"The Wire" Trivia Game

The Game Room
1

At the suggestion of AuntiePam, I’m starting a trivia game based on the best show on television evah, The Wire. If you aren’t familiar with the show buy, rent, borrow or steal the DVD set of Season One, and prepare yourself to be blown away. (Do not, on pain of death, start with any other season!)

As usual with these games, answer a previous question, and add one or more of your own. The person with the most correct answers at the end wins a cameo appearance in the next season.*

AuntiePam’s opening questions.

AP 1. How many ports did the van travel to?
AP 2. Who’s Prez’s favorite singer?
commasense: Johnny Cash
AP 3. Where were Valchek and Sobotka’s rectory windows made?
AP 4. What did Ziggy sell to the appliance store guy?
commasense: Digital cameras
AP 5. Who won the basketball game – east side or west side?
commasense: East side, thanks to Prop Joe’s ringers.
AP 6. Name the girl who seduced Marlo.
commasense: DeVaun
AP 7. What’s Omar’s favorite food?
commasense: Honey Nut Cheerios
AP 8. What the fuck did I do?
AP 9. Name the happy couple who traveled the interstate buying Tracfones.
commasense: Bernard (“I can’t wait to go to jail”) and Squeak

commasense’s questions:
CS 1. Who couldn’t fall down the stairs? (Character name and actor. You may confirm your answer by checking out who created the actor’s Wikipedia page.)
CS 2. Name the characters who had possession of the ring, in order. (This question did not escape from a LOTR thread.)
CS 3. What is Bubbles’ real name (i.e. the character’s real name, not the actor’s.)
CS 4. How many penises have we seen in the show?
CS 5. Give the names of five “brands” of drugs as touted on the streets. (Red tops, blue tops, or any other color of top is too easy and therefore not acceptable.)
CS 6. Name two continuing characters who have the same names as real people, and state what’s different about the two cases. (A new character in season five is excluded.)
CS 7. Name two real-life Maryland politicians who have made cameo appearances. (This question is not open to Maryland residents.)
CS 8. Name two real-life novelists who have made cameo appearances. (Bonus: Give their connection to the show.)
CS 9. What radio show was Bodie listening to on his trip to Philadelphia?
CS 10. What was the make and caliber of Dozerman’s lost service weapon?

  • Bonus question: What’s the problem with this prize?
2

The only answer I looked up was the name of the actor who played Polk. Lemme know how I did.

Polk (Nat Benchley)

Old Face Andre, Marlo, Officer Walker, Michael

Reginald Cousins

Two? Omar’s and his friend’s. I could be wrong about that.

Greenhouse Gas, WMD, Pandemic…

Jay Landsman is a real life BPD played by Delaney Williams. Felicia Pearson is also Snoop’s real name.

Tommy D’alessandro, former mayor?

And there will be no next season for my cameo… :frowning:

3

AP 8. What the fuck did I do?

McNulty’ed things up. Or re-entered the scene at a time where he could be useful.
CS 2. Name the characters who had possession of the ring, in order. (This question did not escape from a LOTR thread.)

Old Face Andre, Marlo, Omar, Officer Walker, Michael
4

Shit, I left out Omar between Marlo and Officer Walker.

I was thinking about this, and I recall seeing Daniels’ package. So, I’m thinking Omar and Daniels is the right answer.

5

We also saw Ziggy’s package a lot in season 2.

6

I just learned (can’t remember where) that Ziggy’s was a prosthetic.

I don’t remember seeing Daniels from the front, or any of Omar’s boyfriends. I remember Omar, and the dead guy this season.

CS 8. Name two real-life novelists who have made cameo appearances. (Bonus: Give their connection to the show.)

One is Laura Lippman – David Simon’s wife

CS 9. What radio show was Bodie listening to on his trip to Philadelphia?

Prairie Home Companion

7

Some trivia questions:

What toy did Avon reminisce that Stringer stole from the toy store when they were kids? This is mentioned during their last conversation on the roof top.

What was the name of the girl who was taken into the bathroom for sex during S4, for which Randy was the look out?

What Founding Father were Wallace, Bodie, and Poot arguing about in the Pit? Why were they discussing him?

What cop who was on the Major Crimes Unit and gangster busted by them share the same first name?

What were Nick Sobotka’s girlfriend and kid named?

What was the name of the girl who Ziggy was tricked into thinking he got pregnant?

What school did both Omar and Bunk attend?

:smack: Of course. Like Maui, I blocked that out.

8

Rubystreak had the right answers to CS 1, CS 3, CS 6. Congratulations.

