WWDTM: Natasha Rothwell

Summary

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! – Episode Featuring Natasha Rothwell
Release Date: May 3, 2025
Host: Peter Sagal
Guest: Natasha Rothwell
Location: Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, Chicago, Illinois

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, host Peter Sagal welcomes listeners to another week of laughter and trivia. Held at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, the show features comedian Natasha Rothwell, star of HBO's The White Lotus, as the celebrity guest. The panel consists of Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Hari Kondabolu, and Peter Gross, who dive into a series of humorous news-related games and discussions.

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Listener Contest: "Bluff the Listener"

Contestant: Chris Schoen from a farm near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Peter Sagal introduces Chris, highlighting his picturesque farm life reminiscent of Grant Wood’s artwork. The first game, "Bluff the Listener," challenges Chris to identify truths from cleverly fabricated news quotes.

1. First Quote (00:57):
   Bill Curtis: "Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls."

   • Discussion: This humorous take references President Trump's tariffs impacting Christmas toy sales. Panelist Hari Kondabolu jokes about the president resembling the Grinch, leading to a lively exchange about toy shortages and parental disappointment.
   • Notable Quote:
     • Hari Kondabolu (04:18): "He's got the same kind of body type and face [as the Grinch]."

2. Second Quote (04:27):
   Bill Curtis: "Go, evil girl. Boss, go."

   • Discussion: This quote pertains to Bill Belichick’s much younger girlfriend, Jordan Hudson. The panelists humorously critique the age gap and speculate on their relationship dynamics.
   • Notable Quote:
     • Joyelle Nicole Johnson (06:29): "I've never been happier to be the only person on this stage without kids."

3. Third Quote (07:26):
   Bill Curtis: "It's the only block of time that's deep focus time."

   • Discussion: This pertains to the trend of alpha males boasting about waking up at 4 AM. The panel mocks the seriousness with which such trivial habits are treated.
   • Notable Quote:
     • Joyelle Nicole Johnson (08:33): "I've just been like, if alpha males are doing that, if I was a man, I would be a beta cuck."

Outcome: Chris successfully identifies two out of three quotes correctly, earning a voicemail prize and being declared the winner of this segment.

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Panel Discussion: Perfect Pasta Recipe by Max Planck Institute

The panel shifts focus to a quirky news story about Germany's Max Planck Institute for Physics developing the "perfect scientifically proven formula" for cacio e pepe pasta. The discussion is filled with humorous skepticism about the intersection of high science and culinary arts.

• Notable Exchange:
  • Hari Kondabolu (10:54): "Yeah, when the Germans and Italians collaborate with the Japanese, I'm on board."
  • Joyelle Nicole Johnson (10:52): "I've never been happier to be the only person on this stage without kids."

---

Listener Game: "Not My Job" with Natasha Rothwell

Natasha Rothwell shares her journey from writing for Insecure and Saturday Night Live to becoming a beloved cast member of The White Lotus. She discusses her time teaching high school in New York City and performing comedy in Tokyo, emphasizing the universal nature of humor.

• Notable Quotes:
  • Natasha Rothwell (22:08): "I found my comedic voice [in Tokyo] because you have to translate the humor, you know, regardless of what language was being spoken by the people in the audience."
  • Peter Sagal (25:04): "And are you ready to tell us that that really wasn't as wonderful as we might think it is?"
  • Natasha Rothwell (25:04): "Here's the thing. It was a beautiful five-star prison."

Natasha also recounts the experience of filming The White Lotus during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing the set as a luxurious yet isolating "bubble."

---

Limerick Challenge: Contestant Caleb Popson Garcia

Contestant: Caleb Popson Garcia from Tallahassee, Florida.

Caleb participates in the "Listener Limerick Challenge," where he must complete news-related limericks. His quick wit leads him to accurately fill in:

1. First Limerick:

   • Bill Curtis: "Sparkling wine will relieve my crammed brain… My doctor says drink more wine."
   • Answer: Champagne
   • Notable Quote:
     • Caleb (39:16): "Champagne."

2. Second Limerick:

   • Bill Curtis: "When I go to the beach… I spent 600 bucks on some flip flops."
   • Answer: Flip Flops
   • Notable Quote:
     • Caleb (40:55): "Flip flops."

3. Third Limerick:

   • Bill Curtis: "As he sits by the aisle… I'll be watching your dog at your wedding."
   • Answer: Dog Chaperone
   • Notable Quote:
     • Caleb (41:53): Correctly identifies the role of a dog chaperone.

Outcome: Caleb nails all three limericks, earning the maximum score and securing his prize.

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Lightning Fill in the Blank: Panelists Joyel and Hari

The panel competes in a rapid-fire "Lightning Fill in the Blank" game, answering timely news-related prompts. Both Joyel Nicole Johnson and Hari Kondabolu demonstrate their quick thinking:

1. Questions & Answers:

   • Peter Sagal: "In response to the signal texting scandal, Trump announced he was reassigning National Security [Blank]."
     • Hari Kondabolu (48:43): "Climate change."
   • Peter Sagal: "During an interview this week, Ben Affleck said he thought that [Blank] was the best work of his career."
     • Hari Kondabolu (48:53): "The DVD commentary track for Armageddon."

2. Notable Quotes:

   • Hari Kondabolu (48:52): "Let me have."
   • Peter Sagal (49:42): "She cracked her tooth on another person's tooth."

Outcome: Hari accumulates enough correct answers to win the segment, earning praise and a voicemail prize.

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Final Segment: Celebrity Gossip and Credits

The show wraps up with playful speculation about upcoming celebrity news, including humorous takes on Bill Belichick and Jordan Hudson's relationship. The host acknowledges the show's production team and extends gratitude to the audience.

• Notable Quotes:
  • Hari Kondabolu (51:34): "Peter Gross, Bill Belichick and Jordan Hudson are going to announce they are in a throuple with CBS Sunday morning."
  • Joyelle Nicole Johnson (51:51): "Melania leaves Trump for Trudeau."

