Falling in love with an octopus, a dog, and Sally Field

Summary

Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!

Episode: Falling in love with an octopus, a dog, and Sally Field
Air Date: August 8, 2026
Host: Peter Sagal
Panelists: Paula Poundstone, Tom Beaudet, Shantira Jackson
Celebrity Guest: Sally Field

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Episode Overview

This episode of NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” features lively news quizzing, signature comic banter, and a special guest appearance by acting legend Sally Field. Listeners navigate questions about moon mishaps, American food invading Mexico, bizarre baby tech, and the new horrors of concert-going. Sally Field reflects on her storied career, discusses acting opposite a CGI octopus, and plays the Not My Job quiz. All the usual games—Bluff the Listener, Limerick Challenge, Lightning Fill in the Blank—appear along with memorable, laugh-out-loud moments.

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Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Opening & Quickfire News Quiz ([00:39]–[09:50])

SpaceX Rocket Crash

• Topic: A SpaceX rocket crashed into the moon after being abandoned in orbit.
• Quote
  • Alzo Slade (as a NASA investigator): “I think it will be a beautiful crater.” [02:59]
• Panel Banter:
  • “You think somebody had it out for the moon?” – Peter Sagal [04:14]
  • “Hitting it by accident is like winning the Powerball.” – Tom Beaudet [04:19]
  • “Can you imagine how hard the moon tries to get out of the way?” – Paula Poundstone [05:21]

Chipotle Opens in Mexico

• Topic: Chipotle opens in Monterrey, Mexico, sparking local reactions.
• Quote
  • Alzo Slade (reading from a citizen): “It’s gringo food for gringos.” [05:39]
• Panel Banter:
  • “America invading Mexico with Chipotle restaurants really puts the colon in colonized.” – Peter Sagal [05:49]

Baby Tech: Nanit Monitor

• Topic: The new $400 AI-powered baby monitor that tracks everything (and edits baby photo montages).
• Quote
  • Alzo Slade: “Infants survived just fine before infrared night vision cameras.” [07:05]
  • Paula Poundstone: “If I had had this camera, I would have realized how hard he tried to get to the wood floor because it was cooler than that damn blanket. He was a baby, but he wasn’t a stupid baby.” [09:05]
• Panel Banter: “Finally, a baby monitor that gives parents more things to worry about.” – Peter Sagal [08:07]

Quincy’s Quiz Success

• Quincy, an aerospace engineering student from Austin, TX, aces the opening quiz.
• “She passed with flying colors. Three out of three.” – Alzo Slade [09:38]

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2. Panel Questions and Banter ([10:12]–[12:14])

Crows as Friends

• Topic: The Washington Post reports on befriending crows.
• Quote:
  • “They’re loyal. If they see somebody do something to you, that becomes their enemy.” – Shantira Jackson [11:05]
• Panel Banter:
  • “As soon as you turn 35, you gotta go get into birds.” – Shantira Jackson [11:16]
  • Paula Poundstone shares her own owl-calling adventures.

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3. Bluff the Listener: “The Show Must Not Go On” ([14:13]–[20:03])

Contestant: Dan from Crozet, VA

Three Tall Tales (Only One True):

1. Vermont’s Rocky Horror Cancellation

   • Musical director sent himself threatening texts to get out of the production.
   • WINNER (True story)

2. Paris, Tennessee Clown Fest Fiasco

   • All clowns in the annual concert turned out to be mimes, resulting in awkward silence.

3. Long Island Fiddler’s ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Accident

   • Fiddler attempts live performance on a roof, falls off safely, show canceled.

• Quote:
  • “Once the police discovered the texts, he admitted to creating a false account and sending himself threats.” – Tom Beaudet [15:16]

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4. Celebrity Guest: Sally Field Interview ([20:04]–[27:53])

Sally on Her Career, Flying Nun, Dogs, and Octopuses

• Wikipedia Page for Awards?

  • “No, I did not. Because I don’t ofttimes look for myself. I think that would be just a tiny bit weird...” – Sally Field [21:17]

• Fans Still Mention The Flying Nun

  • “I’ve done other work, you know, I’ve grown as an actor. Look at—into it or not...” – Sally Field [23:47]

• How’d They Make Her ‘Fly’?

  • “There was no special effects, so it was wires. You know, I had wire. I had this harness with wire coming out of the habit. And they would like, I was on a 50-foot crane.” – Sally Field [24:22]

• ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ and Acting with a CGI Octopus

  • “Oh, gosh, yes. All the best actors do.” (on whether the octopus was method) – Sally Field [25:43]
  • “It’s hard to train an octopus to do this kind of thing.” – Sally Field [26:13]

• Pet Talk: Dog’s name is Dashiell Hammett. “He responds to Dash, but he responds to Dashiell Hammett. He’s a great crime writer.” – Sally Field [22:36]

Not My Job Quiz: ‘Remarkably Dumb Creatures’

• Bony-eared assfish has the tiniest brain for its size [28:22]
• Ostriches often fall in love with their human caretakers [29:18]
• Sloths sometimes grab their own arms thinking it’s a branch and fall [30:22]
• Result:
  • “She got two out of three.” – Alzo Slade [30:45]

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5. News, Limerick Challenge, and Silly Stories ([33:27]–[43:14])

Talenti Gelato Jars ([33:27])

• NYT investigation into why Talenti gelato containers are so hard to open.
• “The paper that brought down Harvey Weinstein has turned its attention to figuring out why people can’t open their fancy ice cream jars.” – Peter Sagal [34:33]

Disgusting Concert Trend ([35:15])

• Fans defecating on the floor at concerts to avoid losing their spot; Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahn speak out.
• “This is rough. The only musicians who should have people pooping their pants at their concerts is The Wiggles.” – Peter Sagal [36:41]

Limerick Game Highlights

• Steakhouse serves naked diners in Miami [39:03]
• Dannon discontinues coffee yogurt [40:31]
• Movie screenings just for parents and babies [41:31]

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6. Lightning Fill in the Blank & Final Scores ([44:19]–[49:50])

• Strange news stories on wildfires, New Mexico dinosaurs, Detroit’s police commissioner witnessing brawls, AI fears, disguised traffic cops, and gun safety demos gone wrong.
• Tom Beaudet wins the game with 15 points.

