This interview took place with Peter Sagal in June of 2015.
“Wait Wait . . . TELL Me!”
Nina: Hello, Peter! We are interested in learning more about you and your connection to Boston today. When was your first visit to the Boston area? Had you visited Boston prior to starting at Harvard? What was your impression of Boston/Cambridge when you first arrived?
Peter: I had practically grown up in the Boston area. My grandmother and grandfather lived in Belmont, running a small grocery store in Cambridge that my uncle took over upon my grandfather’s death in 1975. I spent every summer of my life to the age of 18 on the North Shore (Swampscott and Marblehead) and most of my school vacations in Belmont. Most of my summer memories involve Boston—the beach, Salem Willows, Fenway Park, the New England Aquarium . . . . I knew Boston far better than I knew New York, which was only 25 miles from my home in New Jersey.
Nina: How would you describe yourself as a college student (sporty, bookish, social)?
Peter: I was bookish, but at Harvard, that was the norm. To the extent I stood out from the mass of talent there, I had a flair for drama, directing and acting in plays as an undergraduate. I was most pointedly not athletic.
Nina: What did you do for fun in college? Which local bars, restaurants, clubs, etc. were your favorites?
Peter: I rarely strayed from campus, which I regret now, of course. I frequented the many sandwich shops and bars, though, which Harvard students in the 80s routinely went to—Elsie’s and Tommy’s lunch. I used to sit in the Mug and Muffin at Harvard Square for hours before they closed, and when I really needed to, I would go to an “off campus” bar to drink and occasionally be accosted by townies. The name escapes me now.
Nina: We know you are a Red Sox fan—how did that evolve (for a New Jersey native)? When was your first trip to Fenway?
Peter: I can’t remember which was my first. I know I saw Yaz play in person, towards the end of his career. So mid-70s?
Nina Livingstone with Peter Sagal
Nina: When was the last time you saw the Red Sox at Fenway?
Peter: The day before the marathon!
Nina: Who is your favorite Red Sox player?
Peter: Dustin Pedroia is the natural choice, as he is my height and has my hairline. I always have a thing for the smaller guys, like Marty Barrett. I was a big fan of Jason Varitek during his time with the Sox . . . . I liked the way he carried himself. These days, in addition to Pedroia, I like to root for Daniel Nava. His story—from equipment manager for a junior college team to the majors—is great. Shane Victorino is an artist in the outfield . . . . I only wish he could stay healthier.
Nina: How did you get involved with the MABVI Team for a Vision program?
Peter: It’s all due to Josh Warren. He sent me a tweet asking me to be a guide for the 2013 Boston Marathon. I said sure. I get into all kinds of trouble that way.
Nina: Did you know any blind people before joining Team for a Vision? How has Team for a Vision changed the way you think about people with vision impairments?
Peter: I’m sad to say that no, I didn’t know or interact with any blind people in my daily life. No desire to avoid them; just the luck of the draw. And of course, getting to know blind and VI people has been wonderful. I’ve yet to meet one who’s let his or her disability hold them back in any way. It’s given me perspective on navigating my own problems, which in some cases I have more trouble with than they do. It’s a cliché to say a person with a disability is an “inspiration,” but it’s true. I often say to myself, if “William or Erich or whomever can manage so much without sight, then I can handle this obstacle.”
Nina: How did your Boston Marathon experience go this year? Are you planning on coming back as a guide again next year?
Peter: It was great… in some ways my best experience as a guide. In 2013, of course, we were interrupted by the bombing, and William Greer had a tough race. In 2014, Erich Manser and I were both affected by the heat. This year, Erich and I, along with his other guide Joe XXX, ran a steady and cool race through the rain, enjoying ourselves the whole way. A really delightful day spent with two great guys.
Nina: Some general questions . . . . You seem to have so much going on in your work life – what do you enjoy the most (writing, hosting “Wait Wait . . .”)? Why?
Peter: I’m very lucky in that I’m at heart a theater person, and I get to put on a show every week. And of course, before that, I get to sit around with my friends and try to make them laugh, so as to come up with jokes that we can do with the audience. All in all, it’s a good way to make a living. I do like writing my own, more serious stuff, and I like doing speaking engagements, when I can dive into more serious topics as it moves me to do so.
Nina: Do you every get nervous or stage fright when performing live? If so, how do you get yourself through it?
Peter: Never, at least, not anymore. I’ve been doing it for too long, and once you’ve played Carnegie Hall, with no discernable talent, it’s hard for anything else to scare you. Honestly, you can get used to anything.
Nina: What books are on your bedside table right now?
Peter: Too many, of course. I’m reading Rick Perlstein’s “The Invisible Bridge,” a cultural history of conservatism in the 1970s, a fascinating read about a time that still has lots of ramifications today. I’m re-reading George RR Martin’s A Game of Thrones, because I’ve been doing a podcast on the TV adaptation. I’ve got about four other books sitting there right now as well, shouting, WHY AREN’T YOU READING ME?
Nina: If we looked in your refrigerator right now, what would we find?
Peter: I’m pleased to say: not many take out containers. I recently got divorced, and I’ve determined to not be That Guy who just eats takeout over the sink. So I’ve been cooking, so you’ll find some various fresh ingredients, sauces, and leftover containers. However, since I’ve been traveling so much (I’m writing this in a café in NYC) all that stuff should probably be thrown out.
Nina: What would you say are your passions, besides work and marathon running?
Peter: I got an increasing passion for travel and meeting people. Maybe because I just turned 50, I’m aware of how big and interesting a world this is, and how little time I have left to explore it. Any day that I can meet a new person, or do a whole new thing, is a good day.
Nina: What else would you want people to know about you that they don’t know?
Peter: I love motorcycles, and recently bought myself a Triumph Bonneville T100, which, two summers ago, I rode from Chicago to Portland OR, stopping at the Sturgis Rally on the way.
