Ooh, it’s pretty up here on the Navy Pier.
As I’ve said, Im guest-hosting “Wait Wait” this week, which somewhat limits my ability to wax funny in a topical way. I don’t want to give away the show’s content, after all. What if Mo or Paula or Charlie are reading? There could be lawsuits…
But I’ll post something or other. I’ll think of something.
Meanwhile, expect some pictures from this HQ when I return. That’s right, you’ll finally be able to see the incredibly glamorous work environment that produces America’s favorite satirical radio news quiz.
Chicago itself seems to be in great shape. The natives seem to enjoy walking and driving, and they favor a beverage called “kawfey,” which appears to have some sort of stimulative effect. About one in five of them have white wires dangling from their ears, which must mark them as some sort of shamans or something. My anthropological skills aren’t quite advanced enough for me to tell for sure, but I’m hoping to attempt some sort of contact or even crude communication before week’s end.
For now, though, I’ve established a rude but cunningly camoflaged shelter here at WBEZ, which blends seamlessly into the natural environment so as not to startle the indigenous population. Anyone looking over towards Peter Sagal’s desk will merely see an unremarkable juniper bush.
Which, by the way, is getting a little itchy.
Fanny Roborat
30 comments
Benedict
August 24, 2005 at 2:22 pm
1Did Peter leave any instructions? If so, take them with a grain of salt - he’ll want you to be good, but not too good, if you take my meaning.
Jeremy
August 24, 2005 at 3:01 pm
2I’m looking at my ticket for tomorrow’s show right now.
If you see two people in the audience mooning you, that’s my wife and me.
Jeremy
Mary
August 24, 2005 at 3:45 pm
3Welcome to the Mid-west or, what we call, the third coast.
I missed last week’s show. (Seems northern Michigan NPR stations don’t carry “Wait, Wait.”) Thus, I am expecting a truly exceptional show this week to make up for it. No pressure though.
Mr_Blog
August 24, 2005 at 4:02 pm
4Tomorrow as you walk through downtown Chi-town on the way to the office, hum the theme to the Bob Newhart Show.
Hot Tub Tommy
August 24, 2005 at 5:53 pm
5Adam, if the bush you’re hiding behind starts pontificating, talking to you in tongues, or bursts into flames, either Peter’s messing with you from afar, or it could just be time for more kawfey (or beer). Or it could be a fucking miracle…
Tom from Santa Clara
August 24, 2005 at 6:01 pm
6Make it a good show Thursday evening Adam, I’ll be listening for your hosting debut on Saturday morning here!
Who is bringing the after-show Maker’s Mark this week?
Pete IVDL
August 24, 2005 at 6:14 pm
7THEY’RE MY JUNIPER BUSHES!
Adam, best of British (or, as your constitutional founders liked to say, Brittish) luck. Remember, if you need to relax, just imagine every contestant in their underwear. (The contestants will be the ones at the back of the cave shivering, the audience, like Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy, should be easier to ’spot’)…
Now. Got your hankie? Clean undies in case a bus hits you? Sunburn cream? Interpreter? Right. In five, four, three…….
Linkmeister
August 24, 2005 at 6:18 pm
8In the spirit of “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade,” I suggest you make some gin out of that bush.
tess
August 24, 2005 at 6:24 pm
9Well, at least he didn’t decide on elderberry. Elderberry juice, eh, I wouldn’t drink that stuff unless my gut’s sorely congested.
dee
August 24, 2005 at 9:03 pm
10Juniper bush? Jeebus couldn’t they spring for a hotel room?
Murray
August 24, 2005 at 9:46 pm
11Or at least a toilet.
Murray
August 24, 2005 at 10:00 pm
12Did my undergrad work near Chicago while Mayor Daley ran things. Hmmm… I guess not that much has changed in 35 years.
As far as understanding the local language, just think of everything starting with da. So you have da Sear Tower, da Dan Ryan Express Way, da Loop, and of course da Bulls.
Unfortunately Jane saw to it that we left nothing behind so I have no excuse to travel 10 hours to Chicago to see your hosting debut. Damn.
