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Tim Meadows
From NPR in WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell me, the NPR News Quiz Show. I'm Tim Meadows, and I'm a little disappointed that this is what Bill Curtis meant when he invited me to be part of his Christmas vacation. And here's our host at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.
Peter Sagal
Thank you, Tim. And as Tim said, Bill took off early for his Christmas break, but we're so happy to have you with us because who better to share these wonderful segments from the past year than somebody who hasn't heard them yet?
Tim Meadows
Well, I look forward to regretting that I missed them the first time.
Peter Sagal
Let's start with what may be a true highlight of a year filled with them. In September, we went to Kansas City at the same time as legendary singer Dionne Warwick, who was there on tour, and she joined us on stage to talk about her incredible life. Here is an extended version of our talk with her.
Dionne Warwick
Thank you.
Peter Sagal
So your first of many hits, don't Make Me over, was released in 1962.
Dionne Warwick
Sure was.
Peter Sagal
It's 62 years later and you are still performing. Are you still enjoying it? Are you having fun?
Dionne Warwick
Oh, yeah. I mean, it's something I've always tell people. I never wanted to work, to work, ever.
Peter Sagal
No.
Dionne Warwick
And when this ever becomes a job, that's when I take my ballet slippers and do my pirouette and say bye.
Peter Sagal
You'd be done. Yeah. Do you have any idea what you'd do instead?
Dionne Warwick
Oh, yeah, sure.
Peter Sagal
Well, like what?
Dionne Warwick
Yeah.
Peter Sagal
Yeah.
Dionne Warwick
Well, I have already. I have an interior design company.
Peter Sagal
There you go. Oh, wow.
Dionne Warwick
Yes. If you need something done.
Peter Sagal
Yeah. I was wondering what those paint stains were, but. No, I know. Yeah. That's great I wonder. You have had such an extraordinary career. We can't even go into it. Is there a moment like that stands out for you in your career where you simply like, I cannot believe that a nice young woman from Orange, New Jersey, is doing this. Was it, for example, performing for the Queen of England? Was it getting a lifetime achievement Grammy? Is there anything like that stands out?
Dionne Warwick
Yeah.
Peter Sagal
Okay.
Dionne Warwick
I actually stopped Sidney Poitier. I did. I really did. I don't think anybody can blame you for that.
Peter Sagal
I think I speak for America when I say, do tell.
Dionne Warwick
I was coming out of a recording session, and we were walking down Broadway, and all of a sudden I realized I was walking behind Sidney Poitier.
Peter Sagal
Okay.
Dionne Warwick
And I said, oh, my God. And, you know, you've seen it in film. I did it. You know, you walk behind somebody, you don't want them walking behind him. And then they stop and you stop and you.
Peter Sagal
So he, like. Oh, really? So he, like, spins around because it's like someone's following me. And you did the thing where you looked away. Oh, no, I just happened to be standing here two feet behind you.
Dionne Warwick
No, you stopped at a red light. That's when he turned around and said, young lady. I said, you talking to me? We've been following me. Is there a reason? And of course, I said, at a complete loss of words, really. And finally, I got up the nerve to ask him, will you sign this piece of paper for me? He said, of course I will. And he did. And I still have that piece of paper.
Peter Sagal
Nice. All right. Forgive me, but did it not occur to you at that moment to say, I'm Dionne? Perhaps you know me for my many gold records.
Dionne Warwick
I don't think he would have cared, really. It was one of those really surreal moments where, I mean, I'm looking in the face of Sydney Foster, me, you know, and such a nice man. Yes, a lovely man. Every time I was around him, after years go by.
Peter Sagal
Sure.
Dionne Warwick
Every time he said, young lady, can I do something really?
Peter Sagal
So did he remember that? Because you probably ran into him many times. He'd remember that every single time.
Dionne Warwick
Did he.
Peter Sagal
That first instant, did he, in fact, know who you were?
Dionne Warwick
No, he had no idea I didn't know who I was.
Peter Sagal
It is amazing that that is the story you chose to tell from your remarkable career. And I kind of love it. Before we get to our little game with you, I did want to ask you about something else. In addition to everything else you've done, you have now been called the queen of Twitter. Yeah. Yeah. You adopted Twitter. And you are very good at it.
Dionne Warwick
Thank you.
Peter Sagal
And I'm sure you. I have no doubt, having met you, now that you do it yourself. Here are some of your best tweets. We have them here. Here's one from 2021. I just heard about Leonardo DiCaprio's 25 year rule. His loss. You don't know what you're missing.
Dionne Warwick
And it's true.
Peter Sagal
It is true. Which brings up another topic. I found out you were married once. That ended in the mid-70s. You never married again. What is it like to be out of everybody's league?
Dionne Warwick
I am having the best time.
Peter Sagal
I do. I do. However, I just got to add one more tweet before we move on. This is from 2022, from Ms. Dionne Warwick, the legend. I will be dating Pete Davidson next.
Dionne Warwick
Oh, why not? He's dating everybody I know.
Peter Sagal
Dionne Warwick, it is such an honor to talk to you, and we have asked you here to play a game. We're calling. Oh, so that's what Friends Are For. That's what Friends Are For. Obviously one of your greatest signature hits, but as great a song as it is, it doesn't cover all the things friends are for. So we're going to ask you three questions about other things that friends do. If you get two right, you'll win a prize for one of our listeners, the voice of anyone they might choose for their voicemail. Bill, who is Dionne Warwick playing for? Theresa Durkin of Kansas City, Missouri. All right, Are you ready for this?
Dionne Warwick
I'm ready.
