WWDTM: Pedro Pascal

Summary

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Episode: WWDTM: Pedro Pascal | Release Date: August 9, 2025

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Introduction

In this lively episode of NPR's beloved news quiz, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, host Tom Papa takes the reins from Peter Sagal to guide listeners through a humorous exploration of the week's headlines. Filmed live at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, the episode features a star-studded panel, including comedian Brian Babylon, podcast host Negeen Farsad, and humorist Roy Blunt Jr., alongside a special guest appearance by Pedro Pascal, renowned for his roles in Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian, and The Last of Us.

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First Contestant: Caroline from Atlanta

The show kicks off with contestant Caroline from Atlanta participating in the "Who's Bill" game. Host Tom Papa presents her with three news-related quotes, challenging her to identify their sources.

1. Democrats Fleeing Texas

   • Quote: "We Democrats are fighting back. We're leaving." (03:04)
   • Explanation: This statement was made by Democratic Congressman James Tallarico as he and nearly 50 Democrats exited Texas to block a redistricting vote favoring Republicans.
   • Caroline's Insight: She humorously speculates whether the Democrats are staying in an Airbnb, riffing on the fleeting nature of their presence.

2. Demand for Five-Star Reviews

   • Quote: "I've hopped up on painkillers. I'm delirious. And they're like, hey, how'd you like your stay?" (04:37)
   • Explanation: Attributed to a patient frustrated with his ear surgeon's incessant requests for five-star Yelp reviews.
   • Panel Reaction: Negeen Farsad and Brian Babylon discuss the ubiquity of review requests, with laughs about the impact on personal experiences.

3. Danish Zoo's Unusual Request

   • Quote: "When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat." (07:33)
   • Explanation: A Danish zoo spokesperson's peculiar request for people to donate their pets as food for zoo animals.
   • Caroline's Humor: She quips about the impracticality and dark humor of the idea, sparking chuckles from the panel.

Caroline impressively identifies all three quotes correctly, earning her a prize of having a voice message from the show delivered to her voicemail.

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Panel Discussion: Sponsored Weddings and Unusual Trends

Following the contestant segment, the panel delves into various quirky news stories:

• Sponsored Weddings
  • Highlight: A couple funded their dream wedding by securing Hellman's Mayonnaise as a corporate sponsor.
  • Details: The sponsorship came with stipulations such as hosting the wedding in Las Vegas, recording it for promotional use, and having a life-size mayonnaise jar mascot officiate the ceremony.
  • Panel Humor: Negeen Farsad and Brian Babylon mock the unconventional 'religious organization' ordained by mayonnaise, while Roy Blunt Jr. adds a playful twist about ketchup preferences citing Leviticus.

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Second Contestant: Andrew from Fort Collins, Colorado

Andrew enters the "Bluff the Listener" game, where he must discern truths from fabrications about actor Adam Driver:

1. Adam Driver in a Video Game

   • Fabrication: Adam Driver's character from Girls is featured as the final boss in the Nintendo Switch game Dating Wars.
   • Panel Reaction: Tom Papa jestingly comments on the absurdity of the game, blending reality with comedic fiction.

2. Adam Driver Scaring Wolves with Movie Clips

   • Truth: A fabricated report claims that Adam Driver's intense fight scenes from Marriage Story are used to deter wolves in Oregon.
   • Correct Answer: This statement is false; the actual story is that wolves are not intimidated by celebrity disputes.

3. Adam Driver Taking Up Golf

   • Fabrication: Adam Driver is purportedly quitting acting to pursue a career in golf, including launching his own line of golf clubs.
   • Panel Insight: The outrageousness of Driver replacing his roles with golf equipment tickles the panel's funny bones.

Andrew correctly identifies the fabricated story about Adam Driver scaring wolves using movie clips, securing his win and receiving a prize selection from the show's voicemail.

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Special Guest Interview: Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal joins the show, bringing his charismatic presence to the lively environment. The segment includes a mix of lighthearted banter and engaging dialogue about his acting journey.

• Early Career Struggles

  • Quote (22:14): "I was really bad at waiting tables, but it took years to learn."
  • Discussion: Pedro shares anecdotes about his time as a waiter in New York, highlighting the challenges he faced before gaining fame in Hollywood.

• Favorite Roles and Challenges

  • Insight: Pedro reflects on his diverse roles, from The Last of Us to upcoming projects like The Fantastic Four, and discusses his Emmy nomination.

• Interaction with Host

  • Humorous Exchange: Tom Papa jokes about Pedro's extensive filmography, while Pedro humorously admits to not playing the video game The Last of Us before acting in its adaptation.

Pedro engages in the "Last of Us Weekly" game, answering trivia about celebrity gossip with impressive accuracy, further charming the audience and panel.

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Additional Games: Limericks and Fill in the Blank

The episode continues with entertaining segments that blend poetry and current events:

• Limerick Challenge

  • Mel from Salt Lake City participates, successfully completing limericks about weddings and quirky news stories, earning her a victory.

• Fill in the Blank: Lightning Round

  • Panelists race against the clock to complete news-related phrases, with Brian Babylon emerging as the week's champion after correctly filling in multiple blanks about political events, celebrity antics, and unexpected news twists.