Break a leg, or spleen or whatever.
ice weasel
August 25, 2005 at 12:24 am
13“Bring us, a shrubbery!”
Oh, I can’t go any further with that.
I’m looking forward to this week’s show.
Break a spleen*
*see above
cooper
August 25, 2005 at 6:51 am
14Jesus, Ice Weasel - Firesign and Python? Tsk, tsk! Another wasted American youth…
Let’s see… Adam, Mo, Paula & Charlie? No doubt, much hilarity will ensue. Relax and go with it. We’ll be gathered around the ol’ Philco, cheering you guys on. Good luck, buddy.
ice weasel
August 25, 2005 at 12:49 pm
15Cooper,
Youth? Hardly. But yes, your tally is correct though you should add liberal doses of Douglas Adams’ humour in there as well. Bill Hicks, did I mention him? Carlin?
Ok, the list is getting long.
Rob Allen
August 25, 2005 at 2:28 pm
16For Tom from Santa Clara,
This is not Adam’s hosting debut; he’s filled in for Peter before.
As I recall from the last time I heard Adam host WWDTM, the script didn’t change much from the usual, and some of Peter’s phraseology didn’t sound natural coming from Adam.
Adam, I hope you get a chance to adapt the script to your natural speaking style this time. Have fun with it; I can’t wait to hear the show!
Thompson
August 25, 2005 at 3:08 pm
17Well, let’s be honest here. No one can Peter as well as Peter can. Listening to Brian Unger try to be Peter is… well… Let’s just say I wished fervently Brian would get sick and Adam would take over for him throughout January. Nothing against him otherwise, but Adam’s a much better Peter than Brian.
Hm. Just for over-the-top amusement… Think we could convince Carl to take a vacation tonight? Ship in Mister Flintoff? It could be Night of the Living Fill-Ins… Although that conjures up disturbing images of Adam and Corey shuffling across the stage groaning “pleeeeedgessssssss…”
cooper
August 25, 2005 at 7:50 pm
18ice weasel, Carlin, of course. But Bill Hicks and Douglas Adams; I’m oblivious. I’ll look into them. Thanks. I’ve always enjoyed the Bert n’ I; Tim Sample and Holman Day type of Downeast Maine humor.
cooper
August 25, 2005 at 11:05 pm
19ice weasel, okay, so I’m “Thick as a Brick” (Jethro Tull, another weakness) - Douglas Adams, “Hitchhikers Guide…”, I’m with you now.
Bill Hicks’ insight into politics is very interesting. I’m going to dig some more. Thanks.
ice weasel
August 25, 2005 at 11:58 pm
20Don’t take him too seriously. He’s funny. He’s also has some amazing commentary. But I’ve met more than a few fans that think he had all the answers…sigh.
Hicks is great though. I re-listen to his stuff all the time. I laugh every time.
You can David Cross to that list as well.
Rusty
August 26, 2005 at 3:41 pm
21Adam, if you work your way to the south suburbs while in Chicago, you should try Aurelio’s Pizza in Homewood. Best ever, in my book (a thin volume, to be sure).
Murray
August 26, 2005 at 7:59 pm
22Cooper,
Let me make you a present of song,
as the wise man breaks wind and is gone.
And the fool with his hour glass is cooking his goose,
While the nursery rhyme winds along.
David
August 27, 2005 at 12:36 pm
23Damn, am I the first post-broadcast commenter?
Nah, probably someone else posting who will hit the reply button before I.
Adam sounded wound at the opening, but settled in quite Felberly, I thought. Sure helps when Paula’s on the show.
Val
August 27, 2005 at 3:50 pm
24David, you might be the first post-broadcast commenter because maybe where *you* live you heard the whole show! Not so for Chicago listeners (ironically enough)! The end-of-the-fiscal-year begging at first merely interrupted and then *replaced* the ending of the show–?!? I’m hoping to hear all of the show during its rebroadcast on Sunday night on WBEZ at 9 pm central time.
