In honor of the 44th U.S. president, Quiz Guy Greg Pliska offers a word game “Glom-a Obama.” The object: Figure out a series of rhyming two-word phrases by guessing the word to be added to the name “Obama.” For example, if Mr. Obama had been born in one of Japan’s second-largest city, he would be “_____________ Obama.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Glom-a Obama Quiz”
You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette, and we are joined once again by our quiz guy, Greg Pliska.
Hiya, Greg.
Hi, Martha.
Hello, Greg.
Good afternoon, Grant.
Well, Greg, you big nerd, what do you have for us?
This is in honor of the historic election that we’ve just had.
It’s a quiz that I’m calling Glamma Obama.
Glamma Obama.
Glamma?
G-L-O-M hyphen A.
Like Glamma.
Glamma Obama.
We’re going to make two-word phrases by glomming on to our 44th president’s last name.
Okay.
So the first word in the phrase will end in Ama, A-M-A, and the second word will be Obama.
For example, when Barack vacations in Nassau, he’s known as?
The Bahama Obama.
Bahama Obama, exactly.
Okay, I see where this is going.
I see how this works.
Yeah, you got it.
So here’s your first one.
When he comes to bed at night, he is…
Comma Obama.
No, no, no.
When he comes to bed at night, he is…
Tired.
Oh, I know, I know, I know.
Insomnia Obama.
Miss Barnette.
He’s pajama Obama.
Exactly.
Pajama Obama.
If he had been an Andean quadruped, he would be…
A llama Obama.
Llama Obama.
Because alpaca doesn’t rhyme.
Yeah, it would be alpaca Chewbacca.
Just different character.
Actually, they’re practically the same thing, Chewbacca and an alpaca.
If he had been born in Japan’s second largest metropolis, he would be?
Second largest.
So not Tokyo Obama.
No.
Oh, how embarrassing.
Yeah, very.
Well, it rhymes with Obama.
I’m thinking of it.
It’s not far from Tokyo.
Gamma.
It’s something gamma.
No.
No?
No.
Starts with a Y.
Oh, Yokohama Obama.
Yokohama Obama.
Exactly.
I feel very…
If he had been the first person to reach India from Europe by sea, he would be…
Famous…
Vasco da Gama Obama.
Vasco da Gama Obama.
Exactly.
When he made a dinosaur model in a shoebox in second grade, he was?
Diorama Obama.
Diorama Obama.
I think he probably made a Lincoln Log one.
Oh, very good.
Okay, here’s one.
If he succeeded Tenzin Gyatso in Tibet, he would be?
Lama Obama.
Yeah, the Dalai Lama Obama.
Dalai Lama Obama, yeah.
If his head were carved on Mount Rushmore and you could stand on it, you would view?
Panorama Obama.
Panorama Obama, exactly.
The images you’re conjuring here, Greg, are really something.
Good.
That’s my job.
Here’s a tough one for you.
Pure poetry.
Here’s a tough one.
If he’d been elected the king of Bahrain, he would be?
Very wealthy.
Bahrain.
I don’t know.
Is there a special title that goes with that?
No, there’s a special city in which he would sit.
The capital city of Bahrain.
Oh, all the eighth grade geography students are screaming at the radio right now.
I don’t know.
I don’t know.
Manama.
Manama.
Manama Obama.
Manama Obama.
Okay.
So, a fitting conclusion to this silliness, the first lady would be?
Mama Obama.
Exactly.
Very good.
Which is, I wonder if the kids call her that.
Mama Obama.
Probably not.
Probably not.
Well, thanks.
It was great fun, Greg.
It’s a pleasure as always.
Thanks, Greg.
And if you’d like to talk about grammar, slang, punctuation, or words and how we use them, the number is 1-877-929-9673.
Or send an email to words@waywordradio.org.
