Help The A.V. Club choose its 11 Questions for 2022
It's time for our long-running feature to get the yearly overhaul of all-new questions, as determined by you, the readers
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Just answer the questions, Moe. Screenshot: YouTube
The A.V. Club’s 11 Questions is now eight years old! This ongoing feature, in which we ask famous people a list of questions suggested by our readers, has produced answers to pressing questions like, “If a deli named a sandwich after you, what would be on it?” and “Do you believe in ghosts?” (And let’s not forget the time Jeopardy!’s Ken Jennings made his pitch to be the third White Stripe.)
So once again we turn to you, the smartest and most thoughtful commenter community out there, to solicit our new list of burning queries to ask celebrities in the coming year. What would you like us to ask both Jamie Lee Curtis and Jamie Dornan? What pressing matter would you like to see addressed by both Dermot Mulroney and Dylan McDermott? You can drop your query in the comments below. One question per comment, please, though you’re more than welcome to propose multiple questions. Upvote the questions you like or would like to see in the feature, and as always, the best ones will rise to the top.
The 11 Questions we’ve asked over the past years are below, for inspiration. You can also read every single 11 Questions interview to date right here.
2014’s 11 questions:
- What’s the worst job you ever had?
- What did your parents want you to be?
- Who would be your pop-culture best friend?
- What game show would you be good at?
- How would your enemies describe you?
- If a deli named a sandwich after you, what would be on it?
- What was your first big “grown-up” purchase?
- What’s your go-to karaoke song?
- What’s the worst living situation you’ve ever had?
- Who could you take in a fight?
- Do you have anybody’s autograph? (If not, whose would you want?)
2015’s 11 questions:
- What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
- When did you first feel successful?
- If you were a supervillain, what would your master plan be?
- What were you like as a kid?
- Who was your celebrity crush when you were younger?
- If you had entrance music, what would it be?
- What have you done so far today?
- Have you ever been mistaken for another celebrity? If so, who?
- If you had to find another line of work, what skills would you put on your resume?
- Do you collect anything? If so, what and why?
- What would your last meal be?
2016’s 11 questions:
- What’s a question you wish an interviewer would ask you?
- If you could ride a giant version of an animal to work every day, what animal would it be?
- What movie have you seen the most?
- What’s a stupid thing you incorrectly believed for a long time?
- What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever heard about yourself that isn’t true?
- What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
- What was the first concert you went to?
- What’s the most interesting opportunity you’ve gotten through your work?
- What embarrassing phase did you go through?
- Have you ever stolen anything? What?
- Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever met?
2017's 11 Questions:
- If you could spend the rest of your life inside one movie or TV show, which would it be and why?
- Do you have a favorite swear word or phrase? How often do you use it and in what circumstances?
- How did you spend your last birthday?
- What’s the worst professional advice you’ve ever received?
- If you were a medical doctor, what kind of doctor would you be and why?
- What’s your perfect Sunday?
- What do you get snobby about?
- What book have you read the most?
- What are you afraid of?
- What are you a big fan of that we wouldn’t necessarily guess that you’re a big fan of?
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
2018's 11 Questions:
- What makes you optimistic about the future?
- Which single work of yours do you feel didn’t get the attention it deserved?
- What was the first album you bought with your own money?
- Do you believe in ghosts? Tell us why! (If no, why not?)
- If you’re only allowed one condiment the rest of your life, which would you choose?
- In what type of social situation are you most uncomfortable?
- What was your dream job when you were a kid?
- What do you watch when you’re in a hotel?
- Do you think art should be separated from the artist?
- What’s the most difficult professional decision you’ve ever had to make?
- If you had to stay one age forever, what would it be and why?
2019's 11 Questions:
- What’s your favorite fast food menu item?
- If you could re-live an event or moment in your own life, what would it be?
- Who’s your favorite fictional villain?
- What’s a line from film or television that you’ve incorporated into your personal vocabulary?
- Who would play you in the movie of your life?
- What’s a movie that you’ll always stop and watch if you’re flipping channels?
- What possession can you not get rid of?
- What specific skill would you bring to a post-apocalyptic society?
- Who is the most underrated person in your industry right now?
- If you could be in any band, past or present, which one would it be?
- What would you do during The Purge?
