ANNOUNCER: Tonight, on Hard Quiz...
Ben. Public servant.
Expert subject - Shania Twain.
Julia. Management consultant.
Expert subject - women in Greek mythology.
Susan. University project officer.
Expert subject - the Seven Up documentary series.
Expert subject - Girish. Designer.
Expert subject - spices.
Here's your host, Tom Gleeson.
Yes!
Hello!
Go to bed, Arthur.
Welcome to Hard Quiz. Go to bed, Arthur.
Welcome to Hard Quiz. These contestants are spam.
Last one to go to Junk will be tonight's Hard Quiz champion.
To be part of the show at home, go to the ABC TV socials.
Let's say hello. G'day, Girish. G'day.
Now, spices is your expert subject. Yep.
Why do you have a detailed knowledge of spices?
Mostly from my mum.
I'm Indian background and, uh, really love cooking.
And when I left home as a... sort of in my late teens,
I just needed to know how to do it
'cause that's the food I'd grown up eating, so...
You like spices so much, you've got a salt-and-pepper beard.
(LAUGHTER) Yeah.
(LAUGHTER) Is that the motivation?
No, absolutely. Yeah, it's deliberate.
Now here's all the spices that you use.
Now here's all the spices This is your collection.
Do you have all those spices
just to cover up for your Do you have all those spices
just to cover up for your shortcomings when you're cooking?
just to cover up for your Yeah, that's what they're for.
You just overseason so no-one notices.
Totally. Yeah, yeah. That's what they're for.
Whenever you're making something, you've got a lot of guests
you're like, "I'll just throw in too many spices."
Yeah. I don't even cook things. I just put raw...
You don't cook anything? ..raw meat.
Just put some spices on it.
You just get some raw meat, put spices on it,
and then if they complain about it, they're racist.
and then if they complain about it, Yeah.
(LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE)
So, you got all those spices there.
Do you have any room So, you got all those spices there.
Do you have any room left in your kitchen for food?
Do you have any room Yeah, obviously.
But only the bottom shelf.
What food do you have on the bottom shelf?
What food do you have Just oil, mostly.
(LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE)
Susan. Hello, Tom.
Now your expert subject is Seven Up...
That's correct. ..but not the soft drink.
For our younger viewers, it was a documentary series.
That's right, yes.
How would you describe it to people who didn't see it or haven't seen it?
Well, it was sort of over a long time.
63 Up was the last one.
And so the participants who started at seven were 63 in the last one.
And so the participants who started So they went back every seven years
and checked up on So they went back every seven years
and checked up on what they were doing.
How many times have you watched it end to end?
Oh, quite a few times. Oh.
Oh, quite a few times. Do you enjoy being depressed?
'Cause it's quite a maudlin series, I find.
'Cause it's quite It depends on your attitude.
I actually find it It depends on your attitude.
I actually find it quite uplifting, I think. Yeah.
Do you have a sad life?
(LAUGHTER)
You're a direct descendant of the man (LAUGHTER)
You're a direct descendant of the man who developed the Cavendish banana.
You're a direct descendant of the man That's correct.
Sir Joseph Paxton.
Yes. Every time you eat a Cavendish Sir Joseph Paxton.
Yes. Every time you eat a Cavendish banana now you'll think of me.
Yes. Every time you eat a Cavendish That sounds a bit lewd.
How often do you brag about this?
and how often do people How often do you brag about this?
and how often do people pretend to care?
I don't think anybody's cared as yet.
And I've only just started bragging
because I've only just found it out, actually.
because I've only just found it out, My father told me not long ago.
Do you ever get into a turf war My father told me not long ago.
Do you ever get into a turf war with the Ladyfinger clan?
Well, not as yet, but I might.
OK.
Julia. Hi.
Women in Greek mythology is your expert subject.
Women in Greek mythology Yes.
Are you an expert in Yes.
Are you an expert in Nick Giannopoulos films?
That's a bit before my time, Tom.
Oh, OK.
What, Greek mythology? No.
