SmartLess Presents ClueLess: Episode 126 - Word Centipede (Featuring Carrie Aizley)

Release Date: February 10, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 126 of SmartLess Presents ClueLess, host Elliott Kalan teams up with the ever-charming contestant Sean Hayes and special guest Carrie Aizley to tackle a series of engaging word puzzles. This biweekly, bite-sized episode delves into the intricacies of language through the "Word Centipede" game, challenging both the contestants and listeners to think creatively and swiftly.

Recap of the Previous Episode's Cliffhanger Puzzle

The episode kicks off with Elliott addressing a cliffhanger from the last episode—an "Odd One Out" riddle. Listener Mr. B. Dillon from Minnesota had posed the question:

“How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man blowing in the wind?” (00:40)

Sean and Carrie engage in a thoughtful discussion to unravel the puzzle, exploring syllables and word construction. At [03:22], Elliott reveals the answer:

“The odd word out is spam. All the other words are acronyms.” (03:22)

He elaborates on each acronym:

• Taser: Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle (03:39)
• Care: Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (03:39)
• Pakistan: An acronym based on its constituent regions (03:39)
• Scuba: Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (03:39)

Sean humorously admits his initial misunderstanding of the acronym breakdown:

“Well, the Swift thing, I thought it was T, A, Z, E, R.” (03:57)

Main Segment: Word Centipede

Transitioning seamlessly, Elliott introduces the main puzzle of the episode—Word Centipede—a game where contestants match words by adding a common word to form compound words. The rules are explained clearly:

“I’m going to give you sets of three words, and you must tell me what fourth word can be placed at the front or back of each of those three words to make three new compound words.” (07:25)

Example Provided:

• Words: doll, cry, sit
• Answer: baby → baby doll, baby cry, babysit (07:46)

Round-by-Round Gameplay

1. First Round: Accept, Absorb, Unbreak

   • Carrie suggests:

     “Unbreakable. Absorbable. Acceptable.” (08:23)

   • Elliott affirms:

     “That's why at first I was like. Is she saying acceptable, or is she talking about... Oh, no, you got 'able’.” (08:26)

2. Second Round: Sent, B.E.A., Tender

   • After some deliberation, Elliott reveals:

     “The answer is con. Consent, Beacon, Contender.” (09:29)

   • Sean remarks on the difficulty:

     “That was tough.” (09:37)

3. Third Round: Sun, Break, Wash

   • Carrie attempts various combinations without success.
   • Elliott provides guidance:

     “It's a real word that you can find in the dictionary. I use it all the time. I'm always like, oh, it's wash day again.” (10:22)

4. Fourth Round: Key, Worthy, Book

   • Sean discerns:

     “Notebook. Note. Keynote. Noteworthy. So, the word is 'note’.” (11:23)

5. Final Round: Father, Demi, Send

   • Carrie triumphs with:

     “Godfather. Godsend. Demigod. So, the answer is 'God'.” (11:50)

Mega Clue and Cliffhanger Puzzle

Elliott transitions to the mega clue, synthesizing the answers from each round:

“Unbreakable, Contender, Daybreak, Notebook, and Godfather—all are movies.” (12:43)

The episode concludes with a tantalizing cliffhanger puzzle:

“Take the name of a very popular current musician. A temporary current musician who's very popular. Their first name is eight letters. Their last name is four letters. You can rearrange all 12 of these letters to name two different musical instruments and a kind of flute. What musician are we thinking of? And what are the instruments you can make from their name?” (12:24)

Sean and Carrie engage in playful banter trying to decipher the puzzle, but the answer remains unveiled until the next episode.

Conclusion

Elliott wraps up the episode with heartfelt thanks to Carrie and Sean, commending their wit and humor throughout the game. The dynamic between the contestants adds a layer of entertainment, making the puzzles not only challenging but also highly enjoyable.

“This has been SmartLess Presents Clueless. And I've been your host, Elliott Kaelin, saying this isn't goodbye, it's just smell ya later, Clueless.” (15:26)

Listeners are left eagerly anticipating the next episode to uncover the solution to the cliffhanger puzzle, ensuring they remain engaged and "Clueless less" until then.

Notable Quotes

• “Everyone wants to know about the girl behind the glasses.” – Sean Hayes (01:30)
• “Acronyms are everywhere except that is in today's main puzzle. So stop thinking about acronyms.” – Elliott Kalan (06:47)
• “Wash day is a one word and it's in the dictionary?” – Sean Hayes (10:32)

Final Thoughts

Episode 126 of SmartLess Presents ClueLess masterfully blends intellectual challenge with lighthearted conversation. Through the "Word Centipede" game, listeners are encouraged to engage their linguistic skills while enjoying the chemistry between Elliott, Sean, and Carrie. The inclusion of memorable quotes and interactive puzzles makes this episode a standout installment in the series.