Wednesday Night Live: Music Trivia

Summary

Podcast Summary: Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Episode Title: Wednesday Night Live: Music Trivia
Host: Chris Molanphy (Slate Podcasts)
Date: August 14, 2020

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Overview

This special episode of Hit Parade brings the excitement of live trivia to Slate’s Wednesday Night Live series. Host Chris Molanphy welcomes a panel of Slate colleagues—all with names starting with “D”—to compete in a pop-chart trivia showdown. The event blends music history, sharp questions, and playful banter, offering a lively dive into the world of chart-topping hits and the quirks of pop culture memory.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Introduction and Setup ([01:18])

• Chris Molanphy introduces the episode and its format: a music trivia contest with Slate guests.
• The trivia will feature direct questions, and at the end of each round, contestants can ask Chris their own challenging questions.
• Notable Context: All contestants coincidentally have names starting with “D,” leading to a humorous reference:
  • “So to quote the old hip hop song, we're throwing some D's on it tonight.” — Chris Molanphy [01:32]

Contestant Introduction: Dana Stevens ([01:39])

• Dana Stevens: Introduced as Slate’s movie critic and co-host of the Slate Culture Gabfest.
• Dana expresses apprehension, noting her father is a trivia master, but she’s not as confident herself:
  • “I am the Offspring. My father is a super trivia brain... he knows all the presidents and all the Voice vice presidents in order. He's like a brain trivia guy and I did not inherit that at all, nor do I know anything about pop. So I'm going to be the fall guy. But that's okay.” — Dana Stevens [02:20]

Round One: '80s Hits ([02:45])

• First Question: Chris asks Dana about a Madonna song—specifically, which interrogative, Latin-flavored No. 1 hit wasn't included on the 1990 Immaculate Collection.
• Chris reads out four answer options. Dana uses logic to narrow them down, eliminating non-interrogative titles, and ultimately guesses:
  • “...because it's the song that I hear about less and would not have come to mind immediately, I'm going to go with B. Where's the party?” — Dana Stevens [03:04]

Correction and Explanation ([03:20])

• Chris reveals the correct answer is “Who's That Girl,” gives chart context, and shares a fun music history tidbit:
  • “Though it topped the Hot 100 in the summer of 1987, this hit from the flop Madonna movie of the same name was left off of Nadja's first greatest hit CD. It would not appear on a Madonna compilation until 2009.” — Chris Molanphy [03:24]
• Dana takes it in stride, displaying the episode’s lighthearted spirit.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Chris (on the 'D' name coincidence):
  “By sheer coincidence, our four contestants tonight all have names starting with D. So to quote the old hip hop song, we're throwing some D's on it tonight.” [01:32]

• Dana (regarding her trivia anxiety):
  “If I can't get a Gen X song, I'm completely screwed.” [03:46]

• Chris (music trivia insight):
  “Though it topped the Hot 100 in the summer of 1987, this hit from the flop Madonna movie of the same name was left off of Nadja's first greatest hit CD...” [03:24]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:18 | Chris opens live trivia event, introduces format and contestants| | 01:39 | Introduction of Dana Stevens and her self-described anxiety | | 02:45 | First trivia question: '80s Madonna hits | | 03:04 | Dana answers and explains her logic | | 03:20 | Chris explains the correct answer and shares chart history | | 03:46 | Dana’s humorous take on her pop knowledge |

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Tone and Language

The episode is playful, witty, and friendly, with the host and guests engaging in good-natured ribbing. Chris Molanphy provides both entertaining and educational context for the questions, living up to the podcast's promise of in-depth music history and pop-culture storytelling.

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Conclusion

This live trivia edition of Hit Parade offers a snapshot of the series’ trademark mix: hard-hitting music history, clever trivia, and light-hearted camaraderie. Even listeners who aren't playing along will enjoy the fun facts and the contestants' candid reactions, making this a treat for pop fans and trivia buffs alike.

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Note: To access the full episode, listeners are directed to slate.com/hitparadeplus.

Transcript

[A]

You're listening ad free on Amazon Music.

[B]

Hey, Hit Parade listeners, a couple of quick announcements. We've got an unusual schedule for August. Essentially, we're giving you two special bridge episodes this month. Today's show is a recording of last week's installment of Slate's Wednesday Night Live, which was a live Hit Parade trivia edition. I was the host and I got to quiz several Slate luminaries on Billboard chart brain teasers. We had a blast. Then later this month, in the place where we would normally bring you a full length story, we'll instead be doing a super sized edition of our regular Hip the Bridge show. We'll be following up last month's Yacht Rock episode with some very special guests. You won't want to miss it. Now, without further ado, enjoy our live Hit Parade trivia showdown.

[C]

Hi everybody, this is Chris Mulanfi, host of Hit Parade, and welcome to Slate's Wednesday Night Live. This is our extra special Hip Parade trivia competition with some of my friends here at Slate. We're going to give them all some trivia challenges tonight and then at the end of each round, they're going to turn the tables on me. So it's going to be a very exciting head to head competition. By sheer coincidence, our four contestants tonight all have names starting with D. So to quote the old hip hop song, we're throwing some D's on it tonight. And our first contestant for our Slate trivia is Dana Stevens. Dana is Slate's movie critic and co host of the Slate Culture Gabfest. Dana, are you there?

[D]

I'm here and I'm ready.

[C]

All right, thank you so much for agreeing to join us tonight. I heard you on the culture gabfest today talking about your anxiety about doing some trivia. So are you ready?

[D]

I just have to say that I am the Offspring. My father is a super trivia brain. He knows every Oscar that's been awarded in the history of the Oscars. He knows all the presidents and all the Voice vice presidents in order. He's like a brain trivia guy and I did not inherit that at all, nor do I know anything about pop. So I'm going to be the fall guy. But that's okay.

[C]

All right, well, we're letting you take the first round. Your category for round one is 80s hits. Let's go to question one.

[B]

What interrogative Latin flavored Madonna song hit number one but was left off her 1990 Immaculate Collection compilation? A, Express yourself. B, where's the party? C, La Isla Bonita? Or D, who's that Girl?

[D]

Ah, okay, well, I'm leaving out the two that are not interrogative in any way in their titles. Maybe that's a mistake, but because it's the song that I hear about less and would not have come to mind immediately, I'm going to go with B. Where's the party?

[C]

I'm sorry, the correct answer was D. Who's that Girl? Though it topped the Hot 100 in the summer of 1987, this hit from the flop Madonna movie of the same name was left off of Nadja's first greatest hit CD. It would not appear on a Madonna compilation until 2009. All right, zero for one, you went with a 5050 on interrogative. That was very logical. Let's see how you do with question two. Are you ready for question two?

[D]

If I can't get a Gen X song, I'm completely screwed. But go ahead.

[B]

Thanks for listening to this episode Preview to listen to the Full Hit Parade episode, please go to slate.com hitparadeplus.