NPR People: Peter Sagal http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101115&ft=1&f=2101115 Peter Sagal has been the host of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! since May, 1998. A native of Berkeley Heights, N.J., he attended Harvard University and subsequently squandered that education while working as a literary manager for a regional theater, a stage director, an actor, an extra in a Michael Jackson video, a travel writer, an essayist, a ghost writer for a former adult film impresario and a staff writer for a motorcycle magazine. He is the author of numerous plays that have been performed in large and small theaters around the country and abroad, including Long Wharf Theater, Actors Theater of Louisville, Seattle Repertory, and Florida Stage. He has also written a number of screenplays, including Savage, a cheesy vehicle for obscure French kickboxer Olivier Gruner, and Cuba Mine, an original screenplay that became, without his knowledge, the basis for Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:34:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Peter Sagal http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101115&ft=1&f=2101115 yes On Set With Michael Jackson Peter Sagal once worked as an extra in a Michael Jackson music video. The video was "Remember the Time." The set was a version of ancient Egypt. The King of Pop entered in a gold costume. Then he started to dance. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:34:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105977097&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105977097&ft=1&f=2101115 Peter Sagal once worked as an extra in a Michael Jackson music video. The video was "Remember the Time." The set was a version of ancient Egypt. The King of Pop entered in a gold costume. Then he started to dance. no Peter Sagal once worked as an extra in a Michael Jackson music video. The video was "Remember the Time." The set was a version of ancient Egypt. The King of Pop entered in a gold costume. Then he started to dance.

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]]> Do 'Childish Things' Include 'Lord Of The Rings'? Commentator Peter Sagal mourns the loss of science fiction author Philip Jose Farmer. He says Farmer provided him with an important commodity when he was growing up: imaginary people. You can spend your whole life talking and playing with and beating up imaginary people. And from all accounts, many do. But Sagal also wonders if, like him, when they grow up and have to say farewell to childish things, they'll have nothing real to let go of. Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102250008&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102250008&ft=1&f=2101115 Commentator Peter Sagal mourns the loss of science fiction author Philip Jose Farmer. He says Farmer provided him with an important commodity when he was growing up: imaginary people. You can spend your whole life talking and playing with and beating up imaginary people. And from all accounts, many do. But Sagal also wonders if, like him, when they grow up and have to say farewell to childish things, they'll have nothing real to let go of. 201 no Commentator Peter Sagal mourns the loss of science fiction author Philip Jose Farmer. He says Farmer provided him with an important commodity when he was growing up: imaginary people. You can spend your whole life talking and playing with and beating up imaginary people. And from all accounts, many do. But Sagal also wonders if, like him, when they grow up and have to say farewell to childish things, they'll have nothing real to let go of.

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]]> With Sharper Image's Demise, A Way Of Life Gone With the company's end went something more than a tenant for the retail space next to the Lane Bryant down the mall. With it went a certain, purely American idea: That no matter what happened, we'd always have enough extra money to spend on useless nonsense, as long as it had an LCD display. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97481360&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97481360&ft=1&f=2101115 With the company's end went something more than a tenant for the retail space next to the Lane Bryant down the mall. With it went a certain, purely American idea: That no matter what happened, we'd always have enough extra money to spend on useless nonsense, as long as it had an LCD display. 0 no With the company's end went something more than a tenant for the retail space next to the Lane Bryant down the mall. With it went a certain, purely American idea: That no matter what happened, we'd always have enough extra money to spend on useless nonsense, as long as it had an LCD display.

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]]> Wake Up, Neo A lot of people constantly check their e-mail accounts. They also check if anybody has commented on their blogs and check for text messages. But messages are usually disappointing and mundane. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93606428&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93606428&ft=1&f=2101115 A lot of people constantly check their e-mail accounts. They also check if anybody has commented on their blogs and check for text messages. But messages are usually disappointing and mundane. 0 no A lot of people constantly check their e-mail accounts. They also check if anybody has commented on their blogs and check for text messages. But messages are usually disappointing and mundane.

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]]> Trying to Be Ahead of the Joneses Apple's sales of Macintosh computers increased 51 percent for the first quarter of this year. Apparently a lot of people got iPhones or iPods in the past year. Peter Sagal laments how everything he does is a demographic trend — and how he can't seem to stay ahead of his 40-something demo. Tue, 06 May 2008 17:02:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90234087&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90234087&ft=1&f=2101115 Apple's sales of Macintosh computers increased 51 percent for the first quarter of this year. Apparently a lot of people got iPhones or iPods in the past year. Peter Sagal laments how everything he does is a demographic trend — and how he can't seem to stay ahead of his 40-something demo. 0 no Apple's sales of Macintosh computers increased 51 percent for the first quarter of this year. Apparently a lot of people got iPhones or iPods in the past year. Peter Sagal laments how everything he does is a demographic trend — and how he can't seem to stay ahead of his 40-something demo.

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]]> Gender Inequity in 'Whoville' Commentator Peter Sagal, father of three daughters, is incensed. In a new subplot added by filmmakers to the Dr. Seuss classic <em>Horton Hears a Who</em>, the mayor of Whoville has 96 daughters, yet only one son. Guess who saves the day? The offspring with a Y chromosome. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89318829&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89318829&ft=1&f=2101115 Commentator Peter Sagal, father of three daughters, is incensed. In a new subplot added by filmmakers to the Dr. Seuss classic <em>Horton Hears a Who</em>, the mayor of Whoville has 96 daughters, yet only one son. Guess who saves the day? The offspring with a Y chromosome. 0 no Commentator Peter Sagal, father of three daughters, is incensed. In a new subplot added by filmmakers to the Dr. Seuss classic Horton Hears a Who, the mayor of Whoville has 96 daughters, yet only one son. Guess who saves the day? The offspring with a Y chromosome.

