^B00:00:17 >> Carla Hayden: Well, good evening. Good evening, and welcome. I told you that -- when I come it's like official. ^M00:00:26 ^M00:00:29 Welcome to the Library of Congress. I'm Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. So... ^M00:00:35 [ Cheering ] ^M00:00:40 Oh, I'll get on this side. This is pretty fun. How are you doing? Oh, so, as you can see, the people now in the auditorium are looking at us. ^M00:00:53 [ Cheering ] ^M00:00:55 We thought that was a nice touch. So, we can wave. Hey, everybody in the auditorium. Well, it's really exciting to see so many of you here tonight. This is a sold-out event, and I'm so glad that you are here, and we hope that you can visit a display that we have of our Harry Houdini Collection, and it will be in the pavilion, and I think you're going to really enjoy that. And also, if you haven't already stopped by our Booksellers Table, Politics & Prose, you can have the books there, and we will also have our special guest signing the books after tonight's presentation on the mezzanine, and just a little tip, right up here. You can be the first in line. There is a benefit. So, right now, it's at capacity, but I think you're going to have a pretty exciting time here and a great call, and I have a surprise for you. You get to see him first. ^M00:01:58 [ Cheering ] ^M00:02:02 >> Neil Patrick Harris: Hey, what's up, guys? ^M00:02:03 [ Cheering and Applause ] ^M00:02:04 How's it going? What's up, overflow room? ^M00:02:09 [ Cheering and Applause ] ^M00:02:12 Nice. I like what you did with the place. Thanks for coming. Thanks for being here. I'm going to go do a thing over there. What's more exciting than watching me on television, then coming to see me live and still watching me on television? ^M00:02:29 [ Laughter and Applause ] ^M00:02:30 Hopefully, we'll make it an enjoyable, you know, six, seven hours. We'll have some fun. Hi. What's your name? What's your name? ^M00:02:42 ^M00:02:43 Oh, I'll kiss it too. ^M00:02:46 [ Laughing ] ^M00:02:48 You have a sticker on your forehead. There. ^M00:02:52 [ Laughing ] ^M00:02:53 Actually, you guys are going to be helpful for second. I have this -- this is an envelope taped shut and sealed shut. Will you hold onto this? What is your name? >> Justin: Justin. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Justin, okay, this is important. So, I don't want you to open it. But I want you to make sure no one else exchanges it or messes with it. Yeah? Cool? You got it? Cool? Okay, cool, enjoy. I'll be right back. Well, I'll be over there in a second. See you. Thanks for coming. ^M00:03:14 [ Applause and Cheers ] ^M00:03:20 >> Carla Hayden: So, thank all of you. Enjoy the show. Don't forget to get your books, and you can have him sign it after tonight's presentation, and remember, the signing is going to be right up there. So, right afterwards. You'll be the first in line. We'll see you soon. ^M00:03:39 [ Music ] ^M00:05:01 [ Applause ] ^M00:05:06 >> Michelle Glymph: Good evening. It's me once more. We have a brief announcement before we begin. First, please silence, or turn off, your cell phones for the duration of the program. Second, we are delighted that Neil Patrick Harris has graciously offered to sign books immediately following his presentation. We have a few guidelines for that process. To join the signing line and meet Mr. Harris, you must have a signing line ticket signifying purchase of his new book, The Magic Misfits, The Minor Third. These tickets are distributed when you pick up your pre-ordered folks or buy books in the front lobby where you checked in and can be obtained after the program. The tickets are divided into groups by number. After the program, we'll call those groups in order. For those with special physical needs or with an infant, we will provide an opportunity for you to join the signing line before others. We have every expectation that the signing line will move quickly. And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the 14th Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. ^M00:06:33 ^M00:06:39 >> Carla Hayden: Thank you. Thank you very much. Well, thank you, Michelle, and good evening. Good evening to you all. I see two friends right here, Jaden and Morgan. So, they're right up front, and good evening to all of you here and to everyone in the Coolidge. We're in the Coolidge, but in the Great Hall. Can we give a shout out to them, because they saw that. Okay, because we have a wonderful sold-out crowd tonight, and as many of you know, the library hosts the National Book Festival every year at the Washington Convention Center. And we just celebrated it two weeks ago with more than 140 authors and more than 200,000 attendees. That deserves a hand. ^M00:07:30 [ Applause ] ^M00:07:34 Next year will be the 20th year, and a big celebration. So, look for that. However, we wanted to expand it to a year-long celebration. And so, tonight, we are kicking off. And think you, this is the best kickoff we could ever have. A brand-new author series called National Book Festival Presents, and it will feature award-winning authors and poets and illustrators right here at the Library of Congress. And during these events, we're going to feature things from our collection like the Harry Houdini Collection, and we hope