116 - Word Workout (w/ Ali Wentworth)

Summary

SmartLess Presents ClueLess: Episode 116 - Word Workout (w/ Ali Wentworth) Summary

Release Date: January 6, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 116 of SmartLess Presents ClueLess, hosted by Emmy-winning writer Elliott Kaelin, listeners are treated to a lively and intellectually stimulating session featuring guest star Ali Wentworth and the ever-charming Sean Hayes. The episode, aptly titled "Word Workout," revolves around word puzzles and brain teasers designed to challenge both the contestants and the audience.

Opening Riddle and Guest Introduction

Elliott Kaelin kicks off the episode with an engaging riddle:

"You approach a gate flanked by two guards. One only speaks the truth. The other speaks only lies. So tell me, is whatever's behind that gate really worth dealing with these two weirdos?"
— Elliott Kaelin [00:40]

Ali Wentworth humorously responds:

"I'm clueless."
— Ali Wentworth [01:02]

Following the riddle, Elliott formally welcomes Ali Wentworth to the show, complimenting her appearance and setting a friendly, competitive tone for the episode.

Revealing the Previous Episode's Cliffhanger

Continuing the tradition, Elliott reveals the solution to the previous episode's puzzle:

"Sir Anthony Hopkins has invited you to his New Year's Eve birthday party and asked you to bring a circular cake. He wants to give his eight guests very exclusive party a piece of cake. He wants them all to be exactly the same size. The pieces of cake, not the guest. And since it's his birthday, he'd like you to do the cutting yourself. But please do it in three cuts or less. So can you take a circular cake and cut it into eight equal pieces with only three cuts?"
— Elliott Kaelin [02:20]

Sean offers a visual solution, which Elliott elaborates on, demonstrating how to achieve equal slices with three strategic cuts. This segment not only resolves the previous puzzle but also showcases the collaborative and entertaining dynamic between the hosts and guest.

Main Puzzle Segment: Word Workout

Elliott introduces the main feature of the episode, "Word Workout," a word-based puzzle game aimed at testing the contestants' linguistic agility:

"Each of these six words wants to slim down and lose a little weight in the new year. For each clue, we're going to give you the starting word, then ask you to remove one letter from that word and rearrange the remaining letters to create a new, slimmer word. We'll also give you a hint for this new word."
— Elliott Kaelin [06:35]

Round-by-Round Breakdown:

1. Beagle → Bagel

   • Clue: A type of boiled bread.
   • Ali swiftly answers:

     "A bagel."
     — Ali Wentworth [07:35]

   • Elliott praises her speed:

     "Yep. You got it, Ali. Perfect."
     — Elliott Kaelin [07:36]

2. Oregano → Orange

   • Clue: A word with no rhyme.
   • After a hint, Sean correctly identifies:

     "Orange."
     — Sean Hayes [08:50]

   • Elliott acknowledges the iconic nature of the word:

     "You got it."
     — Elliott Kaelin [08:50]

3. Slinky → Silky

   • Clue: Smoother than smooth.
   • Both Ali and Sean answer simultaneously:

     "Silky."
     — Ali Wentworth & Sean Hayes [09:26]

   • Elliott awards the point to Ali for her promptness:

     "So I'm gonna give each of you a..."
     — Elliott Kaelin [09:42]

4. Mentor → Metro

   • Clue: Something I can take to work (a mode of transportation).
   • Ali quickly responds:

     "Metro."
     — Ali Wentworth [10:38]

   • Elliott commends her speed:

     "It all came so fast and furious."
     — Elliott Kaelin [10:40]

5. Juggler → Gurgle

   • Clue: A type of body noise.
   • Ali nails the answer:

     "Gurgle."
     — Ali Wentworth [11:02]

   • Elliott marvels at her quickness:

     "That was really amazing."
     — Elliott Kaelin [11:08]

6. Brigade → Bridge

   • Clue: A card game.
   • Ali triumphantly answers:

     "Bridge."
     — Ali Wentworth [11:31]

   • Sean reacts playfully to the accuracy:

     "Bridge. Oh, you. I'm going to come over and slap you so hard."
     — Sean Hayes [11:32]

Scoring and Competition:

The competitive spirit heats up as Ali takes an early lead, sparking playful banter and lighthearted wagers between her and Sean. By the end of the six rounds, Ali holds a comfortable advantage with a score of 4 to 2. Elliott introduces a "Mega Clue" worth additional points to decide the final outcome.

