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Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
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This message comes from Peloton. Whatever road lies ahead, your training starts here. From classes on Peloton Tread or Tread Plus, to outdoor runs on the Peloton app, Peloton All Access Memberships Separate. Learn more at 1peloton.com/running. Hey, it's Peter Saggle here, and I want to tell you about some exciting things that are coming up in this podcast feed other than just me telling you about exciting things coming up in the podcast feed. The Democratic National Convention is in Chicago this year, and we realized, so are we. So wait, wait is going to the convention? We'll be bringing you bonus podcasts with our exclusive convention coverage, talking about the things no one else is brave enough to. And wait, wait producers Ian Chilog and Mike Danforth are bringing back how to do everything. It's my wife's favorite comedy podcast from NPR, and I wish I was kidding. We'll have fresh episodes for you right here in the feed. Get ready for all this new stuff coming your way. Don't be scared by what's new. Embrace it, you'll love it. From NPR and WBEZ, this is "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" the NPR News Quiz. I'm the man who sounds like I'm six feet, two inches of pure lung. [LAUGHTER] Bill Curtis, and here is your host at the Studebaker Theater in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Peter Siegel. Thank you, Bill. Thanks, everybody. [APPLAUSE] So we are continuing our summer break this week in honor of President Joe Biden, who taught everyone that sometimes it's OK to sit back and let other people do the job. [LAUGHTER] Also in honor of Joe Biden, I got a completely new set of teeth. [LAUGHTER] And since we're thinking election thoughts, why not start with our talk last year with a woman who might have been president if Bill here hadn't found an old monkey's paw in 2015 and wished for some new material from the next administration? Lesson, but dealing with ancient demons, be specific. [LAUGHTER] Our guest today is the former First Lady of the United States, the former US Senator from New York and Secretary of State, and the first woman to be nominated for president by a major party. She is the author of many books, including a memoir called Living History, a thriller called State of Terror, and a horror story called What Happened. [LAUGHTER] Hillary Rodham Clinton, welcome to Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. [APPLAUSE] Thank you, Peter. Thank you. [APPLAUSE] I got to tell you, they were excited to see me. Then I told them that you were going to be in the show, and I was completely forgotten, so-- [LAUGHTER] Well, I've listened to your show for years, and you've got such an enthusiastic following, me included, so it's a real joy to be with you. You are so kind. We understand that next week is a big deal. It is the second annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative since the pandemic, right? So you're getting people together, right? This was brought back after the pandemic, because there's such a strong desire for people to try to be with each other again, and come up with things to do that make a difference. And so whether it's climate resilience, or getting clean water to people, or helping in Ukraine, whatever your interests or your passion might be, there's going to be others who will share that, and you can come and be a part of it. OK, thanks. I appreciate the invitation. I'll be there Monday. OK, Gary, you've got to go fix the Ukraine. I've got to go to that. Yeah, Peter, we need you. I know, clearly. I go to Zelensky from one short Jewish comedian to another. Let me tell you. [LAUGHTER] I want to-- I really agree with something you said, which is that during the pandemic, after the pandemic, we all became so desperate to go out and be with people. I specifically would love to be with Matt Damon and the Pope, who will both be there next week. I am guessing that, yes, the panels, the charitable commitments, the ideas for fixing the world, that's great. But what really rocks about CGI is the parties, right? Well, they're not bad. I mean-- [LAUGHTER] If you're going to be earnest and working hard all day, you deserve to blow off some steam. I agree. And so I mean, I'm just imagining it can be surreal, right? With Janet Yellen and the Pope, say, comparing gowns. I mean, what is-- [LAUGHTER] Well, you just never know what might happen. That's why you need to come. Exactly. All right, I might leave right now. Secretary Clinton, this is Faith Saly. And I recently had the privilege of telling your husband this story, but I didn't get to tell you. And it's really about you. My nine-year-old daughter saw a picture of her grandmother with your husband. He clearly took the selfie because she doesn't know how. And my daughter said, who is that man with grandma? And I said, well, that's President Clinton. And she kind of cocked her head. And she said, you mean Hillary's husband? [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] So I don't think you have to worry about the voters under 65. That's funny, I think. And your husband thought it was funny, too, to his credit. Didn't think it was funny enough to pass it on to his life. [LAUGHTER] It is very strange. I will say this. It is strange talking to you because obviously you're a serious public figure who's done serious work. But you've also been this public icon for many, many years. You're a very, very well-known person, which shows up in different ways. So for example, have you ever seen Pete Davidson's tattoo of you? [LAUGHTER] I have. [LAUGHTER] Yes, you have. Yes, I have. So wait a minute. Not in the same way other women have seen it. I was about to say. [LAUGHTER] You've seen pictures. [LAUGHTER] No, no, no, I was with Pete. And you know, he lifted up his stamp leg, and he showed it to me. And I was a little bit worried when he said that he was going to start removing his tattoos. But I saw him later, and he assured