Summer 2023 Entertainment Super Quiz: 33 Questions From Little Mermaid to AI Beatles

Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, set for release on May 26, 2023. She is best known as half of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle with her sister Chloe Bailey. She also stars as Sky Forster on Grown-ish, an ABC spin-off of Black-ish. She is the first Black actress to play Ariel in a Disney adaptation of the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Get the essential Little Mermaid trivia facts here.

Rachel Brosnahan, who was recently cast as Lois Lane in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman: Legacy movie, played the lead role of Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel in the Prime Video comedy series for five seasons. She won several awards for her performance, including two Golden Globes and an Emmy, and was nominated for a second Emmy in 2023. Brosnahan will star opposite David Corenswet, who will play Clark Kent/Superman in the reboot set to premiere in theaters on July 11, 2025. The casting news was announced on June 27, 2023, and confirmed by Gunn on Twitter.

The Spider-Verse concept involves multiple alternative versions of Spider-Man that have appeared in various media, all under attack by a family of interdimensional vampire-like beings called the Inheritors. The most recent Spidy movie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, was released on June 2, 2023, and featured Miles Morales as he teamed up with Gwen Stacy and other spider heroes to face a new threat. Watch the trailer.

The 2023 movie “The Flash” features three cameos from different Superman versions (and many other superheroes) across the DC multiverse. Nicolas Cage portrays the most surprising Superman. He finally got to wear the cape and tights after being cast in Tim Burton’s scrapped “Superman Lives” project 25 years ago. The second Superman is played by George Reeves, who starred in the 1950s TV show “Adventures of Superman.” His black-and-white footage was digitally inserted into the movie as an homage to the classic hero. Christopher Reeve’s Superman is also featured in The Flash, but very briefly. Henry Cavill’s Superman was famously cut from the film, and his face is not seen in the movie. All in all, the movie features three Supermen and four Batmen.

Sarah Ferguson and Sarah Thomson co-host this weekly podcast that promises to spill the tea on life’s roller coaster with candid conversations, special guests, and personal insights. Sarah Ferguson, also known as Fergie, is the Duchess of York and former wife of Prince Andrew. She is also an author, film producer, and, recently, a breast cancer survivor. She underwent surgery at King Edward VII Hospital in June 2023 and is now recuperating with her family in Windsor. Sarah Thomson is an entrepreneur who founded First News, a news organization aimed at children. The podcast debuted in May 2023 on all streaming platforms.

Tourette syndrome is a condition that affects the nervous system and causes people to make sudden sounds or movements that they cannot control, such as blinking, coughing, swearing, or repeating words. It usually starts in childhood and varies in severity and frequency. There is no cure for Tourette syndrome, but some treatments can reduce the symptoms. Lewis Capaldi, diagnosed with Tourette syndrome since childhood, announced on June 27, 2023, that he was taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future. He is focusing on his mental and physical health after struggling during a performance at the Glastonbury music festival three days earlier. He said he hoped to return to the stage soon.

Egyptian officials have complained that Netflix’s docudrama series “African Queens: Queen Cleopatra,” which depicts Cleopatra as a Black woman played by British actress Adele James, erases Egyptian identity and falsifies history. They argue that Cleopatra was of Greek origin and had light skin and Hellenistic features, as confirmed by statues and coins. A lawyer named Mahmoud El-Semiry has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and demanded its ban in Egypt. State-owned broadcaster Al Wathaeqya has announced plans to produce its own documentary about Cleopatra’s true story.

Fun fact: Gal Gadot’s Cleopatra is still in pre-production limbo. The film’s announcement has faced backlash from Egyptians who accused it of whitewashing, as Gadot is of Israeli and European descent. Gadot defended her casting by saying Cleopatra was Macedonian. The film is not to be confused with another Cleopatra project by Sony Pictures with director Denis Villeneuve, which has been in development for over a decade.

Black Mirror season five was released in June 2019. The next season, season six, premieres in June 2023. That means fans had to wait four years for upcoming dystopian sci-fi anthology series episodes. The new season will feature a star-studded cast, including Aaron Paul, Kate Mara, Michael Cera, Salma Hayek Pinault, and many others. Watch Black Mirror’s season 6 trailer on YouTube. Get a dose of Black Mirror season 6 trivia facts here.

American Idol host and producer of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Ryan Seacrest, will take over the iconic game show Wheel of Fortune. He will replace Pat Sajak, who has hosted it since 1981. Sony Pictures Television, which owns Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, announced on June 27, 2023, that Seacrest had signed a multiyear deal to anchor the show starting with Season 42 in September 2024. Seacrest said he looked forward to working alongside Vanna White, who will remain co-host. Seacrest will also continue to host his radio show On Air with Ryan Seacrest and produce various TV shows through his company Ryan Seacrest Productions. After six years of co-hosting, he left his Live morning show with Kelly Ripa in May 2023.

Johnny Logan at Eurovision 1987

Johnny Logan won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland twice: in 1980 with “What’s Another Year” and in 1987 with “Hold Me Now.” He also wrote the winning song for Ireland in 1992, “Why Me?” performed by Linda Martin.