Peter Sagal
First question. Friends are great for helping you move, and you probably should call your friends rather than a certain real moving company. A, shattered Glass Movers in Seattle, Washington. B, hernia Movers in Milwaukee, or C, two guys and no, Truck Movers in Atlanta, Georgia? One of those is real.
Dionne Warwick
Well, I don't like the sound of shattered glass at all.
Peter Sagal
No.
Dionne Warwick
I have too many valuable pieces.
Peter Sagal
Of course.
Dionne Warwick
Okay, so they're out. Hernia. Yeah. With some of the stuff that I have to move, they would get a hernia.
Peter Sagal
You're right. Hernia Movers.
Dionne Warwick
They're real.
Bill Curtis
There you go.
Peter Sagal
Hernia Movers has been helping. That's what I'm talking about. She does. Hernia Movers has been helping people move around Milwaukee since 1975. Here's your next question. Another thing that friends are good for is, of course, rides to the airport. But it was likely a very bad friend who forgot what that was left at the Dublin airport. Was it A, a tombstone with the inscription, you will always Be remembered, never forgotten. B, their friend's car which they left in long term parking for so long that it cost 100,000 dol to get it out. Or see their friend who has been living at the airport now for 14 years.
Dionne Warwick
Sounds like that about you though. Okay, I think living there.
Peter Sagal
You think so? You think that somebody went to the airport to get their friend, forgot to pick him up, and he's just been there for 14 years? The audience.
Dionne Warwick
Alright, if you don't think I'm right, that's all right.
Peter Sagal
But having spent a little time with you, I absolutely respect your confidence here. It's what I should have expected, but it is actually a the tombstone. All right, here's your last question. The final thing friends are for is being a wingman. That is helping you meet dates when you're out together. Well, one such wingman posted his story on Reddit. He said his friend got divorced, was really broken up about it, so he took the divorced friend out to a bar to meet some ladies. And then what happened? A, the bartender recognized his friend and called the police to have him arrested for robbing the place two weeks earlier. B, the wingman introduced the friend to an attractive woman there who turned out to be the friend's ex. Or C, the friend kept trying the line on the ladies, he's my wingman. But when you and I get married, he'll be our wingman. Oh, I know. Yes. Making that face, you can immediately throw out three, I think, Right?
Dionne Warwick
Okay. I think it was his ex that he.
Peter Sagal
You think it's that one? Yeah, you're right. That's what happened. There we go. He says he was chatting up this woman in the bar. He said, hey, have you met my friend John over here? Yes, she had. Wow. Bill, how did Dionne Warwick do in our quiz? Oh, you know, she got two. Right. I forget the third. Yeah, but that's a winner in our game. There you are. Add that to the list. Dionne Warwick is a six time Grammy winner. She's touring around the globe this year. You can find dates at a official Dion Warwick dot com. Dion Warwick, thank you so much for gracing us with your presence at Great Wake. Give it up for a living legend, everybody. When we come back, Allison Felix, one of the greatest to ever run track. And interior designer Nate Burkus, one of the greatest ever to help you pick out a tie rack.
Nate Burkus
Oof.
Tim Meadows
No wonder Bill didn't want to be here for this.
Peter Sagal
That's when we come back with more. Wait, wait, don't tell me from npr. Hey, it's Peter Sagal. The year is almost over and now is the time when NPR and I come to you, hat in hand, and ask for your support. Now, interestingly, the idiom hat in hand does not refer to, say, a street performer walking around holding out his hat for people to put in money. I always thought it was no, it is actually referring to an old tradition when knights would remove their helmets and show humility. So it's really more about my attitude of supplication than it is about asking for money, even though of course I'm going to be asking for money. Now, if you heard that and you said to yourself, wow, that's fascinating, I was also under that misapprehension as to the idioms meaning then you, my friend, are one of us. That means you enjoy our show where we do trivia and jokes for smart people, dumb jokes for smart people, to be sure, where we give you a break from the week's news, where we make your breakfast on the weekend with your family or your walk with your dog or other interminable tasks bearable with our goofy, dumb. But we always think smart humor. Now, if you heard me say that and you said to yourself, well, I know that. Everybody knows that, then you are our ideal listener and you should donate even more. You know what you should do if you're enjoying this little riff on idioms? You should join npr. A small recurring donation gets you special perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts like sponsor free listening and bonus episodes, even discounted items from the NPR shop. It only takes a few minutes to sign up, and you can do it right now@plus.NPR.org and if you've already donated to your local station or joined NPR the Hat n I thank you. We will be waiting for your donation with bated breath. And that's Bated B A T E D short for like abated. That is. We're holding our breath, but come on, you knew that. This message comes from Peloton offering what you need to keep you on track to your goals no matter what season of life you're in, with a variety of classes and the ability to challenge yourself anywhere with Peloton's All Access membership. Work out at home on your bike, tread and row, or take your favorite classes on the go and at the gym with the app. Find your push Find your power with.
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Tim Meadows
From NPR in WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell me, the NPR News quiz. I'm Tim Meadows filling in for Bill Curtis. And here's your host at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building in downtown Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.
Peter Sagal
Thank you, Tim. So you are here hearing all these segments for the very first time. What do you think so far?
Tim Meadows
Well, I'm amazed at what they can do with deep fakes these days.
Peter Sagal
Really?
Tim Meadows
It sounded like you were really talking to Dionne Warwick.
Peter Sagal
If you thought that was impressive, wait till you hear this segment with Allison Felix, one of the greatest Olympians to ever lace up track shoes. She joined us in July of this year, right before this year's Olympics with guest host Karen Chee.
Allison Felix
I read online that you found out you were good at track because you were trying to make new friends at a new high school, right?