me that one would stay. So I hope it's so good. How often do you hang out with Pete Davidson? [LAUGHTER] You know, I am a big fan of Pete. When I did Saturday Night Live years ago, I got to meet Pete and Colin Jost. And I really was very touched by both of them, because Pete's father was a firefighter who died on 9/11. And Colin's family was very much involved with the New York Fire Department. And I did a lot of work with them after 9/11. So I really felt a connection. And I find Pete to be a very appealing guy, and I just wish him the best. I mean, I really hope that he has a great life, because he's a girl. [APPLAUSE] Wow. Get a tattoo of her on your legs. She'll say nice things about you, OK? I just took a note. Well, Secretary Clinton, I cannot tell you how exciting it is to talk to you. But we have asked you here to play a game that we're calling-- you can do anything with CGI. You were part of one CGI, the Clinton Global Initiative. So we thought we'd ask you about another CGI that is computer-generated imagery. That's quite popular in the moving pictures these days. So just answer two or three questions about the CGI. You will win our prize for one of our listeners, the voice of anyone they might choose on their answering machine. Bill, who is Secretary Clinton playing for? Forbes Fox of Wilmington, North Carolina. Forbes Fox. And I don't know how competitive you are with your husband, and I mean that honestly. But I will point out when he was in the show some years ago, he got all three right. I'm just saying that. Well, I've heard that, Peter. Have you? Like every year. Oh, so that he told you, OK? [LAUGHTER] All right, here's your first question. CGI is often used in big comic book movies, like "Blade Trinity." In that movie, CGI was used to create the illusion that the lead actor Wesley Snipes was doing what? A, paying his taxes. [LAUGHTER] B, saying the lines in the script, rather than what he wanted to say. Or C, keeping his eyes open. Oh, my God. Oh, wow. Keeping his eyes open. That's right. [APPLAUSE] What happened was that the moment in the movie called for him suddenly opening his eyes to prove he was alive or something. And on that day on the set, Mr. Snipes was very angry at the director and refused to do it. So they said, what the heck? And they just used CGI to put eyeballs on his eyelids. That is hilarious. But I knew nobody in an action movie paid their taxes. That's true. I just pictured him getting so into it that he closed his eyes like a drummer. It was just like really vibing. All right, next question. Petty Queen. Stephen Segal has continued his career as an action hero into the fourth decade. But there are some things-- well, he just can't do anymore. In a recent film, they used CGI to depict him doing what difficult stunt? A, walking. B, treating the other actors with respect. Or C, performing a triple axle in pairs figure skating. Oh my god. Oh, walking. Yeah, it was. A, yes, walking. Now, to be fair, he wasn't just walking. He was also pointing his gun in various directions as he did it. Before we get to this last question, Secretary Clinton, you'll probably be thinking that after all of your achievements and prominence in public life, you cannot believe that you were being asked this kind of question. And I just want you to know I share your disbelief. Movies employ vast teams of CGI artists. Of course, you can see all their names in the credits. But one particular graphic artist working on the movie Cats was given a very specific job. What was it? A, matching the cast's movements as cats to footage of actual cats doing the same dance numbers. B, swapping out the animation on James Corden, who had accidentally been rendered throughout the movie as a dog. Or C, removing all of the very anatomically correct CGI cat butts that a previous team had put on all the actors. Well, it could have probably been all three of those given how the movie turned out. But I think-- Wow. [LAUGHTER] You think you know what the answer is? I'm going to say the answer is three. That's right. C, and somewhere out there, there is apparently a quote, "butthole cut of cats." Bill, how did Secretary Hillary Clinton do on our quiz? She won the war. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] Good going, Hillary. Does that mean-- does that mean I get to be the voice I'm going to say? That's between you and the Secretary, I'm afraid. Hey, y'all, it's Hillary Clinton. [LAUGHTER] I'm not here right now. That sounds pretty good. Y'all need no hours. The Clinton Global Initiative 2023 is taking place September 18th and 19th Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton. Thank you so much for joining us here on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me." [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] Thank you. [MUSIC PLAYING] When we come back, two of the most gorgeous movie stars in the world, Chris, Pine, and Zazie Beets, who are grateful to be in the radio so we can concentrate on their intellect. That's when we come back with more of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" from NPR. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] Support for this podcast and the following message come from Peloton. Run the way you want with Peloton. Whatever road lies ahead, your training starts here. Tap into expertly programmed workouts and real-time metrics that take your fitness journey to new heights, from their strength classes designed for runners on Peloton, Tread, or Tread Plus, to guided outdoor runs on the Peloton app. Call your self a runner. Peloton All Access Membership Separate. Learn more at 1peloton.com/running. This message comes from NPR sponsor Rosetta Stone, an expert in language learning for 30 years. 