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Conclusion

This episode of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! seamlessly blends news trivia with comedic banter, featuring insightful and entertaining segments led by Natasha Rothwell. The panelists' sharp humor and the guest's personal anecdotes provide listeners with a delightful mix of information and laughter, embodying the show's signature charm.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Hari Kondabolu (04:18): "He's got the same kind of body type and face [as the Grinch]."
• Joyelle Nicole Johnson (06:29): "I've never been happier to be the only person on this stage without kids."
• Hari Kondabolu (08:33): "If alpha males are doing that, if I was a man, I would be a beta cuck."
• Natasha Rothwell (22:08): "I found my comedic voice [in Tokyo] because you have to translate the humor."
• Natasha Rothwell (25:04): "It was a beautiful five-star prison."
• Joyelle Nicole Johnson (09:19): "I don't like feet, and my boyfriend doesn't wear them."

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Listen to the Full Episode

For those who missed this episode, catch Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! featuring Natasha Rothwell on NPR and stream it on your favorite podcast platform.

Transcript

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[Bill Curtis]

From NPR and WPEZ Chicago, this is. Wait, wait, don't tell me. The NPR News quiz. I'm the voice. So peanut buttery. It comes in chunky and smooth. I'm Bill Curtis. Here's your host at the Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you so much, Bill. Thank you, everybody. Good to see you again. We do have a great show for you today. Later on, we're going to be talking to one of the stars of the White Lotus, Natasha Rothwell, who plays Belinda. Now, to refresh your memory, she's not the one who committed murder or the other murder or money laundering or adultery. She just does a little blackmail, which on that show makes her a saint. We want to know what you've been up to behind the scenes, so give us a call. The number is 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. Now let's welcome our first listener contestant this week. How you run. Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Bill Curtis]

Hi, I'm Chris Schoen, and I live on a farm near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

[Peter Sagal]

That's fabulous. So you're actually in an Iowa farm. You know, I remember, I remember vividly the first time I ever went to Iowa many, many years ago. And seeing a farm and thinking, oh, my gosh, every time I saw a farm when I was a kid looking at a picture book, I was looking at that. So you live in, like, the perfect farm, right?

[Bill Curtis]

It is. It is. It's like Grant Wood country here. Very, very picturesque.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. And you just stand in front of it all day holding a pitch, looking Pastor and my wife. Yeah. Okay. Very good. Very good. Well, Chris, welcome to the show. Let me introduce you to our panel this week. First, she's a comedian headlining at the DC Improv July 11th through the 13th. It's Joyelle Nicole Johnson.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Hello.

[Peter Sagal]

Howdy.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Howdy.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Ooh.

[Bill Curtis]

That's what we say.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Okay, I've heard. I've been there before.

[Peter Sagal]

Next, he's a comedian who'll be headlining the Gramercy in New York City on May 29th and the Houston Punchline on May 30th and 31st is Hari. Howdy, sir. Howdy. Hi. And he's an actor and comedian you can see Saturday, May 3, at Joe's Pub in New York City. It's Peter Grouse.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Hey, Chris.

[Bill Curtis]

Hello, Peter.

[Peter Sagal]

So, Chris, welcome to the show. You're going to play who's Bill this time? Bill Curtis is now going to perform for you. Three quotations from the week's news. Doing it better than the original people. If you can correctly identify or explain just two of them, you'll win our prize. Any voice from our show that you might choose for your voicemail. Are you ready to get us started? I am. All right, your first quote is from the President of these United States.

[Bill Curtis]

Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls.

[Peter Sagal]

He was comforting us because Christmas toy sales may be severely impacted. By what?

[Bill Curtis]

By Trump's tariffs?

[Peter Sagal]

Exactly. By his trade war. His tariffs, man. I don't know. Is it just me or does ruining Christmas seem to start earlier? And with 80% of all toys and 90% of all the rest of the stuff you get for Christmas sold in America coming from China, experts say that the Trump tariffs could create huge toy shortages for this holiday season. Promise made, promise kept, Right? Thanks to President Trump, we no longer have to say Happy holidays. Now we can say Merry Christmas. You're not getting a present.

[Hari Kondabolu]

You could say saddy holidays.

[Peter Sagal]

Exactly.

[Hari Kondabolu]

You know, all you have to do is just put that green suit on and he's gonna look a lot like that Grinch, right?

[Natasha Rothwell]

Yeah.

[Hari Kondabolu]

He's got the same kind of body type and face.

[Peter Gross]

How do you explain to a child that they're not getting that many presents this year? Like, what do you say? Like, sorry, kids, the North Pole got hit with tariffs and all the elves got deported.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Yeah. All the, like, children's books at Christmas are gonna be like, there's something called a supply chain.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

I've never been happier to be the only person on this stage without kids.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, Chris, here. Next quote.

[Bill Curtis]

Go, evil girl. Boss, go.

[Peter Sagal]

That was somebody quoted in Vulture. One of many, many people commenting this week about the 24 year old girlfriend of what, 73 year old football coach?

[Bill Curtis]

That would be Bill Belichick.

[Peter Sagal]

It would be. I think we can say that all America is captivated by this May December, but it's December 1932, Roman of famously grumpy football coach Bill Belichick and his much, much younger girlfriend, Jordan Hudson, which, it's so sad for her. She's just 24. She's wasting her DiCaprio years.

[Hari Kondabolu]

You know, for a guy who's like a professional football coach and has won, what, six Super Bowls.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes.

[Hari Kondabolu]

It's pretty ironic that he's getting played so hard. So hard.

[Peter Gross]

I think it's love.

[Peter Sagal]

Do you really?

[Peter Gross]

I do. Because what 24 year old isn't attracted to a dad bod and jowls?

[Hari Kondabolu]

He wishes he had a dad bod. He's got a grandpa bod.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Oh, I love it. I'm obsessed with this situation. I don't know if anyone has ever looked into her eyes, but you shouldn't, because she looks really evil. She looks like if Ursula and Maleficent had a baby.

