Pat Benatar had a string of hits back in the 80's, along with several multi-platinum album releases and a slew of Grammy awards. Her debut album, "In The Heat Of The Night" was released shortly after signing to Chrysalis records in 1979. She was signed as a result of getting the attention of record executives through a regular gig at "Catch A Rising Star" in the late 70's. 

 

Unlike other female rock vocalists, Benatar had not been part of a band before getting signed as a solo artist. Linda Ronstadt had Stone Poneys, Cyndi Lauper had Blue Angel, Gwen Stefani had No Doubt, even Madonna had the Breakfast Club. 

Now it's true that Benatar subsequently formed a band with guitarist/producer/eventual husband Neil Giraldo after getting signed, and that band pretty much kept a consistent line-up throughout her career. But there was no band-she-fronted-before-going-solo for Pat Benatar. What she did have was a classically trained voice that could run circles around most of her contemporaries. She also has the distinction of having the second video ever played on MTV back when it debuted in the 80's (it came on right after The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star.") Which video was it?

Scanning through the endless newsfeeds, I've noted that an online friend has posted a video by Kid Creole and The Coconuts. Hearing Kid Creole takes me back to my college days. Kid Creole's third album "Tropical Gangsters" was in regular rotation at the time, and understandably so. Probably the standout album in the band's catalog, it featured the U.K. hits "Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy" and "Stool Pigeon." 

Ol' Kid Creole was ahead of the curve, too. The record had swing before the swing craze, "gangsters" before the gangstas, and an homage to Cab Calloway (in the form of the Kid himself) years before Janet Jackson's "Alright" (to be fair, Ms. Jackson did get the genuine article for her vid.) Kid Creole's Cab Calloway inspired persona was all part of his schtick, the invention of frontman August Darnell. Darnell an eager and energetic performer from the Bronx who started his first band in the 60's, and spent time in Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band during the 70's. 

Putting together a latin swing ensemble and releasing a cycle of theme albums about a mystery woman, all the while appearing in a yellow zoot suit and fedora, might not have seemed like an obvious move in 1980. But Kid Creole's catchy tunes caught a break on the U.K. charts, and the band has managed to persist in one form or another to this day. Not only that, they've had several appearances in major films, they produced stage shows, they had their own T.V. movie, and they even collaborated with Prince and Sheila E. Perhaps we'll save their six degrees of separation with the New Wave Blitz crowd for next week, but for now: 

The band's breakthrough 1982 album "Tropical Gangsters" was released in the U.S., but the American record label changed the title. Perhaps they were nervous about the notion of "gangsters" as a theme for a record (an anxiety they've clearly overcome since), but they decided to call it something else. So what was the U.S. title of Kid Creole & The Coconuts' third album?

Last week's "Message" touched on the subject of movie franchise 'reboots,' as well as movies inspired by comic books and graphic novels. One of the possible reboots, actually more of a live action remake, that could have happened was a reinterpreted version of the Manga/Anime classic "Akira." I say 'could have happened,' because even though its been on and off the table in various forms since the 90's, it appears to once again have been put on hold. 

In The my opinion, it should stay on hold. One might suspect that a Hollywood remake would be a little too likely to get it wrong, and announcements of what the movie company wanted to do with the property only underscored those suspicions. Online fan sites have long since raised a ruckus over the proposal to set the film in New York and cast a bunch of Europeans, so there's not much more to do here than to agree. But if I was going to go ahead and rant anyways, it would seem that these movie people have a poor grasp of context. There's a reason why an apocalyptic story centered around an obliterated city has a greater resonance when set in Japan. Would "Roots" tell the same story if it were redone and set in Denmark? Besides, were they going to rename all the characters? If not, how would they explain Kaneda, Tetsuo, and Kei, played by Garrett, Michael, and Kristen, hanging out with Kiyoko, Takashi, and Yamagata in Central Park? Kinda hoping we never know. Plus, the original 1988 film was already great, and it was (appropriately) Anime. 

The comic series that inspired it was even better, insofar as it offered a much better opportunity to develop the characters and the world they lived in. Like the Judge Dredd comic mentioned last week, "Akira" was originally serialized in a larger magazine publication starting back in 1982. It also got collected together and republished, both in Japan and over here in the U.S. But what was the name of the Japanese Manga magazine that originally ran episodes of "Akira?"

