May 19, 2025 • 18 mins
Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: actor and podcaster, Joshua Malina!
Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses.
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"The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, puzzlers. Let's start with a quick puzzle. What word
is often seen following these words key, May, Wild, Jerry.
So a single word that often follows key, May, Wild
and Jerry. And here is a key hint, which is
(00:23):
that May is spelled m a e, not m a
y m a e blank the answer and more puzzling
goodness after the break. Welcome back to the Puzzler Podcast.
(00:44):
The fist bump emoji. In your Puzzler group chat, I'm
your host, A J. Jacobs. Before the break, we asked
what word might come after key, May, Wild or Jerry
in The hint was that May is spelled m a e.
And the answer is m A West. Everything is West,
Key West, the Florida Islands, May West, the old timey
(01:07):
sex symbol, wild West self explanatory. Jerry West, the legendary
basketball player who even if you're not a basketball fan,
and I am not a particularly huge fan, but I
even know what he looks like because he's the model
for the silhouette and the NBA logo, so you have
(01:28):
seen him, or at least his silhouette many many times.
I bring this up because it is a bit of
a tenuous segue, but I think it overall works almost
and that is we have a guest who is part
of another famous West phrase, and that phrase is the
West Wing. He is an actor who has many, many credits.
(01:52):
You've seen him one hundred times, Scandal, the Shonda Rhymes series,
Big Bang Theory, the Broadway play leop hold Stock. I'm
talking about Josh Melina.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Welcome, Josh, thank you for having me. And I didn't
know that about Jerry West, that he was the NBA silhouette.
Now I wonder if he is recognized most frequently on
sunny days when he's casting shadow exactly. Hey, aren't you
the guy?
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Why are you walking like that all diagonal? Uh? Well, yes,
I'm glad. I'm glad to give you a fact. We
are so excited to have you. It's been a long
time coming because we know we're not only fans of
your acting, but we know that you are a puzzler.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I'm more enthusiastic than skilled, as I'm sure i'll demonstrate.
But yes, and I'm a huge fan of yours together
all together and the book The Puzzler.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Specifically, Oh my goodness, listen, I love it. So I
know partly you're a puzzle van because you once wrote
a nice note about my book, but also the pinned
post on your thread's account. I'll read it for those
at home who haven't seen it. You right, let's be honest.
Connections is a game where you have to create three
(03:04):
groups of four words.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
By the process of elimination. The fourth is a gimmick.
We're doing more than we are.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
I know. I do have a friend who's like, I'm
not going to press them unless I get the fourth.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
As of just recently, though, they keep track of an
extra stat which is how frequently you get the purple
category first?
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Oh, I did not know? Yes, yes, yes, So does
that play into your had really?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Because for me, I haven't reached the point, nor do
I anticipate doing so where I write everything down and
figure it out. To me, it's a mental puzzle, although
not to cast dis versions on people who write out
the words and figure it all that so I go
just sort of one kata category at the time as
they occur to me. So I would have to create
a whole new approach in order to try to target
(03:53):
the purple category first understood.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, and I don't even pay attention to the colors
I am. I am colorblind and that way. I do
love the people who get outraged about the categories connections.
There's a TikTok that has like a half a million
likes on the most vile categories and connections.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
My dad is among that group of people who like
to complain. I was not happy with green today. I
don't have an objection.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
That is funny. Do you have any favorites or least
favorite categories?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I don't off the top of my head, although I
have watched those videos on TikTok.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah, just for those who haven't seen it, one was
she talked about Aura Buck doge and Hoda A U
R A, b U c K d O g E
and h O d A. I think that was probably
one that came last for me, and I took the
gimme because it is a tricky one. You know it
Carus Car Companies minus one letter, Ara, Buick, Dodge, Honda, Winna.
(04:59):
You're very tricky. She's a friend of the show. She's
been on the show, so we can say that.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I take me very literal minded, and so I like
that game. I'm not great at it, but it pushes
me towards lateral thinking because I forget sometimes I'm always
looking at things as words, and I forget that sometimes
there are it is the arrangement of letters and it's
the beginning of something else, or I forget sometimes to
look at it laterally.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, no, it's that's our thesis. It's good for the
brain to later thing. You also will talk a little
about other puzzle crossovers that you have in your life.
