BustED Pencils: A 4th of July Scholarly Twist with U.S. Trivia

It’s a Fourth of July to remember as BustED Pencils producer Jakob Morgan turns the tables on show hosts, Dr. Tim Slekar and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci. Morgan commandeers the mic to provide a scholarly twist for this festive, freewheeling, and often hilarious Independence Day edition featuring U.S. trivia.

Listen to the complete episode on the BustED Pencils page here.

Morgan is even dressed for it with a full-on red, white, and blue outfit (or is it a towel?) draped across his shoulders.

“I got this American flag here draped over me because these colors don’t run,” he says. “The only law I follow is the United States Flag Code.”

And with that comment, the showdown is underway. Here’s a Q and A that quickly tracks how it all played out.

Q: Who kicked things off, and how’d they do?
A: Dr. Tim Slekar went first, opting for a multiple-choice lifeline. But when asked who George Washington’s vice president was, he guessed John Jay. Wrong. The answer is John Adams.

“Johnny, you’re making me feel like I should’ve known this!” Slekar says, laughing.

Q: So, did Dr. Johnny Lupinacci do any better?
A: Not right away. When asked how many U.S. presidents had been labor leaders, he correctly guessed that the answer was one. But only after a hint.

By the way, it’s Ronald Reagan, who led the Screen Actors Guild.

Q: Who finally got a question right — straight-up with no help?
A: Slekar came roaring back with confidence, answering 1861 as the start of the American Civil War.

“Bring on the Civil War trivia!” he shouts.

It’s also his first two-point question and puts him on the board.

Q: Was there any pop culture in the mix?
A: You bet. Questions range from the year Star Wars hit theaters (1977, and nailed by Slekar) to which hip-hop group first went platinum with King of Rock (Run-D.M.C., scores big for Lupinacci’s correct guess).

Q: Were there any tricky history questions?
A: Oh yes. Lupinacci stumbled when asked to name FDR’s first vice president—he eventually guessed John Nance Garner correctly and ends up tying the game in dramatic fashion.

Q: So who won the whole thing?
A: In a final buzzer-beater, Slekar shouted “the ’70s!” in response to when McDonald’s became a billion-dollar brand—and it clinched the victory.

“I remember seeing that sign—billions served,” Slekar says. “That stuck with me.”

Q: Was there a prize?
A: Bragging rights, a fake million dollars (denied), and one last challenge: “Who was the only U.S. president to serve as a university administrator before taking office?”

Slekar paused… then got it: Woodrow Wilson.

Q: Final thoughts?
A: “Age and wisdom trumps beauty today,” Slekar jokes about taking home the trivia title.

But the real winner? Listeners—who get to enjoy a hilarious, high-energy, and patriotic dose of trivia with their holiday. And Lupinacci may have put it best: “Hey, America—we know you can be better, but we love you. We’re celebrating your birthday today.”