(APPLAUSE)
So why do you like women in Greek mythology
and not the more interesting men?
Well, they get all the credit
and they actually can't do anything Well, they get all the credit
and they actually can't do anything without the help of a woman
and they actually can't do anything or a female goddess.
(CHEERING)
You go, girl!
Now, you were a big star on TikTok.
I was. Now, you were a big star on TikTok.
I was. You were.
How long have you been a malignant narcissist?
Since birth.
So what do you do on TikTok?
I sometimes sing,
but mostly mythological stories.
Or talk about my dating life.
Maybe you should give us your handle.
Not right now.
Ben. (CANADIAN ACCENT) Hey!
(CHEERING)
Now, Shania Twain is your expert (CHEERING)
Now, Shania Twain is your expert subject. Have you seen her live?
Once, yeah. Oh.
Once, yeah. Yeah.
Was it exciting? No, it was.
Once did the job so, ah...
I mean I'll go again if you've got tickets, but no I did see her once.
Are you dressed as Shania? What's going on?
No, I just...
It's actually my wedding suit,
minus the bolo from an op shop
and then I just had this cowboy hat.
And I don't really get to wear it often,
so I figured this was the best time.
so I figured (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
Now here's you winning the Four Steps to Stardom
youth national five-pin bowling championship.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
Is that the same hat? It is!
It still fits after... After 10 years, it still fits.
OK.
Were they seriously suggesting winning a five-pin,
and not even 10-pin, bowling championship
was the fourth step to stardom?
I mean...
It's a very confusing title.
Yeah, no, you clearly haven't been
to the local bowling scene in Canada.
My name carries some waves there, I would say.
(LAUGHTER)
So, it's five-pin bowling, not 10. Yes.
So, I know 10. How do you line up five pins?
You do the same thing as 10,
you just take away five.
That's it. Exactly.
So, in five-pin bowling, it's like you're half a champion.
So, in five-pin bowling, I'm still a champion.
(CHEERING)
Let's play...hard!
ANNOUNCER: Expert round. Expert subject.
Win or lose five points.
Steal an answer, double points.
I'll ask each of you five questions on your expert subject.
Right, you get five points.
Wrong, I will take five points from you.
The rest of you can steal at any time to get double points.
Let's start with Ben and his expert subject Shania Twain.
Let's start with Ben (CHEERING)
A signature element of her style, according to Shania Twain,
A signature element of her style, what animal prints belong everywhere?
Ben. Leopard.
Ben. Correct!
She's also partial to leather outfits. Isn't she vegetarian?
Yeah, it's pleather.
What's the 'pl' stand for in pleather?
No idea. Oh.
No idea. That's not my topic.
(LAUGHTER)
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
Blending country and pop,
Shania became the bestselling female solo artist of all time
Shania became the bestselling with which album?
Ben. with which album?
Ben. Come On Over.
Ben. Correct!
Have a listen.
(THAT DON'T IMPRESS ME MUCH INTRO PLAYS)
In the original lyrics of this song,
Shania claims to be unimpressed by a rocket scientist,
Shania claims to be unimpressed by a guy who thinks he's Elvis,
and what celebrity?
Ben. and what celebrity?
Ben. Brad Pitt.
Ben. Correct!
Leading to a 15-year hiatus between studio albums,
Shania contracted Lyme disease while enjoying what pastime?
Ben. Horseback riding.
Correct!
Last question in your set, Ben.
One of her few ballads,
Shania originally wrote From This Moment On
Shania originally wrote for which fellow Canadian?
Time's up!
Celine Dion.
Yeah. It's the other one.
It wasn't going to be Neil Young, was it?
Next set of questions is for Julia
on women in Greek mythology.
(CHEERING)
The ancient Greek goddess of love
gives her name to what term for a sexual stimulant?
Julia.
Uh, venereal?
(LAUGHTER)
Incorrect.
It's wide open.
Girish for the steal.
Aphrodisiac.
Correct! Double points to you!
Did you say 'venereal'? I did.
