real?” “First name begins with B?” etc.). Note that direct questions can be reserved, and asked later. **Does a correct answer have to be who the player was thinking of?** If the host answers with a person who was _not_ who the player had in mind but who still correctly fits the question–e.g. thinking of Beethoven, asking “Were you a German classical composer,” and getting the response “I am not Bach”–the question has been correctly answered and again nothing happens. **How long does this go on?** Until twenty direct questions have been answered (usually it’s best for the host to continually post an updated list.). Then players get any other earned direct questions in and people can get in one final direct guess at who it is (“Are you…”). Whoever guesses the person correctly (whether by indirect question or final guess) gets to host the next round. **Where does the name of the game come from?** Because the person has to be reasonably notable, as least as well-known as Botticelli. That being said… **What if nobody guesses who the person is?** If it’s someone players have heard of, the host goes again. If none of the players have heard of the person, the previous host goes again. **Ooh, ooh! If I’m the host, can I go with, for example, Madonna but say “I am C” because, y’know, her last name is Ciccone…** No. We’re going by the names people are best known by to the general public, not birth names. Unless, of course, the birth name is as well-known as the stage or other current name. **What about middle names?** Middle names (and middle initials) count if the person is always referred to as such (e.g. if the letter is P then you can ask about John Philip Sousa). **What if the host does not recognise the name for the answer to an indirect question?** They can ask if anyone else does. If no player recognises that person, that direct question is forfeited. Last post for previous game: [Botticelli -- May 2026 - #413 by Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2026/1029772/413) ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/2 "2026-05-31T02:15:01Z")
I am **L**. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/3 "2026-05-31T02:33:43Z")
Congrats! IQs: 1. Did you anchor a cartoon series with several other characters which led to the FCC imposing restrictions upon advertising on TV? 2. Were you the third person to depart one of the most highly-rated and successful TV series of all time? 3. Were you accompanied on your journey by Seaman, a Newfoundland dog? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/4 "2026-05-31T03:27:54Z")
> [@knoodler](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Did you anchor a cartoon series with several other characters which led to the FCC imposing restrictions upon advertising on TV? > 2. Were you the third person to depart one of the most highly-rated and successful TV series of all time? > 3. Were you accompanied on your journey by Seaman, a Newfoundland dog? Not Linus the Lion-Hearted DQ DQ ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/5 "2026-05-31T05:41:31Z")
Good get, I was just a little slow on the draw. IQs: 1. Were you played by John Cusack in _Say Anything_? 2. Were you made Minister of Munitions in Britain due to the Shell Crisis of 1915? 3. Did you score three goals in a World Cup final in less than 20 minutes? ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/6 "2026-05-31T06:52:02Z")
IQs 1. Did you win a Gold medal in women’s figure skating and are now an Olympic commentator on the sport? 2. Did you write, among other books, **Strawberry Girl**? 3. Did you play Alexander Waverly on TV? ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/7 "2026-05-31T12:36:02Z")
1.: Did you commission the Palace of Versailles? 1. Were you Emperor Gregor’s bride? 2. Do you always carry a security blanket? ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/8 "2026-05-31T12:55:41Z")
IQs: 1. Did Daniel Day-Lewis play you in a biopic directed by Stephen Spielberg, focusing on the end of your life? 2. Did you encourage us to do the Locomotion? 3. Were you Jean-Luc Picard, Borg-ified? ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/9 "2026-05-31T13:38:07Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > > [@knoodler](#): > > > > 1. Did you anchor a cartoon series with several other characters which led to the FCC imposing restrictions upon advertising on TV? > > 2. Were you the third person to depart one of the most highly-rated and successful TV series of all time? > > 3. Were you accompanied on your journey by Seaman, a Newfoundland dog? > > Not Linus the Lion-Hearted > DQ > DQ Correct Larry Linville (Frank Burns, _MASH_) Meriwether Lewis DQs: Real? Male? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/10 "2026-05-31T15:12:53Z")