And she gets partial credit for CS 5 (drug names). I asked for five because I have noted at least 27 names, not including red, blue, yellow, black, and green tops, and I’m pretty sure I’ve missed a few. (Yes, while watching the first four seasons on DVD, I systematically made note of all the drug names I could catch. Obsessed? Me?)

mr. jp got CS 2 right. And I’m waiting to see if the ring turns up again this season.

I’ll admit to not being certain about the correct penis count. diku mentions one that I was thinking of (BTW, AuntiePam, the book is where we learned that we didn’t see James Ransone’s real thing.) And definitely Omar, but I don’t recall if we actually saw any of his lovers’. We saw Daniels’ butt, but I don’t recall anything else.

AuntiePam named the other one I was thinking of. She’s also right about CS 9, and gotten half of CS 8.

Questions still outstanding (assuming that mr. jp and I have given the correct answers to AP’s questions):

AP 1. How many ports did the van travel to? (To which I’d like to add, Name them! But I don’t know the correct answers.)
AP 3. Where were Valchek and Sobotka’s rectory windows made?

CS 5. Give the names of five “brands” of drugs as touted on the streets, excluding color tops.
CS 7. Name two real-life Maryland politicians who have made cameo appearances. (This question is not open to Maryland residents.)
CS 8. Name the real-life novelist (other than Laura Lippman) who has made a cameo appearance. (Bonus: Give his/her connection to the show.)
CS 10. What was the make and caliber of Dozerman’s lost service weapon?

On preview: thanks Rubystreak for the new questions.

9

Weren’t the rectory windows made in Germany?

Found this on wikipedia: “Several prominent real-life Baltimore figures, including former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Rev. Frank M. Reid III, former police chief Ed Norris, and former mayor Kurt Schmoke have appeared in minor roles despite not being professional actors. “Little Melvin” Williams, a Baltimore drug lord arrested in the 1980s by an investigation that Ed Burns had been part of, has had a recurring role as a deacon since the third season.”

I did not realize that Det. Ed Norris on the show was former BPD Police Commissioner Ed Norris IRL. That means there are 3 characters in the show who are also real life Baltimoreans.

Melvin Williams plays the Deacon, right? Hard to think of him as being the inspiration for Avon Barksdale, which he apparently was.

10

That’s what I thought, too, but I wasn’t sure.

I’ve always assumed that one is supposed to rely on one’s own knowledge (or perhaps go back to the original source) when playing a trivia game, not look stuff up online. (BTW, most of the answers to my questions could have been found in previous SDMB threads on The Wire.)

But yes, Schmoke and Ehrlich were the ones I was thinking about.

An actor played the character of Rev. Reid in the scenes where Cutty is introduced to him by the Deacon, but the real Rev. Reid appeared as a different minister who delivers the sermon attended by Carcetti, and speaks with him outside the church.

Ed Norris is another person (like Snoop) playing a character of the same name. But I don’t think the character of Det. Ed Norris is supposed to be Commissioner Ed Norris in any way.

11

If you take that sort of thing really seriously, then yeah. That’s the only one I looked up. I didn’t realize we had rules. If it matters, I know the answers to all the questions I posed.

Who did they play? Themselves, or other characters?

Jay Landsman isn’t supposed to be portraying the real Jay Landsman either, nor is Felicia Pearson’s Snoop character in any way supposed to be the real Felicia Pearson. Ed Norris was a cop IRL and is one in the show. I think it’s the same sort of thing.

Anyone have answers to my questions? Or is this just going to be a trivia wankfast for me and commasense? I love a good trivia wankfest, but…

12

No biggie, I just didn’t want a bunch of know-nothing losers coming in and messing up our trivia wankfest by using Wiki! :smiley: And I know you know your stuff.

While mayor, Kurt Schmoke had sparked national controversy by suggesting that the nation should study and discuss whether the drug problem might be better treated as a public health issue, instead of a legal one. He didn’t advocate legalizing drugs, but that’s what he was accused of saying. He was branded “the most dangerous man in America.” In Season 3, after the Hampsterdam experiment is exposed, Royce, seeing the good it has done, is looking for ways he might keep it going. In a cabinet meeting one of Royce’s advisers warns him he’ll be called “the most dangerous man in America” if he tries. The adviser was Schmoke.

And Ehrlich appeared in the episode in which Carcetti and Norman are kept waiting outside the Governor’s office. When they finally get up and go, they’re intercepted by a Maryland State Trooper before they get to the door. The trooper was Ehrlich.

Agreed. I just thought that maybe you thought Norris was supposed to be a pre-commissioner Norris.

While we’re waiting for some others to join in the fun, I’ll have a go at one of your questions (the rest are tougher for me): Stringer stole a badminton set.

13

What Founding Father were Wallace, Bodie, and Poot arguing about in the Pit? Why were they discussing him?

-Benjamin Franklin. “There Ain’t no white guy got his face on no money 'cept he president”, or something like that.