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Memorable Quotes

• “When two objects love each other very much…” – Peter Sagal [03:37]
• “Hitting [the moon] by accident is like winning the Powerball.” – Tom Beaudet [04:19]
• “The show was canceled, but since then Greg has actually seen Fiddler on the Roof and agrees with the show: Tradition. Without traditions, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.” – Paula Poundstone [18:54]
• “I would choose a pebble every time. Every time.” – Sally Field [29:34]

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Notable Guest Moments

• Sally Field on her Emmy nod and odd fan encounters
• Pet banter: Sally’s dog Dashiell Hammett; “He’s a great crime writer.” – Sally Field [22:36]
• Acting with a CGI octopus: “It’s all in my mind.” – Sally Field [26:21]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening banter & news quiz: 00:39–09:50
• Crows as friends segment: 10:12–12:14
• Bluff the Listener: 14:13–20:03
• Sally Field interview: 20:04–27:53
• ‘Not My Job’ quiz: 27:53–30:45
• Talenti jars & concert trend: 33:27–36:56
• Limerick challenge: 39:01–43:14
• Lightning Fill in the Blank: 44:19–49:50

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Tone & Language

Conversational, quick-witted, and irreverent—the panelists and host maintain the show’s classic snappy, good-natured tone, deftly balancing news, humor, and affectionate teasing of guests and each other.

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For listeners new and old, this episode delivers laughs, offbeat news, and classic Wait Wait unpredictability—plus a delightful dive into Sally Field’s life both on and off screen.

Transcript

[Announcer]

This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees and free perks, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop [e-mail] Switch taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.

[Alzo Slade]

From NPR n WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell me, the NPR News quiz. I'm your judge and scorekeeper, classically trained by Judge Judy Hurst. I'm Alzo Slade and here's your host at the Studebaker Theatre at the Fine Arts Building in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Alzo. Oh, thank you everybody.

[Shantira Jackson]

Wow.

[Announcer]

Wow.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you. Yes, it is exciting. We have a great show for you today. Later on we are going to be joined by the legendary actor Sally Field.

[Tom Beaudet]

Yes.

[Peter Sagal]

Herself. She was just nominated for an Emmy for her role in Remarkable Bright Creatures on Netflix. We have some fans. Okay. This is a movie where she co stars with an octopus. Sadly, the Emmys snubbed the octopus. We promise to recognize your work. So pick up your phone and give us a call. The number is one triple eight. Wait, wait. That's 1-888-924-8924. Let's welcome our first listener contestant. Hi, Jerome. Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Listener/Contestant]

Hi, I'm Quincy from Dallas, Texas, but currently living in Austin, Texas.

[Peter Sagal]

Okay, so you're qu. You're from Dallas but you're temporarily located in Austin. What made you do that?

[Listener/Contestant]

I'm a student at the University of Texas.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, great. Yes. And what are you studying, may I ask?

[Listener/Contestant]

I'm doing aerospace engineering.

[Peter Sagal]

Are you?

[Shantira Jackson]

She's gonna have a job.

[Peter Sagal]

Are you? He said in a way meant to subtly foreshadow some of the questions we have for you. Well, welcome to our show. Quincy, Let me introduce you to our panel. First up, she's an EMM nominated writer and comedian is Shantira Jackson.

[Shantira Jackson]

Hi, Quincy.

[Paula Poundstone]

Hi, Shantira.

[Peter Sagal]

Next, he's a humorist and founder of Hatch Space Woodworking School and Community Workshop in Brattleboro, Vermont. It's Tom Beaudet. Hello, Quincy. Hi, Tom. And a comedian you can see in Munhall, Pennsylvania on September 25th whose podcast is Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone. It's Paula Poundstone.

[Paula Poundstone]

Hey, Quincy.

[Sally Field]

Hi, Paula.

[Listener/Contestant]

How you.

[Peter Sagal]

So Quincy, you're going to play who's Alzo this time, Alzo Slade is going to read you three quotations from this week's news. Your job, correctly identify or explain two of them. You'll win our prize. Any voice from our show you might choose on your voicemail. Are you Ready to go?

[Listener/Contestant]

Yes, sir.

[Peter Sagal]

Okay, here we go. Quincy, your first quote is from a NASA investigator.

[Alzo Slade]

I think it will be a beautiful crater.

[Peter Sagal]

That investigator was reacting to news that a rocket crashed this week into what?

[Listener/Contestant]

The moon?

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, the moon. A SpaceX rocket crashed into the moon after being left in orbit. This happened at a bad time for both of Elon Musk's companies, SpaceX and Tesla. Their stocks tanked this week. But it is still impressive that even though this happened on the moon, the rocket still managed to take out several pedestrians.

[Paula Poundstone]

How does a rocket crash into the moon? I mean, did somebody fall asleep at a switchboard or.

[Peter Sagal]

No, no, this was a rocket stage. You know, the rockets have stages, these big parts, segments of the rocket. And this was left in orbit and it's just been floating out there. And eventually its path crossed the path of the moon. And, well, you know, when two objects love each other very much.

[Tom Beaudet]

Well, this is a question for Quincy now, being a scientist, engineer. Now, don't things orbit like, 200 miles up? And isn't the moon, like, further than, like, 250,000 miles up? Like, I don't think this was an accident. I'm not a conspiracy guy.

[Peter Sagal]

You think somebody had it out for the moon?

[Tom Beaudet]

It's hard to hit the moon. There's a lot of math.

[Paula Poundstone]

Yeah.

[Tom Beaudet]

And hitting it by accident is like winning the Powerball.

[Peter Sagal]

To be fair, it is actually very hard to land a rocket safely on the moon. That's why we don't expect to be able to do it until 57 years ago.

[Tom Beaudet]

Yeah, we've already put the first man on the moon. Maybe he wants to put the first man in the moon.

[Peter Sagal]

It's possible.

[Tom Beaudet]

Yeah. Are all these tech guys now going to have to start crashing their rockets in there? Like, now Bezos is going to send, like, a bigger rocket going a little faster. Yeah, yeah. Look at my crater there.

[Peter Sagal]

You thought you messed up the moon. Watch me. The thing is, we all remember with Jeff Bezos, rockets look like they're sort of cylinders that bulge out at the top. They're very indicative of something, some concern. I'm just imagining the image of that crashing heading into the moon would be like one of those illustrations of how life begins.

[Paula Poundstone]

Can you.

[Tom Beaudet]

Oh, no, I'll never be able to unsee that.

[Shantira Jackson]

I know.

[Paula Poundstone]

I was going to say, can you imagine how hard the moon tries to get out of the way?

[Peter Sagal]

Quincy, Quincy, for your next quote, here is a citizen of Mexico giving his opinion on an American burrito chain that just opened there.

[Alzo Slade]

It's gringo Food for gringos.

[Peter Sagal]

So what American burrito chain just opened their first ever branch in Mexico?

[Listener/Contestant]

Is it Chipotle?

[Peter Sagal]

It is Chipotle. Or as they say in Mexico, Chipotle. America invading Mexico with Chipotle restaurants really puts the colon in colonized.