Today, we're pitting film actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Winona Ryder against each other in a contest to determine which one was cooler. Both actresses got their start in the 80's, and both were child stars that went on to have successful careers as adults (not always an easy feat!)

Sarah Jessica Parker was the third actress to play the lead in the Broadway production of "Annie." She would follow that with numerous television roles, appearances in "Footloose" and "Firstborn," and a starring role in "Girls Just Want To Have Fun." Her career really clicked in the 90's, with star turns in "L.A. Story" and "Honeymoon In Vegas," and then her signature role in the HBO series "Sex And The City."

But, while many will always remember her as Manhattan Sex Columnist Carrie Bradshaw, children of the 80's might be more inclined to remember her for her character on the short lived 80's sitcom "Square Pegs." The show only lasted one season, but it's unvarnished portrayal of the trials of adolescence presaged everything from John Hughes films to "Freaks & Geeks." What was the name of Sarah Jessica Parker's character on "Square Pegs?"

Bonus Question: Much as it was with Parker, Winona Ryder's most significant roles as an actress came in the 90's. But the film "Heathers" was probably more satisfying for anyone who felt tormented by their high school experience. Who hasn't wanted to blow up the school on Prom Night? Ironically, Ryder's agent begged her not to do the film, predicting it would be the end of her career. Instead, it cemented her reputation for being able to sympathetically portray a young person who exists at the fringes of the social order. In any case, if one looks closely, it's evident that the creators of the film "Heathers" were very focused on teen archetypes in conceiving of the film. In fact, two of the characters in the film are named after well known teen comic book characters Which ones?

For kids who grew up in the 80's, the Japanese style of animation known as "Anime" might have seemed like a new genre. Of course, it was only new to us. Animation had been integral to the Japanese film industry for most of the preceding century, and crept into the American scene as a sort of best kept secret.

The Japanese were creating animated films as far back as 1917, and the first feature length film of the genre came out in 1944. Disney films of the late 30's, notably "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs," inspired the development of animation techniques in Japan, and by the end of the 20th Century, American animators were adopting the Japanese Anime style. Back in the 80's, the younger crowd was watching Japanese animated shows like "Speed Racer" on TV, while the adult crowd could check out more underground Anime films at video clubs (especially if the legendary DJ "Mohawk" Adam was spinning.)

One of the shows that turned up toon television back in the 80's was a repackaged space drama that followed the efforts of the Star Force to save the Earth from the blue skinned Gamelons. Much of the show was heavily modified as it was transformed for the American audience, but basically the Star Force must journey to the planet Iscandar to retrieve a device that will cleanse the earth of the radiation the Gamelons have been using to destroy the human race.

Their space ship is called the Argo, and it looks very much like an ocean going battleship (right down to the keel), because it has been built from the salvaged remains of the Battleship Yamoto. So what was the name of (the Americanized version) of this Japanese animated series?

Bonus Question: If you were a kid in France, Belgium, or Quebec back in the late 70's/early 80's, you may have been exposed to another animated series that was quite popular in those places. It featured a staple of the Anime genre: huge battling robots! The show was brought over to France and overdubbed in French, which helped it become popular in French speaking Quebec.

The robot in question had golden colored horns sticking out of his head that shot lightning, arms that turned into rockets, a bladed lasso of sorts, and a circular spacecraft that he fit into the front of for long trips. What was the name of the show?

Another hit song from the 80’s has turned up in a T.V. commercial. It seems that Chevrolet has decided to give Bob Seger and John cougar Mellencamp a rest for the moment, and instead has licensed a classic funk tune from the 80’s: "Word Up!" The song was first released in 1986 and made it to 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as 1 on the R&B and Dance charts. The version used in the commercial is a cover version, done in a more rock and roll style. The song has been covered at least a few times, and I can’t nail down exactly who’s version this is. But in this Angel’s opinion, nothing can hold a candle to the original. So what was the name of the funk band who originally recorded "Word Up" back in the 80’s?

