‘Trivia 46: Guardians of the Contest’ at UW-Stevens Point April 17-19
4/1/2015
 


Last summer, the superhero thriller “Guardians of the Galaxy” got everyone “Hooked on a Feeling.”​
 

This April, more than 12,000 players from around the world will be hooked on the world’s largest trivia contest as Trivia 46: “Guardians of the Contest” takes over Stevens Point April 17-19. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s student-run radio station, WWSP 90FM, will again host 54 hours of trivia questions with more than 400 teams playing locally or online. 

Teams must register in advance, in person at the 90FM studios from 3-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, April 13-16, or noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 17. Teams out of the area may register at www.90fmtrivia.org. Registration is $30 per team, with all proceeds supporting WWSP and staff scholarships. Merchandise will also be for sale at registration. 

The contest will kick off with a parade around campus Friday, April 17. Questions begin at 6 p.m. The contest continues until midnight, Sunday, April 19, with eight trivia questions per hour. Teams have the length of two songs to call in correct answers. The contest also includes two running questions, three music collage questions and three trivia stone questions, which are similar to a scavenger hunt.

Jim “The Oz” Oliva has been coordinating the trivia contest since 1979. He said this year’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” themed-contest came to him while traveling to Chicago.

“’Hooked on a Feeling’ started on the radio, and I remembered that it was in the movie and thought, hmm, ‘Guardians of the Contest.’  That had to be it,” he said. Everything from the posters to the apparel to the advertisements for the contest will embody the spirit of Drax, Gamora, Groot, Rocket Raccoon and Star-Lord. 

Student staff members at 90FM begin preparations and advertising for the contest in early January. “Trivia is fun for the whole family,” said station manager Dylan Shanahan. “It brings so many people together.  People take it seriously because it is thrilling and an experience unlike any other.” 

Trivia teams are a dedicated group in pursuit of a small trophy and large bragging rights, said Oliva. “However, it is really about much more than that. It’s a homecoming for families, as many are playing with their third generation.”  

“The support we receive from the community and students is what makes working at 90FM worthwhile and shows how much this station has impacted the lives of Central Wisconsin and beyond,” said Shanahan. “It’s an honor to be able to help provide such a great contest for people to enjoy.” 

To learn more or schedule interviews with Trivia coordinators and players, contact WWSP 90FM’s public relations director Jana Schleis at 920-973-3899.

TRIVIA on TRIVIA 46: Guardians of the Contest

  • The first contest consisted of 16 teams writing the questions for each other in 1969. In 1970, the contest was broadcast on air, giving contestants the chance to call in their knowledge of trivial facts.

  • These days, Trivia is planned and developed by staff members of student-run radio station WWSP 90FM, at UW-Stevens Point, with alumni and community volunteers.

  • Trivia hosts 400 teams annually, with nearly 12,000 registered players from across the state, country and world through live streaming of the radio station at www.90fmtrivia.org.

  • Jim Oliva, better known as The Oz, began writing and coordinating the contest in 1979.  He was joined by John Eckendorf in 1989 and the pair have been designing the questions ever since.  They spend months shifting through memorabilia to stump contestants with questions based on media, including movies, television, books, comic books, advertising, and music.

  • A Trivia movie, title TBA, will be shown Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, at midnight and Saturday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m. Admission is $3.

  • The week before Trivia begins, 90FM hosts Hits Week. On the Monday of Trivia week, teams stand in line in front of the Communication Arts Center, which houses the radio station. Registration and merchandise sales continue all week, with all the money supporting WWSP 90FM general maintenance and staff scholarships.

  • Friday afternoon a parade of team floats make their way around campus, connecting players and spectators.

  • Number of questions: about 450

o   Running questions: 2. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, teams gather information within running distance of a meeting site.

o   Trivia stone questions: 3. Teams retrieve tickets at various sites, using 11 clues.

o   Music clip questions: 3. Name each song in a group of snippets.

  • Eight questions are asked each hour. Teams must respond with one answer within the length of two songs. Team standings are read twice during the contest. During those hours, only four questions are asked.

  • Point values range from 5 to 500, based on how many were correct.

  • Trophies are donated by Point Trophy. There is a trophy for placing in the year of the contest – 46th place this year.


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