Eventually, I would like to replace this frontend with an HTPC that becomes part of my home entertainment center and maybe build a few others for other rooms in the house. I’d also like to increase the storage on the backend to a couple of terabytes so that I can store all my TV recordings, music, and photos, along with ripping my entire DVD collection so I can watch any movie from anywhere in the house.

 

VH1 and Entertainment Weekly are putting the country’s pop culture savvy to the test in The 2007 World Series of Pop Culture, presented by Alltel Wireless. NY1′s Pat Kiernan is back to host the ultimate pop culture tournament where teams fight to prove they know the most about all things music, television and film. And in the end, the champions will take home a whopping $250,000 provided by Alltel Wireless!

Thousands auditioned all across the country, but only 16 of the very best teams of three players were chosen to compete. Fourteen teams were chosen in five regional competitions–in Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago, Orlando and New York. The 15th team was cast online, where budding contestants qualified by taking VH1′s very own “Pop Culture IQ Test.” And rounding out the tournament grid, last year’s champs, El Chupacabra from Atlanta, return to defend their title.

The 16 teams face off in New York City, where two teams go head to head in each match, each vying to move on to the next round of competition. Here’s how the game is played: Once the first category is revealed, the two teams have 30 seconds to deliberate before sending a teammate to the microphone to play for that entire category. The chosen players each get one question per round, and each category contains three rounds of questions of increasing difficulty. If a player can’t provide the right answer, his or her opponent gets the opportunity to steal.

At the end of each category, the player who gets the fewest questions correct is eliminated from the game. In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker question determines who remains in the competition and who gets knocked out. The first team to beat its opponents in three categories, eliminating all three of their players, wins and moves on to the next round.

On hand to interview the winners–and losers–are memorable competitors from last year’s inaugural tournament, the women of Cheetara. Amber Tillett, Erin Davidson and Katherine Gotsick made it to the quarterfinals last year, and draw upon their experiences as they speak to players immediately following their games.

Finally, in this winner-take-all tournament, one team will be crowned the champions of The 2007 World Series of Pop Culture, and will take home $250,000 in cash, provided by Alltel Wireless.

It starts tonight on VH1 at 9PM.

 

Most of these suggestions have been made by other people on other sites, including ClassRacer.com. I figure the more it gets said, the more NHRA might actually listen.