He was recently interviewed on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, a weekly news quiz show, in the segment known as "Not My Job."
I'm a huge fan of Wait Wait, and this is my favorite episode. Ever.
Takei talks about Star Trek, gay marriage, and, surprisingly, transit. You really should listen to the whole segment (here, 11:36), but I've transcribed a small excerpt below:
Mo Rocca: Can I just add...? I feel a little left out, because I'm actually not a Star Trek geek.
George Takei: You're not?
MR: I'm not, but I am a rapid transit geek.
GT: You sound like one.
MR: I'm not a Star Trek geek, I just get mistaken for one constantly. But I am a rapid transit geek, and I just wanted to know, is there any future in the monorail?
GT: Here in Los Angeles?
MR: Just anywhere. I love them.
GT: You do? (laughter) Um, no. What we're doing here in Los Angeles is building a network of light rail because that's less costly. And putting the focus on extending the stub-ended Wilshire Line. And we want to extend that to--
Peter Sagal: Is this what other people feel like when we're talking about Star Trek? (laughter)
Adam Felber: Yeah.
MR: I love it.
PS: I'm like 'blah-de-blah-de-blah.'
GT: Sorry about that.
PS: It's all right.
MR: You just don't get it. We have conventions. This is awesome!
PS: You all dress up as conductors...
AF: If the Purple Line is going to be powered by dilithium, then...(laughter)
GT: Dilithium crystals, yes.
I particularly love Peter Sagal's response. I'm an unabashed transit geek, and I certainly know the reaction - when peoples' eyes start to glaze over - but it's totally worth it to meet another transit geek.
Anyway, this episode of Wait Wait totally made my day. I just had to share.
4 comments:
I love George Takei.
Los Angeles transit fans might be interested to know that Takei has also been a huge supporter (also former chairman of the board of trustees) of the Japanese American National Museum, which has consistently opposed one of the biggest rail transit projects, the Regional Connector (which would pass right by the museum).
Would be interesting to know how he feels about that project, and just how much sway he might hold in Little Tokyo...
I thought the museum shut up now that the new alternative has been revealed.
So cool.
Oh yeah. George Takei was asked to do my favourite episode of The Simpsons, "Marge vs. the Monorail". He said he wouldn't because he believed it to be anti-transit, so they got Leonard Nimoy instead. He did do other appearances on The Simpsons though.
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