[Peter Sagal]

I don't know. Everybody's so cynical about this relationship. Oh, she's too controlling. She just wants him for his money. What has happened to us? Is it so hard to believe someone might want to be with Bill Belichick for the sex? Their story blew up this week after she kept trying to control a CBS Sunday Morning interview like she is his boss, which maybe she is. She now calls herself the COO of Belichick Productions, and she's applied for trademarks on phrases like the Belichick way. And she says this new company will experience rapid growth next year when she can finally legally rent a car.

[Hari Kondabolu]

How come can't she just be an influencer like every other 24 year old? Why does she have to glom on to Grandpa and.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, she is an influencer. She's just influencing one very special person. Yeah, remember, he's 73, she's 24. To put that in perspective, their age gap itself is AARP eligible.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

She also isn't a good COO because he asked the question of like, you know, where'd you guys meet? And she was like, we're not answering that question. I was like, okay, it's given high class hooker.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, but for me, you need to.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Have a stock answer because I met my boyfriend at a funeral and I tell anyone that will listen. So I would think she would actually have a stock answer for that. You know, she may have met him.

[Hari Kondabolu]

At a funeral, pretty much.

[Peter Gross]

It was probably a dating app like Tinder or Grinder or Grandfather.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, here, Chris, is your last quote.

[Bill Curtis]

It's the only block of time that's deep focus time.

[Peter Sagal]

That was a man talking to the Wall Street Journal about why he is part of a trend of alpha male go getters, who these days are all bragging about waking up when.

[Bill Curtis]

I don't know. I don't know this.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, well, it's when the alpha worm gets the worm, I guess.

[Bill Curtis]

Oh, oh, JFK junior.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Yes.

[Peter Gross]

What just happened?

[Peter Sagal]

All right, so this is what happened? I just, I just want you all to know this. I said worm. And of course these days Everybody thinks of RFK Jr. But instead we got JFK Jr. Who as far as we know has never had a worm. I'll just give it a. These are the. The newest trend among guys who are trying to show how competitive and with it and world beating they are is they're all getting up at 4am that's the answer. All the real entrepreneur types are bragging about getting up at 4. They're doing it thanks to viral videos, testosterone fueled competition with each other and mountains of cocaine.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

I just love that I found out I have something in common with an Iowa farmer.

[Peter Sagal]

Really?

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

We're not on TikTok.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, you have no idea.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Yeah. If alpha males are doing that, if I was a man, I would be a beta cuck.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Yes, me too.

[Peter Gross]

They're claiming they're alphas, but here's the, here's the thing. If they're waking up at 4am, that means they're probably going to bed at 8pm oh, who's a baby now? Oh, you go to sleep at 8pm.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, actually that's true because one of the things that started this trend was this viral TikTok that went around when this influencer posted his routine for 4:00am he says, quote, sin lives late at night, so he goes to bed early. Right. There's no one to tempt you at 4am because no one's awake. Except, well, damn, when did garbage men get so sexy?

[Hari Kondabolu]

Except all the people who have been doing cocaine all night long are awake at flying.

[Peter Sagal]

I guess so. Yeah.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

And most stand up comedians.

[Peter Sagal]

Bill, how did Chris do in our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

His answer on number three was so much better than ours. Let's declare him a winner with three and.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, there you are. Very good. Now get back to your front yard with your pitchfork. Thank you so much for calling, Chris. Take care. Thank you. Bye. Bye. Right now, panel, time for you to answer some questions about this week's news. Joyel. Scientists at Germany's Max Planck Institute for Physics are behind some of the most important findings of our time. Quantum theory, gene editing. But now they've developed what they say is the perfect scientifically proven formula. For what?

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Coffee.

[Peter Sagal]

Close. Well, it being a foodstuff, I'll give you a hint. They finally proved the Bucatini theorem.

[Bill Curtis]

Pasta.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, the perfect pasta recipe. Fresh off from proving that atmospheric diffraction spikes cause the moon to hit your eye like a big pizza pie, the Max Planck scientists have just completed extensive experiments into how to create the perfect plate of cacio e pepe pasta. While the actual science is difficult to communicate to you laypeople, suffice it to say that this is the first research project to ever make somebody say, hey, who put meatballs in the particle collider?

[Hari Kondabolu]

Wait, this is in Germany, though?

[Peter Sagal]

Well, this is. The institute is based in Germany, but it was a collaboration of scientists from all over the world.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Yeah, when the Germans and Italians collaborate with the Japanese there also, I'm on board.

[Peter Sagal]

Sounds like it sounds like a party. This pasta technique involves using heat to supersaturate starch into water, then entering a black hole, but leaving the Parmesan cheese behind on earth so it ages while we remain young.

[Hari Kondabolu]

You know, the people at the Velveeta Institute have been doing wonderful, wonderful work with pasta for years. I recommend giving them a try.

[Peter Sagal]

Okay, well, you know, no, I'm glad this got done because if there's one person I trust to make great Italian food, it is a German physicist. Right?

[Hari Kondabolu]

You will enjoy this.

[Peter Sagal]

Bon appetito. When you're here, you are family. Coming up, our panelists rewrite history in our bluff. The listener game called 1, 8, 8. Wait, wait to play. We'll be back in a minute with more of Wait, wait, Don't tell me from npr.

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[Bill Curtis]

From NPR n WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell me. The NPR News Quiz. I'm Bill Curtis. We're playing this week with Hari Kondabolu, Peter Gross and Joy L. Nicole Johnson. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you so much, Bill. Right now it's time for the wait, wait, don't tell me. Bluff the listener game. Call 1-888-wait-WAIT to play our game on the air. Or you can check out the pinned post on our Instagram page atwaitnpr for all the information you might need. Hi. You're on Wait, Wait, don't tell me.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Hi, this is Dave Benninger calling in from Union, Kentucky.

[Peter Sagal]

Union, Kentucky. Now, I don't. What do you do there in Union, Kentucky?

[Hari Kondabolu]

I'm an environmental consultant.

[Peter Sagal]

An environmental consultant like you show up and go, that's an environment. Yes, indeed. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Here's an environment. There's an environment.

