Saturday, February 15, 2014

OSCAR, OSCAR (2014 EDITION)



The Academy Awards are coming up in early March, so we’re starting with our pre-Oscar quiz. The questions are mostly based on musicians/singers/songwriters etc, who’ve won Academy Awards.  That’s pretty much all you need to know, so go ahead and give it a go.       
             
QUESTIONS

1.  George Lucas is not a musician, although he did date Rock and Roll Hall of Fame soon-to-be-inductee Linda Ronstadt for a few years.  Lucas is the man who created the “Star Wars” empire, which he sold to the Walt Disney company for 4 Billion dollars.  How many times has George Lucas been nominated for an Academy Award in the ‘Best Director’ category?  a. Once  b. Twice  c.  Three times  d.  Five times                            
      
2.  This singer originally became famous in the 1960’s as one half of a singing duo with her then husband.  She later moved on to a successful solo career that continues today.  When she turned to acting, she starred in highly successful movies such as “Mermaids”, “Mask”, “Tea With Mussolini” and “Burlesque”.  She’s won an Emmy award, several Golden Globes, one People’s Choice Award and an Oscar in 1988.  Can you name the actress and what was her Academy Award winning role?           
                
3.  In 1995, this legendary New Jersey singer/songwriter (oops, I think I’ve just given it away, haven’t I?) was nominated for an Academy Award for the 2nd time in his career.  He’d won the Oscar two years before for a song he wrote and performed for a film starring Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks, who also won an Academy Award for his performance.  What’s the name of this movie and who is our New Jersey musician (as if you didn’t know)? 
                 
4.  The 3rd season of American Idol was where the world first caught a glimpse of this singer.  She came in seventh, but went on to a stellar show business career, which included winning a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress” in her debut film, “Dreamgirls”.  She’s also a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers.  Who is she?            
    
5.  Let’s see how good your short term memory is.  What song won the Academy Award last year for ‘Best Song’?  No hints this time.  Totally up to you.        
             
ANSWERS

1.  George Lucas has been nominated twice for the Academy Award for ‘Best Directing’.  His first time was in 1974 for “American Graffiti”.  George Roy Hill won the Oscar that year for his direction on “The Sting”.  The last time George was nominated as director was in 1978 for the original “Star Wars”.  That year, Woody Allen took home the Oscar for “Annie Hall” (although the woodman wasn’t actually at the ceremony to accept the statue).                           

2.  Cher won the Academy Award in 1988 for her role in the ‘87 film, “Moonstruck”. The other nominees that year were Glenn Close (“Fatal Attraction”), Holly Hunter (“Broadcast News”), Sally Kirkland (“Anna”) and Meryl Streep (“Ironwood”).                                          
    
3.  At the 67th annual Academy Awards ceremony in 1994, New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen won the Oscar for the song, “Streets of Philadelphia”.  Tom Hanks took home the Oscar statue for “Actor In A Leading Role”.              
    
4. She’s Jennifer Hudson, who also starred in the 2011 film “Winnie Mandela” as the wife of Nelson Mandela.  Jennifer’s third studio album is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of this year.                                  

5.  Last year, the Academy Award for ‘Best Original Song From a Motion Picture” went to “Skyfall” from the James Bond film.  Adele (Adkins) not only sang the title song, but co-wrote it as well.            

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