(CHUCKLES)
I don't remember Venereal in...
I have no idea.
It's what...it's what I live for, OK?
You gotta understand.
Every now and then an episode comes along and someone answers 'venereal'.
According to Homer's epic poem The Iliad,
According to Homer's Queen Helen sparked the Trojan war
by defecting to Troy Queen Helen sparked the Trojan war
by defecting to Troy from which city state?
Julia. Sparta.
Julia. Correct!
First performed in 1936,
this ceremony depicts a priestess lighting the Olympic torch
at a temple dedicated to which goddess?
Is it Athena?
Incorrect.
It's wide open.
Wide open!
Girish for the steal!
Hera?
Correct! Double points to you!
Oh, no.
Have you got any temples at your place, Julia?
Yes. Oh.
Yes. What kind?
My body is a temple.
(CHEERING)
I'm worried it may not be
if the first thing that came to your mind was 'venereal'.
A story about hubris from Ovid's metamorphoses
A story about hubris features the goddess Athena
transforming Arachne into what animal?
Julia. A spider.
Correct!
Last question in your set, Julia.
Hippolyta, queen of the Amazon Warriors,
is depicted in DC Comics as the mother of which superhero?
Julia. Wonder Woman.
Julia. Correct!
I was going to ask if Wonder Woman
was your favourite made-up Greek goddess,
but then I remembered they're all made up.
Alright, time now for Susan and the Seven Up series.
Beginning in 1964,
the series follows Beginning in 1964,
the series follows the lives of 14 people,
with director Michael Apted later saying
it was a horrible error to only include four what?
Susan.
Girls.
Correct! Females.
Yeah, it featured 10 boys and four girls,
and Apted said that the changing social role of women
was something the series didn't really capture.
was something the series In the first instalment, Seven Up,
these working-class girls attend a state school,
while three of the boys are shown at private school
singing Waltzing Matilda in what language?
Susan. Latin.
Correct!
Homeless at 28,
Neil Hughes was taken in Homeless at 28,
Neil Hughes was taken in by fellow cast member Bruce
and by 42, Neil was a politician
and by 42, representing what party?
Susan. The Liberal Democrats.
Correct!
Yeah, Neil struggled after dropping out of uni,
and then he hit rock bottom by becoming a politician.
and then he hit rock bottom (LAUGHTER)
After leaving school at 15,
by 49, Tony was a cab-driving father After leaving school at 15,
by 49, Tony was a cab-driving father with a holiday house,
defying Michael Apted's prediction that by 28 he'd be where?
defying Michael Apted's prediction Susan.
In prison.
Correct!
He even filmed Tony in crime hotspots,
thinking it would make good material
if he ended up behind bars.
Last question in your set, Susan.
The 2021 death of director Michael Apted
cast doubt over the documentary's next instalment,
in which the subjects would be what age?
Susan. 70.
Susan. Correct!
Five from five!
Alright, last set in the expert round, it's Girish and spices.
Are you ready to talk about spices, Girish?
Are you ready to talk about spices, Yeah, yeah. I'm hot.
Yeah.
Sorry, I don't know where that came from.
A spice is an aromatic or flavourful substance
typically derived from any part of the plant except what?
Uh, the leaves.
AUDIENCE: Oh! Julia for the steal!
AUDIENCE: Oh! The leaves?
Correct!
Double points to you!
Oh, I have to give her that one.
Ah!
Is that karma? What is that?
As much as 80% of the world's vanilla crop
is grown in what country?
For the steal, it's Julia.
Is it Brazil?
Incorrect.
It's wide open, though.
Girish. Indonesia?
Incorrect.
It's wide open!
Time's up!
Madagascar.
Yeah, Madagascar.
Yeah, vanilla is native to Central America,
but in 2022 they found some in a wine cup in Jerusalem
that was over 2,600 years old.
80% of the crop now is in Madagascar.
The other 20% of the vanilla crop
is in the Home and Away cast.
(LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE)
Rumoured by the ancient Greeks
to be found in the nests of giant birds,
cinnamon is made from what part of the plant?