Karen Chee
Yeah, that's right. I just went out for the team to meet people, but I came out for basketball before that.
Allison Felix
Gotcha.
Karen Chee
And very quickly it was clear that, like, that was not my gift. So.
Allison Felix
Everyone'S like, passing the ball, but you're just sprinting up and down the court.
Karen Chee
Yep.
Allison Felix
That's amazing. So at what point in your life did you realize, even if your basketball skills weren't the greatest, when did you realize that you had a superhuman talent for running?
Karen Chee
It happened pretty quickly. So I came out for the team in ninth grade. And then the first year after I graduated, I found myself in the Olympics. So it was kind of a Whoa.
Allison Felix
Allison, that's so incredible. I love that so much. And I just want to say for the record, I've never tried track and field. So I'm going to try. And I'll be at the Next Olympic seminar. I have a question, which is, so I love watching the games on television from my couch. And I always see athletes, but especially runners, kind of, like murmuring to themselves right before they start a race. Do you do that? And what are you saying to yourself?
Karen Chee
I do. I definitely. I'm, like, talking to myself. I think some people are, like, hyping themselves up for me. I am like, technical thoughts. I'm like, okay, drive, because you're talking about coming out of the block. Keep your head down. I just, like. Like to give myself a few cues so that I can make sure, like, I'm locked in, and those are the things I need to be thinking about.
Allison Felix
Wow. And then when you're actually running, are you also actively thinking, or are you sort of letting muscle memory take over at that point?
Karen Chee
I am. I have, like, cues at each point of the race. I'm thinking, like, what I need to be doing when I hit certain, like, markers. But sometimes if, like, your mind can wander to a place that's not good sometimes, like in the 400, which is a race that I feel like is just way too long.
Allison Felix
I agree. I agree.
Karen Chee
Sometimes if I'm running that race, I might get to, like, the 100 meters, and I'll be like, oh, my gosh. I'm already tired still. That's not good. Olympians are just like us.
Allison Felix
Yeah, we agree. We both think the 400 meters is.
Peter Sagal
Too long.
Allison Felix
Because you run professionally. When you have to run for stuff in your everyday life, like if you're late for the bus or something, are you kind of just like, ugh, now I'm doing work for free.
Karen Chee
Runners are actually the slowest walkers ever. It's actual, so I don't know. Yeah, we don't like to go fast anywhere else but on the track.
Allison Felix
Wow. That's pretty good.
Karen Chee
Olympians, just like.
Allison Felix
That's fantastic. All right, Allison, we've asked you here to play a game.
Peter Sagal
We're calling 200 meters. How about these meters?
Allison Felix
You've won many medals racing the 200 meter and the 400 meter, so we thought we'd ask you about the parking meter. If you answer two out of three questions correctly, about one of the last things you can use coins for, you will win a prize for one of our listeners, the voice of any one of us on their voicemail. Bill, who is Alison playing for?
Peter Sagal
Brennan Schmidt of Concord, New Hampshire.
Allison Felix
All right, Allison, here's your first question. A man named Charles Mysack has sold used books on a New York street Corner since the 90s and he found the parking meter there very convenient. In what? A, he has sold over a million 25 cent postcards to people who needed change for the meter. B he stored his books in the car, which he kept in the same parking spot for 11 years, feeding the meter every day. Or C he protected his crate of valuable rare books by locking it to the meter with a bike lock.
Karen Chee
Let's go with A. Oh, would you.
Allison Felix
Want to guess again?
Karen Chee
B.
Nate Burkus
Yes.
Allison Felix
That is correct. He parked in the same space for 11 years, only moving the car for street cleanings. I guess finally someone else zipped in there real fast. All right, Allison, here's your next question. In the state of Florida, parking meters aren't just for cars. You are also required by law to feed the meter when A, when you tie an alligator to the parking meter. B when you are drinking rum on the sidewalk, or C when you are saving good seats for the fourth of July parade.
Karen Chee
C. I mean, that's clever.
Allison Felix
Oh, we're going to give you a second try.
Karen Chee
I wish I could do this in the Olympics. A.
Allison Felix
Yes, that's correct. A is correct. So if you see an alligator on the sidewalk, park there. The meter is already paid. Here is your last question. A New York parking enforcement officer was sent to jail after he embezzled over $90,000 in quarters that he collected from meters over the course of five years. How was he finally caught? A, he got a hole in his pocket and police followed a trail of coins to his house. B he was overheard on his collection route saying, one for you, A, one for me. Or C, the bank in town called the police and said, hey, this guy in a parking enforcement uniform keeps depositing huge piles of quarters into his bank account.
Karen Chee
I'm going to do C. Yes, that's correct.
Allison Felix
What was he supposed to do? Go back to the office with all those quarters in his pockets? No, you walk right into the back in uniform and deposit them. Bill, how did Allison do on our quiz?
Peter Sagal
He broke the tape and won all three races.
Allison Felix
Allison Felix is one of the greatest sprinters of all time, a multiple world and Olympic champion. Alison, thank you truly so much for joining us on. Wait, wait, don't tell me.
Tim Meadows
Before we move on, that's what you do. You invite world class athletes and ask them silly questions about things you know nothing about. And they agree to it?
Peter Sagal
Well, yeah, we don't warn them in advance. They think we're normal npr. I even have a Steve Inskeep wig.
Tim Meadows
Yeah, I know. I fell for it too.
Peter Sagal
In August. In August of this Year we went to Minneapolis, and we're joined by one of the most famous sons of that city, designer Nate Berkus. So let's start at the beginning. You found your love of interior design while you were very young growing up here, right?
Nate Burkus
I did, yeah.