[Peter Sagal]

Dave, welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. You're going to play our game in which you must try to tell truth from fiction. Bill, what's Dave's topic?

[Bill Curtis]

A historic oop. Oopsie.

[Peter Sagal]

History or herstory? I'm an ally isn't set in stone. And this week, we read about something once thought was an absolute historical fact, but it's been recently proven wrong. Our panel is going to tell you about it. Pick the one who's telling the truth. You'll win the weight waiter of your choice on your voicemail. You ready to play? I am ready. All right. First, let's hear from Peter Gross.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Forget everything you thought you knew about Dracula, or at least the guy they based Dracula on. This week, historians from the University of Brasov in Transylvania, Romania, unearthed a trove of documents that revealed that Vlad the impaler, the 15th century lord who historians had believed impaled his enemies on wooden spikes, didn't actually do that. In fact, the title, the Impaler was actually a misreported version of his true nickname. A journal entry dated June 17, 1462, written by a Magyar duke, tells the real story. Dear Diary, conquered by Vlad today. He's been so nice, total sweetheart. But can I be honest with you, Diary? Every time he takes a breath, there's an annoying rattling sound like a sword being dragged across a stone floor. It's the worst, I think he has a deviated septum. Or maybe there's a giant booger stuck in there. Either way, it's super irritating. Behind his back, we all call him Vlad the Inhaler. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Gotta go, diary. Also, I think I have a crush on Kathy, one of the kitchen maids. But don't tell anyone.

[Peter Sagal]

So the historic villain, Vlad the Impaler. Actually, the much less threatening Vlad the Inhaler. Your next Back in Time take Backsy comes from Joyal.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Nicole Johnson China is home to many tourist attractions. The Forbidden City, the Terracotta army, and perhaps its greatest achievement of all, a wall. This week, portions of the Ming dynasty extension eroded, and historians were excited to find a time capsule. To their delight, the peasant turned emperor Tai Tsu had a sense of humor. Among the items were locks of hair from each of his concubines, holiday ornaments for the Chinese New Year, and a letter on papyrus from the emperor himself. The report detailed his true reason for extending and fortifying the wall. The emperor loved his dogs. While the massive project began as a way to keep out the Mongol hordes, Emperor Taitsu realized it could serve another purpose to keep his precious Shih Tzus. In the final line in the note says, sure, the emperor hated Mongolians, but he loved his dogs more. So the response to the age old question, who let the dogs out? Not Emperor Tatsu.

[Peter Sagal]

Turns out the Great Wall was built not so much to keep the Mongol hordes out, but to keep the emperor's dog in. Your last blast from the past comes from Hari Kondabolu.

[Peter Gross]

There are few certainties about the distant past, but what we knew for sure was that Henry VIII had six wives, Gaul was divided into three parts, and the Bayeux Tapestry, the famous medieval work of art that depicts the Norman conquest of Britain, had 93 penises embroidered into it. Now, there is a claim of a phallus fallacy that the tapestry in fact has 94 penises on it. The bizarre number of flailing tools makes you wonder if this art was found in a medieval frat house. The Dong drama began on the Medieval Extra podcast when historian and medieval Wang enthusiast Dr. Christopher Monk claimed he found a 94th shaft under the tunic of a soldier, which would surpass the total number of Willy Wonkas found by Bulge scholar George Garnet. It should be emphasized that both these historians are men, because obviously.

[Peter Sagal]

That was so difficult.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Artfully done.

[Peter Sagal]

Artfully done. All right, so here are your choices. Dave. We just found out an amazing thing about the past that we didn't know that rocked our world. Was it from Peter Gross? Vlad the Impaler, the terrible monster of medieval Romania turned out to be just Vlad the Inhaler. From Joel Nicole Johnson. The Great Wall of China was built, at least in part, to keep the emperor's beloved dogs from running away. Or from Hari Kondabolu. It turns out there's one more member of the club in the Bayeux Tapestry. Which of these is the real story of historical revisionism?

[Hari Kondabolu]

I'm going to go with C. You're.

[Peter Sagal]

Going to go with C. Hurry's story of an additional element being found in the Bayeux Tapestry. Well, to bring in the correct answer, here is one of the scholars involved in that discovery. One of the striking things about the tapestry is the number of penises in it. That was Professor George Garnet from the University of Oxford on the History Extra podcast discussing the correct penis count of the tapestry in question. Congratulations, Dave. You got it right. Harry was telling the truth in his own way. You're in a point for Hari and you've won our prize, the voice of your choice in your voicemail. Thank you so much for playing with us today. Thank you all so much.

[Hari Kondabolu]

This has been a bucket list item.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you all. I'm so glad. Take care. And now, the game where we ask famous people about obscure things, we call it Not My Job. Natasha Rothwell was one of those performers who became successful in part because people just love having her around. She was a writer on Issa Rae's show Insecure, and Issa loved her so much, she put her in the cast. And after she was nominated for an Emmy for season one of the White Lotus, creator Mike White brought her to Thailand for season three because what fun could it be without her? Natasha Rothwell, welcome to. Wait, Wait, don't tell me. Thank you for having me. So before we go any further, let me ask you just to fact check me. Is that right? You were a writer for Insecure, and Issa Rae, the creator of the show, was like this character you've written. You have to play her. Come be in the cast.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Yeah, I was hired to write. I think I was one of the first people hired to write. And a few months into the writer's room, the character Kelly was created. And I was called into their office, and I thought it was because I made one too many naughty jokes.

[Peter Sagal]

That's pretty awesome. Would you consider that your big break? Cause you had been a working actor for a long time.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Yeah, I mean, I wrote for Saturday Night Live right before, so that kind of was the Passport stamp. I needed to sort of open a lot of doors, but I feel like insecure was the wind at my back. For sure.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. You're one of those people I admire because you, you were in the trenches for a long time before you made it big. You actually, you were doing comedy in Tokyo for a while.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Yeah. At the Crocodile Club in downtown Tokyo for a lot of expats. Yeah. I found my comedic voice there for sure. Because you have to translate. The humor has to translate, you know, regardless of what language was being spoken by the people in the audience. And so it tapped into that idea of universal humor.