I do want to know what Adam promised the audience; they were cheering and applauding so loudly it was like he’d told them, “You get a car! And YOU get a car!! And YOU get a car! YOU ALL GET A CAR!!!”
cooper
August 27, 2005 at 4:05 pm
25Okay, this is my 15 minutes of suck-up syncophancy. Adam, my boy, you are definitely ready for primetime! You seemed at ease, had a strong presence, were in the moment and you kept things rolling very well. Excellent job and a very good show all around! So, fill us in. How did the pilot go? If you hit the big time, will you -sniff- still have time for us, the little people?
Pete IVDL
August 27, 2005 at 5:18 pm
26I think I’m in heaven. Or the Glittering Lobster Cave. Or something. Jethro Tull?!? YESSS! I’ve managed to get all their albums, except for ‘Catfish Rising’ and ‘Rock Island’ (which, ironically enough, were both antipodean releases), and A Little Light Music (which is an import here). Missed their tour last month, the only tickets left I could afford were for Brisbane and Sydney. Bugger. I still have the 25th Anniversary Tour t-shirt that I was planning to wear to the concert, but I guess it just warn’t s’posed to be… She Who Must Be Obeyed bought me the ‘Still Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll’ DVD, and it was great to see Ian and the original lineup do some of their bluesy stuff, all looking like someone’s grandpas. Great stuff.
Cooper - The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy trilogy (well, it’s not a trilogy, it’s a quintilogy, with ‘So Long And Thanks For All The Fish’ and, I think, ‘Mostly Harmless’) is a ball-buster of a read; if you can, try and get ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’ and ‘The Long Dark Teatime Of The Soul’ as well. Most amazing stuff.
Hearing you guys mention these heroes just confirms that the commenters here are Erudite, Lucid, and Well-Rounded Gentlepersons.
cooper
August 27, 2005 at 7:24 pm
27Pete, we have so much in common! She Who Must Be Obeyed is my wife’s name, too. Small world, man!
Jenn
August 27, 2005 at 11:44 pm
28Adam - I was at the taping and your rocked the casbah!! That was one funny show — with you, Paula, Mo AND Charlie… it was awesome!! I was one of the few people who bought the ticket knowing you were going to be there and was totally stoked to see you host and Paula as a panelist, maybe or maybe not in that order. Your command of the stage and the panelists was superb.
Fellow fans - with the exception of the “What Would Peter Do?” t-shirt Adam was wearing and the fact Carl had to keep nudging him to keep him awake, Adam was fabulous!!
PS - Thanks for taking my question about the fake stories at the end.
Pete IVDL
August 28, 2005 at 4:00 pm
29Cooper, mine also answers to She Who Is Right (All The Time); Her Indoors; She Who Makes The Earth Tremble; Boss; Dear (as in “yes, dear”), etc. Or just Fran, but I do prefer her formal title. If she knew I was ritin’ about this, my you-know-whats would be nailed to the you-know-what… So her title should include “Keeper Of The You-Know-Whats”. (Mind you, I just answer to “oy, you”. Or “you idiot”, or -lately- “Jesus, Peter”).
See what I mean? Here we all were, chatting about Adam’s Peter-ing skills, and you’ve gone and got me all off-topic. You’re a bad, bad man.
Yellowtail
August 29, 2005 at 4:59 pm
30Hey Adam! Nice job on guest hosting WWDTM…you sounded pretty jazzed about being on the “otherside”…careful, you might make a habit of slipping that ambien into Peter’s coffee more often!
I think the live audience sitch made it even more enjoyable. Seems like it’s more fun when there’s more chances to publically screw-up… yet, screw-up you did not. “baby needs a new pair of banannas!” heehehe…nice. Funny how that comment came right after the mystery behind “Hooterville”.
One thing I envy of all you, is the fact that you’ve all seen a live show. WWDTM has yet to do a show anywhere near LA…then again, IF there WERE any “real” colleges with auditoriums of any significance in LA…
Actually, I’m heading back home to NYC for labour day…maybe I should just stay there…go to every single bar listed in Zagats and maybe see what’s shakin’ with Adam and the snazzy Mo Rocca.