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So let Instacart shoppers overthink your groceries so that you can overthink what you'll wear on that third date. Download the Instacart app to get free delivery on your first three orders while supplies last, minimum $10 per order. Additional terms apply. (upbeat music) - From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, Wait, don't tell me. The NPR News Quiz, I'm Bill Curtis, and here is your host at the Studebaker Theater in downtown Chicago, and I, Peter's Siegel. - Thank you Bill. (audience applauds) - This week, we are taking a well-deserved break in order to get ready to cover the stories that are coming our way this fall. - With my anchorman heritage, I can put my ear to the ground and hear the approach of a great stampede of news, we must prepare. - Wow, we limber up. Let's return to happy times and delightful people. In April of this year, we talked to Chris Pine, an actor who made his mark as a handsome prince in Princess Diaries too, but in his directorial debut, pool man, he depicted an eccentric, obsessive, barely holding down that titular job. I asked him about moving to the other side of the camera. - Terrible. No, it was, I have to say, the directing and the acting of it, I don't know how people will view it, but certainly the experience of it was pretty joyful and I had an incredible cast, the net-bending and Danny DeVito and Jennifer Jason Lee and a bunch of incredible people. - The movie is a lot of things, but it is also a kind of love letter to LA. Unlike a lot of people who do what you do and therefore live there, you grew up there, right? - I grew up in LA and my father was on a really successful show in the late '70s and early '80s called "Chips" and-- - Oh, wow, yeah. (audience applauds) - We know, we were just basically got you here so we could talk about your father. - I know. - We read, and I'm surprised if this is true, so I'm interested to see if you'll confirm it, that your father advised you not to go into the business. My father is a work a day actor, like when I was growing up, it was him going out in auditions all the time and I think his advice was really born from more than anything else, like knowing just how difficult and how hard our business can be with rejection and the real possibility of struggling to make a living. So, but then I remember I went to, was at school and I did a play and my mother came up to me afterwards and looked at me very worriedly and said, "Are you sure you don't want to become a lawyer?" (audience laughs) And I said, "Absolutely not." And she said, "Well, go with God." - Well, that's lovely. And so, did your first big movie role, as I understand it, was the male lead in Princess Diaries to a royal engagement. And this week, every woman I have met, about 30 or below told me that it was, that is the greatest movie ever made, or at least they thought so when they were in junior high. And I'm just wondering if that has been your experience of life that women come up to you and go, "Oh my God." When I was 13, you were just it. - I, so fortunate to have been given that opportunity like Gary Marshall and I just wish for that role that I would have just had someone put hair gel. (audience laughs) Because my hair is so uncontrollably large. It's fine. - I noted that, I watched it this week. - Brutal. - Why did you do that? - Why did you do that? - I just assumed, because the movie is so perfectly calibrated to the tastes of young women. - Except for my hair. - Well, I figured that's just what young women want. They want an incredibly handsome prince who seems, you know, a little dark and a little evil but turns out to have a heart of gold who has enormous hair. That was part of the whole thing. (audience laughs) - Yeah. - So you went from the Princess Diaries, eventually to playing Captain Kirk in the fabulous new rebooted Star Trek movies. So how much of your performance was based on William Shatner? - I think the biggest direction that JJ ever had for me was Les Shatner. (audience laughs) - Really? You're overdoing it? Because it's so, it's so deliciously fun. I mean, anything from how he fits in the chair to how he does like a double tip. - There are many, the Shatnerisms are long and deep and they're beautiful. They're beautifully crafted. - There's a bit where you eat an apple and I didn't realize that William Shatner ate apples in a certain way until you did it. And I was, "Oh, that's a Shatner-Apely." The Shatner-Apely. - It's a Shatner-Apely, yeah. - It's a Shapel. - I have to ask you one last thing before we get to the game, which is I don't know if you are aware of this but the celebrity magazines very much enjoy talking about the Hollywood chrisses. It's currently you, Mr. Hemsworth. - Can we talk about it on our WhatsApp chain? - Well, that's what I was going to ask. The Hollywood chrisses are obviously Mr. Pine with us now. Mr. Hemsworth, Mr. Evans and Mr. Pratt. And the question was when you get together, and I imagine when that happens, it's called The Full Tofer. (audience laughs) - Whoa! - Not Christmas? - Oh! Okay. (audience laughs) - I feel top. - Yeah. - I feel one, I feel one up. Do you actually like, 'cause they're rankings. I don't know if you're aware of that. Like, who's the number one chriss of the moment? And I was wondering if you guys worry about that. - It really depends on which clubhouse we're at. - Oh, sure. - But if we're in Los Angeles, I mean, you know, I think the current reading, I'm at least 48 points above the other guys, which is, look, that's this week. That's what will happen to them. - Yeah, let me just go through their IMDB. No, I don't see any writer directors on there, so you take the cake with him. - Yeah, there you go. (audience applauds) - I win, you win. Well, Chris Pine, we have invited you here to play a game that we are calling... - Ah, the scent of fresh crisp pine. (audience laughs) - Not only Chris Pine, but Balsam, Vanilla, and Clove, we're gonna ask you three questions about, sir, air fresheners. (audience laughs) - Ready to go. - All right, answer two to three questions, and you'll win our prize for one of our listeners, Bill, who is Chris Pine, playing for? - Chris Owens of Minkleman, Nebraska. - Another member of the Chris Club. All right, here's your first question, Chris. While air fresheners help mask at least 30% of the smells in that cab you are