But speaking of puzzles, we do have a puzzle, so
I thought i'd get into it and we could talk
a little more as we play. And this puzzle is
(05:44):
called Josh Josh's Josh Josh's, and it's based on the
fact that your first name Josh is also a verb
to tease in a playful way. So the answer to
all of these are going to be famous people's first
names and then the herb that is identical to their name.
So for you, the clue might have been this West
(06:05):
Wing and Scandal star teases in a playful way, Josh Josh's.
And it could be real people, could be fictional characters.
Are you ready?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
We'll find out in the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
We could have given this. We had Josh Radner on
and I did email Josh Charles whom I know a little,
and he said he would come on some point. So
I feel it's like the the Chris Pine, Chris Helmsworth, Chris.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
We're Diamond dozen Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Josh's I don't think so, those are the big three, Josh,
I think so. All right, So the Star of Elf
bequeaths his estate, The Star of Elf bequeaths his estate.
He got it, he's nodding.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I believe I do. Big fan of the movies, So
Will Wills exactly.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Also, your character on West Wing, the man who battles
Windmills puts on his clothes.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Uh don Don's exactly.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Now, these are fictional scenarios, so this is not to
cast any aspersions on this real life person. But the
director of a Few Good Men holds up a liquor store.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Oh look, direct connection to me. Worked with that twice.
If you're out there, happy to work with you a
third time.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Rob, Rob's exactly, Rob Reiner. And yes, so Aaron Sorkin
wrote a Few Good Men and Rob directed it.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yes, Ar's been very good to me my personal art,
you know, Supporter, Well, he gave me all my breaks
and TV, theater and film.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Well, you've been very good to him. You saved his life.
We would not have the West Lang.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Without Yeah, exactly. People watch me are like, how based
on my acting? How did he get this part? Like?
They didn't don't know the story. I heim linked him first.
That's it.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You were what was it? You were full bowling?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Well, very good, you done your research. Yes, we were
bowling as part of the Broadway Bowling League and Aaron
was choking on a congealed wad of hamburger, and I
cracked three of his ribs, which, oh my god, happened
sometimes with the Heimlich maneuver. But but he survived and
went on to cast me again and again.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Right, well, he had cast you, he had cast you before, right,
so that yes, so it wasn't direct.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
At this point, he just continues to cast me because
he likes to have me around when he's eating.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
You're very safe. You are a good luck charm because
I think the few things he's done without you, I
have not as arestening. I'm telling you all right. A
couple more. The original karate Kid vomits the original karate
Kid speaking of things flying.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Ralph, Ralph, Ralph's.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Exactly Ralph ralphs uh, the painter of Happy little trees
floats up and down in the water. You know this character,
Bob Ross.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Bob's exactly glad to massage out of my brain.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
The forty second President of the United States sends an invoice.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Bill Clint, didn't Bill Bill's exactly?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Was Bill president when you were on West Wing or
was it Bush? I can't remember.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Bush by the time I joined two thousand and three.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Do you did you ever meet? Did they ever come
visit the set? Or is it have any interaction?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
What most fans will agree is the heyday of the
show prior to my arrival, So during the Clinton years
first of all, and administration that sort of a fit
with the ethos of the show more than the Bush administration.
I'm told that the cast when they went to DC
to shoot, it was like the Beatles were in town,
and I think they did have multiple meetings with the
(09:56):
President himself. But then I arrived and everything went down.