Bonus Question: Elton had the glasses, Michael had the glove, Pete Burns had the eye patch. If you’ve figured out the answer to the first part of tonight’s trivia challenge, you might remember that the singer/producer for that band had a an article of ’clothing’ (maybe ’fashion accessory’ is more appropriate) that he made his own trademark. He is seen wearing it in the "Word Up" video, and the only other hint that I’ll give you is that it’s bright red. What is it?

It's time for another round of 'everything old is new again,' with NBC's recent revision of the classic 80's crime fighting show "Knight Rider!" First "American Gladiators," now this! Will we see a return of "Manimal?" Seriously, though . . . last Sunday night NBC aired an updated version of "Knight Rider," starring Justin Bruening as Mike Tracer (the new driver/crime fighter) and Val Kilmer as the voice of the new car. Now, the angel didn't get to see the two hour movie event, but word has the 'Hoff made an appearance, reviving his role as Michael Knight. K.I.T.T. is back too, but this time around it's a Mustang (Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR, to be precise). So what kind of car was the original K.I.T.T., as seen in the original 80's Knight Rider series?

Bonus Question: Back in the 80's, David Letterman used to go through the T.V. Guide and point out shows where the main character faces his or her own 'evil twin.' It was a plot device that got used quite a lot, and "Knight Rider" was no exception. In one episode, David Hasselhoff and his amazing computer controlled car actually had to battle another amazing computer controlled car. It turns our that K.I.T.T.'s evil nemesis was actually the first prototype of a talking automobile, produced by Knight Industries before they got their act together. It was slated to be dismantled due to flaws in its programming, but somehow it escaped the scrap heap and it's out to settle the score! So what was the name of K.I.T.T.'s evil twin? (And you have to get the spelling right!)

As the saying goes "everything old is new again." In this case, it's the show "American Gladiators" that's been brought back for another run (and yet there's no effort to revive "Puttin On The Hits?" Go figure.)

The original "American Gladiators" debuted in 1989, and featured athletes and body builders competing in oddball events that might be considered the precursor to X-treme sports. The combatants had nicknames like Zap and Nitro, and a few have turned up in reality shows in recent years. The host of the original series was sportscaster Mike Adamle, and he was joined each season by a co-host.

Adamle's co-host for the first season in 1989 was a former NFL quarterback who started out playing college football for Notre Dame, and went on to become starting quarterback for our own Washington Redskins. He lead the Redskins to victory in Super Bowl XVII, and he was the NFL's MVP in 1983. What was his name?

Bonus Question: Speaking of those nicknames, one of the original six Gladiators on the first season back in 1989 was a former pro racquetball player named Deron McBee. As an American Gladiator, he had the tanned surfer dude persona. During the 90's he scored small parts in the Batman sequels, guest appearances on "Walker, Texas Ranger," and a visible role in the second "Mortal Combat" movie. What was Deron McBee's nickname on American Gladiators?

Advertisers will pay big money to license pop tunes for use in commercials because they want to tap into the easy recognition that a well known song provides. Pop music may also trigger a feeling of identification for a particular demographic (no doubt the use of 80's tunes is meant to target the Gen-X'ers). And if the songs lyrics connect to the product in some way, so much the better. "What's New Pussycat" was used to sell cat food, "Sugar Sugar" was used to sell artificial sweetner, etc. etc.

Some pop songs make for questionable choices, though. Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life" and the Violent Femmes "Blister In The Sun" both contain drug references, but were used in very visible advertising campaigns (who listens to the words, right?) Then there's the times when the use of a song to push a product is just . . . weird. Currently there's a advertisement that uses a re-recorded version of the 1984 hit "We're Not Gonna Take It" to sell birth control pills.

The song was originally an anthem of teen rebellion against oppressive parents, and . . . well, I can see how birth control might play a role in such an insurrection. But I don't think that's the message that the advertiser is trying to send. But whatever the connection is, the song was the biggest U.S. hit for the band who first recorded it, what was the name of that band?

Bonus Question: I can't help notice that the birth control pills mentioned above go by the name 'Yaz,' and I wonder if the company contemplated licensing a song by the legendary 80's synthpop duo Yaz. Of course, that might have been even stranger, as many of the groups best songs are rather melancholy. But I guess that didn't bother J.C. Penny, who used a re-recorded Yaz tune for a Mother's Day commercial last year (thus taking melancholy to maudlin, glad I missed it). The song used was the group's first ever single, and it made it to 2 on the U.K. charts back in 1982. What was the name of the song?

