Ask Me Another

In the Ask Me Another justice system, contestants are quizzed by two separate yet equally important groups: the puzzle gurus, who investigate pop culture and word oddities, and the score keepers, who prosecute the answers. This week, hear their stories as we test our V.I.P., political pundit Keli Goff, on her favorite series, Law & Order. Plus, celebrate history's greatest thinkers, from Confucius to Carly Rae Jepsen.

You may know this week's V.I.P. (Very Important Puzzler) Steve Guttenberg from such iconic films as Diner, Cocoon, and Three Men and a Baby. But he wears plenty of other hats: author, reality show contestant, even Guinness World Record holder. In this episode we'll explore all things Gute. Plus, we'll dine out on some soft rock, give movies the Randy Newman treatment, and find out that Mark Twain isn't all he's cracked up to be.

(Rebroadcast) If you love playing around with palindromes, quoting Downton Abbey's Dowager Countess, and spotting factual errors in the news (Editor's note: "What factual errors?"), then this episode will make you so happy, you'll want to clap your hands. Plus, this week's hilarious V.I.P., Baratunde Thurston, has some advice for the Area Man or Woman in all of us.

"Shake it like a polar bear ninja!" If you suspect that these are not the correct lyrics to Outkast's "Hey Ya!", then this week's game of mondegreens (misheard lyrics) is for you. We'll also visit the world of late-night infomercials, learn how to tell the difference between Michael Caine and Anthony Hopkins, and root for our favorite gluttonous, envious, lustful basketball team: the Phoenix Sins. Plus, V.I.P. David Rees teaches us how to sharpen pencils the artisanal way.

This week's versatile V.I.P., Rosie Schaap, has had spells as an author, an ordained minister, a fortuneteller, and a bartender — which serves her well during a delectable drinking game. And with quizzes covering highfalutin children's literature, crossbred celebrities and a geologist's favorite Queen song, this week's contestants show a little versatility, too.

(Rebroadcast) So you think you're a TV buff. But how well do you know shows by their episode titles? Contestants are put to some pop culture challenges, like deciphering breakfast cereal haikus and a remixed nursery rhyme. Plus, this week's V.I.P. is a certain brainiac who shares a few of his favorite apocalyptic prophesies.

Ever wanted to run away with the circus? This week's show might be the next best thing, as Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone, The Big Apple Circus' husband-and-wife team of globetrotting masked comedy masters, pay a visit. Plus, we'll follow a famous clown around the world, give some military officers a word game salute, and find out there's nothing original left in Hollywood.

Do you know what a Russian pig sounds like? What about a Japanese bee? Find out as we test you on animal kingdom noises, spoil some TV show finales, and walk the streets with a song in our hearts. Plus, our V.I.P. may make her living as a Czech musician, but she's a Jersey girl at heart — it's Cristin Milioti, star of the Broadway musical Once.

This week, we revisit the 20th century with Billy Joel, write novels the Robert Ludlum way, and catch words with a subtle silent "t". Plus, we talk "27 Shades of Grey" with our V.I.P. (that's "Very Important Puzzler"), superstar sex doctor Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

On this behind-the-scenes, podcast-only extra, host Ophira Eisenberg warms up the crowd before a taping of Ask Me Another with a childhood tale of her fascination with Christmas. Plus house musician Jonathan Coulton and special guest John Roderick perform a rousing rendition of the title track from their new holiday album "One Christmas At A Time."