Sunday Puzzle: Can you guess these stars?

Transcript

AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:

It is time to play the Puzzle.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

RASCOE: Joining us is Will Shortz. He's puzzle editor of The New York Times and puzzlemaster of WEEKEND EDITION. Hey there, Will.

WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Ayesha.

RASCOE: So, Will, would you please remind us of last week's challenge?

SHORTZ: Yes, it came from listener Sandy Weisz of Chicago. I said, think of a famous actor and a famous actress who co-starred in a classic movie of the past. The actress's first name when reversed and the actor's last name, when spelled forward, are similar romantic gifts. Who are these film stars? Well, they are Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. If you reverse Meg, you get gem, and a gem and a crystal are both things that you might give to a partner.

RASCOE: And they starred in "When Harry Met Sally," right?

SHORTZ: That's right.

RASCOE: Yes, which is definitely a classic. There were over 900 correct entries, so y'all really know your Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. This week's winner is Darryl Nester of Bluffton, Ohio. Congratulations, Darryl, and welcome to the program.

DARRYL NESTER: Thank you, Ayesha.

RASCOE: And so I heard you got the call while you were on the way to a reunion?

NESTER: Yeah, my 40th high school class reunion, and we were about an hour on the road when the phone rang. Yeah.

RASCOE: Oh, oh, my goodness. How long have you been playing the Puzzle?

NESTER: I was reflecting that it was probably almost exactly 28 years to the day, because the first time I listened to WEEKEND EDITION Sunday was either the 21 or the 28 of July in 1996.

RASCOE: Oh, how do you remember that?

NESTER: Because our first child was born on the 13, and it was about either eight or 15 days later that, with the uprooting of our schedule that happened, we found ourselves listening to the radio on Sunday morning, which we hadn't particularly done in the past. And been hooked on the Puzzle and on WEEKEND EDITION Sunday ever since then.

RASCOE: Well, that is an awesome story. So it feels like your child was born for this, and so I believe you're ready for this, too. But I have to ask you, are you ready to play the Puzzle?

NESTER: I'm ready. Yes.

RASCOE: OK. Take it away, Will.

SHORTZ: All right, Darryl and Ayesha. Every answer today is the name of a famous person, past or present, in which the first two letters of the first name, followed by the first two letters of the last name, spell a four-letter word. I'll give you the four-letter words and the famous people's fields. You tell me their names. For example, if I said line, L-I-N-E, and an action film star, you would say Liam Neeson, Liam starting L-I and Neeson starting N-E. OK. Number one is Near, N-E-A-R, and astronaut.

NESTER: That would be Neil Armstrong.

SHORTZ: Excellent. Number two is roam, R-O-A-M - an explorer, especially an explorer of the Antarctic.

RASCOE: Oh.

NESTER: Oh, Roald Amundsen.

SHORTZ: Right. Duel, D-U-E-L - a jazz musician.

RASCOE: Oh.

NESTER: Duke Ellington.

SHORTZ: Excellent. Pare, P-A-R-E, a colonial patriot.

NESTER: Oh, I was thinking Patrick Henry, but that doesn't work. But...

RASCOE: Didn't he run around saying, the British are coming, the British are coming?

SHORTZ: The British are coming.

NESTER: Thank you for that hint. Yes, Paul Revere.

SHORTZ: Right. Sego, S-E-G-O - a singer-actress.

NESTER: Selena Gomez.

SHORTZ: Excellent. Nite, N-I-T-E - an inventor.

NESTER: Nikola Tesla.

SHORTZ: Nice. Wish, W-I-S-H - a playwright and poet.

NESTER: Well, it's not Will Shortz. I mean...

RASCOE: It should be.

(LAUGHTER)

NESTER: Will Shakespeare, yes.

SHORTZ: And you anticipated my last one - wish, again, for a puzzlemaster.

NESTER: (Laughter) Well, I'm sorry to have spoiled the surprise. Will Shortz.

RASCOE: (Laughter).

SHORTZ: Good job.

NESTER: That's the first wish that comes to mind. And my wish has been granted after 28 years, so...

RASCOE: Darryl, you did an awesome job. How do you feel?

NESTER: Relieved.

(LAUGHTER)

RASCOE: For playing our Puzzle today, you'll get a WEEKEND EDITION lapel pin, as well as puzzle books and games. You can read all about it at npr.org/puzzle. And, Darryl, what member station do you listen to?

NESTER: My wife and I are members of WGTB, FM 91 in Toledo. We listen to WGLE, which is the repeater station from Lima.

RASCOE: That's Darryl Nester of Bluffton, Ohio. Thank you for playing the puzzle.

NESTER: Thank you.

RASCOE: OK, Will, what's next week's challenge?

SHORTZ: Yes, it comes from listener Mark Scott of Seattle. Take the name of a famous actor of the past. Say it out loud, and phonetically, you'll describe what a famous general's horse did. Who is the actor, and who is the general? So once more, take the name of a famous actor of the past. Say it out loud, and phonetically, you'll describe what a famous general's horse did. Who is the actor, and who is the general?

RASCOE: When you have the answer, go to our website, npr.org/puzzle, and click on the Submit Your Answer link. Remember, just one entry, please. Our deadline for entries this week is Thursday, July 25 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Don't forget to include a phone number where we can reach you. If you're the winner, we'll give you a call, and if you pick up the phone, you'll get to play on the air with the puzzle editor of The New York Times and puzzlemaster of WEEKEND EDITION, Will Shortz. Thank you, Will.

SHORTZ: Thank you, Ayesha.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.