Looks for the country and artistically for the show.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Now I'm a york Your podcast on the West Wing
West Wing Weekly is a delight, so any fans should
check that out. You have played with many a fictional president,
so you've got President Bartlett from West Wing, President Shepherd
(10:26):
from an American President also v Anders and President Fitzgerald Grant.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
The third Tony Goldwan. That's true. And if you're looking
at the final season of the West Wing, President Santos
as played by Jimmy Smith.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Oh, President Smith's yes, okay, So of those four, we'll
first try the characters, then the real people. Of those four,
who would you vote for as actual president?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
That's a great question. I think i'd My heart is
with President bartle Has. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Yeah, you don't want Fitzgerald Grant if I remember, No,
not really.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I believe he did it if my memory is correct,
at one point smother to death. A sitting Supreme Court
justice get behind that as part of the electorate.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Even though I disagree strongly with most of the Supreme
Court justice, I don't.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Think that it depends which one.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Now, what about the the actors themselves, which do you think.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
All lovely people? Which would make the actual best president?
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yeah, that's my my question.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
That's a good question. I would say either Martin Sheen
and his crime or maybe Tony currently Okay, Tony very well,
he's very They're all sharp people, and Tony with Tony
also looks like a president.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
He does. He does. Well, I mean it's not out
of the question. Got California, that's right, Okay, we got
a couple more before you're off the hook, which is
the star of Beverly Hills. Cop swirls around the.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Dream great movie, Eddie.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Eddie's exactly like, uh, now, this one I would not
have gotten. But I saw the name, and I'm like, okay,
that is a verb. But I know that you majored
in theater. You studied theater industry.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Chekhovs.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
It's not Chekhov, but close it is Henrik Ibsen. This
is the one of the main characters in Henrik Ibsen play.
Stares around the corner or peaks around the corner. He
was a Norwegian guy.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
It's not torvald That doesn't make any sense.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Torvalds.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
I don't know. I think you got me.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Oh that's exciting. He well, just so you know, it
a jury of your.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Oh, Pierre Peers, okay, Pierre Ghent the deep in chain.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
They're taking back your diploma. I I've never seen it.
A I didn't even know.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
How to a theater major should have gotten.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I mean, it sounds crazy. Just the Wikipedia summary it's
about a reindeer hunt that goes awry. It goes to
nor Africa.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Personal experience.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
It's true. There's so many moving parts that can really
screw you up. Okay, Oh, another literary one. The Girl
and to Kill a Mockingbird looks for up and coming
baseball players. So this is Atticus Finch's daughter goes and
looks for up and coming baseball Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Got it. I thought it was gonna There's another literature one,
but Scout.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Scouts exactly, Scout Scouts. You got it, all right. I
got a couple more, but I'm gonna move to homophones
so they don't have to actually have the same spelling,
but they will sound like a verb. For instance, the
actor who plays Barney from How I Met Your Mother
(14:04):
prepares to pop the question or get knighted, could be
either one. Neil Neils exactly multiple World Series of Poker
Champion pours water to the brim of the glass. And
again I would not your average person might not know this,
but I am a poker player.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Phil Hellmuth is the most winning player ever. Phil Phil's exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Oh I was thinking Phil Ivy.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Oh, phil Ivey, I was thinking for Phil Ivy is
one of my personal favorites. But in terms of the
most bracelets that the world series, Phil Helmeth is.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
But Phil, so they both. It's just if you named Phil,
you have an automatic advantage, and so you I'm poker.
I know that that was one of your ways of
initially bonding with Aaron Sorkins. So poker's been very good.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Poker had been good to me. To me, it's the well,
the twenty first centuries, but twenty the time when I
got to know our golf course. That's where I got
to know people instead of on the golf course. Maybe
back in the heyday of Hollywood, I was schmoozing and
working people over the poker table.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
And are you I mean, I've heard that you are.
You are quite good.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Well, as with many games, good is relative to the
people you're playing against. So I'm very good at finding
regular games in which I'm good relative to the people
I'm playing against. Whether you compare me to the entire
cosmography of poker players worldwide, whether I'm any good, I
couldn't say.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Well, are you? I mean? Are you the type of
player who's like looking for tells and trying to figure
out if people are bluffing because that's way over my head.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Well, there's an aspect of that, but I think that's
probably overrated, and more find tells through people's patterns of betting.
I think is a better way to go than waiting
for someone who like scratches his nose every time he raised.