Notable Quotes:

• Tom Papa on Democrats Leaving Texas (03:09): "It's incredibly on brand that the one time Democrats show courage, it still involves running away."
• Caroline on Reviews (05:57): "Never. The only time I review things is when there's a really cute mom and shop in my neighborhood."
• Negeen Farsad on Shower Breakfasts (40:54): "Someone's gonna do that."

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Conclusion and Final Remarks

As the show wraps up, the panel humorously speculates on future zoo promotions to captivate audiences, ranging from "bring your ex to the zoo day" to "swap your kids with an animal day." Host Tom Papa thanks the panelists and contestants, extending gratitude to the live audience and NPR listeners.

Behind the Scenes Credits: Special acknowledgment is given to the production team, including writers, producers, and technical staff who make the show a success each week.

Final Thoughts: This episode of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! masterfully blends current events with humor, showcasing the wit of the panelists and the charm of Pedro Pascal. Listeners are left entertained and informed, reflecting the show's enduring appeal as a staple of NPR's programming.

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Notes:

• Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content segments have been excluded to focus solely on the episode's core content.
• All timestamps correspond to the original transcript provided for accurate reference.

Transcript

[Amazon Pharmacy]

This message comes from Amazon Pharmacy. When you're on hold with the pharmacy and you hear your call is very important, after the 10th loop, you start to doubt that Amazon Pharmacy delivers meds to you fast. Without the hold music, Amazon Healthcare just got less painful.

[Bill Curtis]

From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell me, the NPR News quiz. I'm an anchorman among anchor boys, Bill Curtis. And here is your host at the Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building in Chicago, Illinois. Filling in for Peter Sagal, it's Tom Papa.

[Tom Papa]

Thanks, Bill. Thanks, everybody. It's me, Tom Papa, filling in for Peter Sagal, who was last seen talking to reporters from the roof of his. We have a great show for you today with special guest star of the Fantastic Four, Pedro Pascal. Because this. Yep, yep. Because this was the only show he hasn't starred in this year. You're up first, though. Give us a call to play our game. The number is 1-888-wait, wait. That's 1-888-924-8924. Now let's welcome our first listener contestant. Hi. You're on. Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Caroline]

Hi, this is Caroline from Atlanta, Georgia.

[Tom Papa]

Nice to hear from you, Caroline. How is Atlanta, Georgia, this summer? Well, not as hot as it's been.

[Caroline]

This past week, but very hot otherwise.

[Tom Papa]

Sounds like you're delirious. Yeah.

[Caroline]

Probably dehydrated.

[Tom Papa]

Caroline, let me introduce you to our panel. First up, a comedian bringing stand up to the Runway at his Paris Fashion Week Comedy Festival, September 29 to October 5. Say bonjour to Brian Babylon. Bonjour.

[Brian Babylon]

Bonjour.

[Tom Papa]

Next, a comedian and host of the podcast Fake the Nation. You can also read her regular column, Hemming and Hawing in the progressive magazine Negeen Farsad. Hey there.

[Caroline]

Hi, Negeen.

[Tom Papa]

And a humorist whose substack is Take Another piece of My Heart. Now It's Roy Blunt Jr.

[Brian Babylon]

It's good to be here amongst all you folks.

[Tom Papa]

Welcome to the show. Caroline, you're going to play who's Bill this time, Bill Curtis is going to read you three quotes from this week's news. If you can correctly identify or explain two of them, you'll win our prize. Any voice from our show, you choose on your voicemail. Are you ready? Yes. Here's your first question.

[Bill Curtis]

We Democrats are fighting back. We're leaving.

[Tom Papa]

That was Democratic Congressman James Tallarico as he fled what state to avoid a redistricting vote? Texas. That's right, Texas. This week, 50 some Democrats fled Texas and not Just for the normal reasons. Texas was about to vote to redraw voting maps to give Republicans more House seats. So to prevent the vote from happening, Democrats left the state. It's incredibly on brand that the one time Democrats show courage, it still involves running away. Are they all staying in one Airbnb? I can't wait to pitch my new reality show, the Opposite of Love Island. How does it work? Like, if they're just gone for ever, or like they have to come home at some point.

[Caroline]

It's a two week session, so they're taking. They're not even taking a full French vacation. They're just doing a two week session and then coming back and then go back.

[Tom Papa]

Oh, and then. And then the shop will be closed.

[Caroline]

The other fun thing about it is they're getting fined $500 a day that they don't show up to work. But the other fun thing about that is they only get paid $600 a month because I guess Texas is really broke or I don't know what is.

[Brian Babylon]

Going on or there might be some other way. Other way for them to make it. Make money?

[Tom Papa]

Yeah.

[Brian Babylon]

Other than, oh, are they like, are.

[Caroline]

They going to other states so they could be strippers and just get some extra cash? How does it.

[Tom Papa]

No, I've seen them. That is an answer. All right, Caroline, your next quote is someone complaining about a new trend.

[Bill Curtis]

I've hopped up on painkillers. I'm delirious. And they're like, hey, how'd you like your stay?

[Tom Papa]

That was a patient talking about the fact that his ear surgeon, like everyone else right now, is asking for a five star. What? Yelp review? Yes. A rating or a feedback. Exactly. Good job. Everyone, from takeout joints to surgeons are asking you to rate the service you received. And as soon as you walk out the door. And I gotta tell you, that door, five stars. According to the Washington Post, people across the country are experiencing customer feedback survey fatigue, which. I'm tired just saying it, but everybody does want a review. If you stay in Airbnb, they're always begging you for a review. Do you review things literally?

