NPR Puzzle Contest Seeks Garden Word From Actor's Name

Listeners tuning in to WLRN on Sunday, November 8, 2026, face a new wordplay challenge that requires identifying a specific garden plant. The puzzle, submitted by Mike Bertoglio of King County, Washington, asks participants to find the name of a famous living actor with an 11-letter surname. The solution involves taking the first two letters of that actor's name and repeating them at the beginning of the word. Additionally, the seventh letter of the original surname must be changed to the letter P. The final string of letters forms the name of part of a garden.

The on-air segment also features a Categories game centered on the word "flags." Participants are challenged to provide answers that begin with the letters F, L, A, G, and S for various prompts. The categories include makes of cars, islands, sitcoms, and a phrase ending in "Time." For example, if the category were body parts, valid answers might include foot, leg, arm, groin, and shoulder. Listeners can submit answers in any order as long as they fit the alphabetical constraints.

The previous week's puzzle asked players to insert a three-letter body part into a four-letter body part to create a brand name found in supermarkets. The correct answer was Charm, inserted into chin to spell Charmin. Sharon Huck of Springfield, Illinois, was selected as the winner for solving that riddle. Her name was announced during the broadcast as the recipient of the weekly prize.

To enter the current contest, listeners must submit their answers by 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 12, 2027. Submissions should include a phone number where the station can reach the participant. Selected winners will have the opportunity to play the puzzle on air. The contest is part of the station's regular Sunday programming, which blends word games with listener interaction.