now writing in, they can also cause a little bit of trouble as in when which of these happened. A, a line of human pheromone scented fresheners called a spate of terrible marriages back in the 1990s. B, the pine scented ones have been known to attract bears, or C, a school in Baltimore was evacuated and hazmat crews were called in thanks to the smell of a pumpkin spice air freshener. - B. - B, that the pine scented ones attract bears? - Yes. (audience laughs) - Which is why you see all those bears chasing the ubers up and down there. - Exactly right. It happens you want sandals all the time. - That's absolutely true. That's how we get them out of the woods. No, I'm afraid it was actually C. The school in Baltimore had to be evacuated because of the overwhelming effect of the pumpkin spice air freshener. Nobody died, five people did go to the hospital with pumpkin spice related trauma. (audience laughs) All right, it's not a problem. You have two more chances. - Thanks, Bob. - I know. With the ubiquity of air fresheners, people are demanding changes to cope with them. Such as which of these. A, Febreze being classified as a controlled substance by the federal government. B, an option in rideshare apps to request a car without them. Or C, edible air fresheners to make your farts smell nice. (audience laughs) - I desperately want to say, Steve, but I'm pretty sure it's B. - It is B, yes. Many ubers. - Yes. (audience applauds) And apparently our audience agrees that Uber and Lyft should bring this to us because many people would much prefer not to have that in their car. It makes-- - The worst. - It's the worst. It makes some people very sick. All right, it's just the worst. All right. Last one, if you get this right, you win. If you're putting on air freshener in your car, always use one of those little trees. Just do that. So you don't end up like the man who used to spray and had what happened. A, he filled the car with so much aerosol air freshener that when he then lit a cigarette, his car exploded. (audience laughs) B, when it dried, it became opaque, and all of a sudden he couldn't see out the windows. Or C, it was absorbed by his skin and he spent the rest of his life smelling like cinnamon sugar. (audience laughs) - Oh God, one. One. - You're right, yes. (audience applauds) Yes! - You made it. (audience applauds) - You got it, yes. - There's no one you did. - This happened in the UK. He lit a cigarette, the propellant or whatever, caught fire. The car windows were blown out, nearby buildings were damaged, but amazingly, the driver himself had only minor injuries. I don't know how, but that's what happened. Bill, how did Chris Pine do in our quiz? - Two out of three, wow. - What a win, Chris, good luck. - Captain, my captain. Well, Chris Pine is an actor, writer, and director now. Chris Pine, what a joy to talk to you. Thank you so much for joining us and what we've done from you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (audience applauds) - Thanks Chris, bye bye. - See you. (audience applauds) - Bye. (upbeat music) - In 2022, toward the end of the pandemic lockdown, we invited actor Zazzi Beats onto our Zoom call. Zazzi starred in the acclaimed series Atlanta and also played a superhero in Deadpool 2. - Mo Raka, though. What did it know about her origin story? Is it true that you got your acting superpowers at LaGuardia High, the school from fame? - Yes. - I just have to say that for so many of us, you have to understand, like growing up, it was like a fantasy if you lived outside of New York to be able to go to the fame school, that high school. - It's so funny because honestly, it's a public school. Like I don't know if people realize like it's, I don't know. I felt like yes, it was this wonderful opportunity, but also really just felt like school. - But it's not just school. They block off the traffic so that you can dance on top of taxi cabs and stop traffic. - That's true, don't all schools do that? - I mean, and you're dancing on the cafeteria table, singing hot lunch, I mean, it was impossibly exciting to watch that movie and TV series. - Well, you know, that's, I thought everybody had that, but I guess. - It's just, it's just strange. You have, you are known, I am told, and please correct me if I'm wrong, for like making your own health products, like you're on kombucha and body butter is true. - Yeah, and it's so funny. Like I feel like that's totally become a thing that people ask about all the time. I just do this at home, like for fun. I mean, I used to do it to save money 'cause I was like, I want to face masks, but I'm not paying funny books for that. And so I would just make my own stuff. And with a kombucha, I was just interested in that whole fermentation process. And then your scoby basically is like, it's like a pet. Like you have to take care of it. - Well, for people who don't know, tell everybody what a scoby is. What is a scoby? - So it's essentially the like bacteria that help, that create the environment that helps. - It's the slime, it's the slime from which kombucha emerges. - Right, exactly. And then it's actually like, you can hold it. It's like a little, it's like a sourdough starter, but it's just way grosser. - Exactly, but you can hold it. It's like a little jello thing. And it's like, you have to take care of it, otherwise it dies. - Does yours have a name? - No, I didn't name mine, but she had many children because they keep making layers of new scobies and you can like separate them and then-- - Oh my God, it's sitting in the corner of your room, multiplying? - Yes. - Yes. - Yes. - Listen, I have a cat and I had a scoby. I don't have a scoby anymore. - Do you ever hear it whispering things to you that maybe you don't want to do, but it really wants you to do? - My scoby is a very positive scoby, so it will be whispered kind and gentle things to me. - Wow, my sister scoby tried to kill us in the night and time. - You see what I mean? Hey, wait a minute, here's a question. Since you were already into like making this disgusting goo for your friends, when