The 80th Annual Academy Awards Ceremony was broadcast this past Sunday, and although much has been made about the low ratings, the Oscars are still the pinnacle of the entertainment industry's awards shows. Of course, we're only to eager to scan the nominations/winners list for anything 80's related that can inspire some trivia.

This year its easy: the Oscar for Best Picture went to "No Country For Old Men," along with the Oscars for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor. "No Country For Old Men" is a film by Joel and Ethan Coen, and is the latest inclusion in an influential and acclaimed body of work that the brothers have been responsible for both writing and directing over the last 24 years. Some of their best works include "Fargo" (which also won an Oscar for Best Screenplay), "The Big Lebowski," "Barton Fink," and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Here's where the 80's connection comes in: The Coen Brothers debut feature film came out in 1984. What was the title?

Bonus Question: The 50th Annual Grammy Awards hit the airwaves a couple of weeks ago, and there's a few names from the 80's on their nominations/winners list as well. Some of the artists on the Grammies list who got their start in the 80's include Bon Jovi, The Beastie Boys, Sly & Robbie, Suzanne Vega, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Brave Combo, Metallica, King Diamond, Slayer, and Bjork. It's almost a foregone conclusion that U2 will show up on the list somewhere (this year was no exception), and both Prince and Madonna scored Grammies (Madonna's was way down the list, "Best Longform Video," but its there). And then there was the numerous artists who were around before the 80's, but had their biggest hits in the 80's. This group includes Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Patti Austin, and the winner for Album Of The Year, Herbie Hancock.

Hancock has had a long history in the jazz world, but has also received recognition (as well as some criticism) for lending his considerable talent to other genres. The song "Rockit" is probably the best example, a synth heavy dance track that became the signature tune of the break dance scene. The video was all over MTV, and won Best Video at the first MTV awards. And the song won Herbie Hancock his first Grammy Award. Hancock performed a synth medly that included "Rockit" at the 1985 Grammy awards ceremony with three other noted keyboardists. Who were they?

The 80's nostalgic moment is when you get that blast from the past, that moment of familiarity with something long forgotten. "Where have I heard that?" "Who did that song?" "Where have I seen that before?" Being able to put your finger on that moment is one of the things that makes 80's trivia so much fun. There's a commercial on the television right now that gave me such a moment.

The commercial is an ad for Honda's latest model of fuel efficient car, and it features a song from 1981 with the line "Hold on tight to your dreams." The song was the last top 10 hit for a group that formed in the 70's with the intention to "pick up where 'I Am The Walrus' left off." The singer from this group would go on to be an influential producer and a member of the Traveling Wilburys. So what was the name of the band that recorded "Hold On Tight?"

Bonus Question: When I heard "Hold On Tight" being used by Honda, I was struggling to remember the TV commercial from back in the 80's that also used this song. There was a Cutlass commercial featuring Precilla Presley that used the tune, but the ad I was thinking about was for one of the staples modern living. Just as there are commercials for milk and cheese and beef and "the other white meat" that promote a general product without touting a specific brand, this one promoted the use of the food product being advertised for its stimulating effects. The commercial featured rock stars, football players, author Kurt Vonnegut, and a voice over by actress Cicely Tyson. And much like ads for cigarettes in the 60's, this ad is somewhat ironic in these health conscious times. So what was the group, identified in the commercial, that this advertising campaign was designed to target?

This Saturday is Australia Day, a national holiday in Australia that is akin to our Fourth Of July. It's fitting that we pay tribute to the Aussie's and their contribution to rock and roll this week with a little trivia challenge from down under. Bands that travel from around the world to find success in the United States sometimes end up being more popular here than in their home countries. But Australians don't hold stateside success against the bands that make it big on this side of the Pacific (possible exception: Rick Springfield).

So, when INXS hit number one in the U.S., Australians took pride in the bands' achievements, and merely pitied the poor yanks for taking so long to catch on. After all, the band had reached number one in Australia four years earlier. Anyways, it was the song "Need You Tonight" that put the band at the top of the U.S. charts. The stylish video for "Need You Tonight" got heavy rotation on MTV, and was often followed by the video for another song from the album. The video for this second song borrowed its premise from Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues," and featured the band members displaying a series of cue cards with lyrics on them. What was the name of this song/video?