Mega Clue and Final Puzzle

Elliott presents the Mega Clue, challenging the contestants to rearrange the letters removed during the game:

"I'm going to give you the letters you removed, and I want you to rearrange them into the first thing you saw on your calendar this new year. The letters were E, O, N, N, J, and A."
— Elliott Kaelin [12:08]

Both Ali and Sean work through the puzzle, with Sean ultimately solving it correctly:

"Jan1."
— Sean Hayes [12:59]

This final clue tips the scales in Sean's favor by one point, crowning him the episode's victor:

"The answer was Jan1. What it says on the calendar for the first day of the year."
— Elliott Kaelin [12:59]

Cliffhanger Puzzle

As the episode winds down, Elliott tantalizes listeners with a new cliffhanger puzzle to be solved by the next episode:

"Replace five of the words in this sentence with five new words that are all homophones of each other. They all sound the same. And it has to keep the same meaning of the sentence. The sentence is: 'You and I said yes when you found a small Nintendo, then shouted woo as we played.'"
— Elliott Kaelin [13:38]

This puzzle invites listeners to engage actively with the show, fostering a sense of community and anticipation for future episodes.

Conclusion and Acknowledgments

Elliott wraps up the episode by thanking Ali Wentworth for her stellar participation and Sean Hayes for his spirited competition. The hosts express gratitude to the audience, encouraging them to follow, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to continue enjoying such engaging content.

"I'd like to thank Ali Wentworth for being the wind beneath our wings. Thank you, Ali Wentworth. We really appreciate it."
— Elliott Kaelin [14:55]

"That's great."
— Sean Hayes [15:12]

The episode concludes on a high note, leaving listeners eagerly awaiting the next installment of SmartLess Presents ClueLess.

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Key Takeaways

• Interactive Puzzles: The "Word Workout" segment effectively combines entertainment with cognitive challenges, making the podcast both fun and mentally stimulating.

• Engaging Hosts and Guests: The chemistry between Elliott Kaelin, Sean Hayes, and Ali Wentworth adds a dynamic and personable touch to the show, enhancing listener engagement.

• Listener Participation: By incorporating cliffhanger puzzles, the podcast encourages active listener participation, fostering a loyal and interactive audience base.

Notable Quotes

• "You and I said yes when you found a small Nintendo, then shouted woo as we played."
  — Elliott Kaelin [13:38]

• "Nothing rhymes with orange."
  — Sean Hayes [08:23]

• "You got to the finish line while Sean was still tying his shoes."
  — Elliott Kaelin [11:08]

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SmartLess Presents ClueLess continues to blend humor, intellect, and celebrity charm, making it a must-listen for fans of puzzles and engaging conversations. Episode 116 exemplifies the show's commitment to delivering quality content that entertains and challenges its audience alike.

Transcript

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[Smartless Media]

Smart bless media.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Here'S a riddle for you. You approach a gate flanked by two guards. One only speaks the truth. The other speaks only lies. So tell me, is whatever's behind that gate really worth dealing with these two weirdos? This is Clueless. Clueless. Clue.

[Ali Wentworth]

I'm clueless.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Welcome to Smartless presents Clueless, the only podcast where you try to solve puzzles faster than Sean Hayes that you know of. My name is Elliot Kaelin and I'll be your host for this evening. Please let me know if I can get you anything from the kitchen, but before I do that, give me an H. Give me an A. Give me a Y. What's that spell some of Sean Hayes's name. Welcome to the show, Sean.

[Sean Hayes]

Thank you. The last two letters, if anybody wants to play as E. And then Ally Wentworth, do you wanna say what the last letter is? S. That's so good, guys. We're joined today by the gorgeous, beautiful, one of my very dear friends who I love very much, Ali Wentworth. Looking absolutely beautiful on a Sunday. Thank you for giving a part of your Sunday to be with me today.

[Ali Wentworth]

Well, hair and makeup was eight hours, but I'm happy to be here.

[Elliot Kaelin]

But it looks effortless. It looks effortless.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, the listeners will love the way you look.

[Ali Wentworth]

Thank you.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Now, I'll remind our listeners that since time immemorial, we have followed the ancient tradition of beginning each episode of Clueless by revealing the answer to the previous episode's cliffhanger puzzle. But first I just have to ask, who do you hope shows up in your dreams tonight?