[Peter Sagal]

And what kind of jokes killed in Tokyo?

[Natasha Rothwell]

Oh, status jokes.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh.

[Natasha Rothwell]

If the secretary was mean to the boss, watch out.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. Really, the business guys just lapped that up.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Oh, man. Yeah. Anytime you subverted expectations in that way, it was really. It hit home.

[Peter Sagal]

And what did you learn from your four years of teaching high school in New York City?

[Natasha Rothwell]

I don't want children. Yeah. I'm child free. And I'm so, so love. You know, I love children. I loved teaching. I just like other people's children.

[Peter Sagal]

Right, exactly. Do you ever, now that you're a well known performer on TV and elsewhere, do you ever hear from your former students and going, yeah, we knew that was happening.

[Natasha Rothwell]

I do, I do. They used to actually try to find, when I was performing at UCB in New York, because it was kind of like this weird superhero where I was a high school theater teacher by day and doing UCB comedy at night. And they would just be like, yo, miss, you swore we heard you cuss, so that means I can cuss. And I had to let them know that that wasn't the case.

[Peter Sagal]

Right, right. And have you ever used your influence, position and fame to finally tell some of those kids what you really thought of them?

[Natasha Rothwell]

When they see that I blocked them, I think they get the message.

[Peter Sagal]

So I found out something really interesting about the White Lotus. This is the huge hit show on hbo. Each season, if people don't know, takes place at a different luxury resort around the world. And one of the things I found out about it is that part of its conception was something that they could do during COVID They started shooting it in 2020. And so all you members of the cast were brought to the Four Seasons Hotel in Maui and kept there for months. Right. It was like a bubble. And are you ready to tell us that that really wasn't as wonderful as we might think it is?

[Natasha Rothwell]

Here's the thing. It was a beautiful five star prison. Hear me Out. You don't usually have to go. You don't have to go home with your co workers most days.

[Peter Sagal]

So you and the other cast members of season one of White Lotus are wandering around this big luxury hotel entirely by yourselves. So it's kind of like just imagine.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Yeah, Just going to go get ice and Jennifer Coolidge is there. You know, it's like. It messes with your mind a little bit.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. So it's kind of. So it's kind of like the White Lotus TV show, but when the camera stopped rolling, it was like the Shining. Absolutely.

[Natasha Rothwell]

It was lovely. And I think that, you know, that's what made season three such a shock to my system, because it was a larger cast, you know, and we could obviously be wherever we needed to be. And so Mike has really figured out the formula for the show to be.

[Peter Sagal]

Sure, which is to cram you all into a luxurious place for months and not let you leave.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Yes.

[Peter Sagal]

I heard from an interview with a castmate of yours that it was actually quite hard to be in Thailand for that long because it was incredibly hot. And on the most miserable hot days, you all had to pretend that you were having the best time ever in this wonderful resort. And so are you willing right now to a national audience to complain about this gig?

[Natasha Rothwell]

I won't complain, but I will say we all got very adept at putting ice packs in places you would have never dreamed. You would have never dreamed.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, yeah.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Ice packs can go a long way. But, you know, they say want is the root of all suffering. And so after the first couple of weeks, I had to stop wanting it to be cold and, like, cool, so. So I had to accept it. And, yeah, just put ice packs in a lot of places.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, Natasha, it is absolutely great to talk to you. We have invited you here to play a game that this time we're calling.

[Bill Curtis]

Sure, you Roth. Well. But do you froth well?

[Peter Sagal]

Who froths well, Natasha baristas, that's who. So we're going to ask you three questions about coffee professionals. Answer just two of them correctly, and you'll win our prize for one of our listeners. Bill, who is Natasha playing for?

[Bill Curtis]

Joanna Lee of Tucson, Arizona.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, you know the rules here. You get two, right? You win our prize. Ready to go? All right. Just took a big breath. Is this, like, a stressful thing for you? Are you the kind of person who, even when it's utterly meaningless and dumb, takes tests seriously?

[Natasha Rothwell]

My therapist is very well paid.

[Peter Sagal]

Right, okay.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Yes.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, let's find out how much good they've done for you. Here we go. Here's your first question. Some baristas develop personal relationships with some of their customers. For example, after a customer's second visit of the day to a coffee shop, one barista told Reddit that he did what for the customer. A, walked a third and fourth cup of coffee over to his job to save him the trip, B, held up the line for 20 minutes talking to him about his recent breakup. Or C, googled how much caffeine consumption will kill you.

[Natasha Rothwell]

I'm gonna say Google how much caffeine.

[Peter Sagal]

Consumption can kill you. That's right, Natasha, because what happened was the customer, who was apparently a chef, came in and ordered a drink with 12 espresso shots and then came back just a couple hours later and asked for another one. At which point the barista started Googling his personal safety. Okay, very good. Here's your next question. In the annual World Barista Championships, competitors serve the judges drinks in three different categories. But competitors are warned they will receive a score of zero in the milk beverage category if they do what? A, draw an obscene picture in their latte art, B, use human milk in the drink, or C, make frothing noises with their mouth while frothing the milk. That sort of thing.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Okay, I'm gonna say the eggplant art.

[Peter Sagal]

No, actually, it's. They're not allowed to use human milk, and we don't know why they came up with this rule, nor do we want to know one guy. One guy. One pregnant woman. All right, this is fine, Natasha, because you've got one right? With one to go. Here we go. There are Starbucks in unexpected places, some with unique rules, such as, A, the Vatican, where they deliver, but only to priests taking particularly boring confessions, B, the CIA headquarters, but baristas are forbidden from writing names on the cups. Or C, the base camp of Mount Everest, but you have to to pack in your own cup, coffee grounds and grinder.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Base camp of Mount Everest feels too specific not to be true. So C.

[Peter Sagal]

So the theory would be that there's a Starbucks just there at the base camp.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Or, like, you would have to deliver it, right?

[Peter Sagal]

You'd have to bring up your own coffee, your own cup.