[Caroline]

Never.

[Tom Papa]

Never.

[Caroline]

The only time I review things when there's a really cute mom and shop in my neighborhood and I worry about their, like, ongoing economic survival. So I will throw in a review at wherever, just to, like, in that sense. But. And I realized, like, I've never. I don't like, do the Uber reviews or the Lyft reviews. And so I might have a really low score. And that might explain parts of my life.

[Tom Papa]

I Tend to look at reviews. Like, if I'm in a new town and I'm looking for something to eat or a coffee shop, I'll look at the review real quick. And as much as I want to trust them, I do. In the middle of it, think this person. There's something wrong with them.

[Negeen Farsad]

Oh, yeah, you can.

[Tom Papa]

They're spending three paragraphs on the oat milk. Why am I listening to them? But if they give it four stars, I'll go.

[Negeen Farsad]

But you can see a Karen in the words. You know what I'm saying? You can see, like, a horrible person.

[Tom Papa]

It is funny. You can tell when they're the problem.

[Negeen Farsad]

You can tell when they're the problem.

[Caroline]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brian Babylon]

Want to get Karen into it? But it. But reviews have not worked in my marriage. We try to.

[Caroline]

Do you guys have, like, an anonymous box in your bedroom or something?

[Brian Babylon]

It's too personal. I know who it is.

[Tom Papa]

All right, Caroline, your last quote is from a Danish zoo spokesperson.

[Bill Curtis]

When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat.

[Tom Papa]

That was someone nonchalantly asking that you donate your what to the zoo organs.

[Bill Curtis]

What a good idea.

[Caroline]

Nice.

[Tom Papa]

I really wish that was the answer. I really wish that was the answer. I'll give you a clue if you'd like one. Caroline.

[Caroline]

Yes, please.

[Tom Papa]

Here's your hint, honey. Where's Fluffy?

[Caroline]

That's even worse.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Your pets.

[Tom Papa]

Yes, that's right, your pets. But you got it right, though. Stay with me, guys.

[Brian Babylon]

But not young pets.

[Tom Papa]

A zoo in Denmark is asking people to donate pets as food for the zoo animals. Sure, it's a little dark, but you haven't lived until you've seen a Bengal tiger burp up a rhinestone dog collar.

[Caroline]

Wait, this zoo is in Denmark?

[Tom Papa]

Denmark.

[Caroline]

Yeah, because don't they make Ozempic in Denmark? My idea for the zoo, and I'm sure they're listening, is that they put the animals on Ozempic and then they won't need to eat at all.

[Tom Papa]

Yeah, but then they get that weird face. Yeah, you get a Palpatine.

[Caroline]

Yeah, you do get Oz epic face. That's right. You get Oz epic face.

[Tom Papa]

Well, in response to criticism, a representative from the zoo said it gives the pet a quote, quieter death than actually going to the slaughterhouse. Slaughterhouse. That's how Denmark euthanizes their pets. Yeah.

[Negeen Farsad]

This is not adding up.

[Tom Papa]

I think Denmark's got some secrets.

[Brian Babylon]

If you've never seen a seal balance a puppy on his nose.

[Tom Papa]

Bill, how did Caroline do?

[Bill Curtis]

Caroline knows how to play the game. She did a Perfect score.

[Caroline]

Good job.

[Tom Papa]

Thanks for playing. Caroline. You did a great job. Thank you. Hey, you.

[Caroline]

We're at the zoo. There is lots to see and do. Animals from near and far live here.

[Tom Papa]

At the zoo right now. Panel, it's time for you to answer some questions about this week's news Negeen. One couple had the wedding of their dreams. And to pay for it, they simply got a. What?

[Caroline]

Oh, they simply cashed out their bitcoin.

[Tom Papa]

No.

[Caroline]

Can I get a hint?

[Tom Papa]

I'll give you a hint. And now it's the flower girl presented by 1-800-Flowers.

[Caroline]

Oh, they got 1-800-Flowers to sponsor their wedding?

[Tom Papa]

Yeah. They got a corporate sponsor. One lucky couple was able to secure Hellman's Mayonnaise as their wedding corporate sponsor. Just like every little girl's dream of having a wedding, you can't leave out in the sun for too long. The Hellman's corporation determined many of the terms of their wedding. Things like they had to do it in Vegas. It had to be recorded for promotional purposes. And this is true. The wedding had to be officiated by a life size mayonnaise jar mascot.

[Caroline]

Oh, my God. That was. That's real.

[Tom Papa]

That's real. Wow. What ungodly religious organization ordained that for you?

[Negeen Farsad]

I don't know if that was an ordained minister in a mayonnaise outfit. You need to really think about your.

[Tom Papa]

Relationship with Jesus Christ. I want to say if you are.

[Negeen Farsad]

In a nanny suit, you and Jesus ain't right at that moment.

[Brian Babylon]

Jesus put ketchup on everything.

[Tom Papa]

Everything.

[Brian Babylon]

I can find that in Leviticus. No, that was wrong.

[Tom Papa]

Coming up, if you liked HBO's Girls, you'll love this week's bluff the listener. Actually, who knows? They're very different. Call 1-88-wait-wait to play. We'll be back in a minute with more of Wait, wait, don't tell me from npr.