[Shantira Jackson]

And

[Peter Sagal]

there is a chance to see the subtle differences between the American version of Mexican food and the authentic version. For example, in Mexico they also have cyclospora, but there it's made with cane sugar.

[Tom Beaudet]

So is this very recent? I mean, do we know how it's doing?

[Peter Sagal]

Apparently they opened it in the town of Monterrey, Mexico in northern Mexico, which because it's near the border, has a lot of American restaurants and people are used to that. It's not Mexican food. They know it's not. But it's tasty and decent fast food.

[Tom Beaudet]

I'm thinking of getting a spaghetti factory franchise for Rome, I think.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, you know, I wouldn't do that because there is a sad history here. They tried opening a Pizza Hut there once and that's why they joined the other side of World War II. They didn't take it that well. All right, Quincy, your last quote is about a new device for new parents.

[Alzo Slade]

Infants survives just fine before infrared night vision cameras.

[Peter Sagal]

That was the New York Times talking about the new thing that everybody gets after they get their first baby. What is it?

[Listener/Contestant]

Is it like Cribcam baby cam?

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, it's like a baby monitor. But not just a baby monitor. The $400 nanit monitor tracks your baby throughout the night on more than a dozen metrics, including their breathing, their movements, their so called sleep efficiency. And also this is true, it takes a photo of the baby's facial expression whenever a parent walks into the room. And then without being told, it will edit those photos into a montage for you, which is a great way to know which parent the baby likes more.

[Shantira Jackson]

So it's a flop camera for babies.

[Paula Poundstone]

It really is.

[Tom Beaudet]

So it's basically turning the nursery into an icu?

[Peter Sagal]

Pretty much, yeah.

[Tom Beaudet]

Like the nurses station. Got a blue light and a buzzer out there when the blood pressure drops?

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, pretty much it covers. It's like it's a huge leap forward. Finally, a baby monitor that gives parents more things to worry.

[Paula Poundstone]

Yeah, I used to, you know, I sleep on the floor and my.

[Shantira Jackson]

I didn't know that.

[Paula Poundstone]

Yeah, you can't fall out of floor. And so when my son was a baby, he also slept on the floor a lot. And so he was taking a nap one day, just an infant. But I had put a blanket down on the floor for a minute. It was in the summer. It was wicked hot. But I put him on the blanket, and then I go downstairs and we didn't have things like that.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, no.

[Paula Poundstone]

And in a while, I go up to check on him, and he's on the wood floor and not on the blanket anymore. And I'm like, oh, sorry about that. And I move him back, and then I go back downstairs. In a little while, I go up to check on him and he's on the wood floor again. Now, see, if I had had this camera.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah.

[Paula Poundstone]

I would have realized how hard he tried to get to the wood floor because it was cooler than that damn blanket. He was a baby, but he wasn't a stupid baby.

[Peter Sagal]

Now this, of course, is AI and it's connected to the Internet where they store all the data. Many parents are concerned about exposing their babies to so much surveillance, and they're worried about how all this data might be used. But Nanit company says, don't worry, your baby loves it. We know because we're looking at him right now. So, Alzo, how did Quincy do in our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

She passed with flying colors. Three out of three.

[Peter Sagal]

Congratulations.

[Paula Poundstone]

Good job, Quincy.

[Tom Beaudet]

Thank you.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Quincy. Good luck with your studies, and I'm sure your rockets will not crash into anything.

[Listener/Contestant]

Thank you so much. Bye, guys.

[Peter Sagal]

Bye.

[Tom Beaudet]

Bye.

[Shantira Jackson]

I've been thinking about you for hours. My mind's racing with hearts and flowers.

[Peter Sagal]

I can't help it.

[Shantira Jackson]

I'm hooked on you. I'm kind of thinking that you are, too. Be my baby, love I'll never let

[Peter Sagal]

you go Right now, panel, time for you to answer some questions about this week's news. Paula, we know all about the loneliness epidemic, but the Washington Post this week had some advice for making new friends. They say you should just become friends. With who?

[Paula Poundstone]

Give me a hint, Peter.

[Peter Sagal]

It might be friends with what? And I'll give you a hint. The first thing you should do is take down that thing in the field that scares them away.

[Paula Poundstone]

Oh, birds. Crows.

[Peter Sagal]

Crows, yes. Make friends with a crow, everybody.

[Paula Poundstone]

Wow, that is cool.

[Peter Sagal]

Improve your life. According to the Post, more and more people are becoming friends with crows, and they give the crows treats until the crow learns to start showing up every day. Some even take it further. They walk around with their new crow friend on their shoulder, which is great if you've always aspired to be an omen that whoever sees is about to die.

[Shantira Jackson]

I love crows because they're loyal. If they see somebody do something to you, that becomes their enemy. How do you know this because I'm a millennial. We all love birds.

[Peter Sagal]

Really?

[Shantira Jackson]

Yeah. As soon as you turn 35, you gotta go get into birds.

[Peter Sagal]

Really?

[Shantira Jackson]

Yes.

[Tom Beaudet]

Wow.

[Paula Poundstone]

You know what? I have an owl in my neighbor's tree that some nights hoots and I go out and hoot back to it as best I can. I have recordings of it. It's kind of great, actually. So, you know, he'll do, you know, hoo, hoo. And then I wait a second.

[Peter Sagal]

I go, do you think the owl likes that? Do you think the owl tells his owl friends, like every night, he says, watch this. Ready? No, really. It's really funny. Here we go.

[Paula Poundstone]

I sent the recording of it to my daughter and she wrote me back. She goes, mom, be careful. You don't know what you're saying. I swear I will.

[Sally Field]

Listen to.

[Peter Sagal]

Coming up, our panelists don't break a leg in our beloved listener game. Call 188 wait wait to play. We'll be back in a minute with more of Wait, Wait, don't tell me from NPR. Support comes from our 2026 lead sponsor of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me Odoo. If your business runs on five different apps, 12 browser tabs and one spreadsheet that everyone's afraid to touch, it's probably time for Odoo. Odoo is an all in one business management software platform. Instead of wasting time switching between systems, your business works together in real time. Odoo gives you one flexible platform built to grow with you. Try for free [e-mail] waitwait that's o d o o.com waitwait this message comes from IXL.

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[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

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[Alzo Slade]

From NPR and WPEZ Chicago, this is Wait Wait, don't tell Me the NPR News Quiz. I'm Alzo Slade. We're playing this week with Tom Beaudet, Paula Poundstone and Shantira Jackson. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Alzo. Thank you, everybody. Right now it Is time. Thank you, everybody. Right now it's time for the. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Bluff the listener game. Call 1, 8, 8, 8, wait, wait. To play our game on the air. Hi, you're on. Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Paula Poundstone]

Hey, Peter.