For the steal, it's Susan!
Bark?
Correct! Double points to you!
Derived from the fruit pods of capsicum annuum plants...
Derived from the fruit pods Girish.
Paprika?
Correct!
..what is the central spice in Hungarian cuisine?
..what is the central spice Paprika is correct.
Paprika is Hungary's national spice.
Australia's national spice is Milo.
Last question in your set, Girish.
In 1621, to gain control Last question in your set, Girish.
In 1621, to gain control over nutmeg production,
almost the entire population of Indonesia's Banda Islands
was massacred or enslaved by which organisation?
Girish. The Dutch East India Company.
Girish. Correct!
Alright, we've flailed through their subjects,
Alright, we've flailed now let's flail through mine.
Tom's Round. Tom's subject.
Multiple choice.
This week I've been really getting into deception.
I love deception.
It's my subject this week.
Or is it?
This round is multiple choice.
Select your answers on your screens
and press the buzzer to lock in the answer.
In Operation Mincemeat,
British spies deceived the Nazis
into thinking the Allies would not invade Sicily
into thinking the Allies by planting fake documents where?
(READS OPTIONS) by planting fake documents where?
(READS OPTIONS)
The correct answer is
A - on a dead body.
Yeah, the idea was originally proposed by Ian Fleming,
the creator of James Bond.
In order to misdirect readers,
authors will sometimes use In order to misdirect readers,
authors will sometimes use which literary device?
(READS OPTIONS) authors will sometimes use which literary device?
(READS OPTIONS)
The answer is
D - red herring.
Yeah, the term comes from when people dragged smoked herring over a trail
to confuse hunting dogs.
It's also how I make sure that Costa doesn't find my dressing room.
Which character from the Transformers franchise
Which character leads the villainous Decepticons?
(READS OPTIONS) leads the villainous Decepticons?
(READS OPTIONS)
The answer is
C - Megatron.
Amid rumours that it was becoming financially unviable,
Amid rumours that it was conman Victor Lustig
fraudulently sold which landmark conman Victor Lustig
fraudulently sold which landmark for scrap metal?
(READS OPTIONS) fraudulently sold which landmark for scrap metal?
(READS OPTIONS)
The answer is
B - Eiffel Tower.
Yeah, the man he sold it to was too embarrassed to press charges,
Yeah, the man he sold it to was so Victor sold it again.
Last question in my round is worth double points.
The 1912 archaeological hoax known as the Piltdown Man
was initially hailed as what scientific breakthrough?
(READS OPTIONS) was initially hailed as what scientific breakthrough?
(READS OPTIONS)
The answer is
D - the 'missing link' The answer is
D - the 'missing link' between apes and humans.
Yes, it was a human skull bone
with an orangutan's jaw and teeth
that an amateur archaeologist probably just stuck together.
So, yeah, they were fooled by cut and paste.
Alright, at the end of my round, Julie, you're at the bottom on 20.
Alright, at the end of my round, Get over here.
What happened?
I didn't know what an aphrodisiac was.
(LAUGHTER)
OK.
I'm just a child.
You're just a child. Yeah.
OK. No need to make me feel weird about it.
Have you got enough content for your TikTok channel?
Have you got enough content More than enough now.
Alright, well good luck out there in social media. Out!
There she goes.
Alright! Chick-chick, boom! It's the People's Round.
The People's Round against the clock.
Shave your armpits, play along at home.
Your time starts now. Shave your armpits, play along at home.
Your time starts now.
What word can mean Your time starts now.
What word can mean a bat and ball sport or an insect?
What word can mean Ben.
Cricket. Yes!
The Hunger Games books follow which female protagonist?
Girish. Katniss Everdeen.
Girish. Yes!
In the 1940s, all Australians Yes!
In the 1940s, all Australians won the right to a working day
In the 1940s, all Australians of how many hours?
Girish. Eight.
Yes!
What tissue connects muscle to bone?
Susan. A ligament.
Susan. No. Tendon.
