Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!

Episode: Paul Giamatti, Laufey, and More!

Date: November 29, 2025
Host: Peter Sagal
Announcer: Bill Curtis
Panelists & Guests: Paul Giamatti, Laufey, James Gunn, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Dulce Sloan, Hari Kondabolu, Tom Papa

Overview

This special Thanksgiving edition of NPR's news quiz show takes a look back at some of the year’s most memorable moments, featuring celebrity guests and hilarious segments. Host Peter Sagal and his panel share gratitude—and lots of laughs—with highlights from interviews and games involving actor Paul Giamatti, musical phenom Laufey, director James Gunn, and Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad. The episode blends insightful conversations with signature Wait Wait games, all in the show’s sharp, playful tone.

Highlights by Guest & Segment

Paul Giamatti: Illusions, Comedy, and Leftovers

Main Segment: 01:24–12:14

• On Assumptions and Roles

  • Peter Sagal: “Based on all the roles you've played, what kind of assumptions do people make about you as a real person?” (01:38)
  • Paul Giamatti: “Oh, lots. I mean, the wine thing. Everybody assumes I know all about wine. I don’t know crap about wine. I know literally nothing about wine.” (01:54)
  • He jokes he’s usually cast as "an angry middle management type" whose first line is “What the hell are you doing?” (02:54)

• Early Career & Unique Roles

  • Peter Sagal notes Giamatti’s TV debut as “man in sleeping bag" on NYPD Blue; Giamatti details his single line: “Not me, man.” (03:30)
  • On having been called "Mr. Potato Face" by the Guardian, Giamatti laughs off the moniker and jokes about “sticking it to the English” in the Downton Abbey movie. (04:03)

• Fun Movie Anecdotes

  • On his role in Big Fat Liar, Giamatti describes being dyed blue: “It stayed on my feet for about six months… so my feet were blue for about six months. Just a little bit of trivia.” (05:52)

• Fan Culture

  • Giamatti discusses the “Wax Paul Now” campaign to get him a Madame Tussauds statue: “If I can’t get one, who the hell can get one? ... That would have been retirement time.” (07:07)

• Game: “Holdovers Fun” (Tupperware Trivia)

  • Peter Sagal quizzes Giamatti on Tupperware history and facts:
    • Memorable Q&A:
      • Peter Sagal: “Tupperware container was used to store which: Queen Elizabeth’s earrings, Einstein’s brain, or leftover plutonium?”
      • Paul Giamatti: “Einstein’s brain. You’re right.” (09:51)
    • Giamatti learns Tupperware’s inventor dreamed up, among other things, the jet ski: “He’s like Leonardo da Vinci. He really was in many ways.” (11:07)
  • Bill Curtis: “Two out of three. That’s a win, Paul.” (11:15)

Notable Quotes:

• “I know literally nothing about wine. Nothing.” – Paul Giamatti (01:54)
• “Not me, man.” – Paul Giamatti (03:30)
• “My feet were blue for about six months.” – Paul Giamatti (05:52)

Bluff the Listener: Dental Mishaps

Segment: 14:33–20:34

• Features panelists Dulce Sloan, Hari Kondabolu, Tom Papa with humorous fake and real stories of dental faux pas.
• Correct answer: A smart toothbrush app outs a man’s Friday morning affair when his dental hygiene patterns change (Tom Papa’s story, 18:30).

Notable Moment:

• Peter Sagal: “When a digital toothbrush says someone brushed their teeth at 10:48am when they were supposed to be at work at 9, they're probably naked.” (19:30)

Laufey: Musical Rebellion & Twin Hijinks

Main Segment: 22:16–31:27

• Defining Her Sound

  • Peter Sagal: “How do you define your sound?”
  • Laufey: “I’m Laufey. That’s all you need to know.” (22:16)

• Musical Upbringing

  • Laufey credits her Chinese mother and classical training, but calls her new album “my first act of rebellion.”
  • She laughs about being told as a child she sounded like “a divorced French 40-year-old woman.” (23:54)

• On Being 'Odd' & Twin Life

  • Laufey embraces her uniqueness: “I was odd and I am odd. I think it worked out for the better.” (24:14)
  • She reveals her identical twin Junia is her creative director, with anecdotes about mix-ups and secret swaps, though insists: “Well, I sing... She has a degree in international relations.” (27:06)

• Barbra Streisand Collaboration

  • Laufey recalls her disbelief: “I thought my manager was pranking me.” (25:02)