[Peter Sagal]

This is Dan Blondo from Crozet, Virginia. Crozet, Virginia. Now, I don't know where that is. Where is it? It is just outside of Shenandoah national park near Charlottesville. Oh, beautiful. I know that area. What do you do there? I am a communications consultant. Sounds fancier than it is.

[Sally Field]

It's really not.

[Peter Sagal]

I put words in other people's mouth. Right. It's not like you say to people. Just speak a little slower, enunciate more, that sort of thing. Yeah, just like that. Just like that. Okay. Well, Dan, welcome to the show. It's great to have you. You're going to play the game in which you must try to tell truth from fiction. Also, what is Dan's topic?

[Alzo Slade]

The show must not go on.

[Peter Sagal]

We all know the old adage, the show must go on. At least that's what my producers tell me every week when I hide in the closet again. But this week we heard about a show that did not, in fact, go on. Our panelists are going to tell you why. Pick the real one and you'll get the wait waiter of your choice on your voicemail. Are you ready to play?

[Sally Field]

Yeah.

[Peter Sagal]

First, let's. I'm ready. Okay, that's great. First, let's hear from Tom Beaudet.

[Tom Beaudet]

In the Green Mountain state, there is a community theater company to fill every empty Grange Hall. These performers have been hardened by years of grinding out shows come Vermont heat, sleet, snow and high water. But the Essex Community Player spring production of Rocky Horror show has been canceled while still in rehearsals due to the musical director receiving anonymous threatening text messages. That must be hard. You're trying to do your job as a musical director, but you keep getting all these threatening texts. Plus, you have to spend all that time sending the threatening text to yourself. That's right. He was texting himself. Once the police discovered the text, he admitted to creating a false account and sending himself threats. So he had an excuse to step away from the production instead of the real reason, which is that he hated everyone so much, he had put up a Facebook post complaining about the cast and crew, and when confronted about it, he refused to apologize. Rocky Horror Show Dead passive aggressive conflict avoidance in the arts. Sold out shows daily across Vermont and

[Peter Sagal]

beyond a production of the Rocky Horror show to community theater In Vermont. Canceled because the musical director sent threatening notes to himself because he just couldn't stand the drama. Your next curtain call off is from Shantira Jackson.

[Shantira Jackson]

Move over Sondheim. There's a new place to send in the clowns. For the past 25 years, Clown Fest has taken over the streets of Paris, Tennessee. Sad clowns, happy clowns and Bill Skarsgard all came together in one car to celebrate their craft. This year, things went a bit awry when the clown chorus had to cancel their annual clown concert at the clown brunch. With their makeup on and sheet music in hand, the audience watching was met with silence. When it turned out that everyone who had volunteered for the clown concert was a mime with dozens of completely silent mimes on stage pretending to sing. One onlooker described it as, quote, kind of weird. Organizers of Clown Fest apologized for the mimes and the uncomfortable silence by squirting everyone in the face with a little bit of water from a flower.

[Peter Sagal]

The clown concert at Clown Fest 2026 ruined because all the clowns who were singing were mimes. Your last story of a stage gone silent comes from Paula Poundstone.

[Paula Poundstone]

When Long island fiddler Greg Grinnell hit a rut in the fiddling business, he had to come up with something new. So he adapted with the times, or at least the time 60 years ago when Fiddler on the Roof came out. He thought, I'm a fiddler. I should get on a roof. He had never seen the musical. He invited everyone he knew. Ex girlfriends, Fiddler friends, Fiddler enemies, his mom. He picked the most beautiful roo town, a gorgeous Victorian style house with the perfect Tourette to perch upon. When the audience filled in, which was surprisingly large considering it was just a guy fiddling, Greg was nervous. But he grabbed his fiddle and crawled up the ladder to get in place. The crowd was going nuts. Fiddler, fiddler. They were chanting. He started his first song and within seconds went tumbling off the roof, bouncing off the gutter, only to land perfectly atop the a stabilizing bush. The show was canceled. But since then, Greg has actually seen Fiddler on the Roof and agrees with the show tradition. Without traditions, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.

[Peter Sagal]

So these are your stories of a show that did not go on. Was it from Tom Beaudet? A production of the Rocky Horror show in Vermont canceled because the musical director sent himself threatening text just to to get out of it? From Shantira Jackson. The clown chorus at the Clown Fest being ruined because all the clowns who showed up were mimes. Or from Paula Poundstone, a fiddler who decided to try being a fiddler on the roof without having ever seen the show. Which of these is the real story of a performance that did not happen? I'm gonna go with a. Okay, so your choice is Tom's story. And to find out the correct answer, we spoke to some who knows a lot about the real story. The threatening messages were coming from the musical director of the show. He just wanted to have it canceled. That was Ian Curry, the intern reporter at Seven Days, Vermont's independent voice, who absolutely owns the story. Congratulations, Dan. You did get it right. Tom was telling the truth about his own state. You need to point for him.

[Alzo Slade]

Thank you, dad.

[Peter Sagal]

You've earned our prize. The voice of anyone you might choose in your voicemail. Congratulations. It was generally a very good time. Thank you very much. And now the game where we ask impressive people to do an unimpressive thing, we call it not My Job. If you were going to name the most successful and acclaimed actor around, it would be hard to beat Sally Field. Her career has spanned more than 60 years.

[Alzo Slade]

Wow.

[Peter Sagal]

She has won two Oscars, three Emmys. So many awards. She has a separate Wikipedia page just for them. And she's got range. Who else has played both Gidget and Mary Todd Lincoln? She's up for yet another Emmy for her starring role in Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix. And she joins us now. Sally Field, welcome to. Wait, Wait, don't tell me. So, first of all, congrats on the latest Emmy nomination. Did you know that you have a separate Wikipedia page just for your awards?

[Sally Field]

No. No, I did not. Because I don't ofttimes look for myself. I think that would be just a tiny bit weird if I wanted to Google myself.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. I mean, you've done so many things in your extraordinary career. Does anybody ever come up to you and say, oh, gosh, Sally Field, I loved you in whatever it was. And you're like, that's wonderful. And you have no memory of doing it.

[Sally Field]

No, no.

[Shantira Jackson]

It doesn't happen.

[Peter Sagal]

You remember everything.

[Sally Field]

Not really. I've done such strange things that I would have a hard time remembering, but they would not be things that anyone else would remember either. You know, I've done episodic things in the late 60s and early 70s. And you know what? We're all so old now. Anybody who watched it is, like, halfway brain dead at this point.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, exactly.