[Natasha Rothwell]

I misheard. I misheard. My ADHD's on fire. So. So I will say boring confessions. Is it the Vatican?

[Hari Kondabolu]

There's one answer you haven't said.

[Natasha Rothwell]

I don't know what you heard before this very moment, but I have been saying the CIA this whole time.

[Bill Curtis]

You have been? Yes.

[Peter Sagal]

The other things. I blame Zoom.

[Hari Kondabolu]

I blame Zoom.

[Peter Sagal]

Can't write the names on the because they don't want people shouting out the names of the CIA agents at the CIA. Bill, how did Natasha do in our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

Well, 3,0 for the White Lotus.

[Peter Sagal]

Natasha Rothwell is an Emmy nominated actor and writer. You can see her in season three of the White Lotus streaming on Max now. Natasha, thank you so much for joining us on Wait Wait, don't tell me.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Thank you so much.

[Peter Sagal]

Take care. Bye bye. Good job. It's time for coffee. It's time for tea. It's time for those of you who really have to. In just a minute, Bill raises a toast to your good health and maybe saves your life. It's our listener limber challenge. Call 1-888-wait-WAIT to join us on the air. We'll be back in a minute with more of wait wait, don't tell me from NPR.

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[Bill Curtis]

From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is. Wait, wait, don't tell me. The NPR News quiz. I'm Bill Curtis. We're playing this week with Peter Gross, Hari Kondabolu and Joelle Nicole Johnson. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Bill. In just a minute, Bill. Like big limericks and he cannot lie. If you'd like to play our Listener Limerick Challenge, give us a call at 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. Right now, panel, though, some more questions for you from the week's news. Peter, A group of scientists, believe it or not, say that they have, in fact, cloned DNA from a Tyrannosaurus rex. But they're not going to reenact Jurassic Park. They have isolated this DNA and they're going to use it to make what?

[Hari Kondabolu]

Some tech bro is going to inject it into himself? Tyrannosaurus. Rick, final answer. I have no more guesses.

[Peter Sagal]

I have no more guesses.

[Hari Kondabolu]

I'll take a hint.

[Peter Sagal]

The T. Rex will from now on be known as the, like, I don't know, Birkin Azaurus.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Oh, Birkin. A source. They're going to make shoes out of it. Like Birkenstocks.

[Peter Sagal]

Not shoes. Not Birkenstocks, but the Birken.

[Hari Kondabolu]

I don't know. Birkin Merkin. Birkin Merkin. No, dinosaur merkin.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

You are so straight.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Because I don't know what a Birkin sounds.

[Peter Sagal]

You don't know. Yeah, the Birkin is probably the most famous kind of.

[Hari Kondabolu]

I will cede this to Joel, who seems to know the answer.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Yes, that's a pocketbook, baby.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, it's a bag. They're going to make handbags out of Tyrannosaurus rex leather.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Oh, my God.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Oh, my goodness. That's so elitist.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, it makes sense. When you think of the T. Rex, you think of its towering size, its terrifying teeth, its supple buttery coat. Who hasn't looked upon the fearsome visage of the tyrant lizard and thought, someday I'd like to lose a chapstick in that guy?

[Hari Kondabolu]

Yeah.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

I feel like Lauren Sanchez is going to get this bag and take it probably.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes. Yes, exactly. For her.

[Hari Kondabolu]

And also, this is going to go wrong, right? Clearly, they're not going to be like, we're just going to make part of the side.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Just that.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Just that part.

[Peter Gross]

Jurassic park is happening. Everything in science fiction is happening. This really, I really thought it was gonna be a nuclear disaster that did us in but this whole dinosaurs coming back thing has really thrown a wrench into the eyes.

[Hari Kondabolu]

It's gonna be like somebody's gonna be walking around like all at once. All the bags are gonna become alive.

[Peter Sagal]

And start like eating people up their arms. Ooh.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

But they'll eat the rich first.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, that's true.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Oh, I love this plan. I'm behind this plan.

[Peter Sagal]

Joyel. This week we learned about a new place to meet someone. Apparently more and more people, according to the New York Times, are seeking love. Where?

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Cracker Barrel?

[Peter Sagal]

No. I'll give you a hint. If you want love, all you need is platinum status in three hours before your flight.

[Natasha Rothwell]

The Delta Lounge.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, airport lounges. That's the new, you know, meat market. People are sharing their meat stories at airport lounges like the United Club, Delta sky club and the JetBlue kissing booth.

[Hari Kondabolu]

The Southeast Airlines cardboard box.

[Peter Sagal]

No, they say it's the best place to meet, you know, attractive strangers. It's perfect if your type is man on business trip drinking cocktails at 7am according to one MX Centurion, lounge lover. Airport lounges provide a quote, targeted location to meet like minded people. You know, because the thing I look for in a partner is also willing to pay $700 a year for three hour old oatmeal.

[Hari Kondabolu]

It is a. It's like a money in class thing. That's what it is. Like we belong here. That person also belongs here. Yeah. They don't want to meet someone at the Hudson News. Someone who's buying a watchable. That could be anybody.

[Peter Sagal]

They want somebody.

[Peter Gross]

No one's getting a watch of my.

[Peter Sagal]

I want somebody with.

[Amazon One Medical]

Excuse me.

[Hari Kondabolu]

I might watch a McCallitz in the Hudson News.

[Peter Sagal]

I don't know. Why don't just go to the gate and look for love there? It's perfect if what you're looking for in a life partner is somebody wearing pajama pants who lines up 90 minutes before boarding.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Yes. Oh, I love the way you're wearing your neck pillow as you walk around the airport.

[Peter Sagal]

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 or leave a message at 1-88-WAIT WA that's 1-888-924-89-24. Come see us most weeks right here at the Stude Baker Theatre in Chicago or catch us on the road. This summer we'll be in Des Moines, Iowa on July 10 and at Tanglewood in Western Massachusetts on August 28 for tickets and Information about all of our live shows go to nprpresents.org hi, Jerome. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Hi, my name is Caleb Popson Garcia. I'm from Tallahassee, Florida. Hey, Tallahassee, the state capital. What do you do there's? I work in the environmental science field. Wow. We've been getting a lot of that today on this week's show. It's really wonderful to hear. It's kind of like a farewell tour, but it's still great to hear. Well, Caleb, welcome to the show. Bill Curtis is going to read you three news related limericks with a last word or phrase missing from each. If you can fill in that last word or phrase correctly in two of them, you'll be a winner. Ready to go? Sure thing. Here's your first limerick.

