Pop Culture Rumble: Music, Screen & Memes

Known as the 'King of Pop', this artist released 'Thriller', the best-selling album in music history.

Answer:Michael Jackson

Note:Released in 1982 with legendary hits like 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean'.

Her historic 'Eras Tour' became the highest-grossing music tour of all time, surpassing $1 billion in gross revenue.

Answer:Taylor Swift

Note:Spanned all 10+ of her musical eras.

This Freddie Mercury-fronted rock band recorded the operatic masterpiece 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in 1975.

Answer:Queen

Note:Stayed at #1 on the UK charts for nine consecutive weeks.

Before pursuing his solo music career, Harry Styles rose to global fame as part of this British-Irish boy band.

Answer:One Direction

Note:Formed on The X Factor UK in 2010.

In 2012, this South Korean singer's hit 'Gangnam Style' became the very first video to cross 1 billion views on YouTube.

Answer:PSY (Park Jae-sang)

Note:The viral hit broke YouTube's 32-bit integer view counter.

This Netflix sci-fi series set in Hawkins, Indiana features Eleven, the Demogorgon, and the Upside Down.

Answer:Stranger Things

Note:Created by the Duffer Brothers.

Walter White is a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher who turns to manufacturing blue meth in this critically acclaimed series.

Answer:Breaking Bad

Note:Created by Vince Gilligan and starring Bryan Cranston.

In Game of Thrones, this throne made of a thousand surrendered swords was forged by the breath of Balerion the Black Dread.

Answer:The Iron Throne

Note:Symbol of the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms in Westeros.

This hit satirical drama series follows the dysfunctional Roy family as they battle for control of media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo.

Answer:Succession

Note:Created by Jesse Armstrong on HBO.

In the mockumentary 'The Office' (US), this is the name of Dwight Schrute's 60-acre agri-tourism destination and beet farm.

Answer:Schrute Farms

Note:Co-owned with his cousin Mose.

Bitten by a radioactive spider, high school student Peter Parker adopts this superhero alter ego.

Answer:Spider-Man

Note:Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

This fictional vibranium-rich African nation is ruled by King T'Challa, known as the Black Panther.

Answer:Wakanda

Note:'Wakanda Forever!'

In DC Comics, billionaire Bruce Wayne protects Gotham City under this cowl.

Answer:Batman (or The Dark Knight)

Note:First appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939.

This purple warlord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe seeks all six Infinity Stones to erase half of all life.

Answer:Thanos (The Mad Titan)

Note:Portrayed by Josh Brolin.

In Marvel Comics, Wolverine's skeleton is coated in this fictional, virtually indestructible metal alloy.

Answer:Adamantium

Note:Bonded to his bones during the Weapon X program.

This Argentine soccer legend led his country to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Answer:Lionel Messi

Note:Considered by many as the greatest footballer of all time.

Wearing jersey number 23, this basketball icon led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s.

Answer:Michael Jordan

Note:Named NBA Finals MVP six times.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt holds the world record for the 100-meter dash with this blistering time of 9 point what seconds?

Answer:9.58 seconds

Note:Set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

Known as 'The Greatest', this boxing heavyweight champion was famous for 'floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee'.

Answer:Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay)

Note:Olympic gold medalist and three-time world heavyweight champion.

This American swimmer holds the all-time record for the most Olympic gold medals won by any athlete, with 23 golds.

Answer:Michael Phelps

Note:Won a total of 28 Olympic medals across four Games.

In 2014, celebrities and millions of people dumped freezing water over their heads in this viral ALS fundraising challenge.

Answer:The Ice Bucket Challenge

Note:Raised over $115 million for ALS research.

This short-form video platform developed by ByteDance has become the most downloaded social media app worldwide.

Answer:TikTok

Note:Originally known as Douyin in China.

In 2021, a Reddit community called r/wallstreetbets sent shares of this struggling video game retailer skyrocketing.

Answer:GameStop (GME)

Note:Caused a massive short squeeze against hedge funds.

In this 2020 social deduction game developed by InnerSloth, crewmates complete tasks while identifying the 'Impostor'.

Answer:Among Us

Note:Gained meteoric popularity during 2020 Twitch streams.

This viral animated series created by Alexey Gerasimov features human heads singing inside menacing bathroom fixtures.

Answer:Skibidi Toilet

Note:A massive Gen Alpha cultural phenomenon on YouTube.