Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! We become friends and neighbors with Olivia Munn
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Apr 4, 2026 Olivia Munn, actor and writer known for Your Friends and Neighbors, joins to share funny on-set stories and career highlights. She recalls casing Steve Martin’s house and racing through Aaron Sorkin dialogue. The conversation also includes lively quiz games and playful news-based challenges that keep things fast and funny.
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Olivia Munn's Local News Origin Story
- Olivia Munn started in local TV journalism after a journalism degree as a compromise to placate her immigrant mother who wanted a 'real' job.
- She worked the assignment desk at an NBC affiliate in Tulsa, struggled with police scanners, then left after a year to pursue acting in LA.
Journalism As A Gateway To Acting
- Olivia framed journalism as a practical path to acting that satisfied family expectations while keeping her storytelling ambitions alive.
- Her mother's deal was: use your degree for a year, then you can try LA — which she followed before leaving after one year.
Being Too Fast For Aaron Sorkin
- Olivia described her first Newsroom scene as a fast-paced walk-and-talk where Aaron Sorkin uniquely told her to slow down then asked her to speed up to get more lines.
- She believes she may be the only Sorkin actor told to slow down before he encouraged her to talk faster.