[Ali Wentworth]

Well, I hope it's the two of you.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Oh, that's very sweet. That's very sweet.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, I hope it's George Stephanopoulos, because that would be what's referred to as a recurring dream oh, okay.

[Ali Wentworth]

We call that a nightmare in my head.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Well, thank you for that intriguing look into both of your subconscious minds. I really appreciate it.

[Sean Hayes]

Look, I try to solve the cliffhanger.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Oh, wow. So Sean is showing us a page of diagrams. It's like either Oppenheimer trying to figure out how to split the atom or a serial killer who's figuring serial killer.

[Ali Wentworth]

With a very unquiet mind.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Yes, there's a thin line between the two. Last episode's cliffhanger was a mix of celebrity gossip and celebrity puzzling. Sir Anthony Hopkins has invited you to his New Year's Eve birthday party and asked you to bring a circular cake. He wants to give his eight guests very exclusive party a piece of cake. However, he wants them all to be exactly the same size. The pieces of cake, not the guest. And since it's his birthday, he'd like you to do the cutting yourself. He doesn't want to do it. And please do it in three cuts or less. So can you take a circular cake and cut it into eight equal pieces with only three cuts? If so, how? Okay, yes. How did you do it?

[Ali Wentworth]

It's a layer cake.

[Sean Hayes]

No, but. I know, but how do you cut it? If it's a layer cake, how do you cut it three times?

[Ali Wentworth]

You cut it in three pieces, but since it's layered, then you cut those pieces. Then those pieces are three.

[Sean Hayes]

But that's more than three.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Ah.

[Sean Hayes]

Ellie, give me a minute while I teach Allie math.

[Elliot Kaelin]

All right, let me give you the answer while you sit her straight on how cakes work and also cutting. So it is possible to cut a circular cake in eight equal parts with exactly three cuts, but it's gonna get messy. First, you cut the cake horizontally, all the way through, all the way across.

[Sean Hayes]

Yes, that's what I was gonna do. Yes.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Yes. Right now you've got two big pieces.

[Sean Hayes]

That's right.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Then make another cut perpendicular to that one all the way through. So now. So now you've got four pieces. Okay. And then you're gonna make a cake pile. You're gonna stack those pieces of cake, those four pieces on top of each other and cut that whole pile straight down.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. You fucking asshole. That works.

[Elliot Kaelin]

It works.

[Sean Hayes]

I love it.

[Ali Wentworth]

Now I'm hungry. Thank you.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Yes, of course. By the time you're done doing all that, also, everyone's already gone home and you're covered in cake. So it's. Maybe that's the best way for a party to end. I don't know.

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[Ali Wentworth]

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[Elliot Kaelin]

Listeners at Home did you get the answer? If so, then I know a certain Academy Award winning cannibal who will be inviting you to his next birthday party. And if not, don't worry because this episode's puzzle party is just getting started. It's time for today's main puzzle and it's called Word Workout.

[Smartless Media]

Word Workout. We're working on words out Word Workout.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Going okay, like for sure.

[Sean Hayes]

That's hysterical. I love that Word Workout. We're working the words out.

[Elliot Kaelin]

That should be a number one hit song. It should be Word Workout. I know you love Sean. We're gonna work them out. So we're only a few days into 2025, which means for many of us it's time to get back on the treadmill for the words in this puzzle, things are no different. Each of these six words wants to slim down and lose a little weight in the new year. Okay, for each clue, we're gonna give you the starting word, then ask you to remove one letter from that word and rearrange the remaining letters to create a new svelter word. We'll also give you a hint for this new word. So don't worry. There'll be hints. You'll get the word to start with. You're gonna blow through this. You're gonna do great. It's gonna be fantastic. Sean, Allie, are you ready to make these words feel the burn, or was your New Year's resolution to make me read the instructions again?

[Ali Wentworth]

We're ready.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Smartless Media]

Word workout.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Here's the first question. I want you to remove a letter from beagle to make a type of boiled bread.

[Ali Wentworth]

A bagel.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Yep. You got it, Ally. Perfect. Oh, and you know what? That was so fast. Do you want to make this a competitive game? I'm just asking. Or should it be a collaborative game?

[Sean Hayes]

I think I know the answer for Ali.

[Ali Wentworth]

Competitive all the way. So I'm putting down 25k. You, Sean.

[Sean Hayes]

Whoa. All right, I'll match it.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Okay. Just as a personal bet. This is amazing. Yeah. Not even for charity or anything. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

I am the charity.

