Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a puzzle involving expressions that pair famous people with the last syllables of their names. For example, what kind of drinking vessel might a mustachioed genius named Albert use? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Last Syllable Word Quiz”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Martha Barnette.
And I’m Grant Barrett.
And with us today is John Chaneski, our quiz guy.
Hello, John.
Hi, John.
Hi, Grant.
Hi, Martha.
How are you guys?
Great.
How are you doing?
Do we need to promote you, quiz guy?
You need to be like quiz master, quiz lord?
Oh, I like that.
Grand quizard.
Does the grand quizard have a quiz in his pocket?
I do, yeah.
And this one starts with a little story.
So I’m in Los Angeles this time, and I’m looking at that famous mural on Hollywood Boulevard in which a whole bunch of stars are seated in a theater.
You know that one I’m talking about?
Sure, yeah.
It’s actually called You Are the Star.
I said to my friend, hey, there’s Shirley Temple.
And he said, where?
And I said, in the Marilyn Monroe row.
Oh.
Well, that’s all I needed.
We see how your brain works.
Yes.
This quiz is about famous people whose last syllable is or sounds like a word.
For example, these days you can get all sorts of gift items with famous scientists on them, like glassware.
I have a shot glass with a picture of Nikola Tesla.
My favorite is blank.
Albert Einsteinstein.
Right, Albert Einsteinstein.
Oh, boy.
Nice.
When I can get you guys laughing like this, it’s just the example.
I know we’re going to have some fun.
Oh, yeah, there’s something really good about this, John.
You’re on to something, buddy.
This is your big one.
All right.
It might not be phonetic or it could be phonetic.
Let’s try these out.
Here are some more.
I’ll give you the first name if you need a hint.
All right.
I’m a big fan of the Jeeves and Worcester books.
In fact, when I was traveling in Britain, I visited the blank.
P.G. Woodhouse house?
The P.G. Woodhouse house, yes.
Actually, he spent most of his time in New York, so I could visit it from here, yes.
I was in a thrift store in Key West, and the guy offered to sell me a Guaya Barra shirt that was once owned by a famous author.
Now, I don’t know if it’s real, because it’s huge.
What do you think?
What did blank?
What did Hemingway?
Something wear.
Well, we’re doing it in a certain construction.
What did Ernest Hemingway?
Yeah, what did Ernest Hemingway weigh?
What did Ernest Hemingway weigh?
Yes, that’s what I want to hear.
Very good.
His name wasn’t Ernest Heming.
Okay.
No.
Now, my Uncle Joe told me that when he was at West Point in the 50s, his roommate was the guy who eventually went on to lead the U.S. Forces in the Persian Gulf War.
He said this guy often caught colds, and Uncle Joe would always end up with what he called the blank.
A Norman Schwarzkopf cough.
Oh, yes.
A Norman Schwarzkopf cough.
Oh, very good.
Tell him to cover his mouth, please.
Very good.
All right.
You know, when Grand Central Terminal was erected in 1913, it replaced an edifice called the Grand Central Depot.
Now, that place was constructed by a famous railroad tycoon.
In fact, the depot was known as the house that Vanderbilt built.
Vanderbilt built.
Very good.
I collect autographs, and I prefer it if they’re part of actual correspondence.
One of my favorites is from the host of the TV show, Kids Say the Darnedest Things.
I’m very proud of my blank.
Art Linkletter letter.
Yeah, my Art Linkletter letter.
It’s a little something for the older folks, by the way.
That’s why I got that.
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
I might even say the book, Bill Cosby, but no, it’s Art Linkletter.
So the History Channel was running a special series of 60-minute mini documentaries on every single U.S. President.
I was watching them all, but I conked out during the blank.
The hour, hour?
Oh, the Eisenhower hour.
Yes, I come back during the Eisenhower hour.
Very good.
Oh, oh, one last thing, guys.
I heard that a well-to-do fan of A Way with Words has invited us all out for a week at his winter cabin in Aspen, Colorado.
He writes, I have just one question.
Does blank?
Does Will wear shorts?
No.
No.
No, the A Way with Words team.
Does Grant Barrett Barrett?
No.
No.
In the winter hole?
Winter cabin in Aspen.
Does Chaneski ski?
Yes, does John Chaneski ski?
Oh, my God.
By the way, the answer is no.
I don’t.
I’m sad to say.
Anyway, you guys did fantastic on that quiz.
Way to go.
Oh, boy.
Thanks, John.
That was a winner.
That was a very good one.
We’ll talk to you next week, all right?
Talk to you then.
Bye-bye.
Cheers.
Bye-bye.
Well, we’d love to take your quizzes, puzzles, questions, any jokes you want to send us.
Email words@waywordradio.org or, hey, share them with the world on Facebook and Twitter.