Loreen matched his record by winning for Sweden in 2012 with “Euphoria” and in 2023 with “Tattoo,” bringing the contest back to Sweden for the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s win in 1974 with “Waterloo,” and becoming the first female singer to achieve the feat.

Kate Winslet won the Bafta TV Award for Leading Actress for her performance in Channel 4’s I Am Ruth on May 14, 2023. She previously won three Bafta Film Awards for Sense and Sensibility, The Reader, and Steve Jobs. The Reader also won her an Oscar. Winslet starred in Mare of Easttown, another TV drama that did not win her a Bafta TV Award but did get her an Emmy.

The Queen’s Paddington Bear skit won the Most Memorable Moment Award at the Bafta TV Awards on May 14, 2023. The skit was created as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and featured the Queen and Paddington Bear having a dance-off. It marked the first time a royal won the public vote at the Bafta TV Awards.

In an interview with ET Canada on May 9, 2023, Robert De Niro revealed that he had just welcomed his seventh child at 79. The baby’s mother is reportedly martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen, 35 years younger than De Niro. De Niro has six other children from previous relationships: Drena, 51, and Raphael, 46, with first wife Diahnne Abbott; Aaron and Julian, 27, with ex-girlfriend Toukie Smith; and Elliot, 25, and Helen, 11, with ex-wife Grace Hightower. De Niro is promoting his 20th movie in ten years, “About My Father,” which opens on May 26.

Only weeks after 79 years-old Robert De Niro announced he had just had his 7th child, 83 years-old Al Pacino confirmed on May 31, 2023, that his 29-year-old girlfriend, Noor Alfallah, is 8 months pregnant with his fourth child. According to TMZ, who broke the news, Alfallah has been linked to Pacino since April 2022 and had a previous relationship with Mick Jagger in 2018. The boy, Roman, was born on June 15, 2023.

Ariana Grande was born June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida. She celebrated her 30th birthday in 2023 with an Instagram post featuring a birthday message to her younger self wearing a Dorothy costume from “The Wizard of Oz.” She also shared some photos from the set of her upcoming film “Wicked: Part One,” where she will star as Glinda the Good Witch. The film is scheduled to be released in November 2024, followed by the second installment in 2025.

Kylie Minogue was born in Melbourne, Australia, on May 28, 1968. On May 21, 2023, at 55, she released a new single inspired by French singer Édith Piaf’s 1951 hit, Padam Padam. The song became a hit on social media, mainly on TikTok, and Minogue’s highest-charting single since 2014.

Willie Nelson was born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas, turning 90 in 2023. He celebrated his 90th birthday with a two-night tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl on April 29 and 30, 2023, featuring Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, and Norah Jones. Nelson was honored by the night’s emcees, including Owen Wilson, Helen Mirren, Ethan Hawke, and Jennifer Garner. He joked that he wanted to thank all the artists who came out to celebrate “whatever it is we’re celebrating.” Get a load of Willie Nelson trivia facts here.

Martha Stewart was born August 3, 1941, in Jersey City, New Jersey. In May 2023, she made history as the oldest model to grace the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition cover at 81. She posed for nine bathing suits in different styles and colors in the Dominican Republic.

Jerry Springer, who died on Apr. 27, 2023, at 79, hosted America’s Got Talent for two seasons, from 2007 to 2008. He replaced Regis Philbin, who hosted the first season and was succeeded by Nick Cannon, who hosted from 2009 to 2016. Springer was best known for his scandalous daytime talk show, which ran for 27 years.

Fun Fact: In 2022, Springer participated in the eighth season of The Masked Singer, another popular competition show, where he was unmasked as “Beetle.” You can find more incredible Jerry Springer trivia facts here.

Barry Humphries was born in Melbourne, Australia, on February 17, 1934. He created the character of Dame Edna Everage, a condescending and snobbish housewife in the mid-50s. Humphries died on April 22, 2023, at 89, in a Sydney hospital due to complications following hip surgery.

Fun Fact: He won a Tony Award in 2000 for his Broadway show “Dame Edna: The Royal Tour.” More Barry Humphries trivia facts here.

Treat Williams starred as George Berger, a charismatic hippie, in the film, directed by Milos Forman and based on the Broadway musical Hair. Some of his other notable appearances include Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead, Deep Rising, and TV’s Everwood. Williams died on June 13, 2023, at 71, after a motorcycle accident in Vermont, where he lived. He posted a photo of his lawn mower on Twitter hours before he died.

Tina Turner was 44 when she released her first solo album, “Private Dancer” in 1984. The album sold five million copies and launched her tour career, which made her a worldwide phenomenon. At the 1985 Grammys, the album won her three awards for “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and a fourth award for “Better Be Good To Me.” Turner died on May 24, 2023, at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, near Zurich. She was 83 years old.

Fun Fact: The title song from “Private Dancer” was written by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.