[Pedro Pascal]

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[NPR Sponsor]

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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 are playing this week with Roy Blunt Jr. Brian Babylon and Nageen Farsad. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois, Tom Papa.

[Tom Papa]

Thank you, 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 air or check out the pin post on our Instagram page. Atweightnpr. Hi, you're on. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Hey, Tom.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Hi.

[Caroline]

Wait, waiters.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

My name is Andrew Cundiff and I'm.

[Bill Curtis]

Coming at you live from Fort Collins, Colorado.

[Tom Papa]

Whoa. Beautiful.

[Bill Curtis]

Good for you.

[Tom Papa]

I love it there. It's so sunny and nice. What do you do for fun in Colorado? Oh, I mean, all the things, all the mountainous things. Have you ever ridden a bear? You know, I tried. You did try when I was little.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

But now he ran for me.

[Tom Papa]

Well, I'm happy you're alive. Well, Andrew, it's nice to have you with us. You're going to play our game in which you must try and tell truth from fiction. What's the topic, Bill?

[Bill Curtis]

Adam Driver in the news, actor Adam.

[Tom Papa]

Driver has done it all, delighting everyone from Star wars nerds to house of Gucci nerds. This week he made the news for a surprising reason. Our panelists are going to tell you about it. Pick the one who's telling the truth and you'll win our prize, the waiter of your choice on your voicemail. First up, Negeen Farsali.

[Caroline]

Adam Driver got his start on the Lena Dunham show Girls, where he played a brooding and unemployed yet somehow still desirable love interest. He's had a long career since those days, but it's the role of Adam on Girls that is being used as the main heartthrob on the new video game Dating Wars. This first person dater game available on the Nintendo Switch is meant to appeal to young women, gamifying the ever intense battle for the affection of the elusive man child. The unattainable boyfriend at the final level of Dating wars is Driver's character on Girls. Which is to say he's tall and handsome, except for sometimes he's also weird looking. He looks like he's never washed his hair and it kind of feels like he doesn't live anywhere. His character lobs all kinds of hurdles your way. He'll love bomb you with romantic nights out, but only to completely ignore you for weeks. He'll leave a toothbrush at your apartment, but will never invite you to his. He'll even introduce you to his mom, but refer to you as a friend. But don't worry, Adam Driver is the hardest level. You get plenty of practice at earlier levels with characters like Aiden from Sex and the City, McSteemey from Grey's Anatomy, and Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl. See also literally any 20 something at the bar tonight.

[Tom Papa]

Okay, that's a video game. Adam Driver from Negeen Frassad. Your next creation of Adam comes from Brian Babylon.

[Negeen Farsad]

How does the USDA save cows from being killed by savage gray wolves in Oregon? But in a humane way. All you need is a drone with loudspeakers to broadcast alarming sounds like fireworks or AC DC's thunderstruck or people arguing. One recording is of a fight between Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver from the movie Marriage Story. Because nothing scares a wolf more than seeing two people fall out of love. The fight scene is the most emotionally volatile moment of the movie, like when Scarlett screams, I can't believe I've known you forever. And then Adam yells, every day I wake up with you, I wish you were dead. The wolves hear that and they're like, damn, this farm is depressing. Let's get out of here.

[Tom Papa]

Great. That's Adam Driver scaring away wolf From Brian Babylon. And your last Driver dispatch comes from.

[Brian Babylon]

Roy Blunt Jr. What's up with Adam Driver? Why is he turning down so many juicy movie roles? Like the remake of Lassie Finds Romance, in which Driver would have played a Doberman pinscher. Well, brace yourselves. Adam Driver is taking a hiatus from acting altogether, forsaking the flickers. For what? For golf. I've always loved hitting the links. Driver told CNN's Peguin Willamette Fong. And it's high time I get serious about my game. Not only will he be entering open tournaments, he will introduce his own line of golfware. Why stop with clothes? Asked Willamette Thong. Why not design a signature set of clubs? For example, the Driver Driver. Hmm, says Driver. That's a thought.

[Tom Papa]

Okay, Andrew, from Negeen Prasad, you've got a video game where Adam Driver in Girls is the ultimate bad boy to win over. From Brian Babylon, the government scaring away wolves. Using the famous argument scene from Adam Driver in Marriage Story. And From Roy Blunt Jr. The Adam driver driver. Which one is real? I'm gonna go with Brian with the wolf hazing drone. And to find out the correct answer, we spoke to the reporter who broke the real story. They played Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story and the wolf hates us. That was the Wall Street Journal's Jim Carlton talking about Adam Driver scaring the wolves. Congratulations, Andrew. You got it right. Thank you so much.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Support public radio, everybody.

[Tom Papa]

Yes, thank you so much. You earned a point for Brian and you've won our prize, the voice of your choice on your voicemail. Thank you for playing Andrew.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Woo hoo.

[Tom Papa]

Thank you. All right, take care. And now it's time for the game we call not my job. Pedro Pascal had been a working actor for years before becoming an overnight sensation playing Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones. Since then, he starred in everything from the Mandalorian to the Fantastic Four to your dreams every night. And this year he's up for an Emmy for his role as Joel in HBO's the Last of Us. Pedro Pascal, welcome to. Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Thank you.

[Tom Papa]

Thank you for having me. So great to see you.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Thank you.