that you get a chance to -- oh, give a hand so that, yes, it's true. ^M00:08:15 [ Applause ] ^M00:08:19 Because we want you to not only meet authors and poets, but we also want you to delve into all the wonderful collections that the Library of Congress has. And so, we are collaborating also with Politics & Prose Bookstore. They deserve a hand. I have to admit that at the Book Festival I walked away with a bag full of books. So, now, I know you don't want to hear anymore from me, because we have to get to our special guest. So, I know you also don't need me to read aloud his long and brilliant resume of achievements. Many of you fell in love with him on the small screen first as a teenager on Doogie Howser MD. ^M00:09:04 [ Applause ] ^M00:09:07 Now, I may get this wrong, so I need your help. Wait for it. Awesome. [audience responding] Say it loud. [audience responding]. >> Woo! ^M00:09:25 [ Laughing ] ^M00:09:27 Thank you. I will not forget that, now, and also, you know, he won a Tony for his performance in Hedwig and The Angry Inch. ^M00:09:37 [ Applause ] ^M00:09:40 But most of all, I know that we love seeing him hosting the Tonys, the Emmys, and the Oscars, and because he was not busy enough, he's now a celebrated author, and his new children's book series, The Magic Misfits. And just yesterday, the third edition entitled The Magic Misfits, The Minor Third, hit the bookstores. And so, Politics & Prose has it right here. ^M00:10:08 So, I wanted to also take this opportunity to thank the donors to the library who are making this possible, and we really appreciate their support. And our special guest will be interviewed by the Library of Congress's Chief Communications Officer, Roswell Encina. So, please give a big welcome to the Washington and the Library of Congress, actor, author, excellent showman, legendary Tony-award and Emmy-award winner, Neil Patrick Harris! ^M00:10:40 [ Applause and Cheers ] ^M00:10:45 >> Neil Patrick Harris: Hi, everybody! ^M00:10:47 [ Applause and Cheers ] ^M00:10:54 Oh, good, thanks, hi! Hi!. How's it going? ^M00:11:02 [ Cheering ] ^M00:11:04 >> Roswell Encina: Welcome to the Library of Congress. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Thank you so much. This is so very exciting. >> Roswell Encina: Can you believe the library and said wait for it? >> Neil Patrick Harris: And then awesome. >> Roswell Encina: It's a sign that it's going to be a magical night. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Magnificent. >> Roswell Encina: So, let's get right to it. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yes, sir. >> Roswell Encina: So, this book, or your series, has been well received by kids, by adults -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: Awesome. >> Roswell Encina: -- and by critics. How does that make you feel? >> Neil Patrick Harris: It makes me feel great. I never anticipated being an author. That was something -- I read a ton of books and I love books, and I love watching our kids learn how to read. The first job I ever had when I was 10 or 11 years old was in a bookstore. So, I just always had an affinity for the book as a tactile thing. And so, when I had the opportunity to be able to write an autobiography, that seems kind of random because I felt far too young to pontificate about things I've learned in all my years. So I did a weird version of an autobiography. I did through an anti-structure autobiography called choose your own autobiography based on choose your own autobiography based on those choose your own adventure books. Apologies in advance for how fast I'm speaking. ^M00:12:22 [ Laughing ] ^M00:12:24 >> Roswell Encina: He's a pro. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Nice. ^M00:12:27 [ Laughing ] ^M00:12:31 And when I did that, it was fun, and it was a different, you know, a different structure, and I thought that was kind of fun, they asked if if I wanted to write anything else, and Harper and Gideon, my husband and my kids, are -- at that time were five or so, and we were reading lots of picture books, and I thought, that would be cool to do a picture book, because it can involve of magic. I love magic, and I thought picture books and magic tricks and maybe teaching younger kids magic and the ideas behind magic seem like a keen idea. And then, our kids kept growing, which apparently happens. So then, I realized that maybe picture book's not the best call, and I was thinking ahead, and I thought about what about a middle-grade like a chapter book? Because then these ideas of kids who like them don't feel like they fit in, which would be very simplified in 48-60 pages, could be fully fleshed out. And then I thought, oh, wait. If it was really cool, it could be a series of books. >> Roswell Encina: Yes. >> Neil Patrick Harris: But not too many. ^M00:13:37 [ Laughing ] ^M00:13:40 And so, I thought what if there were four books like the four suits of a deck of cards? >> Roswell Encina: I'm seeing them right here. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah, I spent a lot of time on the covers and such, and so, that was sort of how it came to be. We worked a lot on making sure everyone was recognized in a certain way, that no one felt excluded and yet, creating this fictional world that was real time and modern but not technologically modern. So that it would kind of be Rockwellian, timeless a little bit, and could be read in a decade without pictures of flip phones. Kids are talking into. >> Roswell Encina: Well, let's give the audience hear a refresher, just in case there's some new readers out here, and anybody else who needs a refresher like previously on the magic misfits, give us a quick synopsis, what these books are about. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Well, there's a town called Mineral Wells, and it's sort of a quintessential town, if you liked The Goonies, which I did, it's filled with locked doors and passageways, and there's a boy named Carter Locke, who is the protagonist of the first book. That suit is diamonds. And Carter learned magic from his uncle. His parents aren't in the picture, and his uncle taught him a bad form of magic, magic used for an agenda. ^M00:15:15 The three-card monte, stealing money, picking people's pockets and stealing watches and things, and Carter became very adept at that, but his take on magic was that there was some reason why magic was being done, and it was to sort of take from somebody else. He ends up leaving his uncle and jumping on a train, and the train takes him to this town called Mineral Wells, and in it he meets these other like-minded people, and he also meets a magician with a top hat who owns a magic shop in town. His name is Mr. Vernon, and Mr. Vernon introduces him to his daughter Leila, who as well likes magic. She sort of likes escape. She can escape from almost anything. She's the protagonist of the second book. You're like my Vanna White. >> Roswell Encina: I am your Vanna White. >> Neil Patrick Harris: And that's clubs. The suit is clubs. And there's a couple twins named Izzy and Ollie, and they sort of realized that their love of magic and that their love, their individuality when they join this close together and create this club called The Magic Misfits, helmed sort of Mr. Vernon, who runs the magic shop. They realize that they can help solve problems. So, in the first book there's a carnival boss named B.B. Bosso, who has -- who comes into town to steal a diamond in the town, a giant diamond, and they get to use sort of magical principles to keep him away from doing that. It turns out, B.B. Boss was part of this big other club, which you learn about in the club's book, and it's called the Emerald Ring, bum-bum-bum! And the Emerald Ring is a club that had been formed earlier, sort of in Mr. Vernon's time, with other people, and there's another woman that comes in the second book, and her name is Madame Esmeralda, a woman named Sandra Santos. And so, you learn that there's these two different clubs, one for doing things that are for good, and for doing things to stop the goodness of magic. And so, cut to the third book, which is the hearts suit, it is following Theo Stein-Meyer, who is a prodigy violinist and he always wears a tuxedo, and as luck would have it, his violin bow can also work sort of as a magic wand and make things levitate. So, his specialty is levitation. And there's how very dare you Sir? >> Roswell Encina: Exactly. We clearly can't levitate right now. >> Neil Patrick Harris: That would've been so amazing. >> Roswell Encina: Yes. So -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: And there's a forthcoming, pardon the pun, book, which will be the fourth misfit in the group, and her name is Ridley. And she's wheelchair-bound, that she serves the brains of the operation. She can make things turn into other things. Not magic. Keep in mind, the magic in this world that I've created is still a practical magic. As much as I like magic with wands and wizards in portals and things, for me, I've always loved magic as a hobby. So, we're dealing with things that can actually happen. So, while Theo can levitate things with his bow, I tried to write it and word it in a way that it's not so magical and mystical that it's impossible. So there's practical reasons for it. And these four kids then use their skills together to, you know, form a community together as themselves and help sort of defeat the Emerald Ring. >> Roswell Encina: You mentioned that you love magic. I mean, you love magic, because you were a child of a magician. You were also the president of the Academy of Magical Art. So, did you pull from your personal experiences as a young magician or a magician now to write these books? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, for sure, yeah. Magic's been my hobby since I was eight or nine years old. >> Roswell Encina: You mentioned on the today show the other day that you had doves when you were little. >> Neil Patrick Harris: I don't recommend it. ^M00:19:07 [ Laughing ] ^M00:19:13 Doves are adorable, but they do very few things. One of which is coo incessantly. ^M00:19:21 [ Cooing ] ^M00:19:32 The other thing that doves do is -- this is how -- this is how simple they are. If you take a dove and you hold it upside down so that it's laying on its back, it just stops moving, it's like you've hypnotized it. Then you flip it back over and ^M00:19:53 [ Cooing ] ^M00:19:56 So yes, I had doves when I was a kid. I grew up in a very idyllic, small town, much like Mineral Wells, I guess, in the mountains of New Mexico. Most people