Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! (NPR)

Episode: Pedro Pascal, Chris Perfetti, Heather Gay, and More!
Air date: January 12, 2026
Host: Peter Sagal
Panelists/Guests: Tom Papa (guest host), Nagin Farsad, Alonzo Bodden, Paula Poundstone, Eugene Cordero, Chris Perfetti, Heather Gay, Pedro Pascal

Overview

This extra-lively, nostalgia-soaked "Happy Old Year's Day Edition" of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! features celebrity interviews (Pedro Pascal, Chris Perfetti, and Heather Gay), games, surprising news stories, and the panel's trademark comedic banter. Kicking off the new year by refusing to acknowledge it, the show delivers laughs while highlighting pop culture, absurd headlines, and quirky personal stories from the guest lineup.

Key Segments and Highlights

Pedro Pascal Interview

Guest host: Tom Papa, with Peter Sagal, Nagin Farsad, Bill Curtis, and panel
[01:33–11:56]

Early Acting Struggles and Waiting Tables

• Pedro recalls his long journey as a struggling actor in New York, candidly admitting:
  • "That was like the longest role of my life was struggling acting." (Pedro Pascal, 02:36)
  • He was a "bad waiter" at first, but got the hang of it after years:

    "I was a waiter, and I was really bad at it..." (02:49)

  • Humorously likens waiting tables to theater: "Act one, the water, act two, the drink, act three, the upsell..." (03:31)

Early Apartments and "The Last of Us"

• Pedro compared his scary NYC apartments to zombie apocalypses:
  • "Maybe to some people, my apartment in Red Hook, Brooklyn (is scarier), but to me, definitely the post-apocalyptic fungal nightmare." (04:23)
  • Jokes: "Although there was a lot of fungal nightmares in that apartment." (05:05)
• His attempt at playing The Last of Us video game:
  • "I tried, I really, really did try...and my nephew didn’t have the patience, so he took the console from me..." (05:36)
  • "I was just like running in a corner and I couldn’t get out of a corner..." (05:59)
• Humorous banter on being named "Grindr's 2024 Hottest Man"—which Pedro doubts is real:
  • "You're lying to me." (06:41)
  • "If that is the truth, then I need to go." (06:48)

Game: 'The Last of Us Weekly'

• Pedro answers questions about Us Weekly magazine trivia, featuring panel jokes about magazine covers, Cher's imaginary lumberjack friends, and mundane celebrity routines.
• Wins the game easily:
  • "Could he do anything better than be a winner?" (Bill Curtis, 11:35)

News & Panel Banter Highlights

[13:20–20:32]

• Miscellaneous stories told with classic panel sass:
  • Strangely famous on TV: An elderly footballer in Bulgaria watches his own memorial live, a delivery man’s speedy run from a dog lands a scholarship, and a man's roofing business booms after being shown in news stock footage about junk food.
  • Game show with listener Kim (from Maine), ending with a quip "You earned a point for her for doing so. But you yourself have won our prize…" (19:51)

Chris Perfetti Interview (Abbott Elementary)

Guest host: Nagin Farsad
[21:01–30:29]

Barista Beginnings & Theater Mishaps

• Chris talks about using a Starbucks job loophole to support his drama school ambitions:
  • "I sort of used it as a way to get a job elsewhere..." (21:16)
• Theater gone wrong:
  • "Sometimes it rains halfway through, and you flip and fall on your butt in front of everyone." (22:49)

Abbott Elementary Inside Scoop

• Wait Wait fan connection:
  • "Did you know about Wait, Wait... before you were that character?"
    "Are you kidding?...Yes." (23:44)
  • Chris's real life increasingly overlaps with his character, Jacob.
• His mom pitches ideas for Abbott:
  • "Yeah, she totally does. God bless her." (25:02)
  • She gives plot notes every week—"That's always a joy." (25:20)
• On feedback from former teachers: "If they ever saw me in person again, they would probably physically harm me...I made their lives a living hell." (25:48)

Game: Monk Trivia ("Meet the Elementary Abbott")

• Quirky monk facts: monks call cats while silent, a monk feuds with Yelp reviewers, and 500 monks' stomps included in "Law & Order" dun-dun sound.
• Chris aces the quiz, affectionately told:
  • "The teacher is always right. And this teacher got every single one correct." (Bill Curtis, 30:05)

