The Alzo Era begins in Austin!
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What is the significance of the Alzo Era in this episode?
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From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, the NPR News Quiz. I'm the man who, for some reason, thought now was a good time to start a career in public radio. I'm Alzo Slade, and here's your host at the Bass Concert Hall in Austin, Texas, Peter Sago. Thank you, Alzo.
Thank you, everybody. Thank you. It's great to be back in Austin, Texas. We have a fine show for you today. Later on, we're going to be talking to Alana Myers-Taylor, the most decorated black winter Olympian ever. But first, we are so excited to inaugurate what cultural historians of the future will refer to as the Alzo era, as we welcome Alzo Slade as Wait-Wait's new official judge and scorekeeper. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Peter. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
This is very exciting. But also, now that you are official, you are able to wield the awesome power of judging and scorekeeping. So as you start your reign, what do you want people to know about you?
That I am the most decorated black scorekeeper in weight-weight history. So...
If you want to be the first contestant of the Alzo era, give us a call. The number is 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. Let's welcome our first listener contestant. Hi, Ryan. Wait, wait, don't tell me.
Hi, this is Jenny Stout calling in from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Salt Lake City is a fabulous place. Speaking of Winter Olympics, what do you do there?
I support graduate students at a local university, and I am a busy mom of two kids, but most importantly, I am doing this to honor my late father, who introduced me to the show and taught me to love NPR.
Oh, that's so wonderful. It's always lovely to hear. Well, Jenny, it's great to have you on the show. Let me introduce you to our panel this week from Austin. First up, a comedian and fashion designer whose new fashion project, House Cardi, by Michelle Wolf, just dropped. It's Brian Babala. Next, one of Vulture's comedians you should and will know of 2025. It's Rachel Koster.
Hi, Jenny.
Thank you. Hi, Rachel. Hi.
And host of the hit podcast Breaking Bread with Tom Papa, it's Tom Papa.
Hi.
Hi. So, Jenny, welcome to the show. You're going to play Who's Alzo this time. Alzo Slade is going to read you three quotations from this week's news. If you can correctly identify or explain two of them, you will win our prize. Any voice from our show you might choose for your voicemail. Are you ready to go?
I sure hope so.
Who is Alana Myers-Taylor and what are her achievements?
I've been cramming all day.
You have.
Yeah.
All right, well, here is your first quote, and as I'm sure you'll recognize from Alzo's imitation, it is vanilla ice.
I don't even vote, so I don't even care. I'll go play for Putin if you want.
How does the role of a judge and scorekeeper change the game dynamics?
Warm body, vanilla ice, was one of the few performers not to drop out of a concert on the National Mall celebrating what?
America's 250th birthday.
Yes, that's exactly right. For their big party on the National Mall, the White House proudly announced a lineup of American music icons like Vanilla Ice and Bret Michaels from the band Poison. Seriously, it was like they just wrote down all the names from the Grammys in memoriam reel.
So is this tied to the cage match that's going to happen on the lawn? Oh, it's all part of the big festivities.
That's all part of it. The cage match, they've been building this thing on the White House lawn to have a UFC, basically a cage match. Yeah. That's going to be on Flag Day, which, oh, by the way, what a coincidence, is also President Trump's 80th birthday. Let me just say this about that UFC thing.
If you look at aerial footage of the White House, it looks like what they thought the White House was going to look like when the Obamas were there.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the significance of the Alzo Era in this episode?
0:00–3:25
2
Who is Alana Myers-Taylor and what are her achievements?
3:25–3:45
3
How does the role of a judge and scorekeeper change the game dynamics?
3:45–7:31
4
What unusual trend is happening with shirtless fans at baseball games?
7:31–23:12
5
What surprising connection is made between mosquitoes and insect repellent?
23:12–47:29