That happens more in poker movies than that poker tables
for real, I think.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Right well, I have this of an acquaintance. I don't
know a friend of f acquaintance who she's a poker player,
and she wears a scarf because she says that when
you're bluffing, then your heart is beating more quickly and
people can see the veins. I don't know if that's
just psychology, like she's just trying to mess with people.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
It's become a controversial thing, actually, people wearing masks at
the poker table, because I think maybe they used to
be outlawed, But in the age of COVID, people putatively
are wearing them because they don't want to get sick.
But are they or are they wearing it because they
want to cover their face and not give away any information?
And just recently I was watching I've watched a fair
amount of poker on TV, and I was watching a
(16:47):
player who seemed to feel the need to protect himself
from COVID only when he was in a hand. Yeah,
it was like, I think I know why he's wearing
a mask.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
That is hilarious. All right, a couple more and then
we are done. How about the star of the First Gladiator.
I guess he had a little cameo on the second
The First Gladiator star steals some cattle, steal some cattle.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Okay, sure saw the movie, enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Russell russells Russell Russell's some cattle.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
And how about will end with the Great One fades
the great One? That's a capital G capital O an athlete.
I think that's his name.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Now, Hockey Wayne Waynes.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Exactly, Wayne, Wayne's exactly w a y any way, Gretzky
Waynes and Russell Crow. If I didn't say that, well
you did fantastic. You didn't need a mask. You didn't need.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
As soon as we're done, I'm going to go read
your gate gonna make that mistake again.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
They are. There's gonna be so many angry letters from
Ibsen scholars. Uh, well, you were delight, thank you and
I have an extra credit for the folks at home.
This martial arts star is said to be so strong
and so fast he can play catch with himself. When
he does, you could say this is what he's doing.
(18:16):
Thank you, listeners, Thank you Josh. We get you back
tomorrow so we have lots more to talk about and listeners.
If you like the show, please check out our Instagram
feed at Hello Puzzlers, where we post the original puzzles,
other fun stuff, visual puzzles, even and we'll meet here
tomorrow for more puzzling puzzles that will puzzle you puzzlingly
Hello, puzzlers. Let's start with a quick puzzle. What word
is often seen following these words key, May, Wild, Jerry.
So a single word that often follows key, May, Wild
and Jerry. And here is a key hint, which is
(00:23):
that May is spelled m a e, not m a
y m a e blank the answer and more puzzling
goodness after the break. Welcome back to the Puzzler Podcast.
(00:44):
The fist bump emoji. In your Puzzler group chat, I'm
your host, A J. Jacobs. Before the break, we asked
what word might come after key, May, Wild or Jerry
in The hint was that May is spelled m a e.
And the answer is m A West. Everything is West,
Key West, the Florida Islands, May West, the old timey
(01:07):
sex symbol, wild West self explanatory. Jerry West, the legendary
basketball player who even if you're not a basketball fan,
and I am not a particularly huge fan, but I
even know what he looks like because he's the model
for the silhouette and the NBA logo, so you have
(01:28):
seen him, or at least his silhouette many many times.
I bring this up because it is a bit of
a tenuous segue, but I think it overall works almost
and that is we have a guest who is part
of another famous West phrase, and that phrase is the
West Wing. He is an actor who has many, many credits.
(01:52):
You've seen him one hundred times, Scandal, the Shonda Rhymes series,
Big Bang Theory, the Broadway play leop hold Stock. I'm
talking about Josh Melina.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Welcome, Josh, thank you for having me. And I didn't
know that about Jerry West, that he was the NBA silhouette.
Now I wonder if he is recognized most frequently on
sunny days when he's casting shadow exactly. Hey, aren't you
the guy?
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Why are you walking like that all diagonal? Uh? Well, yes,
I'm glad. I'm glad to give you a fact. We
are so excited to have you. It's been a long
time coming because we know we're not only fans of
your acting, but we know that you are a puzzler.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I'm more enthusiastic than skilled, as I'm sure i'll demonstrate.
