What’s the Luftballoons plus the Dalmatians, divided by Ali Baba’s thieves?
Want to take a guess? Check out an upcoming live taping of “Ask Me Another,” NPR’s brand new game show that is waging a battle of pop-culture wits at the Bell House this spring — and inviting contestants for a free hour of trivia, mystery guests and improv shenanigans.
“There is so much that NPR does that is serious,” said Eric Nuzum, an award-winning news writer who developed the program. “Sometimes it’s nice to have fun, smart escapism. We don’t shoot for funny — we shoot for fun.”
The rollicking radio show launched its three-month residency at the Gowanus bar on Jan. 23, and each broadcast will have a fresh set of puzzles.
Host comedian Ophira Eisenberg tests eager beavers with games such as “Better than Bieber” (contestants fill in the blanks for Justin’s songs) and “Replacement Math” (the total number of Brontë sisters plus the Marx Brothers).
And Geeky singer Jonathan Coulton www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/34/39/24_coulton_2011_9_16_bk.html wails a spontaneous musical score as contestants approach the bare stage — and as local celebs such as David Cross emerge after high-stakes guessing games.
Eisenberg has already begun goading future contenders: the borough’s wonky and web-savvy information explorers.
“We all are walking around with our phones, Googling things, full of information,” she said. “Why don’t you all come to the Bell House and see how you do?”
“Ask Me Another” will host 10 live recordings at the Bell House [149 Seventh St. between Second and Third avenues in Gowanus, (718) 643-6510], Feb. 6 through April 23. For info, visit www.thebellhouseny.com or follow @NPRAskMeAnother.
Reach Kate Briquelet at kbriquelet@cnglocal.com or by calling her at (718) 260-2511.