[Sally Field]

I'm not, you know.

[Paula Poundstone]

Sally, this is Paula Pountstone. Hi, Paula. Hi. First of all, I have the you and Lily.

[Sally Field]

And my dog is beginning to bark at a squirrel out there, so just ignore him.

[Paula Poundstone]

Oh, what's the dog's name?

[Sally Field]

My dog's name is Dashiell Hammett.

[Paula Poundstone]

Wow. Do you think that he only really responds to Da

[Sally Field]

and he responds to Dash, but he responds to Dashiell Hammett. He's a great crime writer.

[Paula Poundstone]

He doesn't respond to Dashiell Hammett. That's too long a name for a dog.

[Sally Field]

Auntie Hammock, get over here right now.

[Peter Sagal]

Whenever we have an actor like you who's had such an extraordinary career, I'm always wondering what role they're most known for. And usually I can guess. In your case, I would have no idea. Is there one thing that keeps coming up or does it entirely depend on the person, on their age, on their

[Sally Field]

interest, all of that? It depends on the person, the age and all of that. But I think the thing I think most surprised about is the Flying Nun. I'm most surprised, like, I look like young people. Like, they're like in their 20s and they're in their, you know, late teens, and they say they love the Flying Nun. I think when. When it's hard for me not to want to say I've done other work, you know, I've grown as an actor. Look at. Into it or not, you know, but, yeah, it's. That's always surprising to me.

[Peter Sagal]

I am one of those people you mentioned earlier who's old enough to actually have watched that when it came out. And it took me a while to realize that I wasn't imagining it. There was this TV show on about this nun who flew. And I'm dying to know, how did they pitch this show to you?

[Sally Field]

I would have rather just been a nun with my feet on the ground.

[Peter Sagal]

Sure.

[Sally Field]

Because that. That was scary and painful and stupid.

[Paula Poundstone]

Sally, you weren't actually flying. How did they make you fly? Why was it painful?

[Sally Field]

It was painful because it was still the 60s and they hadn't really upgraded how you can do this. There was no special effects, so it was wires. You know, I had wire. I had this harness with wire coming out of the. Out of the habit. And they would like, I was on a 50 foot crane some of the times, and they would fly me into the side of a building and I'm like, spider Man, I'm like, trying to, like, go, oh, boy, here comes the building. And not something I should have been doing, you know.

[Peter Sagal]

So let's talk. I watched Remarkably Bright Creatures, your film, on Netflix, for Which you were nominated for an Emmy. We have fans here. And it's interesting because you play a woman whose life is changed by a guardian angel that happens to be an octopus, which means you have acted opposite an octopus. And Daniel Day Lewis, which was more fun.

[Sally Field]

Oh, boy. That's hard to say.

[Peter Sagal]

Was the octopus also very method, the octopus always insist on being an octopus, even off set?

[Sally Field]

Oh, gosh, yes. Oh, my gosh, yes. All the best actors do.

[Paula Poundstone]

Yes.

[Sally Field]

So there you go. That's Daniel. And the dog has decided there is a creature in the house that he's gonna like. Bar cat. No matter what we do, there are

[Peter Sagal]

scenes, many scenes in this film in which you, Sally Field, a real human being, are interacting with an octopus somewhat intimately. The tentacles, or you hold tentacles or hold hands. Tentacle. Hand, tentacle, whatever. And I assumed, apparently this is true, that the octopus was cgi. Is that the case?

[Sally Field]

It's hard to train an octopus to do this kind of thing.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. And their rates are very expensive.

[Sally Field]

I want to. To spoil anybody's vision if they haven't seen it or if they're thinking of seeing it or if they want to see it. But no, it's all in my mind.

[Paula Poundstone]

I suspect she doesn't have a dog.

[Peter Sagal]

All this time, we haven't seen the dog. She's referred to the dog.

[Sally Field]

See, for a minute, he was running back that way, I'm sure.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, sure. She was absolutely. Dashiell Hammett, the dog.

[Sally Field]

Right now, Dashiell Hammett, get over here and write us the Mother's Day.

[Peter Sagal]

I have to ask one last question before we go to our game. You have done so many things. You have won so many awards. You have played such roles with such amazing people and directors. Is there anything left in your bucket list that you still want to do that you haven't done?

[Sally Field]

Well, I'm doing it right now.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, there you are.

[Paula Poundstone]

Oh, my God, she's good.

[Sally Field]

Thank you very.

[Peter Sagal]

Is that what we're doing? Well, Sally Field, it is a dream come true to talk to you, and we have invited you here to play a game that we're calling meet these Remarkably Dumb creatures.

[Sally Field]

Dumb ones?

[Alzo Slade]

Yeah.

[Peter Sagal]

You star in the movie Remarkably Bright Creatures, so we thought we'd ask you about some remarkably dumb ones. Answer two to three questions about some animals that will not be getting a Netflix movie made about them anytime soon, and you will win a prize for one of our listeners, the voice of anyone they might choose for their voicemail. Alzo, who is Sally Field playing for?

[Alzo Slade]

Aaron Piotter. And Tessa Holmes of Hillsburg, California.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, you ready to play?

[Sally Field]

Yep.

[Peter Sagal]

Okay, here's your first question. While looking into which animals had the smallest brains, we were shocked to learn that number four on the list was what animal. A, the bony eared ass fish, B, the twiddling dumb bug, or C, the really slow loris.

[Sally Field]

I'll just say one.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, that's it. It's the bony.

[Sally Field]

Bony eared ass fish.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, the bony eared ass. The bony eared ass fish weighs as much as three pounds, but its brain is the size of a pepper. That's true. Here's your next question. Ostriches, also not very bright. Their eyeballs are each bigger than their brain, and their dumbness is a challenge for ostrich farmers. Why? A, they routinely get into fights with bushes thinking they're rival ostriches. B, the male ostriches tend to fall in love with their human caretakers because they find them more attractive than female ostriches. Or C, not only do they eat pebbles because they look like seeds, they seem to prefer the pebbles.

[Sally Field]

Yikes. This sounds like a few relatives of mine, but. I'm thinking it's three. That they just eat pebbles.

[Peter Sagal]

They just eat pebbles. The audience agrees, but sadly, it was two. They tend to fall in love with their human caretakers because, you know, I mean, which would you choose? A human or an ostrich? They feel the same way.

[Sally Field]

I would choose a pebble.

[Peter Sagal]

Every time. Every time.

[Paula Poundstone]

Yum.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, that's okay, because you have one more. If you get this right, you win. Sloths aren't just slow, they're also dumb. In fact, they often injure themselves. By doing what? A, jumping from one tree to another and falling asleep in midair, B, trying to take naps on top of predators, or C, mistaking their own arm for a tree limb, grabbing on and then falling to the ground.