But yes, and I'm a huge fan of yours together
all together and the book The Puzzler.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Specifically, Oh my goodness, listen, I love it. So I
know partly you're a puzzle van because you once wrote
a nice note about my book, but also the pinned
post on your thread's account. I'll read it for those
at home who haven't seen it. You right, let's be honest.
Connections is a game where you have to create three
(03:04):
groups of four words.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
By the process of elimination. The fourth is a gimmick.
We're doing more than we are.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
I know. I do have a friend who's like, I'm
not going to press them unless I get the fourth.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
As of just recently, though, they keep track of an
extra stat which is how frequently you get the purple
category first?
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Oh, I did not know? Yes, yes, yes, So does
that play into your had really?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Because for me, I haven't reached the point, nor do
I anticipate doing so where I write everything down and
figure it out. To me, it's a mental puzzle, although
not to cast dis versions on people who write out
the words and figure it all that so I go
just sort of one kata category at the time as
they occur to me. So I would have to create
a whole new approach in order to try to target
(03:53):
the purple category first understood.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, and I don't even pay attention to the colors
I am. I am colorblind and that way. I do
love the people who get outraged about the categories connections.
There's a TikTok that has like a half a million
likes on the most vile categories and connections.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
My dad is among that group of people who like
to complain. I was not happy with green today. I
don't have an objection.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
That is funny. Do you have any favorites or least
favorite categories?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I don't off the top of my head, although I
have watched those videos on TikTok.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah, just for those who haven't seen it, one was
she talked about Aura Buck doge and Hoda A U
R A, b U c K d O g E
and h O d A. I think that was probably
one that came last for me, and I took the
gimme because it is a tricky one. You know it
Carus Car Companies minus one letter, Ara, Buick, Dodge, Honda, Winna.
(04:59):
You're very tricky. She's a friend of the show. She's
been on the show, so we can say that.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I take me very literal minded, and so I like
that game. I'm not great at it, but it pushes
me towards lateral thinking because I forget sometimes I'm always
looking at things as words, and I forget that sometimes
there are it is the arrangement of letters and it's
the beginning of something else, or I forget sometimes to
look at it laterally.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, no, it's that's our thesis. It's good for the
brain to later thing. You also will talk a little
about other puzzle crossovers that you have in your life.
But speaking of puzzles, we do have a puzzle, so
I thought i'd get into it and we could talk
a little more as we play. And this puzzle is
(05:44):
called Josh Josh's Josh Josh's, and it's based on the
fact that your first name Josh is also a verb
to tease in a playful way. So the answer to
all of these are going to be famous people's first
names and then the herb that is identical to their name.
So for you, the clue might have been this West
(06:05):
Wing and Scandal star teases in a playful way, Josh Josh's.
And it could be real people, could be fictional characters.
Are you ready?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
We'll find out in the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
We could have given this. We had Josh Radner on
and I did email Josh Charles whom I know a little,
and he said he would come on some point. So
I feel it's like the the Chris Pine, Chris Helmsworth, Chris.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
We're Diamond dozen Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Josh's I don't think so, those are the big three, Josh,
I think so. All right, So the Star of Elf
bequeaths his estate, The Star of Elf bequeaths his estate.
He got it, he's nodding.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I believe I do. Big fan of the movies, So
Will Wills exactly.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Also, your character on West Wing, the man who battles
Windmills puts on his clothes.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Uh don Don's exactly.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Now, these are fictional scenarios, so this is not to
cast any aspersions on this real life person. But the
director of a Few Good Men holds up a liquor store.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Oh look, direct connection to me. Worked with that twice.
If you're out there, happy to work with you a
third time.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Rob, Rob's exactly, Rob Reiner. And yes, so Aaron Sorkin
wrote a Few Good Men and Rob directed it.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yes, Ar's been very good to me my personal art,
you know, Supporter, Well, he gave me all my breaks
and TV, theater and film.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Well, you've been very good to him. You saved his life.
We would not have the West Lang.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Without Yeah, exactly. People watch me are like, how based
on my acting? How did he get this part? Like?
They didn't don't know the story. I heim linked him first.