From an Italian word is what No. Tendon.
From an Italian word is what superficial form of vandalism?
Ben. Graffiti?
Yes!
In which 1985 movie sequel does Dorothy return to Oz?
In which 1985 movie sequel Susan.
Return to Oz. Susan.
Return to Oz. Yes!
Return to Oz. What animal is Napoleon riding
in the painting Napoleon Crossing the Alps?
Girish.
A horse.
Just got there in time. Horse is correct.
Just got there in time. Time's up!
Alright, at the end of the People's Round,
Alright, at the end Susan, you're at the bottom on 30.
Get over here.
What happened, Susan?
I should have stuck What happened, Susan?
I should have stuck to 7Up lemonade.
Well, maybe you can come back in seven years' time
and we can see just how depressing your life has got.
'Cause that's like the documentary series.
Sounds like a plan, Tom.
OK, see you in seven years. Sounds like a plan, Tom.
OK, see you in seven years. Will do.
OK, see you in seven years. Out!
There she goes.
Alright, only two left.
Who's going to be Alright, only two left.
Who's going to be the Hard Quiz champion?
Ben and Girish, get over here because it's time to play Hard Quiz.
Ben and Girish, get over here Final Round.
Head to Head.
Shania Twain versus spices.
Hard Quiz.
Now there can only be one Hard Quiz champion
who gets to take home the limited edition big brass mug.
What will you do with the mug if you win, Ben?
I have a dog at home, so it's going to be her new watering bowl.
What about you, Girish?
Um, I've got a friend who works in metal.
I might just melt it down and make something useful out of it.
It's best of five, penalty-shootout style.
Harder questions on your expert subjects.
So it's Ben's knowledge of Shania Twain
So it's Ben's knowledge versus Girish's knowledge of spices.
Let's play...hard!
Ben.
Shania got her start singing in the bars and clubs of Timmins, Ontario,
where she always had to play last for what reason?
where she always had to play last Yeah, so, growing up,
her family didn't have a lot of money,
so her mother made her sing at bars
and she would play near the end after they stopped serving alcohol
so it was legal for her to perform in the bars.
Correct.
Girish.
Related to Sichuan peppers,
a key ingredient in the Japanese spice blend
shichimi togarashi is what numbing berry?
Yeah, this is a tricky one.
I'm just gonna have to guess something
that sounds like... something like 'shochu' or...
Yeah, I'll just say shochu.
Incorrect.
The correct answer is sansho.
Oh.
Yeah, also known as mountain pepper.
Like your beard.
Ben.
Due to similarities in the guitar riffs,
Shania's producer suggested the Man! I Feel Like A Woman music video
take inspiration from a video by which other artist?
Well, that's a great question, Tom. Wow.
Well, that's a great question, I'm going to go out on a limb here
and guess...Bruce Springsteen.
Incorrect.
The correct answer is Robert Palmer.
Yeah, it was Addicted To Love.
And nothing says, "Sorry for ripping off your guitar riff," Yeah, it was Addicted To Love.
And nothing says, "Sorry for ripping off your guitar riff,"
like ripping off a whole film clip.
Girish.
Look carefully at this.
What spice is it?
Um, OK,
it looks like it could be either cumin or caraway.
Uh...I'm gonna say caraway seeds. it looks like it could be either cumin or caraway.
Uh...I'm gonna say caraway seeds.
Correct.
Marty!
Nice to meet you.
Ben. Yeah.
Shania starts many of her songs with a spoken intro.
Using the coloured tassels provided, with a spoken intro.
Using the coloured tassels provided,
match the opener to the song.
Yes!
Um...so, "Cool!" is Don't Be Stupid.
Do I have to put it on, yeah? Mm-hm.
That's it. There I go.
I'm gonna also say "Kick it!" is Honey, I'm Home,
'cause you want to kick it when you're home.
That's the rationale for that one.
I'm gonna say Come On Over is "Shake it!"
And then I'll place the last one on I'm Holdin' On To Love.
Don't ask for my rationale, please.