[Sally Field]

Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy, oh boy. It's a bevy of favorites.

[Peter Sagal]

It really is.

[Sally Field]

I have thought my arm was a tree and just, like, grabbed it.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, I mean, so that's your choice. You're gonna go with C. They grab their arm.

[Sally Field]

Go with it. Because I have no fricking idea.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, yes, you do, because that's correct. They have been observed to do this. Sloths who live in the jungles of Central and South America can sometimes be seen falling out of trees, holding firmly onto one arm with the other. Also, how did Sally Field do on our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

Out of all the awards she has, this might be the best. She got two out of three.

[Peter Sagal]

Sally Field is an absolutely legendary actor who is up for an Emmy for her latest role in Remarkably Bright Creatures, which is streaming on Netflix now. Sally Field, what an absolute joy. Give it up to Sally Field.

[Sally Field]

Thank you.

[Peter Sagal]

In just a minute, Alzo invites you out to a fancy steakhouse, but there's an odd dress code. It's our Listener Limerick challenge. Call 1-888-WAIT-WAIT to join us in the air. We'll be back in a minute with more of Wait, wait, Don't Tell Me from npr.

[Announcer]

This message comes from Midi Health CEO Joanna Strober shares the personal experience that led her to start a virtual care platform for women in perimenopause and menopause.

[Listener/Contestant]

I was having anxiety. I had gained weight. I wasn't sleeping. And my primary care doctor never once said that perhaps I was in perimenopause and that all these things could be related to my hormones. So I had a really tough time for quite a while. And a friend recommended that I try a concierge doctor. She prescribed hormones for me, a combination of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. And I felt very relieved that I had this care. And I also had a lot of sadness that I had spent such a long period of time going through this and not getting the right care. And so essentially what we really want to do at MIDI is democratize access to this type of care.

[Announcer]

MIDI Health, committed to helping women in midlife with perimenopause and menopause care accessible via telehealth. [e-mail].

[Alzo Slade]

From NPR in WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, Don't TELL me the NPR News quiz. I'm Alzo Slade. We're playing this week with Paula Poundstone, Shantira Jackson and Tom Beaudet. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Alzo. Thank you, everybody. Thank you all. In just a minute, Alzo assures us that it's rhyme o' clock somewhere. It's our listener limerick challenge. If you'd like to play, give us a call at 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. Right now, panel, it is time for more questions for you from this week's news. Tom, this week the New York Times published an in depth, multi part investigation into talenti bran gelato. They used high tech equipment and rigorous reporting just to try to explain what?

[Tom Beaudet]

Well, you know, I use the containers for keeping hardware in and they've gotten a little Flimsier. So I think it's the flimsy containers.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, there's something about the containers specifically. They come in jars. And the question is, why are those

[Tom Beaudet]

jars tight, hard to open?

[Peter Sagal]

They're very hard to open, yes. At times, yeah. Wanted to find out why the jars of Talenti gelato are so hard to open.

[Tom Beaudet]

Getting into a carton of ice cream is easy. I mean, you've not eaten Talent. No. It's like, you know, you hear about the mother who picks up a car to save her child. Opening ice cream is that same gland.

[Peter Sagal]

It's like the adrenaline. Yeah. Also, Tom has power tools. So it's not a problem for you. Yes. The paper that brought down Harvey Weinstein has turned its attention to figuring out why people can't open their fancy ice cream jars. And if you are about to write in to say, no, no, Peter, it's gelato. That's why your arms are too weak to open a jar. They actually. This is true. To find out what. Why the jars are so hard to open, they put one into a CT scanner.

[Paula Poundstone]

Did insurance pay for that?

[Peter Sagal]

I don't know. What if it did? You'd find out that a jar of sorbet has better health insurance than you do.

[Paula Poundstone]

Yeah.

[Peter Sagal]

More than likely you're using a CT scan. Can you imagine? You go in and you're like, you need your own diagnosis. And they say, oh, it has to be. Can't do it till next week. There's a cookies and cream using the machine right now. And this was the CT scam was just part of this huge multi part investigation into the brand's history and its decline and its current flavors versus past versions. And because it's the New York Times, also something to do with polyamory in Brooklyn.

[Paula Poundstone]

And no one can unearth the Epstein files.

[Peter Sagal]

No one, really. Maybe that's where they are. Inside a Talenti jar that no one can open. Shadira concert goers this summer are dealing with a strange and unpleasant new behavior in the crowd. And now artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahn, among others, have had to publicly ask their fans to stop doing what during their concerts?

[Shantira Jackson]

Being tall and standing in front of short girls?

[Peter Sagal]

No, but I appreciate that perspective. It's that people are very excited to get places really down front, and they don't want to give up those places for any reason at all.

[Shantira Jackson]

Oh, are they going to the restroom at the.

[Peter Sagal]

They're going to the restroom. Yes. I think that's a very polite way of putting it. They're going to the restroom. Without actually going to the restroom.

[Paula Poundstone]

Wow.

[Peter Sagal]

It's a global phenomenon. Apparently concerts all over the world. People keep pooping on the floor during concerts.

[Paula Poundstone]

Wow.

[Shantira Jackson]

Wow.

[Paula Poundstone]

I thought you meant they wore diapers.

[Sally Field]

At least

[Shantira Jackson]

I love Beyonce, but not that much.

[Listener/Contestant]

Wow.

[Paula Poundstone]

That's.

[Peter Sagal]

Earlier this month, Olivia Rodrigo said that fans in the front row at her concerts were just doing that rather than go to the bathroom and give up their place by the stage. Then other artists started coming forward and saying, yes, it's happening at my shows, too. This is rough. The only musicians who should have people pooping their pants at their concerts is the Wiggles.

[Shantira Jackson]

Noah Khan doesn't even make any music that you need to do that to.

[Peter Sagal]

Ooh, fighting words.

[Shantira Jackson]

No, his music is nice. You can just hold it. You don't have to. Everybody, everybody at Noah Khan concert is so nice. You don't have to do that. They will let you go.

[Peter Sagal]

They'll let you again, give you your place back. Because they're all very gentle people.

[Shantira Jackson]

They're very kind. I think he's from like a mountain.

[Peter Sagal]

He is.

[Alzo Slade]

He is.

