Trivia Salute
'Whad'Ya Know' sauces its questions with hilarity

Radio fared quite well in person Saturday morning when Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? -- a comedy-interview-quiz show that airs on public radio stations, including KERA-FM (90.1) -- made a rare appearance in Dallas, broadcasting live from the Dallas Convention Center.

Whad'Ya Know is a brisk lark that airs every Saturday at 11am and stars Mr. Feldman, a quick-witted smartypants who created the show in Madison, Wis., in 1985. Performing for a packed house of die-hard fans at the Convention Center, he and his crew were a blast to watch as they cruised through interviews, audience Q&A sessions and trivia quizzes.

In addition to Mr. Feldman, regulars included announcer Jim Packard and a jazzy three-piece combo: pianist John Thulin, bassist Jeff Eckels and drummer Clyde Stubblefield, all of whom received a good-natured barb or two from Mr. Feldman. The droll Mr. Packard, for example, got called to task for wearing Western garb.

"Jim is pandering to you," Mr. Feldman said to the audience. "Notice he wore the boots and the little tie. He never wears that."

Mr. Feldman had extraordinary charm and wit, with the ability to transform a run-of-the-mill conversation or situation into something profoundly entertaining. With his snappy delivery, even a set of instructions to the audience on how and when to applaud was hilarious.

"It's a radio show," he said. "The most important thing is that you make appropriate noise. W e encourage you to applaud loudly -- this is radio, not life."

With the radio-is-noise theory thus explained, he called hello to the audience members in the back tier. Many waved, feverishly. Mr. Feldman was deliciously sarcastic without being insulting.

"You probably didn't hear what I said earlier," he said, as if explaining to a child, "But this waving" -- and he waved, almost mockingly -- "is lost on a radio quiz show. The important thing is to overreact to everything I say. How many of you are married? Then you know what I mean."

The show opened with a monologue by Mr. Feldman tied into current events, with a slant on Dallas. In an effort to affirm Dallas' world-class city status, he suggested renaming the Cowboys something French: "Maybe the Dallas Bon Vivants," he said. As for Yvonne Gonzalez: "If nothing else, she's proved that a woman can be president."

His detail-oriented interview with Michael Preece, a director of Dallas, Walker, Texas Ranger and other TV shows, sank into Barbara Walters-like inanity.

"Is Larry Hagman a pussycat?" he asked. Then later, when Mr. Preece talked about directing MacGyver: "Is MacGyver really a pussycat?" Then still later, this time Chuck Norris: "Is Chuck Norris really a pussycat?"

But the most wacked-out (sic.) segment was the interview with chef Matt Martinez, who started the nuttiness by bringing out a hamper full of soft, warm tacos that he said were made with armadillo meat, which he hurled one by one into the audience. He also served Mr. Feldman and Mr. Packard freshly made margaritas in capacious martini glasses. As Mr. Feldman sipped his drink with obvious relish, Mr. Martinez was left with a pause. "Should I take over the show, or are you going to ask me some questions?" he said. "No, go ahead," said Mr. Feldman, who suddenly seemed a lot less concerned with the show than with his margarita.

Later, when he went out into the audience to round up contestants for an on-air quiz, he took the margarita with him.

"Here's a new technique: Go out in the audience and feed them liquor," he said. "All radio shows should serve drinks."