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]]> Get Mad With John McCain Commentator Peter Sagal talks about how people perceive Sen. John McCain's temper. Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18672656&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18672656&ft=1&f=2101115 Commentator Peter Sagal talks about how people perceive Sen. John McCain's temper. 0 no Commentator Peter Sagal talks about how people perceive Sen. John McCain's temper.

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]]> Imagining Da Casino in Chicago Peter Sagal imagines what a casino in Chicago would look like now that the Windy City is considering building and operating one. Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17222511&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17222511&ft=1&f=2101115 Peter Sagal imagines what a casino in Chicago would look like now that the Windy City is considering building and operating one. 0 no Peter Sagal imagines what a casino in Chicago would look like now that the Windy City is considering building and operating one.

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]]> Making Virtual Friends on Facebook Commentator Peter Sagal has recently joined Facebook, but he still has a lot of misgivings about it. Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:04:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16703138&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16703138&ft=1&f=2101115 Commentator Peter Sagal has recently joined Facebook, but he still has a lot of misgivings about it. 0 no Commentator Peter Sagal has recently joined Facebook, but he still has a lot of misgivings about it.

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]]> A Reality Check for Americans Obsessed With 'More' The American dream is constantly evolving. Fifty years ago, folks wanted a house with a white picket fence. Now, it's a private jet. Are humans hard-wired to always want more than they have? Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16053199&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16053199&ft=1&f=2101115 The American dream is constantly evolving. Fifty years ago, folks wanted a house with a white picket fence. Now, it's a private jet. Are humans hard-wired to always want more than they have? 0 no The American dream is constantly evolving. Fifty years ago, folks wanted a house with a white picket fence. Now, it's a private jet. Are humans hard-wired to always want more than they have?

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]]> 'Sopranos' Finale: A Nod to Nothingness Creators of successful dramas start to resent the popularity of what they've done &mdash; and take it out on the audience. It is hard to come up with a good ending. But that doesn't excuse what David Chase, creator of <em>The Sopranos</em>, put on HBO Sunday night. Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10947960&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10947960&ft=1&f=2101115 Creators of successful dramas start to resent the popularity of what they've done &mdash; and take it out on the audience. It is hard to come up with a good ending. But that doesn't excuse what David Chase, creator of <em>The Sopranos</em>, put on HBO Sunday night. 0 no Creators of successful dramas start to resent the popularity of what they've done — and take it out on the audience. It is hard to come up with a good ending. But that doesn't excuse what David Chase, creator of The Sopranos, put on HBO Sunday night.

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]]> My Child, the Prodigy &mdash; and Other Punchlines All those people who think it's impossible to praise one's kids too much may need a little dose of reality. But essayist and father Peter Sagal says it won't start with him &mdash; or his daughter's tee-ball team. Sagal is the host of NPR's <em>Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!</em> He lives in Chicago. Wed, 23 May 2007 16:14:46 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10358490&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10358490&ft=1&f=2101115 All those people who think it's impossible to praise one's kids too much may need a little dose of reality. But essayist and father Peter Sagal says it won't start with him &mdash; or his daughter's tee-ball team. Sagal is the host of NPR's <em>Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!</em> He lives in Chicago. 0 no All those people who think it's impossible to praise one's kids too much may need a little dose of reality. But essayist and father Peter Sagal says it won't start with him — or his daughter's tee-ball team. Sagal is the host of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me! He lives in Chicago.

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]]> The Joy of Driving a Minivan There's at least one father who drives a minivan and is totally fine with it. In fact, he's a little sick of people saying they're emasculating, and calling them "mom-mobiles." There are pleasures and virtues in driving a minivan through town. Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9870447&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9870447&ft=1&f=2101115 There's at least one father who drives a minivan and is totally fine with it. In fact, he's a little sick of people saying they're emasculating, and calling them "mom-mobiles." There are pleasures and virtues in driving a minivan through town. 0 no There's at least one father who drives a minivan and is totally fine with it. In fact, he's a little sick of people saying they're emasculating, and calling them "mom-mobiles." There are pleasures and virtues in driving a minivan through town.

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]]> A Growing Appetite for Vonnegut's Books Peter Sagal fell in love with Kurt Vonnegut's writing as a teen. Re-reading the books as an adult only bolstered his appreciation of the venerated writer. Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9554291&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9554291&ft=1&f=2101115 Peter Sagal fell in love with Kurt Vonnegut's writing as a teen. Re-reading the books as an adult only bolstered his appreciation of the venerated writer. 0 no Peter Sagal fell in love with Kurt Vonnegut's writing as a teen. Re-reading the books as an adult only bolstered his appreciation of the venerated writer.

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]]> The Politics of Hair John Kerry recently touted his ticket's "better vision, better ideas and better hair" in the presidential campaign. Peter Sagal joins us to discuss the importance of hair in politics. Tue, 13 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3365024&ft=1&f=2101115 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3365024&ft=1&f=2101115 John Kerry recently touted his ticket's "better vision, better ideas and better hair" in the presidential campaign. Peter Sagal joins us to discuss the importance of hair in politics. 0 no John Kerry recently touted his ticket's "better vision, better ideas and better hair" in the presidential campaign. Peter Sagal joins us to discuss the importance of hair in politics.

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