Heather Gay Interview (Real Housewives of Salt Lake City)

Host: Peter Sagal
[38:26–47:33]

On Being a "Real" Real Housewife

• Heather on authenticity:
  • "We are all pretty real...We are just messed up enough to keep it interesting." (38:40)
• On Housewives' iconic "taglines":
  • "It's called your tagline...your season tagline." (39:56)
  • Her favorite: "Just like my pioneer ancestors, I'm trying to blaze a new trail." (40:00)
  • Reveals taglines are assigned:
    "They’re allowed to contribute ideas, but they shut those down immediately." (40:34)
• Workshop joke taglines with Heather, panelists.

"Good Time Girl" Memoir & Life After Mormonism

• Heather shares a colorful story from her book about a Tijuana senior trip, discovering her "good time" side, and later serving a challenging LDS mission in wine-rich Provence:
  • "Yes, the land of love. And I was preaching celibacy." (42:40)
  • "Sober living? Not so great. Not so great. Not so receptive. The mission was actually closed down." (42:46)

Game: Female Criminals

• Florida robber escapes via Uber, drug scientist in Massachusetts gets busted, and Ma Barker inspires picnicking shootout audiences
• Heather goes 3/3, panelists riff:
  • "I'm a Good time girl, not a great time girl." (45:24)
  • "Don't challenge me with perfection. I will take it." (46:50)

Notable Quotes

• Pedro Pascal:

  • "[Being a struggling actor] was like the longest role of my life." (02:36)
  • "I was a waiter, and I was really bad at it, but...I did eventually learn how to wait tables." (02:49)
  • "Maybe to some people, my apartment in Red Hook, Brooklyn [was scarier], but to me, definitely the post-apocalyptic fungal nightmare." (04:23)
  • "I was just like running in a corner and I couldn’t get out of a corner..." (05:59)

• Chris Perfetti:

  • "I really enjoyed school, but school did not enjoy me." (26:10)
  • "My mother has given notes on everything I have done since the day [I was born]." (25:28)

• Heather Gay:

  • "We are all pretty real. And I think Salt Lake City keeps us real." (38:40)
  • "Just like my pioneer ancestors, I’m trying to blaze a new trail." (40:00)
  • "I'm a Good time girl, not a great time girl." (45:24)

• Panel banter:

  • "You have to be a minion? Yeah, pretty much. You just have to be a banana." (32:14)
  • "Dessert-based fragrances now dominate the market...if you put these on...you’re going to attract bees." (33:43)
  • "Grown ups are competing in childhood games...with the energy of youth and the knees of age." (35:50)

Key Timestamps

• 01:33 — Pedro Pascal joins, discusses acting and waiting tables
• 05:36 — Pedro on failing at The Last of Us video game
• 07:25 — 'The Last of Us Weekly' game for Pedro
• 11:46 — Pedro Pascal’s quiz results; wrap up
• 21:01 — Chris Perfetti interview (barista stories, Abbott Elementary)
• 24:14 — Wait Wait... as a character trait in Abbott Elementary
• 25:02 — Chris confirms mom pitches for Abbott
• 27:12 — Monk trivia game with Chris
• 38:40 — Heather Gay discusses authenticity and taglines in Real Housewives
• 41:03 — Heather reveals the evolution and assignment of taglines
• 42:10 — Stories from "Good Time Girl" memoir
• 43:32 — Heather’s game: female criminals
• 47:21 — Heather finishes the quiz, wins for listener

Tone & Style

The episode maintains the classic, witty, self-aware "Wait Wait..." tone: irreverent, playful, quick with pop culture references, and densely packed with punchlines. The guests and panelists all share personal tales with a refreshing lack of pretense, and the host keeps the energy high with rapid-fire exchanges, asides, and self-effacing jokes.

Perfect For

• Fans of comedic quizzes and celebrity interviews
• Admirers of Pedro Pascal, Chris Perfetti, or Heather Gay wanting a personal, humorous glimpse behind the scenes
• Anyone who enjoys spirited, clever, and affectionate tackling of offbeat headlines, pop culture, and the quirks of everyday life