Michael Keaton played the titular role of Beetlejuice, a mischievous and foul-mouthed spirit who helps a couple of nerdy ghosts (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) scare away the new owners of their house. The film was directed by Tim Burton and featured Winona Ryder as the goth daughter of the new family. Keaton, Burton, and Ryder return for the sequel, which started production in London on May 10, 2023. The sequel will also star Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) as Ryder’s daughter and Justin Theroux. Beetlejuice 2 is set to hit theaters on Sept. 6, 2024, 36 years after the original.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson played three different Marvel characters in different universes. He’s most recognizable as Pietro Maximoff, aka Quicksilver, who sacrificed himself in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). He then switched sides and became Sergei Kravinoff, aka Kraven the Hunter, a ruthless predator who hunts down other superhumans. Kraven the Hunter is set to be released on Oct. 6, 2023. The first trailer was released on Jun. 19, 2023. Another Marvel character he played was Dave Lizewski, aka Kick-Ass, a teenage vigilante who fought crime with a baton in Kick-Ass (2010) and Kick-Ass 2 (2013). And yes, Kick-Ass is an adaptation of a comic book series published by Marvel’s Icon imprint.

Lagerfeld fell in love with the Birman cat while cat-sitting over Christmas 2011 and decided to keep it. Choupette lived in luxury with Lagerfeld, flying on private jets, eating Goyard dishes, and having her own iPad. She also became a fashion icon, appearing on magazine covers and in ad campaigns for Chanel and other brands. Lagerfeld once said he wished to marry her. After Lagerfeld’s death in February 2019, Choupette inherited part of his fortune and became a social media star. At the Met Gala 2023, which honored Lagerfeld’s work and life, several celebrities paid tribute to Choupette. Doja Cat and Jared Leto dressed as the famous muse in white costumes and cat ears. Get more fun 2023 Met Gala trivia facts here.

Samantha Jones was played by Kim Cattrall, who won a Golden Globe for her performance in 2002. She was one of the four main characters of the show, along with Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte York (Kristin Davis). The show ran for six seasons and spawned two feature films. However, Cattrall declined to participate in a third film or the reboot series And Just Like That…, citing personal issues with Parker. The good news: In June 2023, Cattrall filmed a cameo scene as Samantha for the second season of the reboot series. The scene involved a video conversation with Carrie and was filmed without meeting any of the cast.

“Pageboy: A Memoir” is the book Elliot Page wrote about his life as a trans man. According to The New York Times, the memoir is “brutally honest” and “centers on Page’s path to understanding who he was, against a backdrop of bullying, eating disorders, stalking, sexual harassment, and assault.” The book also reveals some of his secret romances, such as with actor Kate Mara and an urgent call for trans rights amid a wave of anti-queer legislation.

Billy Joel started his monthly residency at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in January 2014. On June 1, 2023, he announced he would play his final show in July 2024. Joel sold 1.6 million tickets during his residency. With 150 shows, Joel holds the record for the most lifetime performances by any artist at the venue.

Elton John started his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in 2018 and announced that it would be his final tour after more than 50 years of performing live. The tour had 330 shows across five continents and grossed over $887 million as of May 2023, making it the highest-grossing tour ever. The tour’s highlight was his performance at the Glastonbury Festival on June 25, 2023, with 120,000 people in the audience and a record 7.3 million people watching live on BBC One. Elton John ended his tour in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 8, 2023.

Paul McCartney told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on June 12, 2023, that AI technology was used to separate Lennon’s voice and a piano from a 1978 demo recorded two years before his death. “Now And Then” was given to McCartney by Yoko Ono in 1994. Two other songs from the same cassette, “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” were released in 1995 and 1996 as part of the Beatles’ Anthology series. However, “Now And Then” was abandoned due to background noise and technical issues. McCartney said AI had given him another chance to finish the song, which he called “the final Beatles record.” The song was released in October 2023.

The Walking Dead: Dead City is a post-apocalyptic horror drama series created by Eli Jorné for AMC, based on The Walking Dead characters Maggie and Negan. It is the fourth spin-off and overall fifth series in The Walking Dead franchise and the first sequel to The Walking Dead TV series. The series follows Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) traveling into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan cut off from the mainland to find Maggie’s kidnapped son, Hershel. The six-episode series premiered on June 18, 2023.

Fun Fact: Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) are expected to appear in another series set in The Walking Dead universe, premiering in 2024. Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) will also have their own spin-off series, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

In episode 8 of Squid Game (SPOILERS AHEAD!), it is revealed that the masked leader, known as Front Man, is actually Hwang In-ho, the brother of Detective Hwang Jun-ho, who infiltrated the games to find him. In June 2023, Netflix announced that Lee Byung-hun, who portrayed Front Man, will return for season 2 of Squid Game along with other cast members. They just didn’t say when. Netflix did announce that the reality spinoff Squid Game: The Challenge will premiere in November 2023.

In a twist of events that could only be expected in the world of Succession, Tom “The Underdog” Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) ascends to the throne of Waystar Royco as CEO in the series finale, titled “With Open Eyes,” which aired on May 28, 2023. Shiv Roy, initially considered the favorite for the CEO position, was sidelined when tech mogul Lukas Matsson had a change of heart and saw Tom as a more pliable choice. Meanwhile, Kendall Roy was left staring blankly at the water.