My Trophy has a First Name, It's O-S-C-A-R
These five goos are some of the intriguing real people behind this year's crop of Oscar-nominated films, coinciding with Funeratic's annual Predict the Oscars contest.
Hergé
publication date: Friday, February 10, 2012
category: 
Comics
clue: Transforming European art over sixty years must have been quite an adventure.
explanation: Hergé was the author of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of 23 comic books published over sixty years that introduced a new art style to the European tradition. A film based on the books was nominated for an Oscar in 2012. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Joanna Woods, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, Mike Eberhart, and Aaron Shurtleff
Edward de Vere
publication date: Thursday, February 9, 2012
category: 
Mysteries
clue: Hacker collectives can accomplish a lot these days, but they probably can't confirm whether this British earl actually wrote Shakespeare's plays.
explanation: The Oscar-nominated film Anonymous, no relation to the hackers, concerned the popular theory that de Vere wrote some or all of Shakespeare's plays. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, Mike Eberhart, and Aaron Shurtleff
Zelda Fitzgerald
publication date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
category: 
Literature
clue: Along with her husband, a fellow novelist, this flapper and feminist icon was among the historical figures portrayed in Midnight in Paris.
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, Mike Eberhart, Aaron Shurtleff, and Ryan Dunn
Billy Beane
publication date: Tuesday, February 7, 2012
category: 
Sports
clue: Moneyball was about the triumph of bean-counters in athletics, like this man.
explanation: Beane was the manager of the Oakland Athletics who used economic and statistical models to dramatically improve his team's performance. This inspired the film Moneyball which was nominated for several Oscars in 2012, including Best Picture. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, Mike Eberhart, Aaron Shurtleff, and Ryan Dunn
Margaret Thatcher
publication date: Monday, February 6, 2012
category: 
Government
clue: Meryl Streep demonstrated an iron will as this British prime minister.
explanation: Streep was nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for playing Thatcher in The Iron Lady. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Denise Sawicki, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, Mike Eberhart, Aaron Shurtleff, and Ryan Dunn
Other Themes in Winter 2012
Humble Folks Without Temptation
These celebrities went on down to South Park and had themselves a time, being mercilessly spoofed by the foul-mouthed cartoon series. Can you recognize them in animated form? Go »
Mothers of Invention
These pioneering women in technology have saved the world from war, climate change, and boredom online with their contributions to modern inventions. Go »
Crossover Celebrities
For some artists, it's about following their creative muse. For others, it's all about the money. These entertainers were strongly associated with one genre, but now only seem interested in another. Go »
Repúbluca Federativa do Brasil
By far the largest nation in South America, the cultural and economic powerhouse of Brazil has produced celebrities in every field. Can you name these five? Go »
A Pirate's Life for Me
Yo ho ho ho, and a bottle of rum... This week features some of the deadliest and most notorious dread pirates ever to sail the high seas, to celebrate the launch of Pirate Paradise on Funeratic. Go »
Do Overs
Ask George Lucas: No matter how final it was the first time, anything can be made better if you get to take a second (or third, or fourth) crack at it. These five celebrities were incorrect guesses made for previous goos. Here's your chance to get them right this time. Go »
Mighty Heroes!
Superhero stories are the epic myths of our age, especially after their recent wave of renewed popularity in movies and television. These five actors played colorful heroes on-screen. Go »
Dastardly Villains!
The bad guys get to have all the fun! These five actors have played the villains to costumed superheroes on television and in movies. Their biggest crime is stealing the show. Go »
Super Bowl Shuffle
This weekend, the New York Giants and New England Patriots will face off at the Super Bowl for the second time in four years. This theme features some of the biggest names at the biggest game in sports. Go »
