Thursday, May 07, 2009

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 3): Make A Name For Yourself

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 3): Make A Name For Yourself:
Q: Take a common five-letter first name that contains one V. Change the V to an L, rearrange the letters and you'll get a familiar last name. The first and last names go together to name a famous star living in Hollywood. Who is it?
I would definitely agree that the first name is common. As for the last name, I'd have to say maybe.

Edit: The clue above was to the 2008 movie "Definitely, Maybe"
A: KEVIN KLINE

43 comments:

  1. Here's my standard reminder... don't post the answer or any outright spoilers before the deadline of Thursday at 3pm ET. If you know the answer, click the link and submit it to NPR, but don't give it away here. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Something fishy about this one... Love this figure tho. Done some great work. Love them. To death. Seriously.

    ReplyDelete
  3. There are only a few common five letter first names containing a V. This leaves us with an easy choice.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AS to the last name being uncommon, I'm inclined to agree.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I only know of two actors with that last name. When I figured out the answer it sent chills up my crooked back.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm not sure, but I want to say the first name is David....but I think he goes by "Dave".


    ...nevermind, that doesn't work.

    ReplyDelete
  7. By the sound of it (almost), the actor has something in common with Will Shortz.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is not so klever an incline toward, right off, thinking the puzzle answer a female “star living in Hollywood” cuz Hollywood and its audiences, since long ‘fore even Sophie’s time, jus’ idn’t so inclined to first think folcks female… what with always their sekxist thinkings, doings, komings and goings.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Too bad he lives in New York (not Hollyweird) and if he's smart he's got a swimming pool -for the Mrs. to use!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Firswt hint above nailed it for me. Or was it the second? Or the third? What was the middle thing?

    ReplyDelete
  11. This was easy so I had a bit more fun coming up with non-famous names that fit like; Steve Steel, Vance Lance, Vicky Licky, or my favorite Olive Oille (famous - but misspelled).

    ReplyDelete
  12. If you haven't seen it yet, you otto see the movie.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Last week only "about" 400. This one
    should get to 3000.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm not so optimistic, I'm guessing 2,272 will get this star.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I heard this star begged to remain on the "A" list - but was declined !

    ReplyDelete
  16. I was looking at this actor's filmography. I thought he had done more high-profile stuff than he really has. I guess the fleeting nature of fame can be a fierce creature.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This puzzle would have been more difficult had Edgar Degas been the unknown person and the actor used as the example.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Curtis I liked your fishy clue. No wait, that was Carl.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Related puzzle #1:
    Take a first name (5 letters) that includes a V. Replace the V and the letter that follows with A and S. Rearrange to form a last name. The two names together form the name of well-known movie star.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Geri, you're right. Your puzzle would have been a much more difficult one.

    ReplyDelete
  21. One movie I really enjoyed, featuring this week's answer, could be titled Argent Fuss. Matter of fact, it features my favorite performance by another personage with the same first name... before I started getting sick of them.

    Probably the best single thing about the movie in question is how it showcased endless cliches from a specific genre, all in good fun.

    ReplyDelete
  22. loved the line, delivered with a look of quiet disbelief, Jake fell off his horse?

    ReplyDelete
  23. In California, we used to say "That's what a hamburger is all about"

    ReplyDelete
  24. Did Jake fall off his horse after a round at the Midnight Star?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Carl, I never saw "Argent Fuss," but I know what movie you're referring to. Nice. Do you recommend the movie?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Yeah, as long as you don't take it too seriously it's a heck of a lot of fun and the cinematography is gorgeous.

    Another much overlooked film that I strongly recommend is To Sleep With Anger, with Danny Glover.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Off topic, but Liane Hansen should be back for this Sunday's program.

    ReplyDelete
  28. yea liane should come back, she is the only one that can REALLY host the show

    ReplyDelete
  29. I kinda liked Scott Simon when he sat in...

    ReplyDelete
  30. Geri's said,
    Last week only "about" 400. This one should get to 3000.I replied:
    I'm not so optimistic, I'm guessing 2,272 will get this star.That was a hint that Kevin Kline is the 2,272nd actor to receive a star-shaped plaque on the "Hollywood Walk of Stars".

    ReplyDelete
  31. "Testing Your Forty-tude" by
    Merl Reagle in the Washington Post
    is an "all-time high" in crossword
    puzzles. Getting a copy is worth
    whatever time and energy it takes
    to acquire it. Working it is an unique
    experience.

    ReplyDelete
  32. How come no one has acknowledged what I wrote earlier? That he lives in New York, not Hollywood (according to Wikipedia). Are y'all sure we even have the right guy???

    ReplyDelete
  33. I wonder if my answer even counted as a correct answer because I spelled his name Kevin Klein...geez

    ReplyDelete
  34. Jean, I know the NPR website says to "name a famous star living in Hollywood", but the actual broadcast said to "name a famous living star in Hollywood". Big difference. The proposed answer fits the broadcasted puzzle because Hollywood is symbolic of an industry and not a specific geographic location. So Kevin Kline...is he in or out of Hollwood?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Jean, You used the right-wing put-down
    term "Hollyweird"!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Ken, Your comment reminds me of my
    consternation each week because of the
    discrepancies between the printed and
    the broadcast information given for the puzzles.

    ReplyDelete
  37. my little family, it looks like you were the only person who got it right! They mispelled it on their website.
    Geri, "right-wing" is hate speech!!! Foul! Foul! My feelings are hurt!!! I want you banned!!! If you could only learn to be more tolerant of other people's intolerance, you would be more at peace with yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  38. For those who are confused, it's K-L-I-N-E.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Jean, YOU were the one who used the term "Hollyweird" and YOU offended ME!Are you proud of being intolerant?

    ReplyDelete
  40. It would be interesting to know if spelling counts in a "correct" answer.
    Kevin Kline got "about 1800" and I wonder how many Kevin Klein got.
    Maybe 472?

    ReplyDelete
  41. Jean, I don't consider either
    "right-wing" or "left-wing" as
    "hate speech."

    ReplyDelete

For NPR puzzle posts, don't post the answer or any hints that could lead to the answer before the deadline (usually Thursday at 3pm ET). If you know the answer, submit it to NPR, but don't give it away here.

You may provide indirect hints to the answer to show you know it, but make sure they don't assist with solving. You can openly discuss your hints and the answer after the deadline. Thank you.