Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! – Episode Summary
Title: WWDTM: Billy Porter, Mark Ronson, Tara Dower, and more!
Host: Tom Papa (filling in for Peter Sagal)
Release Date: February 22, 2025
Introduction and Opening Remarks
The episode kicks off with host Tom Papa taking the reins at the Studebaker Theater in downtown Chicago, setting a celebratory tone for Presidents Day. Tom humorously honors George Washington's 293rd birthday with a playful anecdote:
"Trying to bake a cake using you can safely eat with a wooden teeth. Just be careful blowing out those candles, George, or your whole mouth is gonna go up in flames."
[02:45]
Interview with John Leguizamo
Guest: John Leguizamo – Actor, Writer, and Comedian
Segment Highlights:
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PBS Special Success: John discusses his PBS series, American the Untold History of Latinos, inspired by his desire to empower his son against bullying through educating him about Latino history.
"I wanted to give him weaponize his knowledge and his history of his people."
[05:30] -
Voice Acting for Sid the Sloth: John shares his creative process in developing Sid's voice for the Ice Age series, detailing his attempts to infuse authenticity and humor.
"I did like 50 voices for the director Chris Wedge... I found myself. And that's how I did the book."
[09:15] -
Mother's Critique: A humorous exchange about John's mother's critical reviews of his performances underscores his personal experiences balancing family and career.
"Oh, Joan, that was fantastic. But I didn't really like the punchline. It didn't really hit the way I thought it would hit."
[12:00] -
Quiz Game: Can We Fix It? John participates in a fun segment about Bob the Builder, correctly answering two out of three questions and winning a prize for listener Bill.
"Paying attention to that was so cool that I put that on a business card." – Reflecting on his anecdote with RuPaul
[15:40]
Conclusion: John Leguizamo wraps up his segment with enthusiasm for his upcoming PBS special and gratitude for participating.
Panel Discussion: Saber Toothed Tigers
Panelists: Paula and colleagues
Segment Highlights:
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Extinction Theories: The panel humorously debates why saber toothed tigers went extinct, attributing it to their unattractive large teeth.
"They went extinct because of their very big teeth. Yeah, it's just not appealing to a female of any species."
[18:20] -
Scientific Nomenclature: A light-hearted exchange about the correct term “smilodon” versus the colloquial "saber toothed tiger."
"If you talk to a paleontologist and say, oh, do you work with saber toothed tigers? They'll go, there's no such thing as a saber toothed tiger."
[20:05]
Interview with Mark Ronson
Guest: Mark Ronson – Grammy and Oscar-Winning Producer, Writer, and DJ
Segment Highlights:
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"Uptown Funk" Origins: Mark reminisces about the moment he first heard his hit song on the radio and his collaboration process with Bruno Mars.
"When you put a song out, it's no longer yours. It belongs to everybody."
[22:10] -
DJ Experiences: Sharing nostalgic stories from his early DJ days, Mark highlights memorable interactions, including a story about RuPaul's enthusiastic dancing.
"RuPaul came up to me and was just like... 'You're making my booty hurt.'"
[25:30] -
Scoring the "Barbie" Movie: Mark discusses his experience composing the score for the Barbie movie, blending dramatic moments with mundane daily life.
"I'm just so hyper tuned to, like, it could be the music in a Burger King commercial."
[28:45] -
Quiz Game: Downtown Funk or Stinky City Smells: Mark participates in another quiz segment, correctly answering two out of three questions about city smells, securing a win.
"Animal pee. That's the funk."
[31:20]
Conclusion: Mark Ronson celebrates his success in the quiz and expresses gratitude for the engaging conversation.
Interview with Tara Dower
Guest: Tara Dower – Ultrarunner and Fastest Person to Complete the Appalachian Trail
Segment Highlights:
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Appalachian Trail Feat: Tara shares details about her record-breaking run of the Appalachian Trail, covering 2,200 miles in just over 40 days.
"The least amount of miles I did in a day was about 35. And the most I ever did was 62 in a day."
[34:50] -
Challenges and Hallucinations: Discussing the psychological and physical challenges, Tara recounts experiences of hallucinations and extreme exhaustion during her run.
"I saw little devils sitting on logs... There's not a cat and a devil here. I might as well just keep running."
[38:10] -
Toenail Removal Decision: Tara humorously explains her decision to have her toenails surgically removed to prevent infection and pain during her ultrarunning endeavors.
"I decided on just Sophie's choice with toes."
