Actor, author, director, satirist, musician, radio host and playwright, Harry Shearer is also known to millions worldwide thanks to his voice work for The Simpsons, where he plays a stable of characters. Although he describes himself as "first and foremost an actor," Mr. Shearer released his first novel Not Enough Indians this October.
His many film credits include This Is Spinal Tap, and the Christopher Guest-directed A Mighty Wind. He reunites with Guest this November in For Your Consideration, a hilarious depiction of independent filmmaking. On radio, his one-hour "satirical sandbox" Le Show is heard weekly on stations around the world. Mr. Shearer attended UCLA as a political science major and covered the Watts riots as a freelance journalist for Newsweek. He is playing on behalf of Tipitina's Foundation, which gives musical instruments to New Orleans schools.
Why do you think you will win?
[Deep voice] I'm the smartest SOB in the room. I'm the smartest SOB in the room.
That's a good reason.
...
What does winning the game mean to you?
Well, it means that I get to send twice as much money to the charity, uh, is the main thing, and it also means that I'M SMARTER THAN ANYBODY!
Could you tell us about your charity?
It's the Tipitina's Foundation in New Orleans, Louisiana, which is, um, basically, involved in making sure that music culture of the city stays alive, uh, especially in the wake of the disaster that's befallen the city, and it's really important to make sure that the--the tapestry has been sort of torn, and, and music is such an important part of the city, and it's really a major part in keeping the city's soul alive.
What was the factor that allowed you to win today?
[Points to noggin] No, it's actually, it's partly, it's this [holds up signaling device]--it's this thing, you know, you have to master that, that, uh, button thing, because there were like, four or five answers that I knew, but I just [mimes ringing in]--I was either too soon--usually I was too soon. I'm just too soon. My wife says that all the--[covers mouth with hand] NO! I... beg your pardon.
What was your favorite category?
A VARIETY OF WORDS, because I've been reading Variety since I was, like, 8 years old, and I thought, if I could get into that category, I could--I could sweep it. |