Today, we're going to post the follow-up story to this tale, and it really goes to show that if you can believe in someone enough, they just might surprise you!
It appears in "Archie at Riverdale High #101" - three issues after the Moose story I talked about which appeared in issue #98. And it's a story that is called "The Great Quiz Whiz Contest". It's about a trivia contest show that often aired on public television or local cable television networks. It's kind of similar to the PBS show "Whiz Quiz" or "Reach for the Top". Well, in the school district that Riverdale High is located in, they have their own version called "Quiz Whiz"!
Mr. Weatherbee interrupts Miss Grundy's class to talk to them about the quiz show. The school has been selected to compete against the snooty Pembrooke Academy for the episode. And for those of you who might recognize the name, yes, Pembrooke Academy is where Jason and Cheryl Blossom initially attended school when they were first introduced.
The catch is that only four students can be selected to play for Riverdale. And how the school will select these players is through a general knowledge test that the television studio that produces the show has given Mr. Weatherbee. Both Mr. Weatherbee and Miss Grundy ask for volunteers to take the qualifying test.
Right off the bat, Dilton and Betty raise their hands, and Mr. Weatherbee is happy because Dilton and Betty are the smartest kids in the whole school. Veronica also decides that she wants to try out as well, mainly because it's an excuse for Mr. Lodge to buy her a new dress. And of course, since Veronica raised her hand, it shouldn't come as a shock to see Archie and Reggie volunteer as well. In fact, most of Miss Grundy's class agree to take the test - well, except Jughead who couldn't be bothered.
As Miss Grundy starts to explain what the featured categories are going to be, one more hand shoots up. Moose declares that he wants to try and do the test to get onto the quiz show. At first, Miss Grundy tries to let him down easily by trying to explain how hard the show would be - and honestly I almost see red when I see her do this because I know what it's like to have teachers not believe in you. But Moose stays firm, and demands that he take the test. Before he was tested for dyslexia, he believed that everyone thought that he was hopeless. But now that he knows what is wrong with him, he can work with it and he wants the chance to try. If he fails, so be it. But nobody ever scored a touchdown by sitting on the sidelines. And that speech was enough to move both Miss Grundy and Mr. Weatherbee. They allow Moose to take the test and the whole class cheers.
Moose quickly gets to work by studying everything that he can get, and his girlfriend Midge is doing everything she can - including carrying dozens of library books - to help him. And of course, Reggie is using the opportunity to take bets against Moose, with his hope of profiting off of Moose's failure. You know, come to think of it, I can see why Reggie is Moose's human punching bag a lot of the time.
The quiz comes and goes, and not long afterwards come the results of the quiz. The first two spots are easily taken by Dilton and Betty, who score 100% and 98% respectively. Veronica also does well on the test, scoring an easy 95% and a brand new Paris original. Not exactly sure that was the right motivation for Veronica, but it does prove that she does have a brain inside of that body.
When it comes to the fourth and final spot, it looks like it's a three-way tie between Archie, Reggie, and Moose! It appears as though all that studying really helped Moose out, as he scored a 90%! That is remarkable. But it does leave them with a bit of a dilemma as they don't know who deserves the last spot. Miss Grundy suggests that a tie-breaker test be held to decide the victor, and all three take another test. The new tests are graded, and Reggie is knocked out of contention, but Archie and Moose are still tied. Archie finds the whole idea of taking tests a bit ridiculous and decides that the matter be settled with a coin toss.
Moose calls out heads, and as it so happens, the coin reads heads! That means Moose takes the fourth spot, and Reggie is suddenly out a LOT of money. Serves him right. Okay, granted Archie used a special two-headed coin that his friend Ambrose gave him years ago that secured Moose's spot. But Archie saw the writing on the wall long before anyone else. Archie realized that he and Reggie were only competing to sit next to Veronica on the panel. Moose was doing it for an actual purpose. If anyone deserves it, it's Moose.
It's the night of the quiz show taping and the audience is filled with Riverdale High students and faculty. On the bottom tier are four of the snootiest snobs from Pembrooke Academy including Jason Blossom and his friend, Preply. I'm guessing that's a last name and not a first name, but since that's the only name we're given, we're going with it. And up on top is the Riverdale team made up of Dilton, Betty, Veronica, and a beaming Moose!
Jason Blossom is a bit concerned about the Riverdale team. He doesn't think Moose will be a threat, and Betty and Veronica might keep them on their toes...but he tells Preply that Dilton could easily beat all of them single-handed. This starts to crank the gears of Preply, who is out to win at all costs. And when he overhears Dilton wanting to go downstairs to grab a drink of water before the show starts, he takes advantage by sticking his foot out as Dilton heads down the stairs...
...and just like that, Dilton is knocked out of contention. Mr. Weatherbee comes out of the audience to examine Dilton and to everyone's relief, Dilton doesn't have any broken bones. But because he bopped his head, he's unable to see straight. Certainly he's in no condition to answer any questions. Mr. Weatherbee tries to switch out Dilton with Archie, but the rules are set in stone. No substitutions. So, it looks like it'll be Moose, Veronica, and Betty to carry the team. Moose is understandably upset by this, but Mr. Weatherbee assures him that it will be okay.
Fortunately, while Moose is staying quiet because he is very upset about Dilton getting hurt, Betty and Veronica do their best to keep up with Pembrooke Academy. Every time Pembrooke answers a question correctly, Betty and Veronica tie up the score. By the end of the show, the score is tied at 230 points for each team. The final question is up for grabs. The question is: Which Riverdale native held the field goal record during the 1949 pro football season?
Clearly a question that Betty and Veronica can't answer, as neither one of them really follow football. And Pembrooke doesn't exactly know the answer either. It's up to Moose to try and get the question right.
But is it the right answer? Come on...Moose is a football player who loves the sport. What do you think?
Everyone in the audience is celebrating Riverdale's win...and Moose takes all the credit for winning! Even Dilton recovers in time to cheer for Moose. It is a happy moment for everyone.
Well...ALMOST everyone. A very bitter Preply is cursing under his breath, even saying that he tripped Dilton for nothing. Now, this gets the attention of Jason Blossom, who reacts with visible shock and disgust. You know, for all the flack that Jason gets for being snobby (which most of the time is deserved), at least he understands good sportsmanship. He is appalled that Preply would stoop to such levels to win.
But even more unfortunately for Preply, Moose happens to hear his confession, and he gets his revenge for what he did to Dilton. Fortunately most of the violence takes place off panel, but it ends with Preply being tossed in a garbage dumpster. Preply begs Jason to help him out, but Jason scoffs at him and just says this...
Because believe me. Moose IS a winner.
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