[Tom Papa]

It's really nice to meet you. I feel like we all feel like we know you because you're literally in every movie. How do you.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

I know. I'm sorry about that.

[Tom Papa]

No, you're making us all very happy. You started as an actor in New York mainly, right? You were a struggling actor in New York.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Yes.

[Tom Papa]

Right?

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Yes. That was like the longest role of my life. Was strong.

[Tom Papa]

Wow. And how. And you must have started getting parts there, and you slowly. Did you do, like, commercial work, that kind of stuff.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

I mean, I couldn't get arrested, to be honest with you. There was. There was. I had, like, a little bit of a promising start with jobs that were in Los Angeles, actually. But as far as New York was concerned, it just was a rough go. I was a waiter, and I was really bad at it, but I still didn't have the skill to learn something else. And I did eventually learn how to wait tables. I became good at it, but, boy, it took years.

[Tom Papa]

What was the struggle in waiting tables for you? What was the hard part?

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Just the logistical labor of meeting everyone's needs in the right manner. Act one, the water. You know what I mean? Upsell, you know, like the whole everything and making them feel attended to and respected and everything. And I, you know, I desperately didn't want to be there.

[Negeen Farsad]

I'm gonna be honest with you. I've never understood the waiter's journey until that moment. Pedro, that was beautiful.

[Tom Papa]

Like, wow.

[Negeen Farsad]

I'm gonna tip more every time. Like, I see what you're doing, man.

[Tom Papa]

So at that time, what was scarier? The world in the Last of Us or your first apartment in New York?

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Oh, gosh.

[Tom Papa]

Wow. Wow.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Yeah, exactly. I mean, you know, I thought my apartment was really cute. And I. When I moved out to Brooklyn, the only place that I could afford was a tiny little place in Red Hook. And I remember taking a friend of mine to it years, years, years later while I still had the lease. And she looked like she was gonna cry knowing that I lived there for 12 years. Like, she just was dumbfounded and it was hilarious. So, I don't know, maybe to some people, my apartment in Red Hook, Brooklyn, or. But to me, definitely the. The post apocalyptic fungal nightmare.

[Tom Papa]

Yeah.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Although there was a lot of fungal nightmares in that apartment.

[Tom Papa]

I was curious for the Last of Us, which is so brilliant, but I know so many people, and Peter is who I'm filling in for today. He played the last of us on his PlayStation, the video game. And he was so moved. He talks to me about it like, he's so moved by that game. It really hooked people in a profound way. Did you play that game before you start in the Adaptation?

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

No, I tried. I really, really did try. I tried. I tried. And my nephew didn't have the patience, so he took the console from me, and I said. And I was just like, well, then you do it.

[Tom Papa]

I'm sorry.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

And so I just watched him Play. It's a skill. It's such a thumb. I was like, it is. You know, I mean, you know, I was just, like, running in a corner and I couldn't get out of a corner. You gotta, like, pick up the ladder and you gotta. You know, all these things. I couldn't figure it out.

[Tom Papa]

It's funny to think of you going through the script when you get the role and looking like, where's the corner scene?

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Yeah, exactly.

[Tom Papa]

Very good.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Running in place.

[Tom Papa]

And you've been recognized by so many award committees. How did it feel to be named Grindr's 2024 Hottest man of the Year? You.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Are lying to me.

[Tom Papa]

You're not aware of this.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

You're lying to me. I'm not. If that is the truth. Truth, then I need to. I need to go. Except it's 2025.

[Tom Papa]

You're probably. Yeah, the buzz is worn off. All right, all right. Pedro Pascal, we've asked you here to play a game we're calling the Last of Us Weekly. You star in HBO's the Last of Us, but what do you know about Us Weekly, the celebrity gossip magazine for folks who think People magazine is too literary? Answer two out of three questions, right, and you'll win our prize for one of our listeners. Bill, who is Pedro playing for?

[Bill Curtis]

John Biba of New Market, New Hampshire.

[Tom Papa]

All right. All right. You ready to play?

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

I'm ready to play.

[Tom Papa]

Okay, here's your first question. Us Weekly is one of the best selling magazines in the world. But some issues sell better than others, according to a former employee. Which of these is the kiss of death for an issue of Us Weekly? A, when the note from the editor at the beginning of the magazine starts with, listen, they can't all be winners. B, when the issue includes the rare stars, they're just like us, only much, much better column. Or C, when the magazine's cover has a picture of literally any man on it.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

That's too many words.

[Tom Papa]

Let's do C. C. The answer is C. You're right. According to the employee, having a picture of a man on the COVID pretty much guarantees that the magazine will undersell. Which is crazy, because who doesn't want to know about Kevin Jonas skincare routine? Here's your next question. Slate called Us Weekly Celebrity Questionnaire 25 Things yous Don't Know About Me, the best magazine feature in all of media. As proof, they cited Cher's 2013 profile where she revealed what? A, that she's gone by just Cher for so long, she's completely forgotten what her last name is baby, that all of her imaginary friends growing up were lumberjacks, or C. That the original lyrics for if I Could Turn Back Time were about stopping the JFK assassination.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

My God. I mean, it's gotta be B. That was. Those were my friends.

[Tom Papa]

You're right, it was B. Cher also revealed that she owns, quote, a large collection of elephants.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Real ones.