the pandemic started, what new hobbies did you pick up? - What new hobbies? Returning text messages? - Um, I started-- - It's a good half hour every day. - Yes. - Rocking in the fetal position. - In two days, I went through 823 on red text messages. - Wow. - Wow. - Yeah. - Wow. - You guys were not, you were not up on your text. - I'm not as popular as you, so I don't have that much of a problem. - I don't. - But when I don't return text for, say a week, I just decide it's easier never to speak to that person ever again, so they assume I'm dead. - Yeah, that was my approach. And then I was, you know, so lonely. - Yes. - Pandemic. - Well, I'm sure when you texted all your friends at last, your scoby was very proud of you. - Yeah. And a little jealous, she wanted to see attention. - Of course. - Well, Zassie Bates, we are so delighted to talk to you, but we have asked you here to play a game that this time, we're calling. - Zassie Bates, meet Zassie Bates. - Specifically, the beats of long time rolling stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died last year at the ripe age of 80. And it's your two to three questions about Charlie Watts, and you will win our prize for one of our listeners, the voice of their choice and their voicemail. Bill, who is Zassie playing for? - John Day of Durham, North Carolina. - I gotta ask, are you a rolling stones fan? - Not enough for this game. - Okay, as I often say ignorance is often the best choice to go into this, 'cause just a little knowledge will lead you astray. - Great. - So here's your first question. Charlie Watts had some interesting habits while touring the world for decades with the rolling stones. He always did what? A, he saved all the underwear thrown at them on stage, resulting in a collection that filled an entire wing of his house. B, he sketched every single hotel bed he slept in. Or C, he ate an alphabetical order, having apricots for one meal, beats for the next, et cetera, all the way around until he started again. - I hope it's the first one, but I think it's B. - You are right. It is B, he sketched every single hotel bed he slept in. He had started as an artist, did some early album covers for these stones, and I don't know why he did that. Next question, that was very good. Charlie Watts, like the other members of the stones, liked to collect classic and expensive cars, but he did it his own way. How, A, he just collected the same car, the 1978 Dodge Aspen, until he had 106 of them. B, Watts never got his driver's license, so he just put on suits to match the car and sit in the cars in his garage. Or C, whenever a bandmate bought a car, he'd get the matchbox aversion and then brag about how much money he'd saved. - Oh, that's so sweet. I think it's A, though. - You think it's A, that he just collected 1978 Dodge Aspen's, that's it. The three cars I was interested in, until he had 106 of these identical cars, presumably in different colors, at his assistant. - Hopefully. - Yes. No, Mefreda was actually B, he never got his driver's license. - To be fair, I got my driver's license three years ago. - Well, you're a New Yorker, right? - It's a New Yorker. - Yes. - Right, so that's a natural New York thing. Well, you have one more question, if you get this right, you'll win. Once, while the Rolling Stones were on tour, Watts was woken in the middle of the night by a phone call from a very drunk Mick Jagger, demanding, "My drummer!" How did Watts respond? A, he sent him 14 pounds of chicken drumsticks, to be a room service. B, he said, "I'm sorry, I don't recognize your voice, sir." Or C, he woke up, shaved, dressed in a suit and tie, put on some freshly shined shoes, went up to Jagger's room and punched him in the face, yelling, "Never call me your drummer again." - Ooh, spicy, I like this spice, let's go for C. - Oh, very good choice, Ozzy. That's in fact what happened. The story was prominently featured in all of his orbits. And what happened then was after he had punched Jagger in the face and said that, he then yelled, "And you're my singer!" He said. - Wow. - Yes. - I love the fact that he shaved and put on a suit. - He was apparently a man who cared about such things. He was he cared about such things. He did. Bill, how did Zassie Bates do on our quiz? - Two out of three, then she won. - Yay. - Zassie Bates is starring in Atlanta on FX. Zassie Bates, you are a delight. Thank you so much for joining us on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." - Thank you so much, this is so fun. - Take care, thank you Zassie. Bye-bye. - Bye! (upbeat music) - When we come back, the British actor who played America's greatest hero and a woman who became a TV star because selling weed in high school didn't work out. That's when we're back with more of "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" from NPR. - This message comes from Capital One, offering commercial solutions you can bank on. Now more than ever, your business faces unique challenges and opportunities. That's why Capital One offers a comprehensive suite of financial services, all tailored to your short and long-term goals, backed by the strength and stability of a top 10 commercial bank. Their dedicated experts work with you to build lasting success. Explore the possibilities at capitalone.com/commercial, a member FDIC. Support for NPR and the following message come from Visit St. Pete Clearwater, Florida, where fall color seekers can find 35 miles of sugary white sand beaches and emerald green Gulf waters. Explore the kaleidoscopic colors of more than 30 museums and galleries and over 500 street murals. Paddle through vibrant green mangrove tunnels and take in fiery red, orange and yellow sunsets night after night. Just a few of St. Pete Clearwater's fall colors. More at visit SPC.com. (upbeat music) - From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. The NPR News Quiz. I'm Bill Curtis and here is your host at the Studebaker Theatre in downtown Chicago Illinois. Peter Seigal. - Thank you, Bill. (audience cheering) So this week, all of us at the show