[Ali Wentworth]

Mine is Sephora. The charity. It's called Sephora.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Oh, they do wonderful things. They do really wonderful things. Yeah. So here's question number two. Let's see who can get it in faster now that this is officially competitive. Remove a letter from oregano to make a word with no rhyme.

[Sean Hayes]

One letter from oregano to make a word that means no rhyme.

[Elliot Kaelin]

That has no rhyme.

[Sean Hayes]

That has no rhyme.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Famously, non rhyming word.

[Sean Hayes]

Clearly, it's really famous.

[Elliot Kaelin]

This is the mage of non rhyming words. There's a little callback to our previous episode. Would you like another hint?

[Sean Hayes]

Yes, please. Yes.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Okay. The word is also a color.

[Sean Hayes]

Orange.

[Elliot Kaelin]

You got it.

[Sean Hayes]

I didn't know. I didn't know that.

[Ali Wentworth]

That doesn't have orange. Doesn't rhyme with anything.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Nothing rhymes with orange. I'll give you two seconds to try. No. See? Nothing.

[Sean Hayes]

Corn. Cornge.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Corn. A corange.

[Ali Wentworth]

When somebody is. When a group of people get very animated, they say, oh, they're in a coringe. Thank you.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Thank you. You're right. There's one rhyme. I forgot there was that one rhyme. Coringe. All right, so the score is tied up one to one. Going into question three. Remove a letter from Slinky. To make a word that's smoother than smooth.

[Sean Hayes]

Silky.

[Ali Wentworth]

Silky.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Both did great. You know what? Sean started saying it first, but Allie said it twice in the amount of time it took Sean to say. And louder and louder.

[Sean Hayes]

This time, she's a little loud.

[Elliot Kaelin]

So I'm gonna give each of you.

[Ali Wentworth]

A. I believe Sean said silk, but I said silky.

[Sean Hayes]

Silky. That is correct.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Oh, wow. Okay, then the point goes to Ali.

[Ali Wentworth]

I have my lawyer and my agent here, and they both just whispered that in my ear.

[Elliot Kaelin]

I saw. I saw them. I saw them. Hold up the challenge card. Yeah. Get the ruling.

[Sean Hayes]

Somebody from Sephora standing by to write this check. This is really scary.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Question number four. You're both doing great. Remove a letter from mentor to make something I can take to work.

[Ali Wentworth]

Well, why don't you take.

[Sean Hayes]

Why don't you take.

[Ali Wentworth]

Why don't you take a tremor with you?

[Sean Hayes]

Why don't you take a mentor?

[Elliot Kaelin]

So remove one letter from mentor. Make something I can take to work, but I don't take it to work. Like many people who live in the city that I live in. No, this is a. This is a name for a mode of transportation.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. Yeah. I think it's like a. Wait.

[Ali Wentworth]

Tenor.

[Sean Hayes]

Metro. Metro. Metro. Metro.

[Ali Wentworth]

Metro.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Metro.

[Ali Wentworth]

Metro. Metro.

[Elliot Kaelin]

It all came so fast and furious. I don't know who said it first. Sean. Great one. You got it. Let's go to question number five. This is a game that. The game is tied up again. Remove a letter from juggler to make a type of body noise. Remove a letter from juggler.

[Ali Wentworth]

Gurgle, gurgle.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Wow. Fast. That was very fast.

[Ali Wentworth]

You heard her.

[Sean Hayes]

You heard her, you gurgler.

[Elliot Kaelin]

You got to the finish line while Sean was still tying his shoes. That was really amazing. There's only one question left. Okay, let's see. This will either end in a tie game that will be solved by the mega clue or in a runaway victory. Unless I decide the mega clue is worth a lot of points, which I might. Question number 6. Remove a letter from brigade to make a card game.

[Ali Wentworth]

Bridge.

[Elliot Kaelin]

It's also a name for bridge.

[Sean Hayes]

Bridge. Oh, you. I'm going to come over and slap you so hard.

[Ali Wentworth]

But you can't. We're on different coasts.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay, great. Oh, my God. What a score.

[Kleenex Representative]

No pain, no gain.

[Elliot Kaelin]

So the score is 4 to 2. Ally is in the lead, twice as many points, but it's just two points. So it's okay. You're still within striking distance because I'm going to say this megaclue is worth three points. So it could be a victory for Sean or Allie can just continue to jump ahead. Now, our new words may be slimmer, but the letters they lost are the mega clues gain. That's right. There's the mega clue.