Close. Oh!
Yeah, so just to correct you,
"Fiddles!" is Honey, I'm Home.
"Cool!" goes with Don't Be Stupid.
"Kick It!" goes with I'm Holdin' On To Love.
"Kick It!" "Shake it!" goes with Come On Over.
Right. Alright. "Shake it!" goes with Come On Over.
Right. Alright.
So, in summary, incorrect.
Yep.
(LAUGHTER)
Marty! (LAUGHTER)
Marty!
(APPLAUSE)
Marty.
Mm-hm.
OK.
Girish. OK.
Girish. Mm?
Under this cloche I have four spicy samples.
Only one has true Japanese wasabi as its primary ingredient.
The rest are impostors.
You get a blindfold...
AUDIENCE: Oh! Mm-hm?
AUDIENCE: Oh! And as many tastes as you want. Mm-hm?
And as many tastes as you want.
Mm-hm.
And now I'll kick the shit Mm-hm.
And now I'll kick the shit out of you. No, no!
And now I'll kick the shit (LAUGHTER)
OK, there's...that's a teaspoon.
Got it? Mm-hm.
Got it? So that's number one.
Is this really a teaspoon?
Yeah, it's a... Yes.
Alright, I just couldn't find my mouth.
Yeah, yeah.
OK, so that's number one. Mm-hm.
Uh, that's one of four, which you probably guessed.
Same kind of teaspoon. Mm-hm.
Same mouth.
OK. OK.
OK, this is number three.
Mm-hm.
This one's number four, the final one.
This one's number four, Mm-hm.
(COUGHS)
OK. Don't spew, alright?
No, no, this is the weirdest thing I've ever done.
You think this is the weirdest thing YOU'VE done?
I mean, obviously, there was just a grainy mustard there
and then there was something, the second one...
Oh, I'm not sure.
I have a feeling it was number one,
so I'm just going to go with number one.
Incorrect. Oh!
The correct answer is number three. You want to have a look?
The correct answer is number three. Yeah.
No, I should have retested, Yeah.
No, I should have retested, but anyway.
Because, yeah, that was... it was between those two.
OK. So number three was the correct one.
That's true wasabi. That's fake wasabi.
That's English mustard and horseradish.
That's English mustard Marty!
Thanks for that, Marty.
Ben.
In the first of her Ben.
In the first of her two Las Vegas residencies,
Shania and her bandmates were joined onstage
Shania and her bandmates during the song Still The One
by which other performer?
So this would have been 2012 to 2014.
Um, amazing research team here,
I've gotta say.
I'm gonna guess...Lionel Ritchie.
Close.
The correct answer is
her horse.
(LAUGHTER)
Yeah, it was her horse El Alcazar.
Still anyone's at this stage.
Girish.
When the Visigoths besieged Rome at the turn of the 4th century,
their ransom demand included gold, silver
their ransom demand and 1,300 kilos of what spice?
There's something called silphium,
which was supposedly around then
and it's not around anymore,
but it was very, very highly prized in the ancient world.
What else?
I don't know if they were getting pepper at the time from Asia or not.
I don't know if they were getting It could be that.
Um...
Oh, saffron would be also a very highly prized one.
So, out of all of those,
uh, I'm going to say pepper.
Correct.
Ben, you need this to stay in.
If you get this wrong,
then Girish, you are tonight's Hard Quiz champion.
Shania appeared as herself
in the 2004 comedy I Heart Huckabees
hitting Jude Law's character
for constantly retelling the story
of how he tricked her into eating what food?
Meat.
Incorrect.
The correct answer Incorrect.
The correct answer is a chicken salad sandwich.
Which means, Girish, you are tonight's Hard Quiz champion!
Alright, Ben, you know what this means. Out!
There he goes.
Congratulations, Girish, you are tonight's Hard Quiz champion!
Congratulations, Girish, you are You get the big brass mug...
..and you get to do the sign off.
Thanks for playing hard! ..and you get to do the sign off.
Thanks for playing hard!
Spicy.