Bonus Question: In 1986, INXS teamed up with a true legend of the Australian scene to record a cover of an Easybeats song "Good Tiimes." The recording became a big hit and was used as the theme for the "Australia Made" concert tour. So what was the name of the artist who collaborated with INXS on "Good Times," and then shared the headline spot on the "Australia Made" tour?

Not all television dramas are fixated on doctors, lawyers, and agents of law enforcement, but an awful lot of them are. "ER," "Law & Order," "Hill Street Blues," "Nip/Tuck," "The Practice," "CSI," "Miami Vice," "NYPD Blue," the list goes on and on.

Television producer Steven Bochco was responsible for two of the shows mentioned above, and one more that was a big hit back in the 80's: L.A. Law. The show dramatized the lives of the attorneys at a high powered law firm, and in the process scored a slew of Emmy nominations & awards. So what was the name of the law firm that provided the backdrop for all the drama on L.A. Law?

Bonus Question: In an episode of L.A. Law that aired during the 86/87 season, the writers dreamed up an imaginary sexual technique that one of the firm's clients divulges to his attorney. And even though it was entirely made up, letters poured in wanting to know the details on this mysterious move. People who worked on the show claim they still get asked about it to this day. So what was the name of the fictional sexual technique mentioned on L.A. Law that caused such a stir amongst viewers back in the 80's?

Last week pop star Britney Spears earned some fresh demerits from critics and fans when her performance at the House of Blues in Florida went awry in a most undignified fashion. It seems the prerecorded track that she was lip syncing to began to skip. Now, I feel for Ms. Spears. Anyone who relies on CD's (or DVD's) has probably had them skip or jam at the worst possible times, so I would figure the controversy would focus on more reliable discs. Actually, no. The controversy is over the revelation that Britney lip syncs. I didn't realize this was news, but I digress. Of course Britney is not the first popstar to suffer from such a scandal. Ashlee Simpson got burned back in 2004 during a Saturday Night Live appearance. And every time something like this happens, people will no doubt recall the most infamous example of rock and roll swindles from back in the late 80's.

In July of 1989, a popular dance duo had their 'live' performance on MTV ruined by a skipping playback machine, fueling speculation that their live shows were faked. But by the following year, their careers were over when their manager officially revealed that they didn't actually sing on their studio recordings either. They even had to give back their Grammy. What was the name of the group?

Bonus Question: Maybe all these discredited pop stars could turn their lemons into lemonade by pointing out that decent lip syncing is itself a tricky skill to master. Not convinced? Well, back in 1984 there was a T.V. show that rated contestants for their originality, appearance, and lip sync ability as they mimed along to popular songs of the day. What was the name of the show?

The Discovery Channel has a series running right now called "Planet Earth," and the narrator's voice seems a bit familiar. In fact, it is none other than actress Sigourney Weaver. A classically trained dramatic actress, Sigourney Weaver first got noticed by film audiences as a result of a six second part in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall."

She's probably best known for her portrayal of 'Ripley' in the Alien series, but she's had a slew of other great roles in film and in the theater. And although she has not (as yet) won an Academy Award, She's been nominated a couple of times. She got nominated for Best Actress for "Aliens" (an extreme rarity in the sci-fi genre), and in 1988 she earned the rare distinction of being nominated for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in two different films. The supporting actress nomination was for her part in "Working Girl," can you name the 1988 film for which Sigourney Weaver received her second "Best Actress" Oscar nomination?

Bonus Question: Sigourney Weaver adopted the first name 'Sigourney' after reading "The Great Gatsby" as a teenager. What was the first name she was born with?

Actor Sean Penn was on "The Colbert Report" tonight. Which is irregular considering that the reclusive Mr. Penn isn't exactly a regular on the talk show circuit. But Colbert has had other reclusive guests on his show in the past, including the ever-elusive George Lucas - So, I guess anything is possible for Colbert. If you missed the show tonight, don't worry... Comedy Central re-airs the Colbert Report several times the following day. In any case, here's some fun Sean Pen Trivia in honor of this memorable episode of the Colbert Report.