[40:25] -
Quiz Game: Try a Stroll Down These Appalachian Tales: Tara successfully answers two out of three questions about Appalachian folklore, earning a perfect score after bonus points from her toe sacrifices.
"It's called the Woodbooger because he's like the boogeyman."
[43:00]
Conclusion: Tara Dower concludes her segment with pride in her accomplishments and humor about her toe situation.
Interview with Billy Porter
Guest: Billy Porter – Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Winner, Style and Fashion Icon
Segment Highlights:
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Red Carpet Fashion: Billy discusses his creative process in designing elaborate red carpet outfits, emphasizing collaboration with his styling team.
"It's what comes naturally for me. I have a lot of... they know what I like."
[45:15] -
Comfort vs. Style: Reflecting on balancing fashion-forward statements with comfort during lengthy events, Billy shares stories of challenging outfits.
"The hat... it just opened up like a curtain in front of my face. It hurts so bad."
[48:30] -
Upcoming Film - "80 for Brady": Billy talks about his role in 80 for Brady, highlighting the film's blend of humor and heartfelt moments.
"It's the gayest sports film ever made... It creates a conversation subversively."
[51:00] -
Quiz Game: Brady Bunch Trivia: Billy answers two out of three questions correctly about the iconic TV show, winning another prize for listener Kathy Kim.
"Pretty insane. It did not have a toilet."
[53:45]
Conclusion: Billy Porter wraps up his segment with gratitude and excitement for his upcoming projects, maintaining his signature charm and wit.
Interview with James Marsden
Guest: James Marsden – Actor starring in Jury Duty
Segment Highlights:
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"Jury Duty" Experience: James elaborates on his role in the hidden camera sitcom Jury Duty, portraying an arrogant Hollywood celebrity in an experimental mock trial setup.
"You just think, if that was me, how would I react... messing with somebody's human experience."
[55:30] -
Building Trust on Set: Discussing the challenges of maintaining authenticity while conducting a prank-based show, James emphasizes the careful balance between performance and genuine reactions.
"We kept in touch with him for a few weeks after... checking on him."
[58:10] -
Quiz Game: Objection – Jury Duty Trivia: James excels in the quiz, answering two out of three questions about real jury practices, and wins the segment's prize.
"Apparently, the judge should have listened."
[1:00:45]
Conclusion: James Marsden concludes his segment with enthusiasm for Jury Duty and appreciation for the engaging conversation.
Closing Remarks and Credits
Host Tom Papa wraps up the episode by thanking all guests and contributors, giving a nod to the production team, and reminding listeners of the upcoming segments in future episodes.
"This is NPR. This message comes from..."
[1:05:00]
Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps
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John Leguizamo:
"I wanted to give him weaponize his knowledge and his history of his people."
[05:30] -
Mark Ronson:
"When you put a song out, it's no longer yours. It belongs to everybody."
[22:10] -
Tara Dower:
"I saw little devils sitting on logs... There's not a cat and a devil here. I might as well just keep running."
[38:10] -
Billy Porter:
"It's what comes naturally for me. I have a lot of... they know what I like."
[45:15] -
James Marsden:
"You just think, if that was me, how would I react... messing with somebody's human experience."
[55:30]
Key Takeaways and Highlights
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Diverse Guest Lineup: The episode features a mix of entertainment giants like John Leguizamo, Mark Ronson, Tara Dower, Billy Porter, and James Marsden, each bringing unique stories and insights.
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Engaging Quiz Segments: Interactive games related to each guest's expertise provide humorous and informative content, enhancing listener engagement.
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Personal Anecdotes: Guests share personal experiences, from John's educational endeavors and Mark's DJ days to Tara's ultrarunning challenges and Billy's fashion adventures.
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Humor and Insight: The host and guests maintain a light-hearted yet insightful atmosphere, making complex topics like Latino history and ultrarunning accessible and entertaining.
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Production Quality: The seamless transitions and well-structured segments reflect the high production standards of "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!"
Conclusion
This February's Presidents Day edition of "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" delivered a captivating blend of humor, trivia, and heartfelt conversations with notable guests. From exploring Latino history with John Leguizamo to unraveling the secrets of ultrarunning with Tara Dower, the episode provided listeners with laughter, knowledge, and inspiration. The engaging quiz games and personal anecdotes further enriched the experience, making it a memorable installment in the series.
For those who haven't listened, this episode is a testament to the show's ability to blend current events, pop culture, and personal stories into an entertaining and informative format.
Note: This summary excludes advertisements, non-content sections, and introductory/outro segments to focus solely on the substantive content of the episode.