are off at our summer boot camp, which is like Navy SEAL training, except for dealing with the news. 75% of candidates wash out of the program, leaving only the best of the best to deal with the worst of the worst. - So while we get ready for the challenges to come, here are some older pleasures. In January of this year, we were joined by actor David O'Yellowo, who had dozens of credits in his native UK, but is most well-known in America for playing Dr. Martin Luther King in the movie Selma. - Peter asked him if people here are surprised to find out he's actually British. - Very surprised, which is both a compliment, and at times feels like I'm under threat, because people feel quite upset about it. I remember doing a number of Q and A's after we did Selma to screenings, and African Americans particularly were like, man, you from Harlem, come on, man. (audience laughing) - I have other questions, but I'm sort of stunned about how good that was. - Yeah, that was really good. - I wanted to talk a little bit about your background, which is fascinating to me because I'm a theater guy. Is it true, the story we heard, is that you first got into acting because you wanted to impress a girl? - It's very true, it's very true. Theater was not something that was on my radar at all. What was on my radar was my pastor's daughter, who used to work the overhead projector at my church, and I was so obsessed with her. I never listened to a single sermon for an entire year, and one day she asked me to the theater, I thought it was a date, it was actually to join a youth theater group, and I was so enamoured with her that I kept going, and that's what led to me becoming an actor. - Whoa, chasing the pastor's daughter? (audience applauding) - That's the name of his memoir. - Don't make it sound unholy. (audience laughing) I wasn't trying to do anything nefarious, I just liked her. - That was like 30 years ago. Do you think she's impressed yet? - Oh, she's full of regrets. She sees me in movies, and she's absolutely gutted. - Really? - Oh, it's absolutely true. Every time I'm in the movie, I get a very sad email from her. - Oh. (audience laughing) - That's a love language. I think I was gonna say. (audience laughing) Do you remember, it's funny, I usually ask this question of athletes, but it just occurred to me I could ask it of you, because of the story you just told. You stumbled into this, you hadn't wanted to do it, but there you were. Was there a moment when you first realized that you were quite good at it? - Yes, yes, there was a moment. I mean, the first thing I did was being part of that youth group where I had followed that girl too. And the reaction afterwards was pretty eulogistic from everyone else. The unfortunate thing is it was offset by my mother who could never quite draw the line between make-believe in reality and would just say, "Why, why are you kissing that girl?" That is not your wife. That is not your girlfriend, leave her alone. (audience laughing) And she actually did that during the performance. - No. (audience laughing) - That's when you said, "I forget it to TV where they don't allow anybody in." - Exactly. - Imagine she shouted that at many screens. - I wanna get to your movie, the movie's called Role Play is people will find out when they watch it, which you should because the key plot element is this married couple decides to do some role play to spice up their relationship. - Love language. - Exactly. (audience laughing) And your character, ironically, also named David, turns out not to be very good at that. How does a very good actor play a bad actor? (laughing) - Well, you tend to be around a lot of bad actors and you're just doing an important thing. - Really? (audience laughing) - You realize that? - Well, that guy was in repertory with. He sucked, I'll just do him. (audience laughing) - Yeah, you now have several actors I've worked with at second guessing their careers right now. (audience laughing) - Well, it is absolutely lovely to have you with us, David. And we have asked you here today to play a game that we're calling. - Rolling, rolling, rolling. - So your new movie, as we've discussed, is called Role Play, so we thought we'd ask you about the other kind of role play, games you play by rolling things. Answer two or three questions correctly and you will win our prize for one of our listeners, Bill, who is David O'Yellowwell, playing for. - Chris Cree, of Morristown, New Jersey. - All right. (audience applauding) Ready to do this? - Very ready. - All right. - One of the most popular rolling games is, of course, bowling. One of professional bowling star athletes, Mike Machuga is a two-time national champion, but he is perhaps most famous for his signature move as a bowler, which is what? A, the Machuga chop, where he throws the bowling ball overhand. B, the Machuga hop, a shot where his ball goes into the gutter, then bounces out to hit the pins. Or C, the Machuga flop, where he rolls the ball but doesn't let go of it and slides halfway down the lane on his stomach. - I'm going to say B. - It was actually C, the Machuga flop. - What? - He does this apparently to entertain the crowds because it turns out in bowling, if you don't let go of the ball, it's not a foul, even if you've crossed the line. So he does this thing where he rolls, it doesn't let go, slides himself halfway down, gets a lot of applause, comes back and rolls. That's a thing he does. Here's your next question. There is a sport called Zorbing, where you climb inside this giant inflatable hamster ball and roll around. But just rolling around, not exciting for some people, which is why you can also do what? A, in San Francisco, you can Zorba down the famously crooked and very steep Lombard Street. B, in Florida, you can race other Zorbers through alligator-infested waters. Or C, in the Rocky Mountains, you can try Bungie Zorbing. - Huh. I'm going to say C. - David, have you heard of an American phenomenon called Florida Man? (audience laughs) - I'm going to say B. - There it is. (audience applauds) - Yeah, it is