That's it.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You were what was it? You were full bowling?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Well, very good, you done your research. Yes, we were
bowling as part of the Broadway Bowling League and Aaron
was choking on a congealed wad of hamburger, and I
cracked three of his ribs, which, oh my god, happened
sometimes with the Heimlich maneuver. But but he survived and
went on to cast me again and again.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Right, well, he had cast you, he had cast you before, right,
so that yes, so it wasn't direct.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
At this point, he just continues to cast me because
he likes to have me around when he's eating.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
You're very safe. You are a good luck charm because
I think the few things he's done without you, I
have not as arestening. I'm telling you all right. A
couple more. The original karate Kid vomits the original karate
Kid speaking of things flying.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Ralph, Ralph, Ralph's.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Exactly Ralph ralphs uh, the painter of Happy little trees
floats up and down in the water. You know this character,
Bob Ross.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Bob's exactly glad to massage out of my brain.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
The forty second President of the United States sends an invoice.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Bill Clint, didn't Bill Bill's exactly?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Was Bill president when you were on West Wing or
was it Bush? I can't remember.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Bush by the time I joined two thousand and three.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Do you did you ever meet? Did they ever come
visit the set? Or is it have any interaction?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
What most fans will agree is the heyday of the
show prior to my arrival, So during the Clinton years
first of all, and administration that sort of a fit
with the ethos of the show more than the Bush administration.
I'm told that the cast when they went to DC
to shoot, it was like the Beatles were in town,
and I think they did have multiple meetings with the
(09:56):
President himself. But then I arrived and everything went down.
Looks for the country and artistically for the show.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Now I'm a york Your podcast on the West Wing
West Wing Weekly is a delight, so any fans should
check that out. You have played with many a fictional president,
so you've got President Bartlett from West Wing, President Shepherd
(10:26):
from an American President also v Anders and President Fitzgerald Grant.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
The third Tony Goldwan. That's true. And if you're looking
at the final season of the West Wing, President Santos
as played by Jimmy Smith.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Oh, President Smith's yes, okay, So of those four, we'll
first try the characters, then the real people. Of those four,
who would you vote for as actual president?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
That's a great question. I think i'd My heart is
with President bartle Has. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Yeah, you don't want Fitzgerald Grant if I remember, No,
not really.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I believe he did it if my memory is correct,
at one point smother to death. A sitting Supreme Court
justice get behind that as part of the electorate.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Even though I disagree strongly with most of the Supreme
Court justice, I don't.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Think that it depends which one.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Now, what about the the actors themselves, which do you think.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
All lovely people? Which would make the actual best president?
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yeah, that's my my question.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
That's a good question. I would say either Martin Sheen
and his crime or maybe Tony currently Okay, Tony very well,
he's very They're all sharp people, and Tony with Tony
also looks like a president.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
He does. He does. Well, I mean it's not out
of the question. Got California, that's right, Okay, we got
a couple more before you're off the hook, which is
the star of Beverly Hills. Cop swirls around the.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Dream great movie, Eddie.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Eddie's exactly like, uh, now, this one I would not
have gotten. But I saw the name, and I'm like, okay,
that is a verb. But I know that you majored
in theater. You studied theater industry.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Chekhovs.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
It's not Chekhov, but close it is Henrik Ibsen. This
is the one of the main characters in Henrik Ibsen play.
Stares around the corner or peaks around the corner. He
was a Norwegian guy.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
It's not torvald That doesn't make any sense.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Torvalds.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
I don't know. I think you got me.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Oh that's exciting. He well, just so you know, it
a jury of your.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Oh, Pierre Peers, okay, Pierre Ghent the deep in chain.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
They're taking back your diploma. I I've never seen it.