Peter Sagal
Yeah. So how old are we talking?
Nate Burkus
Well, my mother was an interior designer here in Minneapolis. I have a younger sister and a middle brother, and he once coined our family phrase as what we did on the weekends is either shop or be left behind. So my mother would take us to auctions and antiques malls and Stillwater and downtown Hopkins and all these places, looking at old things and looking at antiques and vintage things. And my job was to carry the wallpaper books in from the trunk of her car to her home office, which is also why I have muscles.
Peter Sagal
That's right, yeah. So you started out both as an interior designer and as a gym rat early on.
Nate Burkus
Exactly, yeah.
Peter Sagal
So if I met you at say, the age of 10, would you be like, all about design and antiques and.
Nate Burkus
No, no. But I was definitely sidetracked if there was somebody was setting up for a garage sale on my way to the bus stop.
Peter Sagal
I'm picturing a young story, like almost a forest gump, like serendipity, where Prince is putting up plaid all over his estate and you're like my man Paisley.
Nate Burkus
And then just walk away. That was me.
Peter Sagal
What was that?
Nate Burkus
Yeah, that was me. I'm actually Apollonian. I've morphed.
Peter Sagal
Oh, my God, that's amazing. Do you remember the first time you ever, like, designed something? You ever, like, set up a room?
Nate Burkus
Yeah, no, I do. My parents gave me my own bedroom because I shared a room prior to that with my filthy younger brother.
Peter Sagal
The worst one.
Nate Burkus
Yeah. No, but the first thing I ever was allowed to design was my own bedroom. And I actually wrote about this years ago because it was such an interesting thing for me as a 12 year old kid to be able to pick out at the time again. My mom was an interior designer, so she had all the carpet samples and wallpaper books and she said to me, what do you want your room to look like? And I remember it was the 80s, and I said, I want gray, white and red. And she was like, that's so ugly, though. And I was like, but it's cool. And so I remember, though, that it was agency. That's what it felt like. I had the agency to pick my own environment. And I do think that that's why I've spent the Greater part of 30 years helping other people create A home that means something to them. I think that that is connected.
Peter Sagal
I think that's great. I do love the idea of you as a. You said 13 year old.
Nate Burkus
12. 12 year old, yeah.
Peter Sagal
12. You know, the early tweens start, very rebellious age. That the source of your conflict with your mother was color palps. Did she like, you know, search your room or you weren't there and found like illicit swatch books in your sock drawer. You come home and she's holding up a pantone.
Nate Burkus
It was amazing, right?
Peter Sagal
Yeah.
Nate Burkus
No gay porn, just a wallpaper sample.
Peter Sagal
Which, let's just be honest, I am. If you're. If your 12 year old said, if your 12 year kid has wallpaper sample books hidden in his soccer, it's essentially the same as gay Peter. Either way you get there, the conclusion has got to be the same.
Nate Burkus
100%.
Peter Sagal
Yeah. Okay. Did you like, as a young man, was it hard to find places to design? Do you know what I mean? Like, if you wanted to be in.
Tim Meadows
A band, you get a guitar.
Peter Sagal
Were you like going, I think I could really fix up your ice fishing hut?
Nate Burkus
No, I mean. You know what though? Bobcat, actually, now that you ask, I was notorious among my friends when they would invite me over for a play date or sleepover, whatever that. I remember my friend Ronnie Swartz, his mother came home and Ronnie and I were like hanging out and like, you know, at their house. And I had pushed all the living room furniture into a different location, so, you know, it wasn't. And she said, did you move my sofa? And I said, yeah. Don't you think it looks better like this? And she said, I do.
Karen Chee
Wait, I have a question.
Nate Burkus
Yeah.
Karen Chee
You and your husband are both hot. That has nothing to do with the question. I just wanted to say.
Nate Burkus
Okay, all right, wait.
Karen Chee
So since you're both designers, who wins? Like you have a chair in your house that you hate that you win?
Nate Burkus
Okay, so here's the thing. If one person hates it, it's out and we don't talk about it. And you can't try and sell it to the other person. And boy, can we sell it to each other. Like, so you can't. Like, if one. If I say I hate it, then the conversation's done and vice versa. We will fight like, like beyond, like really, really rip each other to shreds over who ate the last piece of pizza before we fight over a sofa.
Karen Chee
That sounds like couple therapy, right?
Peter Sagal
I mean, you know, Nate Burkus, we are delighted to have you here. We have asked you to Play a game. We're calling try some exterior decorating. So you do interior decor. We thought we'd ask you about exterior decor, namely tattoos.
Nate Burkus
Perfect.
Peter Sagal
Is it perfect?
Nate Burkus
Yeah. This is great.
Peter Sagal
So we're gonna ask you three questions about tattoos. Get two right, you win a prize for one of our listeners. Bill, who is Nate Burkus playing for? Martin Gardner of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here's your first question. Ready? When Ariana Grande released her single 7 Rings, she celebrated by going down to the tattoo parlor and getting a tattoo of the two Japanese characters meaning seven and ring. Seven ring. One problem, though. What was it? A, the Tattoo artist inked a 7 next to a little portrait of Ringo Starr. B, the tattoo artist instead did the Japanese characters for bad and blood, because Bad Blood is a Taylor Swift single that he preferred to any of her music. Or C, those two characters combined form a proper noun meaning a small charcoal grill.
Nate Burkus
I'm going with C. You're correct.