IQs 1. Were you secretly the Shadow? 2. Were you a character on _The Mary Tyler Moore Show_ who got his own spinoff? 3. Did you play Xena: Warrior Princess? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/11 "2026-05-31T18:16:51Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Were you played by John Cusack in _Say Anything_? > 2. Were you made Minister of Munitions in Britain due to the Shell Crisis of 1915? > 3. Did you score three goals in a World Cup final in less than 20 minutes? DQ x3 > [@kitap](#): > > IQs > > 1. Did you win a Gold medal in women’s figure skating and are now an Olympic commentator on the sport? > 2. Did you write, among other books, **Strawberry Girl**? > 3. Did you play Alexander Waverly on TV? DQ Not Lois Lenski Not Leo G Carroll > [@Eureka](#): > > 1.: Did you commission the Palace of Versailles? > > 1. Were you Emperor Gregor’s bride? > 2. Do you always carry a security blanket? A Louis, I’m sure, but I don’t know which. DQ DQ Not Linus Van Pelt > [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > 1. Did Daniel Day-Lewis play you in a biopic directed by Stephen Spielberg, focusing on the end of your life? > 2. Did you encourage us to do the Locomotion? > 3. Were you Jean-Luc Picard, Borg-ified? Not Abraham Lincoln Not Little Eva Not Locutus of Borg > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > IQs > > 1. Were you secretly the Shadow? > 2. Were you a character on _The Mary Tyler Moore Show_ who got his own spinoff? > 3. Did you play Xena: Warrior Princess? Not Lamont Cranston Not Lou Grant Not Lucy Lastname **L** 1. Real 2. Male ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/12 "2026-05-31T19:48:33Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > IQs > > 1. Did you win a Gold medal in women’s figure skating and are now an Olympic commentator on the sport? > 2. Did you write, among other books, **Strawberry Girl**? > 3. Did you play Alexander Waverly on TV? Tara Lipinski, correct, correct. DQ: 1. American? IQs: 1. Are you perhaps known for co-starring in **The Road to** movies with Bob Hope & Bing Crosby? 2. Did you star in the 1995 version of **A Little Princess**? 3. Did you write **A Sand County Almanac**? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/13 "2026-05-31T20:48:57Z")
Correct on all, including Lucy Lawless. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/14 "2026-05-31T21:09:20Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > > [@SunUp](#): > > > > IQs: > > > > 1. Were you played by John Cusack in _Say Anything_? > > 2. Were you made Minister of Munitions in Britain due to the Shell Crisis of 1915? > > 3. Did you score three goals in a World Cup final in less than 20 minutes? > > DQ x3 Lloyd Dobler, David Lloyd George and Carli Lloyd. Lloyd x3 !! DQs: Last name begins with L? Living? Known for the arts? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/15 "2026-05-31T21:19:20Z")
IQs 1. Did you famously not give your mother 40 whacks? 2. Are you a Russian composer saluted by Tom Lerner? 3. Did you play the Hulk on TV? ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/16 "2026-05-31T22:11:45Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Not Abraham Lincoln > Not Little Eva > Not Locutus of Borg A clean sweep! IQs: 1. Is a mathematical constant named after you (well, your initial)? 2. Did you observe a producer could make more money with a flop than with a hit? 3. Are you the Grammy-winning, top-selling, meat dress-wearing singer of “Bad Romance”, “Poker Face”, “Born This Way”, and “Abracadabra”? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/17 "2026-05-31T22:41:16Z")
**L** 1. Real 2. Male 3. American 4. As best known, only name begins with L 5. Living 6. Not known for the Arts ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/18 "2026-05-31T22:45:53Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Are you perhaps known for co-starring in **The Road to** movies with Bob Hope & Bing Crosby? > 2. Did you star in the 1995 version of **A Little Princess**? > 3. Did you write **A Sand County Almanac**? Three DQs > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > IQs > > 1. Did you famously not give your mother 40 whacks? > 2. Are you a Russian composer saluted by Tom Lerner? > 3. Did you play the Hulk on TV? Not Lizzie Borden 🎶 Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky’s not my name 🎵 Not Lou Ferrigno > [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Is a mathematical constant named after you (well, your initial)? > 2. Did you observe a producer could make more money with a flop than with a hit? > 3. Are you the Grammy-winning, top-selling, meat dress-wearing singer of “Bad Romance”, “Poker Face”, “Born This Way”, and “Abracadabra”? DQ DQ Not Lady Gaga ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/19 "2026-05-31T22:58:44Z")
Swept again! IQs 1. Will the actor who recently played Aquaman play you in the upboming Supergirl movie? 2. Were you Mary Martin’s actor son? 3. Were you a character from a 17th century play whose name has come to mean any amoral but charming womanizer? ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504/20 "2026-05-31T23:08:51Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > DQ > DQ > Not Lady Gaga 1 was Leonhard Euler; 2 was Leo Bloom, in _The Producers_. DQs: 1. known for appearances in media? 2. born after 1970? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-june-2026/1030504.md?page=2)