Playing a Tough Crowd

Tonight, Peter Sagal addressed a room full of rabbis. A “certainty of rabbis.” It was some of the funniest material I have heard. EVER.

I really like smart people. Peter Sagal is smart people. Quick quips. And a sweet disposition.

He shared some of his favourite “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me” moments. Including an exchange that was never aired due to the concern that thirty-two utterances of the word “crap” would rankle the FCC and bring stiff (read: expensive) penalties upon NPR. Watching Joe, one of the ASL interpreters < sign the audio caused the entire room to erupt in violent chortling. It involved pineapples. Crapping pineapples. And Ronald Reagan.

Afterward, he graciously posed for photographs and entertained comments. Which, in this group, were statements such as “I know your parents…” and “I know your brother…” Jewish geography. Having seen a live taping of “WWDTM” this past November, I asked him to sign my ticket.

Did you come to the Thursday show or the Friday show?

“I work on Friday nights.”