by Jesse Hudgins
The Game with No Name and Trials and Tribulations have been staples of Roommate Reviews since its early days. There have been many champions over the years with great rivalries that have come and gone, but I don’t think many people know the origins of these games. In honor of the Ultimate Roommate Reviews Tournament, I think it’s time I tell that story.
Game with No Name
On October 14, 2021, during a review of The Many Saints of Newark, Courtland Anderson, Jake Salzbrunn, and I were listening to music while I was looking at posts on Twitter that would eventually inspire the Game with No Name. I asked them a few questions with the prompt that they’re bad movie descriptions, and I made the declaration afterward that it would be a game we would play during the second hour of the show that night. It went off very well, and both Courtland and I knew this was something we would want to bring back.
The rules of the game were ironed out after the second match, Sam Corbett versus Jake, and the Sam Corbett clause was introduced. This rule would become standard for all games going forward: the question must be fully asked before anyone may answer. Shortly after the second match, a title belt was purchased to have a physical representation of the championship.
In March 2022, we held the first-ever tournament of what would become the Silver Screen Skirmish. This featured Zane “The Wolfmann” Trumann, Jake, Adrian Martinez, and Sam Fretto. Jake won this tournament and then faced Courtland for the Game with No Name championship, which he lost. These games continued periodically throughout 2022 before a new title was conceptualized.
Trials and Tribulations
On May 3, 2022, the Roommate Reviews Instagram dropped a hint of a new title that would enter the game universe created by the Game with No Name. Originally, Trials and Tribulations was made to be three games in one. Over time, it became more basic movie trivia. The first match was held on May 12, 2022, between Sam Fretto and Maxine Ocampo. This match ignited a rivalry that spanned years and a total of 9 matches in which they faced off in some capacity.
With an extra title in the mix, the next Silver Screen Skirmish came with the clause that whoever won got to choose which title they would battle for. Zane won and challenged Adrian for the Game with No Name title. The Trials title wouldn’t get a break as Maxine went on a great reign before being dethroned by me. After that, the title was vacated and then won by Sam Fretto. Both the Trials and Game with No Name belt went undefended for over a year as the games took a break.
Currently, the titles are held by Ashly Rico and me, but all eyes are now on the Ultimate Roommate Reviews Tournament, where the winner will claim a forever-title that they never have to defend. Tune in every Thursday from 8 to 10pm to hear matches in the Ultimate Roommate Reviews Tournament!
