5 Things I Learned at Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! at the Mann Center

Terry Gross enjoys watching infomercials and Bubble Wrap is a thing of the past.

Photo courtesy of Derek Brad Photography

Photo courtesy of Derek Brad Photography

On Thursday, a live recording of  Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! was held at the Mann Center. Hosted by humorist, Peter Sagal, the podcast game show is a hilarious review of the past week’s current events. I braved the stormy weather for what turned out to be a highly educational experience. In addition to catching up on on my current events I also learned some fun facts about elusive Fresh Air host Terry Gross.

Bubble Wrap is dead.

The fun in opening packages will soon fall flat. Sealed Air Cooperation has discontinued the beloved packing material, Bubble Wrap, and replaced it with a lamer, non-pop-y flat version to cut down on the cost of shipping.

Sagal shared his disappointment, saying, “Someday in the wreckage of civilization, because it’s all going down hill from here, we will explain to our children how much fun it was to pop Bubble Wrap, because they sadly will never know.”

Sealed Air is changing the formula so the wrapping no longer pops, sadly. Start hoarding your Bubble Wrap now people, because in a few months time it will be a distant memory.

Television is used as a form of punishment.

“You cannot go out and play until you finish season three of The Wire,” joked Peter Grosz upon hearing about the latest trend among parents. According to The New York Times, parents are threatening their children with more television in lieu of phones and iPads. Yet, according to the article, giving children more time to sit quietly in contemplative environments is better for development.

 Amy Dickinson has never seen The Room.

Panelists Peter Grosz, Amy Dickinson and Tom Bodett | Photo by Derek Brad Photography

Panelists Peter Grosz, Amy Dickinson and Tom Bodett | Photo by Derek Brad Photography

Do Quit Your Day Job” was the topic during “Bluff,” the listener segment. The three panelists, Peter Grosz, Amy Dickinson and Tom Bodett, were asked to write stories about themselves describing a mistake they made at work that week. Two panelists were bluffing and one was telling the truth.

All their stories were incredibly convincing (and hilarious) but only Amy’s story was true, in fact it made the news last week. Dickinson explained that as an advice columnist for “Ask Amy,” she makes an effort to insure that she gives the most up-to-date advice by reading through psychology journals. Yet, she admitted, “This week I got a letter that made me wish I’d spent a little more time on Netflix.”

Last week a guy who called himself “Devastated” wrote Amy a letter acting as the character Johnny from the cult classic The Room. She responded by obliviously running the letter in her column along with what she thought was “fairly good advice.” She has in fact been punked. The letter outlined the plot to the film famous for being the worst movie ever made.

Terry Gross enjoys Time Life Infomercials.

Fresh Air host and Wait Wait guest Terry Gross | Photo by Derek Brad Photography

Fresh Air host and Wait Wait guest Terry Gross | Photo by Derek Brad Photography

The Fresh Air talk show host is famous for getting her interviewees to open up and divulge personal information. On Thursday night the spotlight was on special guest Gross when she was asked to share an embarrassing fact about herself. She told us that she loves listening to opera music. But Peter Sagal forced her to dig a little deeper when he responded. “Nobody here is surprised to know that you like opera.”

Gross recovered by revealing that she and her husband like to spend their free time watching Time Life Infomercials for country, rock and roll and soul music. She apparently loves the performance questions and knows the announcer. Well, that’s not so embarrassing but Gross gets major points for letting her inner nerd shine through. And we love her for it.

Australia is home to a building shaped like Beyoncé.

During the “Limerick Challenge” Sagal told us about an Australian architect who modeled his building after Beyoncé. “The singer of course is famous for her lady curves and the rotating restaurant at the top of her head,” joked Sagal. Apparently, the building’s unique curves give it structural integrity and an ability to withstand earthquakes and, Sagal joked, “unwanted gropes from other buildings.”

To hear the complete recording of Thursday’s show, click here.

NPR PresentsThe Mann CenterPhiladelphia, PaJuly 9, 2015DerekBrad.com

Hosts Bill Kurtis and Peter Sagal with Terry Gross | Photo by Derek Brad Photography