[Bill Curtis]

Sparkling wine will relieve my crammed brain and my heart will relax its damned strain. My pulse feels no trouble while I sip these bubbles. My doctor says drink more wine.

[Peter Sagal]

It is a form of wine. It rhymes with crammed brain. Damned strain bubbles are mentioned. Champagne. Champagne.

[Bill Curtis]

Yes. Yes, indeed.

[Peter Sagal]

New medical research says you might be able to reduce your risk of a certain heart attack by drinking champagne. Which is great news because what's worse than somebody holding up a glass of champagne saying, I'd like to propose a toast and then dropping dead so you never find out to whom. According to the study, in addition to drinking champagne, it also helps if you eat a lot of fruit and have a quote, positive outlook on life. So shocking. I can't believe being a thin one rich optimist is good for you.

[Bill Curtis]

Yeah.

[Peter Gross]

Are they sure it's the champagne that's making a difference?

[Hari Kondabolu]

Yeah, it's the ability to buy champagne and treat every day like it's New Year's Eve.

[Peter Sagal]

Exactly. All right, here is your next limit.

[Bill Curtis]

When I go to the beach or the chip shop with gross toenails, I can't make the quips stop. But lazy day fashion is my greatest passion. I spent 600 bucks on some flip flops.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Flip flops?

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. Celebrities, influencers. They're all obsessed this summer with the humble rubber flip flop. Because nothing says fashion like here is my whole foot. Flip flops may make you look carefree and whimsical, but they make you sound like slap, slap, slap, slap, slap.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Is there another article of clothing that is named after what it sounds like?

[Peter Sagal]

That is a really good question.

[Hari Kondabolu]

I don't have an answer.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

I'm posing this onomatopoeia.

[Peter Sagal]

I'm just thinking what noise the shirts go. Shirt, shirt, shirt. No, do pants pant.

[Hari Kondabolu]

No, I'd like to slow the show down and talk about every article of clothing.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. No, but it is true. I mean, it turns out high fashion is now, you know, flip flops. You have to love it when something goes straight from a really sketchy Jim shower to the Runway.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

I don't like flip flops.

[Peter Sagal]

You don't?

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

No. I don't like feet, and my boyfriend doesn't wear them. That makes me so happy.

[Peter Sagal]

Really? What do you have against feet?

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Look at them.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Bill, show Peter your feet.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, here is your last limerick.

[Bill Curtis]

As he sits by the aisle he's not shedding and his bark you won't need to be dreading There won't be any doo doo when you exchange I do's. I'll be watching your dog at your wedding.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes. The latest must have assistant for your wedding is a dog chaperone. At least according to one in Northern Ireland who went viral this week. She says she has booked 50 weddings so far this year at $400 a day. And for that fee, she'll look after the dog, train it to pay attention during the ceremony, stand stand still during photos, and not to start yowling when the minister says, if anyone has objections to this union, for an extra fee, she will train the dog to carry the ring down the aisle. So adorable. And help you choose the perfect song for the traditional doggie daughter dance.

[Hari Kondabolu]

And have the dog look away on the wedding night. Very awkward when the dog is in the room, when people are trying. Trying to express their love to each other.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

But I feel like if your dog is at your wedding, it also sleeps on the bed with you.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. Pretty much, yeah.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Yes. And your partner has already had a conversation where you're like, so when we get married, the dog's not gonna do that anymore, right? And they're like, no, no, it is.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Yeah.

[Peter Sagal]

Bill, how did Caleb do in our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

He was perfect. He got him.

[Peter Sagal]

All right. Congratulations. Really well done. Congratulations. Congratulations. And thank you for calling.

[Bill Curtis]

Thank you.

[Peter Sagal]

Bye bye.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

When you got a dog, you've always got a friend it's the kind of.

[Peter Sagal]

Love it's gonna be there till the end Never judged and never leave you Always happy just to see you when.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

You got it all you've always got.

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[Peter Sagal]

Now onto our final game, Lightning Fill in the Blank. Each of our players will have 60 seconds in which to answer as many fill in the blank questions as they can. Each correct answer now worth two. Bill, can you give us the scores?

[Bill Curtis]

Joyel and Hari each have three. Peter has two.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, so Peter, you are in second place. That means that you are going to go first. Here we go. Fill in the blank. In response to the signal texting scandal, Trump announced he was reassigning National Security.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Advisor Blank, whoever that guy is.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, his name is Mike Waltz and he is going to be UN Ambassador. At the end of April, both the S&P 500 and the blank closed in the red.

[Hari Kondabolu]

The other one, the Dow Jones.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, the Dow Jones. This week, Canada and Mexico reported outbreaks of Blank.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Oh, are we exporting measles, Sam?

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, we are exporting things. Trade continues. On Tuesday, lawmakers in Florida signed a bill to ban Blank and the state's drinking water.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Fluoride.

[Peter Sagal]

Fluoride, yes. This week a highway in Texas was shut down for 12 hours after a truck spilled $800,000 worth.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Oh, I heard about this. Dimes.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, Dimes.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

On Wednesday.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Not dime bags, dimes.

[Peter Sagal]

Dimes. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Martin Scorsese filmed one of the Blanks final interviews.

[Hari Kondabolu]

One of the Blanks.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, that is a clue. Oh. Oh. A pope. The Pope, Yes. On Monday, Blank kicked off her Cowboy Carter World Tour in Los Angeles.

[Hari Kondabolu]

The Pope for black women. Beyonce.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Yes.

[Peter Sagal]

This week, a priest in Pennsylvania was sentenced to community service after he stole $40,000 from his parish and spent it.