[Brian Babylon]

You can't have a small collection of elephants.

[Tom Papa]

All right, all right. Here's your last question. Without a doubt, the most popular section in Us Weekly is Stars They're Just Like Us, where the magazine posts pictures of celebrities doing everyday things with captions including which of these A, they tie their own shoes, B they eat Mexican food, or C they squint in the sun.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

What? I'm allowed to get, like, help from the audience right between A and C. What?

[Negeen Farsad]

They said all of them.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

All of them. But they would literally say they eat Mexican food.

[Tom Papa]

You're right. All of the above. But thankfully, though, don't they don't do all those things at the same time. Bill how did Pedro Pascal do on our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

Could he do anything better than be a winner? Pedro yeah.

[Tom Papa]

Pedro Pascal is starring in the Fantastic Four and he's up for an Emmy for HBO's the Last of Us. Pedro Pascal, thank you so much for joining us on wait lake on in just a minute, what not to do at your wedding. That's in our listener limerick challenge. Call 1-888-wait- wait to join us on 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 NVR news Quiz. I'm Bill Curtis. We are playing this week with Nagin Farsad, Roy Blount Jr. And Brian Babylon. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois, Tom Papa.

[Tom Papa]

Thanks, Bill. In just a minute, three limericks are all that stand between you and mild glory in our listener limerick challenge. If you'd like to play, give us a call at 1-88-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-92-489-2. Okay, right now, panel, some more questions for you from the week's news. Brian?

[Negeen Farsad]

Yes.

[Tom Papa]

This week, the shapewear brand skims made headlines when they introduced a revolutionary new garment. The shapewear for your what?

[Negeen Farsad]

For your, like, chin and face.

[Tom Papa]

Yes, your face. You're right. Skim's new seamless sculpture sculpt face wrap, features, quote, collagen yarns for ultra soft jaw support and looks like a big bandage wrapped around your face. It also has velcro fasteners and, quote, ear slits, so you can hear people making fun of you.

[Negeen Farsad]

Okay, that's so funny that this is my question. So I actually had a friend who got, like, three of these, and I tried it on.

[Tom Papa]

What?

[Negeen Farsad]

I don't say it's stupid. Cause I felt my face felt 16 when I took it off for, like, two minutes. And I'm like, oh, man, I feel really, really tight.

[Caroline]

Are you supposed to, like, sleep in it?

[Negeen Farsad]

You're supposed to sleep in it, and.

[Caroline]

Then you wake up looking hot.

[Negeen Farsad]

I didn't say that. I didn't say you.

[Tom Papa]

Oh, you don't walk around town with it on.

[Negeen Farsad]

Someone's gonna do that.

[Tom Papa]

Yeah. Would you do it, Negeen?

[Caroline]

I mean, yeah, I'll try. I mean, anything if I'm gonna. If it's gonna keep me hot forever.

[Tom Papa]

No one said fore, but how long does it last?

[Brian Babylon]

I don't.

[Negeen Farsad]

I'm gonna be real with you. I don't think it does anything noticeable. Noticeable, but maybe it might keep your face slightly taunt. Just, you know, just muscle. Muscle memory, energy.

[Tom Papa]

Right.

[Negeen Farsad]

I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[Tom Papa]

Do you know what he's talking about?

[Bill Curtis]

You're looking at me like, well, you're so beautiful.

[Tom Papa]

You're doing something. Yeah.

[Negeen Farsad]

He's getting lost in your eyes right now, Negeen.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Tom Papa]

During a recent WNBA game, a baby stunned the crowd during the halftime show crawl race. By doing what?

[Caroline]

Oh, my God. I actually know this one. By, like, taking their first step yes, exactly. That's really cute.

[Tom Papa]

10 babies lined up on one end of the court for the halftime crawling race before one baby stood up halfway through and won the race by walking to her mom. This was the baby's first steps, which is such an important moment. But also that's cheating.

[Negeen Farsad]

I feel when I saw that, I feel that baby knew it could walk weeks before this and it was saving, it was holding like guess what I'm gonna do, ga ga goo goo.

[Tom Papa]

And then go ahead mom, sign me up for the crawl race. Yeah.

[Caroline]

I don't know anything about sports, but is it typical for there to be crawl races or is this a WNBA thing that's coming into our lives where now we're including babies into halftime shows? Cause it's a bunch of ladies on the court.

[Negeen Farsad]

Yeah, I've never seen that for NBA. That's a good valid point. But still, babies are cute, so.

[Caroline]

Right.

[Tom Papa]

I feel baby racing dates back to the 1940s and it's not always about who finishes the race first. This is true. One time a baby won for simply being better looking than the others. So yes, having a baby is hard work, but at least it's not the 1940s where your baby loses for being mid. Yeah. Coming up, it's lightning. Fill in the blank. But first it's the game where you have to listen for the ride. If you'd like to play on air, call or leave a message at 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. You can see us most weeks here at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago. And you can see us on the road. We'll be at Tanglewood in western Massachusetts on August 28th, in St. Louis on September 18th, and in Honolulu, Hawaii on October 9th and 10th. For tickets and information about all our live shows, go to nprpresents.org hi, you're on. Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[NPR Sponsor]

This is Mel from Salt Lake City, Utah.

[Tom Papa]

Hi, Mel.

[Caroline]

Hi.

[Tom Papa]

How are things in Salt Lake City? It's been good.

