I have a tradition with my brother. He likes to figure out
what's in his Christmas presents, so I give him a book. Unable to figure out
which book just by shaking and groping it, I give him clues to the plot, subject
and title. It's also tradition that I post all the clues on this website.
This year's title is eleven letters long, so you get eleven
clues, one per letter. If you're stuck in an airport, bored waiting for your
date, or need something to play with your family for the holiday, feel free to
guess along. Post any answers or guesses to the eleven clues below. Some years
commenters have cracked this together long ahead of Dave.
1. This record company released more of his albums than any
other. They deliberately mis-spelled their name, and this is the only letter
than appears twice in it. Hint: see 11.
2. One of the first movies he appeared in never made it to
theaters because he allegedly destroyed the negative himself. It was sensitively titled "_____ Tom's
Fairy
Tales: The Movie for Homosexuals " This is the first letter in the
missing word.
3. The last letter in the last proper album he recorded with
his label, and his second-to-last stand-up album ever. Compilations and
anthology releases came later, but this was it, a one-word title referencing a
superhero movie he appeared in that same year. He was a villain.
4. He was born in this Midwestern state. It's the most
populous. The first letter of that state goes here.
5. This letter occurs three times in the title. This is the
first time the letter occurs, though.
6. This vowel occurs twice in the title.
7. He wrote for this sitcom, titled after its two main
characters whose names both started with the same letter. That letter goes
here.
8. This is the first letter in a drug he was famous for
doing. It's not much of a hint given how many American entertainers have done
it, but few set themselves on fire while under its influence. He was a
trailblazer.
9. Comedy Central once spent three hours
by counting down the hundred greatest comedians of all time. This is the first
letter in the number of where he ranked. Hint: he was in the top seven.
10. If a cop asks if you've committed crimes before, they might
ask if you have any "prior ____." This is the first letter in the
missing word.
11. This record company released more of his albums than any
other. The first letter in their four-letter name goes here. The letter also
occurs twice in the name of his home state.
Happy guessing!