[Hari Kondabolu]

On Blank Cowboy Carter tickets. No, one ticket.

[Peter Sagal]

The exact way. Power Ups in Mario Kart. Hey, that's 40,000. $40,000. The 52 year old priest used the parish credit card to buy thousands of dollars in video game Power Ups. For Mario Kart tour. Oh, my God. God, can you imagine going to the confession booth saying, bless me, father, for I have sinned in hearing. It's a me. Bill, how did Peter do in our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

Very well. Six.

[Peter Sagal]

Right.

[Bill Curtis]

12 more points. 14 is his total.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, Joyel.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Yes.

[Peter Sagal]

I am arbitrarily choosing you to go next. Here we go. Fill in the blank. On Tuesday, to commemorate his first 100 days in office, Blank held a rally in Michigan.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Trump.

[Peter Sagal]

On Monday, Spain and Portugal were hit with a massive 12 hour blank blackout. Yeah. Power outage. This week, severe blanks tore through 12 states.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Tornadoes and storms.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes. On Wednesday, a judge suggested opening a criminal case against Blank for their app store policies. Oh, apple. Right. After the Lakers lost their spot in the postseason, Blank hinted he may retire from the NBA.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

LeBron.

[Peter Sagal]

LeBron James. On Thursday, George Clooney, Bob Odenkirk, and Sarah Snook were all nominated for Blank awards.

[Natasha Rothwell]

Tony.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes. This week, the US Navy lost a $60 million F18 fighter jet after the aircraft carrier it was on.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Blank crashed into the ocean.

[Peter Sagal]

No, the aircraft carrier turned too quickly and the jet slid off and into the water. The Navy confirmed that a quick turn caused the plane to slide off the ship and into the ocean, which is a real. You know, you had one job aircraft carrier.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Also. They are famously the slowest things to turn.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, I know. It's like it's a cliche, right? Well, you know, getting the government to change is like turning an aircraft carrier. Turns out, turn an aircraft carrier just. Just jerked the wheel really hard. Bill, how did Joyel do on our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

Six rights. 12 more points slipping by Peter with a 15.

[Peter Sagal]

There you are.

[Hari Kondabolu]

You didn't even need it. You didn't even need it.

[Peter Sagal]

So Hari is left to play. How many does he need to win?

[Bill Curtis]

Well, six to tie and seven to win.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, here we go. Hari, this is for the game. Fill in the blank. Months after tense negotiations began, the US Signed a rare minerals deal with Blant Ukraine. Right. On Monday, the White House fired all the scientists working on a massive study of Blank's effect on the United States.

[Peter Gross]

What are Fruity Pebbles?

[Peter Sagal]

Climate change. Climate change. In her first major speech since leaving office, Blank sharply criticized Trump's policies.

[Peter Gross]

Kamala Harris.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. During an interview this week, Ben Affleck said he thought that Blank was the best work of his career.

[Peter Gross]

What are his children?

[Peter Sagal]

No, what is. You think this is Jeopardy? Let me.

[Peter Gross]

Let me have.

[Peter Sagal]

No, no. He said the best work of his career was the DVD commentary track for Armageddon On Thursday, department store Blank fired their CEO for funneling business to his romantic partner.

[Peter Gross]

Macy's?

[Peter Sagal]

No, Kohl's. On Wednesday, officials in Nepal drafted a law requiring anyone who wants to climb Blank to be an experienced climber.

[Peter Gross]

Mount Everest.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. Last week, a woman in South Carolina sued a local restaurant after she took a bite of her sandwich and cracked her tooth on Blank.

[Peter Gross]

What is a gold nugget?

[Peter Sagal]

She cracked her tooth on another person's tooth. Apparently, the woman bit into her sandwich, cracked her molar on something hard and then discovered it was a tooth. She's understandably traumatized, as I believe you are now. But this is why you have to be specific when you order a burger with everything on it. Bill, did Harry do well enough to win?

[Peter Gross]

How dare you?

[Bill Curtis]

Oh, we gotta read him anyway. Three, right? Six more points. Nine means Joy.

[Peter Sagal]

L is the Kent well done?

[Bill Curtis]

Oh, perfect.

[Peter Sagal]

I love that pan, Joy. Audience is thrilled. Yes. Coming up after the Bill Belichick and Jordan Hudson story broke there, what would be the next hot celebrity gossip we get from CBS Sunday morning? But first, let me tell you all that Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Is a production of NPR and W Be Easy Chicago in association with Urgent Haircut Productions. Doug Berman, Benevolent overlord Philip Koedika writes our limericks. Our public address announcer is Paul Friedman. Our tour manager is Shayna Donald. Thanks to the staff and crew at the Studio Baker Theater, BJ Ledem and composer Athena. Our program is produced by Jennifer Mills, Miles Dornboss and Lillian King. Special thanks this week to Blythe Roberson and Monica Hickey. Our jolly good fellow is Hannah Anderson. Peter Baby Tooth Gwynn has no verb. Emma Choi is our vibe curator. Technical directional from Lorna White. Our CFO is Colin Miller. Our production manager is Robert Newhouse. Our senior producer is Ian Chillag. The executive producer of Wait, Wait, don't tell me is Mr. Michael Danforth. Now, panel, what will be the next hot gossip we learn from CBS Sunday Morning?

[Peter Gross]

Hari kondabolu, I'm dating a weighted blanket. It's always down for a snuggle and it always wants to be on top.

[Hari Kondabolu]

Peter Gross, Bill Belichick and Jordan Hudson are going to announce they are in a throuple with CBS Sunday morning. And Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me's Mo.

[Peter Sagal]

Rocca and Joyell, Nicole Johnson.

[Joyelle Nicole Johnson]

Melania leaves Trump for Trudeau.

[Bill Curtis]

Hey, if any of that happens, we're gonna ask you about it here on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Bill Curtis. Thanks also to Peter Gross Hari Kondavolu and Joel Nicole Johnson, thanks to our fabulous audience here at the Studebaker Jitter and to all of you out there in radio land, wherever you might be. I'm Peter Saga. We'll see you next week. This is npr.

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