What toy did Avon reminisce that Stringer stole from the toy store when they were kids? This is mentioned during their last conversation on the roof top.

-A badminton set. Cool story.
I tend not to remember names in anything I watch, so those questions I can’t answer.

14

commasense, thanks for the back story on Schmoke. That’s incredibly cool that The Wire writers incorporate real stuff like that. I also happen to agree wholeheartedly with Schmoke. I guess he lost his job like Royce did.

You and mr. jp rock for remembering that. I was playing badminton on Monday (team building activity at work, don’t ask) and thought of Stringer. It’s such a highbrow, twee little game to play, not at all gangsta, and totally encapsulated Stringer’s aspirations to transcend his environment. His apartment looked like someone who played badminton lived there.

Also, survey question: what’s your favorite version of the theme song? I like Tom Waits the best, Blind Boys of Alabama second, and the S4 choir version least.

mr. jp-- Correct about Ben Franklin. That story made me love Wallace. :frowning:

15

Dozerman’s weapon was a 9mm Glock

Nick Sobotka’s girlfriend was Amy. The daugter was Amber or Ashley I think.

The penis question is tough.
Not mentioned yet, but certain is Mayor Royce (to go with Ziggy, Omar, and the morgue body for sure).
The sailor who killed the girls in S2 was tortured by the Greek & Vondas while naked, but I don’t remember the scene well enough to know for sure.
The crazy party where Cutty went with Bodie and Poot may have had one as well.
Total penises…I’d guess 6.

Here are a couple more.

What was the name of the guard framed in S2 with lacing the drugs in prison?

What did Namond say to Snoop in the alley when Chris & Snoop came looking for Michael?

16

Partial credit. It was a Glock .40, not a 9mm.

Good catch. I had forgotten him.

Actually, now that you mention it, I seem to recall that later on, they get a whole bunch of pictures of decapitated corpses, so I’ll bet there were several in that scene, if we’re counting still photos. (Let’s not.)

I’ll give someone else a chance, but I’ll mention that the name figures elsewhere in the world of The Wire and is a notable family name on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

17

Rubystreak:

Roland Prezbylewski (the cop) and Roland ‘Wee-Bey’ Brice (the gangster)

Fairly sure it was Tiff

Edmondson.

Leftorium:

Correctional Officer Tilghman

It was something about her sister (she was in the same class as Namond - you occasionally saw a girl who looked a lot like Snoop, but she never had any lines) but I can’t remember what he said exactly.
Some of mine -
Who’s the only person we’ve seen Marlo kill?
What does Marlo steal leading to the death of a security guard?
What’s the name of the school featured prominently in Season 4?
Who killed Bodie?
Who stopped coming to the gym as a result of Cutty’s relationship with his mother?
Where is Daniels assigned to at the end of Season 1?

18

Sobotka’s window was made in Germany, but Valchek’s “artist” was local. You could tell the difference. That dove he showed Prez looked like something me and my kids did with that make-your-own Christmas decorations kit from the 70’s. The scale wasn’t even right. Sobotka’s window was gorgeous, and well-designed.

Who’s the only person we’ve seen Marlo kill?

That’d be DeVaun – one bullet in each tit and one in the mouth. (I hate the word “tit”.)

What does Marlo steal leading to the death of a security guard?

Lollipops!

What’s the name of the school featured prominently in Season 4?

Tilghman Middle School – odd that this is also the name of the dope-dealing prison guard.

Who killed Bodie?

O-Dog – or Not Michael Not Michael Not Michael Not Michael

Who stopped coming to the gym as a result of Cutty’s relationship with his mother?

Spider

Where is Daniels assigned to at the end of Season 1?

The Evidence room

Penises or Penii – I didn’t see Royce’s. Did you see Royce’s? All I saw was the back of the woman’s head.

19

I should apologize for posting the van question without knowing the answer. I’m rewatching S2 so I’ll have it in the next couple of days, in case anyone’s losing sleep. Wilmington was the first. Does Phillie have a port? I’m remembering Phillie.

Anyone up for more questions?

What’s the name of Ziggy’s car?

Who’s the bartender at Clement’s, the longshoremen’s hangout?

Whose computer did Ziggy load his penis pic on?

20

5-4-F1. In what grade did Poot lose his virginity?

5-4-F2. What was the name of the character Bodie traveled to Philadelphia with?

5-4-F3. To what make of car did Snoop compare the nail gun she bought to nail up the vacants, and what was the comparison make she said the salesman got wrong?

5-4-F4. Which police officer trailed Vondas as he he headed into a downtown hotel?

5-4-F5. What is the name of the girl who being treated to gifts and shopping with the money stolen from the syndicate by a soldier?