[Caroline]

It's been a bit hot, but I.

[Tom Papa]

Saw your guys show last week in person, so that was great. Wow. And then you got on the phone. It's almost like you know someone, someone did some networking at the live show. Well, welcome to the show, Mel. Bill Curtis is going to read you three news related limericks with the last word or phrase missing from each. If you can fill in that last word or phrase correctly on two limericks, you are a winner. Here's your first limerick in my Big.

[Bill Curtis]

White dress loaded with lace. I'm just trying to eat with some grace. Do this at our wedding. A divorce we are getting. Don't you dare smash that cake in my face.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Yes.

[Tom Papa]

Yes, that's right. Smashing cake into your new wife's face is the best way to say, I'm fun. I'm whimsical. I didn't know. Makeup takes an hour to do. According to the cut, women are traumatized by memories of cake smashing. One woman recounts having to change into spare clothes after clawing fondant off of her face. Another woman realized afterwards, and this is true, quote, we are going to be together forever, and I'm not going to be happy. Roy, did you do that when you got married?

[Brian Babylon]

Which time? I know. Maybe that's why there were so many of them. I don't know.

[Tom Papa]

Here's your next limerick.

[Bill Curtis]

I get up at an ungodly hour. A quick bite I just need to devour. So as I rinse my grime, I'll be saving some time. I eat breakfast while taking my shower.

[Tom Papa]

Shower. That's right. This week, actor Jessica Biel revealed that she often eats breakfast in the shower in an interview that screams, yes, everything is going great with my husband. Justin Timberlake Beale says she does it all. All coffee, cereal, even yogurt or a slice of quiche.

[Negeen Farsad]

It's not quiche.

[Tom Papa]

It makes sense.

[Caroline]

Come on.

[Tom Papa]

Hey, I have some body scrubs that would go great on toast. There's certain foods, like, you're like, oh, maybe granola. I could see that. As soon as I said quiche, a couple people in the audience threw up in their mouth.

[Caroline]

But even who. Who wants to put a bunch of wet granola in their mouth?

[Negeen Farsad]

Well, it's not wet.

[Caroline]

I mean, like, shower.

[Negeen Farsad]

No, her setup is she has, like, a little counter, like, above the sink.

[Caroline]

I mean, I do, right?

[Negeen Farsad]

And then she's like. And then she comes back up.

[Caroline]

There's still some drippings. Like, there's drippings that happen.

[Tom Papa]

Splash.

[Negeen Farsad]

It sounds like a lot of wet crumbs.

[Tom Papa]

Wet crumbs. That's what I'm saying.

[Caroline]

Who wants to have wet granola in their mouth?

[Brian Babylon]

I'm gonna have to see her do it before I make a.

[Tom Papa]

All right, here's your next Max Limerick. Car.

[Bill Curtis]

Cross lovers aren't playing for yucks. Outdoor Shakespeare brings bang for your bucks. Emotions are bigger for backhoes and diggers. See, all of our actors are.

[Caroline]

Trucks.

[Tom Papa]

Yes, that's right, trucks. In a new production of Romeo and Juliet, every character is played by a vehicle, including city buses, fire trucks and an ambulance, just the way Shakespeare envisioned this.

[Negeen Farsad]

Sounds like Shakespeare. Pixar Shakespeare or something, right?

[Tom Papa]

Yeah, it's really impressive. I've never honked an iambic pentameter. The show has actually been getting really amazing reviews. Critics said, quote, I was expecting it to be silly, but it was actually really good. And it was really sweet and cute, especially the scene where the cars were, I assume, kissing. Bill, how did Mel do on our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

Mel, you got them all right. She's walking away a winner today.

[Tom Papa]

Good job, Mel. Yeah, thanks for playing. All right, bye. Bye.

[Amazon Pharmacy]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Hulu, the Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. In 2007, Amanda Knox was halfway around the world studying abroad in Italy. She had no idea her dream would turn into a nightmare inspired by the actual events of her wrongful conviction and 15 year fight for freedom. Watch the Hulu original series, the Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox on August 20, streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney for bundle subscribers terms apply. This message comes from NPR sponsor Oracle. In business, they say you can have better, cheaper or faster. But you only get to pick two. What if you could have all three at the same time? Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is the blazing fast platform for your infrastructure, database, application development and AI needs. With oci, you can run any workload in a high availability, consistently high performance environment and spend less than you would with other clouds. To try OCI for free with zero commitment, go to oracle.com NPR now, on.

[Tom Papa]

To 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 is worth two points. Bill, can you give us the scores?

[Bill Curtis]

Roy and McGee each have two. Brian has four.

[Tom Papa]

All right, Roy, I'll choose you to go. The clock will start when I begin your first question. Fill in the blank. On Wednesday, the Kremlin confirmed that Blank would hold a meeting with U.S. officials next week.

[Brian Babylon]

Putin.

[Tom Papa]

Right. On Thursday, Skydance closed their $8 billion acquisition of Blank. The White House, Paramount. This week, a gunfight that broke out between two gangs in the Philippines ended when two of the rival members blanked, started crying, got married. Oh. On Monday, Skittles announced it would remove artificial blanks from its candies.

[Brian Babylon]

Skittles are going to remove artificial raisins, artificial colors. Oh.