Florida, so of course, they climb into these things and then run as fast as they can in them across the alligator swamp. All right, last question. In France, as you might know, there's a, they have a version of lawn bowling or bachie they called Patonk. And almost every Patonk court throughout France has a statue or a picture of a woman named Fanny nearby. Why? A, per tradition, any team that gets shot out in the Patonk match is required to get down in their knees and kiss Fanny's, well, Fanny. B, it is an image of Fanny Murlano, a 19th century wife from Lyon who invented the game to get her husband out of the house and stop annoying her. Or C, it's just a coincidence. There happens to be a lot of pictures and sculptures in France of women named Fanny, and some of them are near Patonk courts. (audience laughs) - I'm going to go with my friend who said A. - Right, yes, that's correct. To be, shut out, to be shut out in a Patonk match is called Etre Fanny, or being Fanny, and you're required to kiss the Fanny. And I should say, by the way, that in France, in French, Fanny means Fanny, it's the same it does in America, not what it means in Britain. (audience laughs) Bill, how did David do in our quiz? - In the final tally, I think David's got all three. (audience cheers) - Sure he did, absolutely he did. Well, David Yellowo is starring in the new film Role Play, currently streaming on Prime. David Yellowo, thank you so much for joining us on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." What an absolute pleasure to talk to you. Take care, sir. - Thank you. - Thank you. - Thank you. - Thanks, bye bye. (audience applauds) (upbeat music) - This message comes from NPR sponsor, Viori. Jump into a new perspective on performance apparel. Viori makes products that stand the test of time and hope to inspire others to live vibrant, healthy lives, empowering your best life in clothing that can be worn for just about any activity from running to yoga. Visit Viori.com/NPR to receive 20% off your first purchase and enjoy free shipping on any US orders over $75. Discover the versatility of Viori clothing. - This message comes from homes.com. The right agent can make or break your home search. That's why homes.com provides an agent directory that details each agent's experience. So you can find the right one and ultimately the right home. Homes.com, we've done your homework. - This message comes from NPR sponsor, Viking, committed to exploring the world in comfort. Be inspired to plan a small ship voyage to France in 2025 with an exclusive docking location in the heart of Paris and privileged access experiences. Viking brings curious travelers closer to the most iconic destinations across France. Discover more at Viking.com. - Finally, also in January, we spoke to one of the most distinctive actors around Natasha Leon from Russian Doll and the Orange is the New Black. I asked her if she was recognized more for her appearance or her voice. - You know, if I have straight hair, I can pretty much move through the city. Like, you know, it's not me, but then as soon as I talk, I'm (beep) - Right, exactly. And when people are like, "Look at you, my God, you're Natasha Leon, and then what do they tell you that they love most?" - Oh, I guess, you know when I like the most, I don't know what they're necessarily saying. What I like is sort of like a little bit of a sly handshake as man of the street that keeps moving from a real New Yorker. Like, they give me a little hand movement or I like, I sort of like a deli interaction. I guess that's why I wrote it into my fashion doll. That's one of my favorite type of New York interactions. I mostly enjoy it in Manhattan on the move, I think. - Right, that's cool. I mean, one of the great things about New York is opposed to LA. In New York, they're all too cool to get excited when they see a celebrity. They just give you the high sound. Yeah, I know who you are. I'm not impressed. - Is that makes you real New Yorker, like part New Yorker, part leprechaun, and I like that feeling. - I understand that. I found out some amazing things about you this week that I had not known, even though I was a fan. For example, I read that you were thrown out of your pretty prestigious school because you were, I think, selling pot, is that right? - It's the way the passage as a teenager. - Yeah, I understand. - It was a private school on the Upper East Side and I was a scholarship kid. So I think I had a bit of a resentment. So I would get, you know, just a dime bag and then I would go to the corner head shop when there weren't as many of them back in those days. And I'd buy like a little $2 pipe and I'd put like a single hit weed in it, but I'd smoke the green off it. I'd take the first day. - Right. (audience laughs) - Right, and then I would sell them the pipe and the single once-soaked in. (audience applauds) - That's good business. - So this is amazing. Not only were you selling the experience. - Yeah. (audience laughs) - And then this is what I thought was the kicker. They threw you out and then because you were like, even then becoming a famous actor, you were on Letterman and they wanted you to come back. (audience laughs) - Yeah, it's true. It was a scam. (audience laughs) So I have been watching episodes of your new show Poker Face which was created by Ryan Johnson of Knives Out fame. And it is amazing, especially to someone of my age because I grew up with Colombo and those TV shows. And I'm watching it and I realize this about halfway into the first episode, you get to be Colombo, which has got to be the coolest thing ever. And I'm assuming you're enjoying it, doing it as much as I'm enjoying watching it, right? - Well, you know, Peter Falk is such a cutie. - Yes. - And you'll look good in the trench coat is what I'm saying. - Oh, thank you. - What? - But first of all, did you grow up, because you're younger, did you grow up with those shows like those McMillan and wife and the mysteries of the week where you had the detective who solved a new murder every week, maybe murder she wrote