[Peter Sagal]

If any musicians are listening right now, if you want to make sure your fans leave to use the bathroom, you just need to say, well, now we're gonna play some of our new stuff. Coming up. It's lightning. Fill in the blank. But first is the game where you have to listen for the rhyme. If you'd like to play on air, call. Leave a message at 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. You can see us most weeks right here at the Studebaker Theatre in downtown Chicago. And catch us on the road. We'll be at the beautiful outdoor Rose Music center in Dayton, Ohio on September 3rd. It's just a stone's throw away from Columbus. We know we threw a stone. And the perfect way to enjoy the end of summer outside. We will also be at the Orpheum theater in omaha, Nebraska on September 24th. And you can check out our comedy grab bag show Sept. 9 at the Den theater in Chicago. Alzo Slade will be hosting and you will get stand up performances from. Wait, wait. Panelists and see special guests. Well, for example, like me. For tickets and information to all of our live events, just go to nprpresents.org hi, everyone. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Hi, this is Lizzie calling from Bethesda, Maryland. Now, Bethesda, Maryland, is a place I know. What do you do there?

[Listener/Contestant]

So during the school year, I teach fifth grade.

[Peter Sagal]

But seeing as it's summer I just

[Listener/Contestant]

got back from my honeymoon.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, really? Mazel tov. Congratulations.

[Listener/Contestant]

Thank you.

[Peter Sagal]

And now that you're back, how are you finding married life?

[Paula Poundstone]

So far so good.

[Sally Field]

We are still married.

[Peter Sagal]

That's good. If you get through the honeymoon and you're still married, that is a good sign. Congratulations. Yeah, it tends to be. Well, Lizzy, welcome to the show. Alzo. Slate is going to read for you 3news related limericks with a last word or phrase missing from each. If you can fill in that last word or phrase correctly and two of the limericks will be a winner. You ready to play?

[Sally Field]

I'm ready.

[Peter Sagal]

Here's your first limerick.

[Alzo Slade]

Our steakhouse might not have great food, but to seats, many butts will be glued. Our diners all chose to throw off their clothes. They're eating their steaks in the nude.

[Paula Poundstone]

Right.

[Peter Sagal]

Class Soiree Steakhouse in Miami, Florida said they started their monthly nude dinner service to attract new adventurous customers. Because it is the truly adventurous who will sit down in front of piping hot food with a serrated steak knife and think, boy, I wish my genitals were completely unprotected right now. The owner of the restaurant, whatever you think of him, his motive says, no, no, no. This is all about the experience for the clientele. Because, quote, me and my crew, we're all professionals, unquote. He's right. It does take a professional to look a naked man straight in the eye and ask, any fresh pepper on that?

[Shantira Jackson]

I'm gonna be honest, if I go to a steakhouse, that's not the meat I'm trying to see.

[Peter Sagal]

There you are. Also true.

[Paula Poundstone]

Boy, you know, sometimes I just don't even feel human. I'm like, none of these activities. I would so not eat naked to begin with. And if I was going to eat naked, I wouldn't want to eat naked with other naked eaters.

[Peter Sagal]

Also true. Here's your next limerick.

[Alzo Slade]

Since my breakfast treat's gone, I feel so hurt, I'm so mad, I might protest and throw dirt, but Dannon just shrugged and pulled out the plug. They stopped making that great coffee Yogurt.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, yogurt. This week, Dannon the yogurt people announced they are discontinuing their coffee flavored yogurt and people are devastated. Right, where are my Dannon heads? Come on.

[Tom Beaudet]

Now.

[Peter Sagal]

The reason so few people cheered is because the serious fans of Dan and coffee yogurt are out there trying to score the last remaining cases of the stuff, which they will keep because yogurt lasts forever. Right?

[Paula Poundstone]

See, again, I just don't relate to people.

[Peter Sagal]

I've had Dan and coffee yogurt. It's not bad if you like the flavor of coffee.

[Paula Poundstone]

I don't like coffee or yogurt.

[Peter Sagal]

So no, I don't think it would be for you.

[Paula Poundstone]

Then yeah, just put nuts in it and call it quits.

[Peter Sagal]

Here is your last limerick.

[Alzo Slade]

Will I see the new movie? Well, maybe at this matinee others won't slay me. We can bring a few toys and make extra noise. It's a safe place for me and my baby.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, people with babies are flocking to screenings of the Odyssey arranged just for them. It's a great way to save money on a babysitter. Still have a night out. And what better movie to teach your kid that when daddy leaves he is never coming back. Other theaters that are showing the Odyssey have tried to ban babies from screenings. But then some guy showed up with this big wooden horse and you'd never guess what was inside.

[Paula Poundstone]

I guess they're just scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of trying to get people. How come they don't have naked? They'll do naked movie showing at some point.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. Alzo, how did Lizzy do in our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

She did great. Three out of three. Congratulations.

[Peter Sagal]

Congratulations, Lizzy. Well done.

[Paula Poundstone]

Thank you.

[Shantira Jackson]

This is a dream come true.

[Paula Poundstone]

Aim higher, Lizzy.

[Peter Sagal]

She's just my baby baby, baby she's all I need Baby don't you ever leave me she's my baby she's my valentine my valentine my valentine my valentine.

[Announcer]

This message comes from IXL. IXL's level up diagnostic gives immediate benchmark results along with personalized action plans that link directly to IXL's skill practice. [e-mail] NPR this message comes from KeyBank.

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[Peter Sagal]

now onto our final game, Lightning Fill in the blank. Each of our players left 60 seconds in which to answer. As many fill in the blank questions as they can. Each correct answer is now worth two points. Alzo, can you give us the scores?

[Alzo Slade]

Of course. Paula has two, and Shantira and Tom are tied for the lead at three.

[Peter Sagal]

Okay, so, Paula, that means that you are in second place. So that means you're going to go first. The clock will start when I begin your first question. Fill in the blank. On Tuesday, authorities arrested the man suspected of starting one of the blanks in Washington state fires. Right. On the Wednesday space company blank made 900 million more shares available to investors.

[Paula Poundstone]

Star something. The musk thing.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, with the musk. The musk thing. I'll give it to you. At SpaceX, a man in Wales was arrested for climbing to the roof of

[Paula Poundstone]

a hospital and blanking and yelling, I'm cured.

[Peter Sagal]

No. Putting on a grim reaper costume and just staring silently at all the patients coming into the hospital. On Wednesday, paleontologists in New Mexico identified a new species of blank dinosaur. Right. This week, a video of a street brawl in Detroit went viral because people noticed that Blank was standing on the sidelines cheering the combatants on.

[Paula Poundstone]

Blank was Blank was Blank Was Tom Holman.

[Alzo Slade]

No.

[Peter Sagal]

The police commissioner of the city of Detroit.

[Paula Poundstone]

Wow.

