Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! "Wicked" director Jon M. Chu talks Elphaba-branded Swiffers and we preview "Melania"
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Jan 31, 2026 A lively chat with a movie director about staging big musical moments and creative concert entrances. Discussion of quirky marketing tie-ins, including a humorous Elphaba-branded Swiffer story. Quick-fire news riffs, odd tourist attractions, and playful games that riff on current headlines.
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Short Film Foreshadowed Musical Career
- John M. Chu recounted his short film When the Kids Are Away and its twist where a child shares dance moves, connecting old and new musical traditions.
- He used that film to demonstrate his lifelong engagement with choreography and musical storytelling.
Tap Dance Talent Show Mishap
- John M. Chu shared a childhood tap-dance story about performing 'Me and My Shadow' with his sister while they fought backstage.
- He still feels guilty and jokes his sister hasn't watched his movies because of that fight.
Watching Wicked As 'Patient Zero'
- John M. Chu said he saw Wicked early in San Francisco and felt like a 'patient zero' experiencing the musical before its Broadway fame.
- That early exposure informed his deep connection to the material when later directing the film adaptation.