• Game: Daylight Savings Time Trivia

  • Laufey, playing for a listener, faces questions on the history (and annoyance) of daylight savings:
    • Learns Ben Franklin was joking when he first proposed it (28:47).
    • On why Iceland doesn't have DST: “It’s just so annoying.” (30:41)
  • Bill Curtis: “She’s a winner!” (30:56)

Notable Quotes:

• “I’m Laufey. That’s all you need to know.” – Laufey (22:16)
• “I was odd and I am odd. I think it worked out for the better.” – Laufey (24:14)

James Gunn: Superheroes, Dogs & T-shirt Guns

Main Segment: 34:08–41:31

• Early Creativity & Family

  • Gunn describes making gory comics and movies as a kid: “There was a theme going on and the folks didn’t take you to therapy.” (34:36)

• On Superman

  • Gunn sees value in Superman’s emotional realism and lack of brooding, celebrating the return of the red trunks:
    • Peter Sagal: “The underwear is back on the outside.” (36:01)
    • James Gunn: “Yeah...I love all of that crazy stuff that was in the comic books...” (36:34)

• Beloved Dog Inspires Crypto

  • Gunn says his dog Ozu inspired Crypto the Superdog, but: “Ozu doesn’t know anything. He barely knows where he was two seconds ago...Every time Crypto’s on screen, he attacks the screen.” (37:05)

• T-shirt Gun Trivia Game

  • Gunn excels, correctly guessing the bizarre history and incidents involving t-shirt guns:
    • “One inventor went to clown college” (not true), “Used to shoot potatoes at planes,” and the famous mascot self-shooting incident. (38:56–40:22)

Notable Quotes:

• “Ozu doesn’t know anything. He barely knows where he was two seconds ago...Every time Crypto’s on screen, he attacks the screen.” – James Gunn (37:05)

Ibtihaj Muhammad: Competition, Fencing & Perfectionism

Main Segment: 43:15–51:05

• Origins of Competitiveness

  • As the middle of five children, she attributes her drive to “small competitions” at home and notes her brother’s role in bringing out her competitive edge. (43:22)

• Finding Fencing

  • Discovered fencing because “…from the road, you could see fencers in the school cafeteria. And my mom was like, I don’t know what it is, but they’re covered, so I want you to do it.” (44:08)

• Style & Perfection

  • Prefers to see herself as a “quiet assassin” but admits to animated celebrations after scoring points. (45:00)
  • Shares that competitiveness and perfectionism bleed into other areas, like lawn mowing.
  • On her Barbie: “I have so many of them...If I have a bunch of kids...then we need like 100 Barbies.” (46:23)

• Game: “Take a Stab at This”

  • Answers trivia about “taking a stab” at things for the first time:
    • Learns of a Turkish woman who accidentally rode the airport conveyor belt, a hockey player’s revenge-fuelled fight, and an odd Q-tip affection among the newly high. (47:26–50:31)

Notable Quotes:

• “From the road, you could see fencers in the school cafeteria. And my mom was like, I don’t know what it is, but they’re covered, so I want you to do it.” – Ibtihaj Muhammad (44:08)
• “Everything has to be perfect. And I really struggle when things aren’t exactly the way that they’re supposed to be.” – Ibtihaj Muhammad (45:34)

Additional Fun and Memorable Moments

• Audience delight at stories of accidental blue feet, toothbrush espionage, and Laufey’s “twin sister swap” mystery.
• Running theme of “things we’re thankful for,” punctuated with quick-witted asides and playful banter.
• Peter Sagal’s ongoing gags about awkward Thanksgiving moments and subtle jabs at odd historical trivia.
• Testimonials from listeners during games, highlighting the show’s blend of genuine engagement and absurdist fun.

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Paul Giamatti Interview: 01:24–12:14
• Bluff the Listener: Dentistry Gone Wrong: 14:33–20:34
• Laufey Interview: 22:16–31:27
• James Gunn Interview: 34:08–41:31
• Ibtihaj Muhammad Interview: 43:15–51:05

In Summary

This Thanksgiving edition of “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” delivers the show’s trademark quick humor, sharp celebrity interviews, and oddball trivia by reliving its most popular recent moments. From Paul Giamatti's confessions and Laufey’s quirky artistry to James Gunn’s superhero dog and Ibtihaj Muhammad's fierce competitiveness, the episode is packed with quotable jokes and heartwarming stories. It’s a perfect sampler platter for both longtime fans and new listeners, celebrating what makes public radio—and this show—such a joy.