A mix of movie trivia and wrestling-type storylines, the Movie Trivia Schmoedown has been beloved by many since its debut in 2014. Over the past few seasons, the emergence of fan-run aftershows to discuss the matches and storylines has given fans an outlet to showcase their passion for the show. But we think we can all agree that no matter how much we love the gameplay, it is the people involved that made the show what it was. From incredible upsets, crazy characters, and unforgettable moments, the cast and crew of the Schmoedown gave us nine seasons of entertainment that none of us will ever forget.
As we build up to Schmoedown Spectacular VII on October 1, 2022, we reached out to competitors, managers, and crew, asking them to please respond to a few questions for us. The same questions were asked to everyone – only varying should the person being asked to respond not have played a match – and several of them were kind enough to answer for us. We’re sharing those with you as we count down to the Schmoedown’s series finale.
During her Schmoedown career, “PG” Peggy Gubbins competed in the singles and teams divisions. Drafted by Kate Mulligan in the 2021 Schmoedown draft, she was a member of The Den during Season 8: War. Here are her reflections on the show that we all love, in her own words.
Looking back on the Schmoedown, what is the most memorable moment that you were personally involved in?
There was a moment, during FreeForAll 5, when I happened to be in the green room with 2 other competitors: Kevin Smets & Mike Kalinowski.
Due to COVID protocols, there were a limited number of people allowed inside the studio to await their number being called.
This was a VERY surreal moment for me.
As those who saw in the promo for my debut match against The Boston Badass know, the big reason for me throwing my proverbial hat into the Season 8 draft was because my brother was no longer around to do so himself. The last thing my brother and I ever spoke about was a Schmoedown match. The winner of that match? Kalinowski.
…& my brother’s favorite competitor in the league? Smets.
Life’s a trip sometimes, huh?
As I was having my Lenny from THAT THING YOU DO! moment, thinking to myself, “How did (I) get here?!?” [& if Talking Heads is now playing in your head, that is not the reference I was going for, but I respect it], I caught notice of another moment that I was being made privy to – Shannon was about to enter the FFA as a contestant and field questions for the 1st time. We were all watching together on the monitors. I got to bear witness to Mike watching Shannon officially field questions.
I tend to take notice when I’m kind of a fly on a wall for a meaningful moment, a moment where you know someone else is about to file it away as a core memory. It’s a pretty incredible thing, if you’re lucky enough to catch ‘em as they happen… I sat there, with Kevin and Mike, realizing how lucky I am to be a part of this moment, this event, this league.
Thinking about not only Mike’s face beaming with pride as Shannon made her entrance, but also Smets and what he went through the previous year; how he had made it here, waiting to make his entrance, and I am somehow one of the people sitting in a room with the two of these titans (no pun intended) of the league. …it was a very special moment for me.
What is the most memorable moment that you were not involved in?
Okay, I wanna go with something that I doubt others will single out… I gotta admit – Greg Alba as Jackson Maine during Free For All III was top-tier match cosplay. Bravo, Greg.
Which of your matches would you say is the best you played?
Sadly, my best match turned out to be a loss in overtime. Rager, the self-proclaimed best [insert his current stats here] player of all time [eyeroll] managed to pull out the W on that one, but I played well in rounds 1 & 2, and it was an honor to be the undercard for Damon vs. Dimalanta II, especially as a rookie.
Which match that didn’t involve you would you say is the best you ever saw?
51-50. Before joining The Den, I admittedly paid little attention to the Star Wars division because I knew I’d never stand a chance. That match made me start paying attention.
How would you describe the Schmoedown’s impact on you?
Being a part of the league gave me something where, while I was raised Catholic, I don’t know what I believe, …but if I meet my brother again in the hereafter, I can say to him, “Dude… you’ll never believe this… I became a Schmoedown competitor! Hell, I even got to play Dan m****f***** Murrell!”.
…and if he’s somehow already aware, I hope he was rooting for me along the way.
Having to say goodbye to it…? It kinda feels like I have to say goodbye to my brother again.
I can’t lie, the league was a coping method for me. It felt like my being drafted and being made a part of it was perhaps my brother pointing me in the right direction from the beyond. It felt like I had found “my people”. I’m going to miss it more than most realize.
What will you miss most about the Schmoedown?
Everyone. While many will stay friends for a lifetime, it’s inevitable that many will lose touch over the coming years. I was only a part of the league for a short while, but the league will always be a part of me and my story, and for that, I’m forever grateful.
Peggy Gubbins can be found on Twitter @PeggyBball.