was a later, but classic iteration of that? - I mean, I'm gonna go ahead and say, no, not really. (audience laughs) - Are you old? - Not that up here. - She's not as old. - I'm old. (audience laughs) She's vibrant. - I come through, I come to my love of sort of Philip Marlow style characters, I guess, really through, you know, Altman's The Long Goodbye, or even Chinatown, or even books, you know, like John Fante and Raymond Chandler, and just Noir in general. And I think my love for Peter Falk is really from all the Cassavetti films or Wings of Desire in a way. And of course, I also, I do like that, that sort of character, you know, a great deal. But I would not say you necessarily want me on an actual murder scene. I'm not sure I could definitely crank the case. I have a measure of street smarts, though. That is true, and I'll definitely share with Charlie an obsession with a sort of John Lennon, just give me some truth. - The flip side of that, though, is could you get away with a murder? - Oh, that's a great question. You know, the few I've committed so far. - Yes, with it. Apparently, yes. - Oh, yeah. - Yeah, I'm fine, here I am on NPR. No cops at my door. - Yeah. - So far, so good. And honestly, those people deserve to die. I don't wanna name them. - You know, I gotta say, if they pissed you off, I can't blame you. - And thank you, and thank you. - Well, Natasha Leon, it is really a pleasure to talk to you after watching you for so long, but we have asked you here today to play a game we're calling, "Poking Faces." So your new show, which we've been discussing, is called "Poker Face." We thought we'd ask you questions about poking faces. That is, Botox injections. Answer two to three questions correctly. You will win our prize for one of our listeners, the voice of anyone they might choose on their voicemail. Bill, who is the amazing Natasha Leon playing for? Jeremy Knowle of Chicago Illinois. (audience applauding) - All right, you ready to do this? - Yes, dear. - Okay. So Botox is a trade name for botulinium toxin, that is the substance that causes the disease. Botulism, but before it was called that, the disease was called what? A, sausage poisoning. B, Satan's musk, or C, Stewart. (audience laughing) - Yeah, why not Satan's musk? - Satan's musk. No, it was actually sausage poisoning. - Yeah. - Yeah, 'cause botulism is a food disease and it was first studied. - Oh, that's so much more said. - It does, it was first studied in Germany, and in Germany they eat a lot of sausage. - Okay, well I look forward to losing here. - No, no, you have two more chances. You have two more chances, and we're fans, and we'll help. All right, so botulism, or rather, botulinium toxin Botox is approved, as we know, for clinical uses, but it is unique among medicine. Why? A, you need at least $1 million of life insurance to be allowed to open a bottle of it. B, instead of milliliters, it is measured in mouse units or the amount of Botox needed to kill one mouse. - Whoa. - Or C, it can be used as legal tender in Palm Beach. (audience laughing) - Yeah. - Oh, the mouse. - The killing, it's in fact, killing mouses, yes, mice. (audience applauding) MUs, mouse units, that's how they measure it. It's such a toxic substance that that's how it is measured. So that's great. You have one more question. If you get this right, you win. Botox injections, in addition to their cosmetic effects, it paralyzes your skin. It's been shown to have a positive side effect in addition to that, what is it? A, it makes your skin as hard as pyrex, preventing facial injuries for people who topple over. (audience laughing) It can alleviate depression, literally by turning your frown upside down. (audience laughing) Or C, because it makes you look younger, it improves your taste in music. (laughing) - Turn your frown upside down. - That's it, that's exactly right. - Wow. - Botox does have a proven anti-depressant effect and one of the theories as to why is it literally makes it harder to frown. - Bill, how did Natasha Leon do in our quiz? - Two out of three, that is a win. (audience cheering) Natasha Leon is the creator and star of the Emmy-nominated Russian doll, her new show, Poker Face, is streaming on Peacock Now. Natasha Leon, thank you so much for joining us and congratulations to an amazing television show. It's fabulous. - Bye guys. - Bye bye. - That's it for our summer boot camp edition. Remember to tune in after Labor Day to see if all of that training paid off. But first, let me tell you, wait, wait, don't tell me, it's a production of NPR and WBEZ Chicago in association with urgent hair-car productions, Doug Berman, benevolent overlord. Philip Gautica writes our Lemrex, our public address announcer is Paul Friedman. Our tour manager is Shayna Donald, our vibes curator is Emma Choi. Thanks to the staff and crew here at the Studebaker Theatre. BJ Litterman composed our theme, our program is produced by Jennifer Mills, Miles Dormbauss and Lillian King. Special thanks to Monica Hickey, our drop and give me 20, it's Peter Gwen. Technical director of some Lorna White, our CFO's Colin Miller, our production manager is Robert Newhouse. Our senior producer is Ian Chilog, the executive producer of, wait, wait, don't tell me, is Michael Danforth. Thanks to everybody you heard, all our panelists, our guests, of course Bill Curtis, our fabulous and patient audience here at the Studebaker Theatre. (audience cheers) And thanks to all of you out there for listening, I'm Peter Sae, and we'll be back with a new show next week. (audience cheers) This is NPR. Support for NPR and the following message come from Visit St. Pete Clearwater, Florida, where fall color seekers can find 35 miles of sugary white sand beaches and emerald green gulf waters. Explore the kaleidoscopic colors of more than 30 museums and galleries and over 500 street murals. Paddle through vibrant green mangrove tunnels and take in fiery red, orange and yellow sunsets night after night. Just a few of St. Pete Clearwater's fall colors. 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