Peter Sagal
Yes, it was. Yeah, basically. I mean, it's like you try to get something, and it ends up just being like a hibachi. All right, next question. Tattoo artists sometimes make mistakes. Like when a cannabis enthusiast asked for a tattoo of a pocket watch showing the time. 4:20. But what happened? A, even though it's an ink and never changes, the clock is still always four minutes fast. B, he did the pocket watch with the lid closed so you can't see what time it is. Or C, he accidentally drew it backwards, realizing afterwards that now the clock reads 7:40.
Nate Burkus
I think you drew it backwards.
Peter Sagal
You're right. It says 740.
Nate Burkus
Wow. And to think I've been just selling bath mats all these years.
Peter Sagal
I know. You could have been acing quizzes. I guess. Anyway, last question. See if you can make this as perfect as everything else is.
Nate Burkus
Okay.
Peter Sagal
Sometimes a tattoo artist mistake turns out to be a kind of happy accident. Like in which of these cases? A, a tattoo reading Murphy's Law. That is the idea that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. And he misspelled it Murpy's Law. An artist putting in the name of a man's new baby put Maya instead of the baby's name, Mara. But it turned out the doctor had made the same type of and the birth certificate. Or C, a woman got a tattoo of a forest which looked terrible. But it just so happened the tree trunks happened to form a UPC code that gets her the employee discount when she scans it at Nordstrom.
Nate Burkus
I think it's B.
Peter Sagal
You think it's B? The matching typos no, it was actually Murphy's Law. It was called Murphy's Law. The client saw it and was utterly delighted. Bill, how did Nate Berkus do in our quiz? It was almost perfect, but you still got two out of three, which means you're a winner. Nate Berkus is an acclaimed interior designer who is up to so many different things. You can find them all@nateberkus.com Nate Berkus, thank you so much for being on that.
Nate Burkus
Thank you very much.
Peter Sagal
Thank you, sir. Nate Berkus, everybody. Hometown hero. When we come back, one of the greatest actors alive talks about getting his farts just right. And the comedian makes the worst mistake anybody can make taking part in a game show.
Tim Meadows
Oh, come on. Now you're just trolling me.
Peter Sagal
That's when we come back with more what? Wait, don't tell me. From NPR.
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Tim Meadows
From NPR in WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, Don't tell Me, the NPR News quiz. I'm Tim Meadows filling in for Bill Curtis. And here's your host at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building in downtown Chicago, Peter Sagal.
Peter Sagal
Thank you, Tim. Thank you, everybody. Now, we're thrilled to have Tim here because while some of the segments we are rebroadcasting this week are quite familiar to you, they're new to him.
Tim Meadows
Well, no, that's not actually true. I absolutely listened to some of these when they were broadcast because sometimes the Uber driver refuses to change his station.
Peter Sagal
Well, I hope you you didn't hear this conversation with actor Gary Oldman, who appeared in September to talk about the new season of his show about seemingly incompetent British spies The show Slow Horses. I asked him about the character he plays, Jackson Lamb.
Bill Curtis
Jackson Lamb was once a very, very good agent working for, you know, MI5.
Peter Sagal
He.
Bill Curtis
What we see when we meet him in Slough Horses is the sort of smoldering embers of the man that was once legendary.
Peter Sagal
I think that Jackson Lamb has the greatest character introduction I have ever seen. When we meet Jackson Lamb, he's having a nap in the office and he farts himself awake. I mean, let's face it, you've done a lot of good work in your career, Gary, but I don't know if you've ever done anything that immediately evocative.
Bill Curtis
You know, but we do. I never thought I'd see the day where I'm having email exchanges with the. With the director talking about the quality of farts. But because, you know, they. I'm not a method actor, so they have to dub it on offer or. Or should I say, I'm not a messy actor.
Allison Felix
I was gonna ask, is it like, when you have a stand in? Like, you know, when someone doesn't want to do a nude scene, they have a stand in. Is there somebody who is farting in place of you?
Peter Sagal
Yeah. Do you have a colon double? And actually, shouldn't that be the person nominated for an Emmy being a little selfish?
Bill Curtis
G. No, I'm sure there's somebody. Karen, to answer your question, I'm sure there's someone in a room.
Peter Sagal
And you were nominated for an Emmy. You were there. If I'm not mistaken, you were caught up in the great shogun sweep of all the awards, right? Oh, yeah, yeah. I mean, they were.
Bill Curtis
I think they were nominated for 14 and they won 25.
Peter Sagal
How do they do that? Did you have a speech ready? I've always wondered about that. Yeah.
Bill Curtis
I think it's polite.
Peter Sagal
Yeah. And what do you do with it if you don't get to use it? That's the other question I've always had.
Bill Curtis
Well, more recently, my wife has been keeping them and throwing them sort of in a box in the archive, as it were.
Peter Sagal
How many do you have?
Bill Curtis
Well, I've lost a lot. I've got quite a collection.
Peter Sagal
Gary, it is an absolute pleasure to talk to you again. And once again, we have asked you here to play a game, and this time we are calling it the Slowest Horses of All. You, of course, star in slow horses, as we have discussed. So we thought we'd ask you about the very slowest horses. That is hobby horses. Hobby horses are, of course, the toy. It's a stick with A horse's head. And people actually ride these hobby horses in competitive events called Hobby Horsing, where they go around gates and jump over fences and do dressage just like real horses. So we're going to ask you three questions about hobby horsing. Get two of them right. You will win our prize for one of our listeners, the voice of anyone they may choose for their voicemail. Ayesha, who is Gary Oldman playing for? Martin Oliver of Los Angeles, California. All right, ready to do this? Have you, have you heard or seen Hobby Horsing?
Bill Curtis
I have seen it.
Dionne Warwick
Yeah.
Bill Curtis
It's pretty out there.