A I didn't even know.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
How to a theater major should have gotten.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I mean, it sounds crazy. Just the Wikipedia summary it's
about a reindeer hunt that goes awry. It goes to
nor Africa.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Personal experience.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
It's true. There's so many moving parts that can really
screw you up. Okay, Oh, another literary one. The Girl
and to Kill a Mockingbird looks for up and coming
baseball players. So this is Atticus Finch's daughter goes and
looks for up and coming baseball Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Got it. I thought it was gonna There's another literature one,
but Scout.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Scouts exactly, Scout Scouts. You got it, all right. I
got a couple more, but I'm gonna move to homophones
so they don't have to actually have the same spelling,
but they will sound like a verb. For instance, the
actor who plays Barney from How I Met Your Mother
(14:04):
prepares to pop the question or get knighted, could be
either one. Neil Neils exactly multiple World Series of Poker
Champion pours water to the brim of the glass. And
again I would not your average person might not know this,
but I am a poker player.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Phil Hellmuth is the most winning player ever. Phil Phil's exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Oh I was thinking Phil Ivy.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Oh, phil Ivey, I was thinking for Phil Ivy is
one of my personal favorites. But in terms of the
most bracelets that the world series, Phil Helmeth is.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
But Phil, so they both. It's just if you named Phil,
you have an automatic advantage, and so you I'm poker.
I know that that was one of your ways of
initially bonding with Aaron Sorkins. So poker's been very good.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Poker had been good to me. To me, it's the well,
the twenty first centuries, but twenty the time when I
got to know our golf course. That's where I got
to know people instead of on the golf course. Maybe
back in the heyday of Hollywood, I was schmoozing and
working people over the poker table.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
And are you I mean, I've heard that you are.
You are quite good.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Well, as with many games, good is relative to the
people you're playing against. So I'm very good at finding
regular games in which I'm good relative to the people
I'm playing against. Whether you compare me to the entire
cosmography of poker players worldwide, whether I'm any good, I
couldn't say.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Well, are you? I mean? Are you the type of
player who's like looking for tells and trying to figure
out if people are bluffing because that's way over my head.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Well, there's an aspect of that, but I think that's
probably overrated, and more find tells through people's patterns of betting.
I think is a better way to go than waiting
for someone who like scratches his nose every time he raised.
That happens more in poker movies than that poker tables
for real, I think.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Right well, I have this of an acquaintance. I don't
know a friend of f acquaintance who she's a poker player,
and she wears a scarf because she says that when
you're bluffing, then your heart is beating more quickly and
people can see the veins. I don't know if that's
just psychology, like she's just trying to mess with people.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
It's become a controversial thing, actually, people wearing masks at
the poker table, because I think maybe they used to
be outlawed, But in the age of COVID, people putatively
are wearing them because they don't want to get sick.
But are they or are they wearing it because they
want to cover their face and not give away any information?
And just recently I was watching I've watched a fair
amount of poker on TV, and I was watching a
(16:47):
player who seemed to feel the need to protect himself
from COVID only when he was in a hand. Yeah,
it was like, I think I know why he's wearing
a mask.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
That is hilarious. All right, a couple more and then
we are done. How about the star of the First Gladiator.
I guess he had a little cameo on the second
The First Gladiator star steals some cattle, steal some cattle.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Okay, sure saw the movie, enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Russell russells Russell Russell's some cattle.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
And how about will end with the Great One fades
the great One? That's a capital G capital O an athlete.
I think that's his name.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Now, Hockey Wayne Waynes.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Exactly, Wayne, Wayne's exactly w a y any way, Gretzky
Waynes and Russell Crow. If I didn't say that, well
you did fantastic. You didn't need a mask. You didn't need.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
As soon as we're done, I'm going to go read
your gate gonna make that mistake again.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
They are. There's gonna be so many angry letters from
Ibsen scholars. Uh, well, you were delight, thank you and
I have an extra credit for the folks at home.
This martial arts star is said to be so strong
and so fast he can play catch with himself. When
he does, you could say this is what he's doing.
(18:16):
Thank you, listeners, Thank you Josh. We get you back
tomorrow so we have lots more to talk about and listeners.
If you like the show, please check out our Instagram
feed at Hello Puzzlers, where we post the original puzzles,
other fun stuff, visual puzzles, even and we'll meet here
tomorrow for more puzzling puzzles that will puzzle you puzzlingly
Hosts And Creators
Greg Pliska
A.J. Jacobs
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