[Peter Sagal]

So a passerby called, caught this street fighter and video. And right there in the front of the crowd of onlookers is the police commissioner of Detroit who cheered and he kind of urged the fighters on, you know, while wearing his Detroit police hat. When asked why he did not intervene in this rather brutal fight, he said, and I am not kidding, I did intervene when the guy had had enough.

[Paula Poundstone]

Wow.

[Shantira Jackson]

That feels very Detroit.

[Peter Sagal]

It does.

[Tom Beaudet]

Yeah. That's old school.

[Peter Sagal]

That's how they roll in Detroit. Alzo, how did Paula do in our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

She got three right for six more points. Total of eight and the lead.

[Peter Sagal]

All right.

[Alzo Slade]

Wow.

[Paula Poundstone]

That's all you'll give me. Also,

[Shantira Jackson]

you used to be friends.

[Paula Poundstone]

Yeah.

[Peter Sagal]

You're not one of us anymore, Shantira. I'm going to arbitrarily pick you to go next. Fill in the blank. As more states report outbreaks, RFK Jr said that parents should vaccinate their kids against blank measles. This week, a Nobel prize winning computer scientist warned that humans may soon be unable to outsmart Blank. AI Right. On Thursday, former Senate Majority Leader Blank was discharged from the hospital.

[Shantira Jackson]

Oh, goofy McConnell.

[Peter Sagal]

Goofy, yes. This week, police in New Jersey were able to cite 74 drivers for traffic violations after they had their traffic cops. Blank do their jobs. No. Disguise themselves as trees on the road. On Tuesday, astronomers released the most high Resolution images ever taken of the surface of the Blank sun.

[Alzo Slade]

Right.

[Peter Sagal]

According to a new report, The UFC lost $30 million when they staged an event at the blank.

[Shantira Jackson]

The White House.

[Paula Poundstone]

Right.

[Peter Sagal]

In Arizona, two people are recovering after being shot by a man who was blanking.

[Shantira Jackson]

Eating a sandwich?

[Peter Sagal]

No, they were shot by a man who was demonstrating the safety features of his gun. Two men were looking at a hand at a yard sale when the owner came over to show off its various safety features. While he was doing that, he accidentally shot both of them.

[Paula Poundstone]

Wow.

[Peter Sagal]

Okay. It was an emergency. They were harmed, they were hurt. They're fine. But I hope they waited a while to call 91 1, because if there's ever a time to get somebody to pay the price you want at a yard sale, it is right after you have shot them.

[Shantira Jackson]

I thought it was a bad shot, but if he hit both of them with one bullet, he might be kind of good.

[Peter Sagal]

Alzo, how did Shantira do in our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

She did all right. She got five. Right for 10 more points. Total of 13 and the lead.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, then. So how many then, does Tom Beaudet need to win?

[Alzo Slade]

5 to tie, 6 to win.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, here we go. Tom, this is for the game. On Wednesday, officials in Iran pushed back on Blank's claim that peace talks were underway.

[Tom Beaudet]

Trump.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. On Thursday, Ukraine drone strikes hit two oil refineries deep in Blank's territory.

[Tom Beaudet]

Russian territory.

[Peter Sagal]

The latest movie in the Blank franchise is the fastest movie in history to make half a billion dollars.

[Tom Beaudet]

Marvel the Spider Man.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. Spider Man. Yeah. On Tuesday, Abdul El Sayed won a closely watched Democratic primary in Blank, Michigan. Right. This week, a woman in Utah is suspected of not wanting to get married after she was caught blanking the night before her wedding.

[Tom Beaudet]

Like, I don't know, leaving town?

[Peter Sagal]

No. Attempting to burn down the church where it was supposed to happen.

[Tom Beaudet]

She should have just left town.

[Alzo Slade]

It's true.

[Peter Sagal]

According to a new study, watching too much Blank may actually rot your brain.

[Tom Beaudet]

Like phone, video stuff.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. Tv, basically. On Wednesday, a genetics company announced it had created a hypoallergenic blank.

[Tom Beaudet]

Oh, dog.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. This week, a man who was drowning in the Yellowstone river was saved by a blank that was nearby.

[Tom Beaudet]

Oh, the Hoboken ass fish. No, dumb as they are, they have the.

[Paula Poundstone]

No.

[Peter Sagal]

The man who was drowning in the Yellowstone river was saved by a teenager who happened to be practicing with his lasso on the riverbank. He'd been practicing his lasso, you know, roping things at the distance so much that I kind of think he pushed the guy in just to be able to throw a lasso and as he swept by and pull him to safety, the kid was of course, celebrated for saving this man. But did he have to then hog tie him?

[Tom Beaudet]

What a great story to have as a kid to tell the rest of your life.

[Peter Sagal]

Yep, that's what I did. Alzo, did Tom do well enough to win?

[Alzo Slade]

He did it. He got six right for 12 more points, total of 15. And he is the champion.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Wisdom of Years.

[Tom Beaudet]

Thank you very much.

[Peter Sagal]

In just a minute, we're going to ask our panelists to predict after that rocket crashed into it, what will be the next big news from the moon. But first, let me tell you all. Wait, wait, don't tell. He's a production of NPR and WBEZ Chicago in association with Urgent Haircut Productions. Doug Berman, benevolent overlord Philip Gaeda writes our limericks. Our public address announcer is Paul Friedman. Our ops manager is Jasira Vardak. Thanks to the staff and crew at the Studebaker Theatre. BJ Ledemann composed our theme. Our program is produced by Jennifer Mills, Miles Nornbaus and Lillian King. Special thanks this week to Blythe Roberson, Janie Hoffman, Dom Banyas and Peter Gross. Our third Peter this week is Peter Gwynn. The third Emma Choi is our vibe curator. Technical direction is from Lorna White. Our CFO is Colin Miller, our production manager. That's Robert Newhouse. Our senior producer is Ian Shellock. And the executive producer of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me is Mike Maribella Danforth. Now, panel, what will be the next big news about the moon?

[Shantira Jackson]

Shantira Jackson, in addition to moon pies and moon cakes this holiday season, she will be releasing a moon tiramisu.

[Tom Beaudet]

Tom Beaudet Elon will abandon in his plans for a moon colony, explaining he didn't know random rockets and boulders and stuff could just crash down at any time.

[Peter Sagal]

And Paula Poundstone, when it hits your

[Paula Poundstone]

eye, it's nothing like a pizza pie of any size.

[Alzo Slade]

And if any of that happens, panel will ask you about it on Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you so much. Alzo Slave, thanks also to Tom Beaudet, Paula Pounds, Shantira Jackson, thanks to our fabulous audience here at the Citi Baker Theatre in downtown Chicago. Thanks all of you for listening wherever you are. I'm Peter Saga. We'll see you next week. This is npr.

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