Peter Sagal
It's pretty out there. So now if you've watched it and there are many videos online, you can watch them. You'll notice that it's very popular with young girls. But according to Hobby Horse Riders Australia boys are starting to get interested in the sport, but with a notable change. What is it? A, they prefer hobby war horsing with jousts. B they make and ride hobby dinosaurs. Or C, boys rules allow them to who turn the horses around and pretend the sticks are guns.
Bill Curtis
I'm gonna go with jousting.
Peter Sagal
You're gonna go with jousting. That is a natural choice, but it's actually hobby dinosaurs. No, buddy, you still have two more chances. So you're all good here. The very first American hobby horse championships were held in Michigan. And the competitors who came had to deal with with some significant obstacles. Such as which of these? A, due to a quirk in Michigan law, the horses had to be stabled and given adequate food and water even though they are not real. B those who flew there could not bring their hobby horses on board the plane because they could be used as a weapon. Or C, the Northern Midwest alliance for Animal Liberation, which on the first day of competition tried to liberate the quote, spiritual horses.
Bill Curtis
I'm going to have to go with.
Peter Sagal
C. No, I'm afraid it was B, they could not bring the hobby horses onto the plane because they are essentially four foot long sticks. You could use them as a weapon. So.
Bill Curtis
Okay, that was the obvious one.
Peter Sagal
Yeah, I know. All right, you have one more chance here. See what happens. Some competitors use the hobby horse for every event. But you know, when it's time to retire your loyal hobby horse, don't worry, because you can always do what. A, bring them to Lincoln, Massachusetts where they can live out the end of their days with other hobby and rocking horses in a grassy kind of pasture, B, just break them in half to create two hobby ponies, or C, send them to a factory to be turned into wood glue.
Bill Curtis
I'm thinking when you're done with the horse.
Peter Sagal
Yeah.
Bill Curtis
I'm not, I'm not saying that you literally turn it into two ponies, but you just snap the over your knee and throw it in the pin.
Peter Sagal
No, it was actually a nobody knows. Nobody knows who put the first rocking horse in this pasture near Lincoln, Massachusetts. But it has been joined over the years by dozens more hobby horses. Rocking horses. So, Aisha. Yeah. Oscar winning actor Gary Oldman doing our quiz. Well, I think that because he has lost a lot and with the Emmys and things like that, I think we should give it to him. I think you're right. Well, congratulations. Congratulations on this big win. I hope it makes up for everything. Gary Oldman is an Oscar winning actor and if you have not yet watched him in the show Slow Horses on Apple tv, I envy you because you get to start from the beginning. Gary Oldman, thank you so much for joining us. I'm waiting. What a pleasure to talk to you again. Take care. Awesome.
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Peter Sagal
Finally, also in September, we spoke to comedian and impressionist Jay Farrow, who had just become the host of a new game show called the Quiz with Balls. Really, Tim, do you happen to know Jay Farrow?
Tim Meadows
I actually am Jay Farrow.
Peter Sagal
This is us.
Tim Meadows
I'm doing the Tim Meadows impression right now.
Peter Sagal
That's pretty impressive. And here is Jay as himself. So first of all, I should say welcome to the pinnacle of human achievement, the game show host. It's not as easy as it looks, is it?
Jay Farrow
No, no, no. It's not as easy as it Looks. And you definitely just have to be able to improv and be able to just think on the fly.
Peter Sagal
On the show and in your own comedy, you are known for these astounding impressions. Is there one, like, in your entire roster of people you can do that you're most proud of?
Jay Farrow
The one that I would say I'm the originator of it, and nobody had done it like me was Will Smith. And that one is just. That's just one. That's you. You know, like, you know, that's the one that, you know, everybody, you know, pretty much, like, loves. Because it's not the kind of impression that's, like, just found, you know, it's not like a. It's not like a Hot Pocket. It was more like Tenderloin.
Peter Sagal
That was. And I was. I'll say that was a little eerie is what that was. I'll say.
Dionne Warwick
I've seen.
Peter Sagal
Jay also does a fantastic. Imagine at some point, you ended up slapping yourself. My body's asking me, how do I feel?
Jay Farrow
I don't soft this.
Peter Sagal
You got to let us hear it.
Karen Chee
Okay, okay, okay.
Jay Farrow
And you know what? I gotta say this, like, you know, I really do apologize, you know, to everybody in America and everybody ubiquitously around the world. What I should have done instead of smacking Chris Rock was I should have waited for the commercial break and got away with the whole situation.
Peter Sagal
Well, this might be fun, because who knows? You can do this as a group. Jay Farrow, we have asked you here to play a game we're calling you can keep your balls. So as we have established, you host the game show the Quiz with balls, so we thought we'd ask you about games that don't require any balls at all. Answer two out of three questions, right, and you will win our prize for one of our listeners. Bill, who is Jim Farrow playing for? Shane Brown of Portland, Oregon. All right, here is your first question. There's lots of games you can play with a frisbee instead of a ball, but not all frisbees are alike. You could find yourself catching which of these. A, the combat Frisbee lined with razors along the edge. B, Frisbee for Dummies, which has an iron coating and comes with gloves lined with magnets. Or see a disc molded out of the ashes of Ed Hedrick, one of the inventors of the frisbee.
Jay Farrow
Well, I hope it's not the third one. I don't know. I don't know.
Peter Sagal
Kev, what are you.
Jay Farrow
Kev, do you have anything on this?
Peter Sagal
Listen, I will See this? Listen, people swear to God, say this, tell you this right now. I believe that the answer. Answer is B. That's what I think it is. So are you going to trust Kevin Hart on this, Jay? Is that what you're gonna.
Jay Farrow
I gotta trust Kev. I think he knows he let you down.