As most of you are aware, Sean Penn got his start in the 80's. And, for this trivia question, we'll recall a couple of lesser known Sean Penn movies. Mr. Penn is apparently a big fan of Robert DeNiro, and he got a chance to co- star with his idol back in 1989. The stunning thing is that it was a comedy! What was the name of the film?

Bonus Question: Back in the 80's, Sean Penn had a small part in a film directed by his father, Leo Penn. What was the name of the film?

Actress Ally Sheedy was part of the original 'Brat Pack' in the mid eighties, earning that distinction by appearing in such 80's classics as "the Breakfast Club" and "St. Elmo's Fire." She actually considered the term 'Brat Pack' a bit condescending. After all, at the time the Hollywood press was applying term, Sheedy was 23 and had been acting on stage and appearing in commercials since age 15. She had even published her own children's book at age 12 (it probably didn't hurt that her mom was a literary agent.) Ally Sheedy had a bunch of television roles between '81 and '83. Then she made the leap to film with her first motion picture role in a 1983 film that starred Sean Penn. What was the name of the movie?

Bonus Question: Ally Sheedy had a recurring part on a TV series before moving on to film. Her character's name was Kristen, what was the name of the show?

Actor Alfred Molina is back in theaters, with a supporting role in the new Richard Gere film "The Hoax." Molina may not be a household name, but he's a respected stage actor, and he's had his fair share of notable movie roles. He was in last year's "The Da Vinci Code," he was the mayor in "Chocolat," and he played arch villain Dr. Octopus in "Spiderman 2." He's been acting in films since the early 80's, and in fact his very first feature film appearance was in a small but memorable role in a true 80's classic. His character delivers the classic line "No time to argue. Throw me the idol, I throw you the whip." What was the name of this film?

Bonus Question: Not to give away the answer to the first question, but the distinctive opening sequence of the afore mentioned film created enough of a sensation that spoofs have shown up in many subsequent works. The Simpsons did a take off this film sequence in the 90's, and so did a 1989 film starring another famous "Al", the prince of parody, "Weird Al" Yankovic. What was the name of Weird Al's film?

St. Patrick's day is approaching and this week's trivia question is all about this popular Irish holiday. Ask anybody who grew up in the 80's to name a famous leprechaun, and they'll probably mention "Lucky," the mascot for Lucky Charms breakfast cereal.

The lovable cartoon character was originally created in 1964, and except for a brief period in the 70's when he was replaced by a wizard, he's been pitching the marshmallow encrusted cereal ever since.

So, if you were watching Saturday morning cartoons back in the 80's, and a Lucky Charms commercial came on, you'd see Lucky the Leprechaun trying to dodge a pack of hungry kids bent on taking his cereal. What was the famous catch phrase that Lucky would always say before he tried to escape?

Bonus Question: You can probably recite the four marshmallow shapes that were in the original Lucky Charms cereal ("yellow moons, orange stars, pink hearts, and green clovers!") Blue diamonds were added in 1975, but what were the two regularly occurring shapes that were added in the 80's?

The big story recently has got to be the guilty verdict for Vice President Dick Cheney's former Chief of Staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Now, i dont mention politics in these 80's trivia questions when I can avoid it, but I couldn't help noticing the parallels between the legal scandal that plagues the Bush Administration now, and the scandal during the Reagan Administration back in the 1980's.

The phrase "fall guy" was used in the news coverage of both of these affairs, suggesting that the individuals who end up facing a jury in these matters are taking the rap for the misdeeds of higher ranking officials. Back in the days of the Iran-Contra scandal, the most visible scapegoat was decorated the Marine Lieutenant Colonel who was serving as a National Security Council aide in the Reagan administration.
He was convicted and sentenced, later got his conviction overturned, and ultimately followed in the footsteps of guys like G. Gordon Liddy by becoming a commentator on radio and television. What was his name? (hint: he's the guy in the picture)

Bonus Question: Roughly a year after the Iran-Contra scandal broke, a movie came out with obvious parallels to the story. It starred Kevin Costner as a young Naval officer who struggles to avoid being blamed for a Washington D.C. scandal that involves sex, murder, and abuse of power. What was the name of the film?