[Kleenex Representative]

Mega clue question.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Just like in real life, if you lose weight, someone else gains it. Scientists call that the law of conservation of pudge. It works for letters, too. So I'm going to give you the letters you removed, and I want you to rearrange them into the first thing you saw on your calendar this new year. And so those letters were, if you want to write them down, E, O, N as in North, N as in north again, J and A as in Allie Wentworth again. That's E, O, N, N, J and A. Can you rearrange those into the first thing you saw on your calendar this new year?

[Ali Wentworth]

January.

[Sean Hayes]

Jan. Jan. Jan. Oey. Wait, wait.

[Elliot Kaelin]

We'll get it using those letters.

[Sean Hayes]

Hang on. Let's see.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Gene, was Gene on your calendar this morning?

[Ali Wentworth]

Yeah. I need a new pair.

[Sean Hayes]

Jan1.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Yes. Jan1. You got it. Three points. That means you win the game by one point. The answer was Jan1. What it says on the calendar for the first day of the year. Sean, how do you feel? How do you feel having taken your friend's victory and then thrown it in the mud?

[Sean Hayes]

I feel like I'm going to get in trouble later.

[Ali Wentworth]

No, you're not.

[Sean Hayes]

That was good. I love that game. That's so fun.

[Elliot Kaelin]

It's almost time for us to put Sean down for the night before he starts getting fussy. You know, he's such a. He's a fussy little guy. Let's lull him to sleep with this episode's Cliffhanger Puzzle.

[Sean Hayes]

Ooh.

[Elliot Kaelin]

The Cliffhanger puzzle is a little extra mystery you get to mull over until the next episode, because who among us doesn't love having a good mulligan? I know. I love to mull sometimes. And today's cliffhanger is a word puzzle. I'm going to tell you a sentence, and I want you to replace five of the words in that sentence with five new words that are all homophones of each other. They all sound the same.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay. I love it.

[Elliot Kaelin]

And it has to keep the same meaning of the sentence. And the sentence is this. You and I said yes when you found a small Nintendo, then shouted woo as we played. I'll tell you that sentence again. You and I said yes when you found a small Nintendo, then shouted woo as we played. Can you change five words in that sentence into homophones? Of each other while keeping the meaning of the sentence the same. Sean, Allie, I would say this is a tough one, but you blazed through today's game, so you probably already have the answer already, right?

[Ali Wentworth]

Oh, I thought this was a cliffhanger and there would be different guests next time.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Well, we'll see. All right, well, that's fine. That's fine. I'll give you a little bit more time to answer it. That's okay. Which also means that's the end of today's episode. And good thing, too, because your boss has been calling you for, like, 10 minutes. You can't just tell him you were listening to a podcast all this time. But before we go, I'd like to thank Allie for being the wind neath our wings. Thank you, Ali Wentworth. We really appreciate it.

[Ali Wentworth]

Thank you, Aliworth.

[Elliot Kaelin]

I'd like to thank Sean Hayes for being our wings that the wind is beneath, I guess. And I'd like to thank our audience for being the sky. Well, that metaphor fell apart quickly. This has been Smartless presents Clueless. I've been your host, Elliott Kaelin, and don't tell anyone, but you're my favorite.

[Sean Hayes]

That's great.

[Elliot Kaelin]

Clueless.

[Smartless Media]

You have been listening to Smartless presents Clueless, a Smartless Media production in association with SiriusXM. Your host is Elliot Kaelin, who also writes our scripts. Your constant contestant is Sean Hayes, who is five'eleven Your producer, editor and engineer is Devin Tory Bryant, who is me. I also write all the music and sound effects. Assistant engineer, Kyle McGraw. Today's puzzles were written by Josh Richmond. Talent producer is Anne Harris. Associate producer Matty McCann. Social media producer, Tommy Galgano. Executive producers are Elliot Kaelin, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, and Jason Bateman. Executive producers for Smartless Media are Richard Corson and Bernie Kaminski. Remember to follow, subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps. That's all for now. We will see you again for more smart, less medium.

[Ali Wentworth]

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Hey, mom, you seen my toothbrush?

[Elliot Kaelin]

Yeah, I'm almost done with it.

[Ali Wentworth]

Oh, maybe too close. Trade in and additional terms apply. See verizon.com for details.