Peter Sagal
It was C. It's actually. It was C. It's part of his will. One of the guys who invented the frisbee, he asked to be cremated, and then he had his ashes mixed in to platinum to make Frisbees that were sold for charity. And they're out there in the world. We still have two more chances. All right, here's your next question. Cornhole. That's the game popular here in the Midwest where you try to toss beanbags through a hole in a board. We all know this game, right? But there are international variants, such as which of these. One of these is real? A, the game of Tejo in Colombia, where players throw their bags at exploding targets filled with gunpowder. B, trampole in Australia, where you bounce off a mini trampoline and try to throw yourself through the hole. Or C, crick hole in England, where the other player can defend the goal with a cricket bat.
Jay Farrow
You know what?
Peter Sagal
Would Jay Z help out with this one? I don't know. Is there something that Jay Z says a lot that might be the answer?
Jay Farrow
Yeah, basically, after thinking about that, comparatively to the other answers, I'll say a.
Peter Sagal
Jay Z is correct. That is right, and it's absolutely true. Imagine cornhole. But if you hit the target, an explosive charge goes off.
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Boom.
Peter Sagal
It is the second most popular sport in Colombia after soccer.
Jay Farrow
You know, my intuition spoke for me. That was the hustler, homie.
Peter Sagal
All right, last question. Everybody loves to play darts, right? But it's not as easy as it looks. What is a proven way to improve your darts game? A, just closing your eyes and throwing randomly toward the target. B, spinning around four times and then throwing it like a discus toss. Or C, just getting a little drunk.
Jay Farrow
Now, let me.
Peter Sagal
Before I answer this question, I'm just going to take. There is a lot of fallacy that's been spoken. A lot of things could be. Oh, Lord, I'm going to go with B. Sir, are you sure you shouldn't be crying? Come on, it's a festive time, but just answering questions, that's all. So, B, have to say it like A, do I. For some reason, I've never said this with more pleasure, but. But you're wrong.
Dionne Warwick
I'm having.
Peter Sagal
I'm having a lot of emotions here. Jay. The answer is actually C. Getting drunk. Studies have proved that just a little alcohol improves your dart game. That's why they play it in bars. But technically, Jay didn't get any of them wrong. He did. Jay, you. Yes, you, you, you. You walk out here with a clean record. Bill, how to Jay and his friends doing our quiz. You know he's a winner and you're going to leave a winner. Absolutely not. Afraid. Not your fault. That's it for our It's Tim Meadows, First TIME Edition. Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me is a production of NPR and WBEZ Chicago in association with Urgent Haircut Productions. Doug Berman, benevolent overlord Philip Gar writes our limericks. Our public address announcer is Paul Friedman. Our tour manager is Shana Donald. BJ Lederman composed our theme. Our program is produced by Jennifer Mills, Miles Norboss and Lillian King. Special thanks to Monica Hickey and Blythe Roberson. Peter Gwynn is our belly full of jelly. Our vibe curator is Emma Choi. Technical directions from Lorna Whiter. CFO is Colin Miller. Our production manager is Robert Neuhaus. Our senior producer is Ian Chillag. And the executive producer of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me is Mike Danforth. Thanks to everybody you heard on today's show. Our panelists, our guests, guest host Karen Chee, guest scorekeeper Ayesha Rascoe, and of course, Mr. Tim Meadows. And thanks to all of you for listening here at the Studio Baker Theater and wherever you might be. I'm Peter Sagal. We'll be back next week. This is NPR.
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Podcast Summary: Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! – Episode: One Last Gift to Unwrap (Released December 28, 2024)
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, NPR's beloved weekly news quiz hosted by Peter Sagal, brings together humor, current events, and celebrity guests to create an engaging and entertaining experience for listeners. In the episode titled "One Last Gift to Unwrap," released on December 28, 2024, the show features a lineup of distinguished guests, including the legendary singer Dionne Warwick, Olympic champion Allison Felix, acclaimed interior designer Nate Berkus, Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman, and comedian Jay Farrow. Each guest participates in interactive segments, sharing personal anecdotes, insights, and participating in the show's signature quiz games. This summary delves into the key discussions, memorable quotes, and delightful interactions that made this episode a standout.
Segment Overview: Dionne Warwick, a six-time Grammy winner and enduring figure in the music industry, joins the show to discuss her illustrious career, personal anecdotes, and her active presence on social media.
Key Discussions:
Career Highlights and Longevity: Dionne Warwick reflects on her first hit, "Don't Make Me Over," released in 1962, and shares her joy in still performing 62 years later. She humorously remarks, "I never wanted to work, to work, ever" (02:07).
Unexpected Encounters: An amusing story unfolds when Dionne recounts meeting the esteemed actor Sidney Poitier. Walking behind him on Broadway, she hesitated to reveal her identity, leading to an awkward yet memorable exchange. "And he said, young lady," Dionne narrates, "at a complete loss of words, really. And finally, I got up the nerve to ask him, will you sign this piece of paper for me?" (05:00).
Social Media Savvy: Known as the "queen of Twitter," Dionne shares her wit and engagement on the platform. One notable tweet mentioned: "I just heard about Leonardo DiCaprio's 25 year rule. His loss. You don't know what you're missing." (06:23).
Personal Life Insights: Discussing her personal life, Dionne humorously addresses being single and receiving playful tweets about dating celebrities like Pete Davidson. "I am having the best time," she asserts confidently (07:15), followed by her lighthearted response to a humorous tweet: "Oh, why not? He's dating everybody I know." (07:41).
