On this week's episode, Wait Wait … Don't Tell Me! host Peter Sagal plays a Wits game show, comedian Paul F. Tompkins performs Amazon.com one-star reviews of great literature, and Open Mike Eagle performs from his album Dark Comedy. Plus, Leonard Cohen texts Leonard Cohen in this week's Pop Song Correspondence.
· Paul F. Tompkins: “Hello”
· Paul F. Tompkins: “Hello, Shakespeare”
This episode of Wits is sponsored by Nilan Johnson Lewis.
Prior to becoming host of the hit public radio quiz show Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me in 1998, Peter Sagal had a varied career including stints as a playwright, screenwriter, stage director, actor, extra in a Michael Jackson video, travel writer, essayist, ghostwriter and staff writer for a motorcycle magazine. In 2007, Peter published his first book, The Book of Vice: Naughty Things and How to Do Them, a series of essays about bad behavior. In 2013, he hosted Constitution USA with Peter Sagal, a four part documentary on PBS. He's a columnist for Runner's World and recently learned how to make homemade mac and cheese, which his youngest daughter won't eat because it's not orange.
Paul F. Tompkins is one of the most charming, quick-witted and popular comedians on the scene. Tompkins has recorded four stand-up specials for Comedy Central, and hosts the "Speakeasy" web series. Tompkins is an Emmy-nominated writer for “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” and has appeared in movies including “There Will Be Blood” and “the Informant!” His most recent comedy albums include “Freak Wharf” and “Laboring Under Delusions.”
The LA Times calls Open Mike Eagle "one of LA's smartest young voices." Mike has also bridged rap and comedy, rapping at shows by some of our favorite comedians, including Paul F. Tompkins and Hannibal Buress. He was named Impose Magazine’s Rapper of the Year for 2013. The rapper of the whole entire year. His new album is Dark Comedy. Its 45 minutes of attempting to giggle at the abyss. It features raps from Hannibal Burress and Das Racist’s Kool A.D. Beats from Jeremiah Jae, Dibia$e, Busdriver and more. Its his first release on Mello Music Group