2020's 11 Questions:
- If you made a candle, what would it smell like?
- What’s your favorite album from high school?
- What conspiracy theory do you think is most plausible?
- What’s the first time you were disillusioned by politics?
- Who would you call if you needed help burying a body?
- What’s your favorite Halloween costume you’ve ever worn?
- If proximity to your industry were a moot point, where would you most like to live and why?
- How did you learn about the “Birds and the Bees”?
- What’s the pettiest hill you’re willing to die on?
- What pop culture or art do you turn to when you’ve had a bad day?
- If you could find out the day you’re going to die, would you?
2021's 11 Questions:
- What is the best trip or outing you remember as a kid and what made it great?
- What’s something that’s considered a basic part of your current career that you struggled to learn?
- Did you pick up any new skills, hobbies, or get into something you hadn’t before during quarantine?
- What restaurant do you not live near, but make a point to hit every time you’re in the right town?
- What futuristic technology that doesn’t exist now would you like to have?
- What famous person that you’ve met has lived up to or exceeded your impression of them?
- What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
- What fictional family would you like to belong to?
- What’s the first piece of art or earliest piece of media that inspired you to go into your field?
- Who is the funniest person you know personally?
- If a deli named a sandwich after you, what would be on it?
87 Comments
Did you live with room mates early-on (or later?). Were you a good one or a bad one?
That’s two questions!
Why, has George Clooney not done 11 Questions? (If you don’t understand this, search “Clooney cat litter”)
What thing that you own have you had the longest?
Can you please tell your mom to stop showing up at my place?
Well Mrs. Tarantino needs a ride!
Her foot-sniffing, jerk son won’t buy her a Caddy!
You’re legally required to ask them what they think about superhero movies or the click-based blogging economy will collapse.
I miss “Do you believe in ghosts.” It tended to elicit very animated replies, and then the comments would be full of people lamenting that their favorite celebrity believes in ghosts.
What song can you listen to on repeat all day?
You’ve gone blind, mute and deaf. The only way to regain two of these senses is to permanently get rid of one. Which of these senses would you sacrifice?
Strange as it seems my musical dreams aint quite so bad.
If you could bring back one piece of outdated technology, what would it be?
disqus comments.
The flip side to that is that we all hated Disqus when the AVC switched from their own in house commenting system…and now we all wish for the “good old days” of Disqus. Because naturally it went from “OK, Disqus sux but at least it works” to “Fuck you, Kinja”. And the latter is entirely true.
Why does your site keep using slideshow formats when the majority of your viewers hate it?
Because the readers aren’t the customers.
I don’t think they’re going to ask Billie Eilish that.
But it would be great if they did.
It’s because I like slideshows, and the website is actually based upon catering just to me
What is the worst professional rejection you’ve ever experienced?
I didn’t get cast in the Renaissance Festival…
oh, you weren’t asking me, were you…
Oddly enough, I was.
HUZZAH!
Not buxom enough?
Have you ever turned down a job for ethical reasons?
If this interview was presented as a slideshow with 12 individual slides and slow-loading ads, would you still read it?
If God is all-powerful can He make an ad so cumbersome He Himself cannot load it?
Favorite Marvel Character that hasn’t been in a movie, TV show, or cartoon yet?
This will be good in helping me cast my upcoming DOOP! movie.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take 3 albums with you, what makes you think there would be a record player?
It’s a safe assumption that they’re stranded with a professor who can fashion one out of coconuts.
“How much longer do you think you can hide your horrific, secret crimes for which we will all hate you once they are uncovered?”
Are you, Alice, menstruating right now?
How would you use the word “nonplussed” in a sentence?
Who have you worked with that has made you better at what you do?
Is it okay for a Superhero to cry and if so why does Spider-man cry in every movie?
If you “know” you are drunk, are you really drunk then?
Do you think wealthy pop culture celebrities (actors, singers, etc.) deserve their wealth?
What pop-cultural opinion have you heard someone express, that let you know you could never be friends with them?Conversely, who did you immediately know you’d be friends with, on the basis of a pop-cultural opinion they expressed? And what was the opinion?
I have one: “Why do I get the same AUDI pop-up ad every day? Whyyyy???
Because of your very specific porn searches on that computer.
Because you don’t have your browser set to block pop-ups.