[Tom Papa]

On Wednesday, Eddie Palmeri, jazz musician and the first Latin artist to win a blank, passed away at 88.

[Brian Babylon]

A Grammy.

[Tom Papa]

Right. This week, a church in Pennsylvania that raffled off a new Corvette is under Investigation following accusations that Blank rigged the raffle.

[Brian Babylon]

The preacher?

[Tom Papa]

Yes, the church pastor. St. Jude the Apostle Church raised over $500,000 for its charity car raffle. But now investigators are accusing the pastor of rigging the whole thing so that he could win the car.

[Brian Babylon]

Oh, yeah, little faith.

[Tom Papa]

Say what you will. There's no commandment that says thou shall not do donuts in a bitchin Corvette. Bill, how did Roy do? 3. Right.

[Bill Curtis]

6 more points, total of 8 puts him in the lead.

[Tom Papa]

All right. Okay, Negeen, you're up next.

[Caroline]

All right.

[Tom Papa]

On Wednesday, a new round of Trump's global blanks went into effect.

[Caroline]

Tariffs.

[Tom Papa]

Right. After decades of talks, Italy approved construction of what will become the world's longest blank connecting Sicily to the mainland bridge. That's right. This week, a tourist in Thailand was arrested after he blanked during a taxi.

[Caroline]

Ride, fell in love, tried to pay.

[Tom Papa]

The driver with a bag of weed. On Monday, it was announced that the streaming app Blank would be absorbed by Disney.

[Caroline]

Hulu.

[Tom Papa]

Right. This week, search and rescue crews in Canada rushed to help a man they thought was screaming for help, but he was just blanking.

[Caroline]

Um, he was just doing laugh therapy.

[Tom Papa]

Close singing the search and rescue team included two mounties and a drone and was expanded when people heard what they thought were cries of pain. So please, people, think of the first responders before you attempt. Lady Gaga's part. In Shallow, bill had a Negeen. 4.

[Bill Curtis]

Right. 8 more points total to 10 puts her in the lead.

[Tom Papa]

Oh. So how many does Brian need to win?

[Bill Curtis]

3 to tie, 4 to win.

[Tom Papa]

All right, you ready, Brian?

[Negeen Farsad]

Let's go.

[Tom Papa]

Okay, fill in the blank. On Tuesday, the Gifford fire in blank became the state's largest wildfire of the year. California. Right. On Tuesday, the House oversight Committee issued almost a dozen subpoenas related to the blank files.

[Negeen Farsad]

Epstein files.

[Tom Papa]

Right. This week, Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel intends to take full control of Blank. Gaza. Right. This week, police in San Francisco seized over 100 canisters of nitrous oxide from people attending blank.

[Negeen Farsad]

The Grateful Dead show.

[Tom Papa]

Right. On Monday, an attorney confirmed that disgrace hip hop mogul Blank had reached out to the White House for a pardon.

[Negeen Farsad]

The diddler. P. Diddy Combs.

[Tom Papa]

That's right, the diddler. This week, a woman in Los Angeles was shocked when she went to the hospital for 45 minutes and was charged $8,000 for blank for visiting her grandma for parking.

[Negeen Farsad]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

[Tom Papa]

Yeah. Apparently the receipt claimed the woman first parked in the structure in 2022, which was later explained as a computer glitch. Either way, after just a 45 minute visit to the hospital, the hospital parking structure's automated machine charged her $7,829. And let this be a reminder for everyone, never park out of network. Bill. How did Brian do?

[Bill Curtis]

Enough for Stand back cause Brian got five, right. 10 more points. He wins with 14.

[Tom Papa]

Nice work. Congratulations. Brian is this week's champion. In just a minute, we'll ask our panelists to predict after that, zoo in Denmark. How will zoos get our attention next? But first, let me tell you that Wait, Wait, don't Tell me. Is a production of NPR in WBEZ Chicago in association with Urgent Haircut Productions. Doug Berman, Benevolent overlord Philip Gaudica writes our limericks. Our public address announcer is Paul Friedman. Our tour manager is Shana Donald. Thanks to the staff and crew at the Studebaker Theater. BJ Lederman composed our theme. Our program is produced by Jennifer Mills, Miles Dornbach and Lillian King. Special thanks to Mohamed El Shaki and Monica Hickey. If you listen close, you can still hear Peter Guinn howling at the wind. Emma Choi is our vibe curator. Technical direction, 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 Mike Danforth. Now, panel, what will zoos do to get our attention next? BRIAN babylon.

[Negeen Farsad]

They will have a bring your ex to the zoo day. The more toxic, the more higher they are on the food chain.

[Tom Papa]

Nagin Farsad.

[Caroline]

They'll have a swap your kids with an animal day because parents also deserve a break.

[Tom Papa]

Roy Blunt, Jr.

[Brian Babylon]

They're doing joint promotions with Zumba Zoo Zumba.

[Bill Curtis]

Well, if any of that happens right here, panel, we're going to ask you about it.

[Roy Blunt Jr.]

Fun.

[Bill Curtis]

Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Tom Papa]

Thank you, Bill Curtis. Thanks also to Brian Babylon, Nagin Prasad and Roy Blunt Jr. And thanks to all of you for listening. I'm Tom Papa, filling in for Peter Sagal, and we'll see you next week. This is npr.

[NPR Sponsor]

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[Amazon Pharmacy]

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