Interactive Quiz Segment: Dionne participates in the famed quiz game, answering questions about friendships and everyday scenarios. Notably, she correctly identifies Hernia Movers as a real moving company (08:55) and the humorous scenario involving a forgotten friend at the Dublin airport, although her confidence leads her to err when the correct answer is the tombstone option (10:32). Her performance underscores her sharp wit and charm.
Segment Overview: Allison Felix, one of the greatest sprinters and an Olympic gold medalist, shares her journey in athletics, mental strategies for competition, and participates in the show's engaging quiz game.
Key Discussions:
Athletic Journey: Allison recounts her transition from basketball to track in high school, highlighting how her desire to make new friends led her to discover her exceptional talent for sprinting. "I found myself in the Olympics. So it was kind of a Whoa." (17:39).
Mental Preparation: Discussing her pre-race routines, Allison explains her technical self-talk, focusing on cues like "drive" and "keep your head down" to stay locked in during races. "I have cues at each point of the race," she explains (18:24).
Perceptions of Competition: Allison shares relatable thoughts during races, such as finding the 400 meters "way too long," aligning with Peter Sagal's sentiment that it's "too long." (19:09).
Everyday Athleticism: She humorously contrasts her professional running with everyday scenarios, remarking on the irony of needing to run to catch a bus. "Runners are actually the slowest walkers ever," she jokes (19:32).
Interactive Quiz Segment: Allison excels in the parking meter quiz, correctly answering all three questions related to parking scenarios and regulations. Her success in the quiz highlights her sharp thinking beyond the track (23:35).
Segment Overview: Nate Berkus, a renowned interior designer, discusses his passion for design, influenced by his family's involvement in the field, and engages in the podcast's entertaining quiz games.
Key Discussions:
Early Influences: Nate shares how his mother's career as an interior designer in Minneapolis sparked his love for design. From a young age, he accompanied his mother to auctions and antique malls, fostering his design sensibilities. "My job was to carry the wallpaper books from the trunk of her car to her home office," he reminisces (24:43).
Personal Anecdotes: Reflecting on his childhood, Nate recalls designing his own bedroom at age 12, navigating his mother's critiques and asserting his creative vision. "I wanted gray, white, and red. She said, that's so ugly, though. And I was like, but it's cool." (26:11).
Professional Philosophy: Emphasizing the importance of personal agency in design, Nate connects his childhood experiences to his career-long mission of helping others create meaningful living spaces. "I've spent the greater part of 30 years helping other people create a home that means something to them." (27:09).
Personal Life Insights: Nate humorously discusses dynamics with his husband, particularly regarding shared design decisions and household disputes. "If one person hates it, it's out and we don't talk about it." (29:55).
Interactive Quiz Segment: Nate participates in a tattoo-themed quiz, demonstrating his knowledge and quick thinking. He accurately answers questions about tattoo mishaps and happy accidents, showcasing his attention to detail and humor (30:53).
Segment Overview: Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman brings his charismatic personality to the show, discussing his role in the series Slow Horses and participating in the podcast's unique quiz segments.
Key Discussions:
Character Insights: Gary delves into his portrayal of Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses, highlighting the character's complex nature. "Jackson Lamb was once a very, very good agent working for, you know, MI5," he explains (35:44).
Humorous Anecdotes: He shares a funny behind-the-scenes story about delivering a memorable character introduction—waking up with a fart while having a nap in the office. "When we meet Jackson Lamb, he's having a nap in the office and he farts himself awake." (36:03).
Behind-the-Scenes Fun: Discussing the challenges of acting, Gary humorously addresses the technical aspects of portraying realistic bodily functions, emphasizing the difference between method acting and practical effects. "I'm not a method actor, so they have to dub it on offer or... I'm not a messy actor." (36:28).
Interactive Quiz Segment: Hobby Horsing: Gary engages in a quirky quiz about hobby horses, a niche and humorous topic. Despite some challenges, he correctly answers two out of three questions, demonstrating his adaptability and good sportsmanship (41:32).
Segment Overview: Comedian and impressionist Jay Farrow discusses his craft, including his standout impressions and his role as the host of the new game show Quiz with Balls. His segment is filled with humor and interactive fun.
Key Discussions:
Impressionist Talents: Jay highlights his unique approach to impressions, particularly his rendition of Will Smith. "Nobody had done it like me was Will Smith." (45:32).
Game Show Hosting: As the host of Quiz with Balls, Jay emphasizes the importance of improvisation and quick thinking. "You definitely just have to be able to improv and be able to just think on the fly." (45:15).
Behind-the-Scenes Humor: Jay humorously reflects on the complexities of game show production, including light-hearted jabs at fellow participants and the nature of his host role. "What I should have done instead of smacking Chris Rock was I should have waited for the commercial break and got away with the whole situation." (46:28).
Interactive Quiz Segment: Games Without Balls: Jay participates in a creatively themed quiz about games that don’t require traditional balls. Despite some humorous missteps, he demonstrates his comedic flair and quick thinking, winning his segment by correctly answering key questions (50:17).
The episode "One Last Gift to Unwrap" of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! masterfully blends humor, celebrity insights, and interactive fun. Each guest brings their unique background and personality, enriching the conversation and entertaining the audience. Memorable moments include Dionne Warwick's charming anecdotes, Allison Felix's down-to-earth reflections on athleticism, Nate Berkus's design wisdom, Gary Oldman's charismatic storytelling, and Jay Farrow's comedic prowess. The episode not only entertains but also offers listeners a glimpse into the lives and minds of some of today's most inspiring figures.
Notable Quotes:
This episode exemplifies the show's ability to blend informative discussions with lighthearted entertainment, making it a must-listen for fans and newcomers alike.
Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the enriching conversations and interactions among the guests and host.