“Would you say you’re a fairly egregious person?”
No, I don’t want to see your pog collection.
If you were a professional wrestler, what song would play as you approach the ring?
What work of art/media most inspired you to improve your own work?
—What is the most disappointing thing you’ve ever experienced?—What is the key to a good friendship?—What was the biggest laugh you’ve ever experienced?—What is your favorite game?—What scares you?—If you were legally allowed to kill people, how many people would be on your hit list?—Have you ever secretly committed a crime?
If you could live anywhere in the world and take your current career and friends with you, where would you choose?
That’s basically this one they had last year.“If proximity to your industry were a moot point, where would you most like to live and why?”
It sure is. Dammit. Should have read through the list more carefully.
What was a rejection that was painful at the time, but you’re thankful for in hindsight?
What’s the closest you’ve ever come to dying?
What nonstandard animal would you most like to have as a pet?
What is the worst job you’ve ever given?
Who is the funniest person you know impersonally?
If a sandwich named a deli after you, what would be in it?
Who would turn down the role of you in the movie of your life?
What possession can you not exorcise?
Who is your favorite real world villain, Dave Chappelle or Louis CK?
Do you know how to follow instructions?
Can you teach me?
If you were trapped in a horror movie, what would be your survival strategy?
1) What’s the point of even trying anymore?2) Why? Just fucking why already?
3) You want to see something that will haunt your dreams for years to come?
4) Does this look infected?5) Is your Mom seeing anyone, aside from your Dad?6)What’s the best way to get kids into my windowless van – asking for help finding puppies, or free candy?7) Seriously, I don’t think it should be oozing like this, should I see a doctor?
Would you punch a baby in the face in order to save the world?
If you were forced to enter Witness Protection, would you rather it be because you witnessed a mafia murder or because you were involved in a money-laundering scheme but then ratted out your accomplices?
Are you secretly an assassin who uses acting as a cover on your international travels?
Who do you get mistaken for the most?
If you could go to space, would you?
Have you ever failed a polygraph test? Please note that if you say yes, we’ll no longer trust anything you say, and if you say no, we’ll accuse you of lying.
If you were released as an NFT, what kind of …no I’m not even gonna finish that one.
Would you rather appear on Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, or Press Your Luck?
WHY?
What kind of superhero movie would you make?
Ask about social media problems they’ve faced, but steer away from generic (and boring) complaints like you might read from Bret Stephens.For instance — What are some ways you’ve seen the actual apps and content on Facebook and Instagram encourage hatred and anger?Do you know anyone who has fallen into crazy beliefs after too much social media? What happened?A huge amount of the criticism against well known people online is generated by fake users and programmers. Do you think Twitter and Facebook try hard to stop them? How hard is it to get them to care?
What’s the weirdest night you’ve ever had?What’s one conspiracy you think is real?When did you realize you were famous?Share a screenshot of your phone’s home screen.
What is your mother’s maiden name? What was the model and make of your first car?
What was your favorite pet and what middle school did you graduate from and was it a hot dog?
If you could imagine any last four digits of your social security number, what would they be and why?
If you could time travel to any point in the past or future, just to harmlessly look around, what would it be?What fictional world would you like to experience?When you were starting out, did you have any creative ways to save money?
What is the best evidence you’ve seen for aliens having visited (or not visited) Earth?
What is your best anecdote?
A stiff tipple of brandy and two shots of laudanum. Works every time.
If there was a fire in your home what’s the first thing you would save (other than the people/pets living there)?
What’s your go-to sick day/comfort movie?
How did you gain the confidence to commit to an entertainment industry career? or: If you didn’t work in the entertainment industry, what would your job be?
What was the first concert you ever went to?
Which fellow celebrity would your genes combine with to make the ugliest baby?
Has social media made your profession easier or harder?
What old show or movie do you wish were available to stream somewhere, but isn’t?
If you were to accidentally time traveled with no possibility of returning to the present time, would you rather travel 100 years into the past or 100 years into the future?
::sees image::Anita Bath?
What book out there do you think should be made into a movie and which part should you play?
If you could trade places with another celebrity, who would it be?
What’s your worst habit?What’s your best habit?
Who would you cast in a biopic about you?/Who would you want to direct a biopic about you? What are the episodes that you hope are glossed over?