think of New Mexico and is desert, but this was not.. This was a ski resort town called Ruidoso, and in the summer time, there's quarter horse racing there. And it was great, but it was very remote. So, when we would go to Albuquerque, the larger town in New Mexico, there was a magic shop at the mall, the Winrock Mall, and it was called Fool's Paradise, and -- >> Roswell Encina: Is still there? >> Neil Patrick Harris: It's not not still there, but I love the title, and I loved going. ^M00:20:35 And I would save my allowance, and I would go there, and it was a magic show -- and if you ever go to a magic shop, and you should frequent local magic shops, because they're just so great, because the person that works behind the counter knows all these tricks. So, you can say, what is the thing over there with the blue deck of cards? And then, he'll do the trick for you. And it's, you know, uniformly impressive, but he won't tell you how it's done unless you cha-ching, shell out the money. And that's really exciting when you're a kid, too, because you're desperate to know the answers, and maybe that's just me, that's kind of how my brain works is I like knowing how things work. I love seeing the machinations of things, I love the automatons and I love backstage at a musical were all the sets go. Like how did that happen? I love knowing that. That's a magic trick to me, right? And so, I would save up my allowance, and I would go old, and I was seeing all these things, and I'd just spend hours there at the counter, and I would either -- >> Roswell Encina: What happened? ^M00:21:38 [ Laughing ] ^M00:21:40 >> Neil Patrick Harris: That is the coolest magic trick, I think, I have ever seen. ^M00:21:43 [ Laughing ] ^M00:21:50 Will you join my troop of merry men? ^M00:21:52 [ Laughing ] ^M00:21:54 Welcome, I apologize. And so, I would sometimes save up my money, and I would buy one big cool sort of parlor trick, and other times, I would buy a bunch of little packet tricks, small, single tricks that you can buy and on the car ride home from Albuquerque to Ruidoso, for those three hours, I would be in the backseat with the, you know, blanket over my head, and I would be seen with the secret is and then learning what to say, and then I practice it and practice it. And I just loved it, and I still do, I think it's a great hobby for people looking for a hobby. It's very interesting, in many ways. It's than collecting a thing. Like if you collect stamps or comics, that's super great, as well, but you need to keep it in pristine condition. So, you collect comics, but you keep them in the little thing that's mint, very good condition, and it's stacked in things, and I don't feel like you end up getting to utilize them as much, right? Magic, you can perform magic. You can decide that you really want to do mentalism, and then you can delve into mentalism. You can buy tricks and go to libraries and read books about mentalism, and you can see shows, current shows, that are mentalists doing amazing things. And then you can learn about the histories of mentalists and how they came to be, and that goes very, very far back. It's really quite astounding to be here of all places, earlier this afternoon before they opened up the house, they brought some stuff -- >> Roswell Encina: Houdini. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Houdini's Collection, and these are actual relics and artifacts from Houdini, and it's just amazing. And Houdini's very famous, but there's hundreds of magicians who have led equally salty and exciting lives, and there's a lot of history to learn from that. So, as a kid, you know, promoting a -- writing a book, having twin 8-year-olds who are now able to read, I just found it fitting into so many things that I like. I like being able to teach sense of humor, to teach vocabulary, to open up like a little Pandora's box of the new world. I love skeleton keys and secret doors, but I also love teaching magic. Within each book, there's four or five teach-a-tricks, and those are designed more for younger set, for probably nine or 10-year-olds. Although, a lot of adults are terrible magicians. So they could probably use them, as well. >> Roswell Encina: I was telling you before we got on stage that I was up until two in the morning trying to solve these puzzles. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Well, he's speaking, so that there's another layer is in addition to the teach-a-tricks, also, thought it would be fun to just pepper in some codes and puzzles and things in the book that I never really talk about. That might clue you into some things that will happen in future books. Because I just loved that. When I was growing up, I would read Encyclopedia Brown books and choose your own adventures, and I would just love sometimes is a great book called The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Did you read that? Because as I was reading it, there were clues that were solvable in them that you didn't even know, but you can solve it is you were going along. And I did one of those like real WTF moments, though I was a kid, so F meant frick. And I -- what the frick? And I went back, and sure enough, I could solve clues and puzzles within the book itself, I love that stuff. So, there's secret things in the book, as well. >> Roswell Encina: Let's talk about some of the characters. You mentioned some of them. What I like about them is how diverse these kids are. There's a little young African-American boy who plays the violin. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Theo Stein-Meyer. >> Roswell Encina: You mentioned Ridley, a young girl who's in a wheelchair >> Neil Patrick Harris: Ridley Larson. >> Roswell Encina: And Leila has two dads. How important was it for you to have a reflection of how the world is, so that kids can see themselves in your book? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Well, that was honestly very eloquently put, and that was why -- that was kind of why I did it. I question delving too deeply into the reasons why I did that, so that people listening think that that was a real agenda of mine, and it wasn't. But it was more to create a reflection of a kind of world that we now live in that has all types. So, instead of Leila's -- the fact that Leila was adopted by Mr. Vernon is traumatic to her, and that you find out in a second book. But that doesn't define her, and the fact that Mr. Vernon, his partner is the other Mr. Vernon -- >> Roswell Encina: Who's a chef by the way. >> Neil Patrick Harris: He's a chef. >> Roswell Encina: Who does he remind you of? >> Neil Patrick Harris: At the Grand Oak Resort. Yeah, so, my husband's a chef, but I didn't want it to be so overt. So, I had him drawn and look a totally different way, but I made him sort of not a lot of hair and kind of round and glasses to be different. My husband did not like that. ^M00:27:22 [ Laughing ] ^M00:27:25 It was no commentary at all. I was trying the opposite. I was trying to deflect -- but it didn't work out that way. But the fact that there is, you know, that Leila has two dads. The fact that Theo has many brothers and sisters, and they're all musicians and affluent and proper. The fact that Carter was raised by his uncle. I just wanted to exist in the world, so that it represented, I suppose, but more so that people could read the book and feel that they could connect to it in some way. It was -- >> Roswell Encina: All those misfits, thank you, representing everyone. One thing I really adore about the book is the big theme about it, which is that you can find magic anywhere. I think there's a lot of books out there that you were talking about. You need ones, and, you know, there's spells, and there's curses, but this involves like magic that we can all learn, and I feel like the big theme of that you could find magic anywhere is what I think really connects to most readers I'm going to read one little part here that's like my favorite, that really explains everything. It's from Carter. He says, quote, "I think magic is about more than stagecraft, Carter said, it's about happiness. It's about laughter. It's about that feeling you get inside." And I feel like, especially in this day and age, kids should be able to connect to something that makes them magical, whether it's a smile from their teacher, a bravo from their parent, I feel like everybody has something to learn from. >> Neil Patrick Harris: For sure, but also, I just like the magical things that happened in real life. Not everything is a card trick, right? But I hear what you're saying. That you want to have feelings that are magical feelings. But I like when a chameleon can change color. Like that, to me, is so weird and magical. You know what I mean? I like when a sunset makes the sky turn all these interesting shades of color. That to me is a magic trick. So, I think there there is magic to be found in nature, energy, you know, in, like you I say, being proud. There's a lot of opportunities for -- do you want to see a card trick? >> Roswell Encina: Yes. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Watch this. ^M00:29:41 [ Laughter and Applause ] ^M00:29:42 No, it's small, but it's one of been working on. >> Roswell Encina: I tried so of the tricks of the book, and I failed miserably. I was trying it on myself, so I wasn't sure -- I've got to try with some coworkers. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah, you might have figured out how it's done. >> Roswell Encina: Yes. >> Neil Patrick Harris: All right, deck of cards. >> Roswell Encina: All right. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Normal cards, nothing shady about them. I want you to take them, and I want you to hold them in in your hand face down. And I want you to imagine where the right spot is. It can be anywhere, and I want you to just cut the cards and look at the cards that you cut to, okay? >> Roswell Encina: All right. >> Neil Patrick Harris: You can take it and take a look at it. I'm not going to look at that one. Will you show it to everyone and make sure that I can't see? Can you see it there? In the overflow room, sorry. >> Roswell Encina: Can you see it, overflow room? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Okay, you got it, okay, put it back in the deck, >> Roswell Encina: Hold on. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yep. >> Roswell Encina: Did I do it wrong? Hold on. ^M00:30:39 [ Laughing ] ^M00:30:41 >> Neil Patrick Harris: Fine. I don't want to peek. I don't want to do anything interesting. Okay, I don't know if you've noticed, but I spilled water. I have another card that's in my pocket that was put therefrom before. This is for my own deck of cards, and how remarkable would it be if those matched. Now I don't want you to say the name. I don't want you to say the name of the card, okay? >> Roswell Encina: Okay. What was it? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Do you remember what it is? >> Roswell Encina: I do remember what it is. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Think of the name of your card. Have you got it in your mind? I don't want you to lose it. Think of the name of the card. You got it? Was it the eight of clubs? >> Roswell Encina: No. ^M00:31:26 [ Laughing ] ^M00:31:32 >> Neil Patrick Harris: Was really not the eight of clubs? >> Roswell Encina: It wasn't the eight of clubs? ^M00:31:33 [ Laughing ] ^M00:31:37 >> Neil Patrick Harris: Okay, don't tell me. Don't tell me. Don't tell me. Wait. Wait. I have a backup. Was it really not? >> Roswell Encina: It wasn't. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Okay, don't tell me. Don't tell me! Was it -- I have a backup card here in my back pocket. ^M00:31:52 [ Laughing ] ^M00:31:54 King of diamonds. Seriously? >> Roswell Encina: No. >> Neil Patrick Harris: It wasn't? Okay, let's move on then. ^M00:32:04 [ Laughing ] ^M00:32:07 Was it really -- it wasn't the eight of -- okay, don't show me. Don't tell me. Don't tell me. Ace of diamonds? Okay. Now, what's your next question? Sorry, ^M00:32:18 [ Laughing ] ^M00:32:20 It's getting warm up here. >> Roswell Encina: I got warm, too. Before we get into more tricks, did find -- did you have your own Magic Misfits when you were a kid that served as an inspiration? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Well, I guess I kind of was a bit of a misfit. I mean, growing up in a tiny town, I was mostly surrounded by farms and football, and I was kind of into singing in playing xylophone. That was my instrument of choice. When they went around and asked what did you want to play, why didn't I play trumpet? I had to walk around with this metal thing with a strap around my neck, ding-da-da-ding, ding-ding-ding-ding. I love it, I can still a mean Flight of the Bumblebee. ^M00:33:18 [ Laughing ] ^M00:33:21 But I regret, you know? >> Roswell Encina: You were talking about earlier that you saw our Houdini collection, and I love that you made reference of Houdini in the second book. So, I love -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: Jack of spades? >> Roswell Encina: No. Now I can't find my tab. You got me off. All right, you say here that, "Houdini was part of this club whose mission was to stop people from believing in fortunetellers," Ridley continued, "and most of the old photos where the spiritualists were supposedly spitting out this ghostly slime called ectoplasm, Houdini figured out it was actually made of wet cheesecloth." So, because of your love for Houdini here at the Library of Congress, we believe that every person could connect to some of our treasures, so, we have a little surprise for you. So, I would like to call the Chief of the Rare Books division. I'm hoping he shows up. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Well, that was cool. >> Roswell Encina: With the big surprise for you. ^M00:34:29 [ Applause ] ^M00:34:32 [ Speaking off Mic ] >> Neil Patrick Harris: Nice to see you, sir. >> Mark Dimunation: Nice to see you. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Nice to see you, too. Have a seat, have a seat. >> Mark Dimunation: No, I'm fine. Please stand here. We had the pleasure of showing you some of the Houdini Collection. For those of you in the audience who don't know, Harry Houdini bequeathed his entire record to the American people at the Library of Congress. And what we saw today was a series of scrapbooks, among other things, so, we thought we would give you your own scrapbook to take home. And one of them is if we can have our first slide up. If we can do the slides, yes. This is, perhaps, the most important item in the Houdini collection. Although it would take many more decades before Houdini became an escape artist, at the age of 12, he disappeared. He went for work he just forgot to tell his mother he was doing so. He hopped on a freight train, and realized he had to write to his mother and say,"I'm on my way to Galveston. You won't see me for a year, but I send my regards." And signed it, most importantly, "Your Truant Son," and then his real name -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: Erik. >> Mark Dimunation: Erik Weisz. So, we thought this would be a good way of starting off your scrapbook. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Wow. >> Mark Dimunation: What we've left for you, if we can go to the next image, is a series of pictures and items that show us the history of Houdini. So, after marrying Bess, in particular, and after Martin Beck suggested at a vaudeville theater that leave the card stuff alone. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Sure. >> Mark Dimunation: Move on to escape. >> Neil Patrick Harris: The big stuff. >> Mark Dimunation: He became the wizard of escape, especially handcuff and chains. And this is a very early, I might add, beefcake photo of Houdini. ^M00:36:12 [ Laughing ] ^M00:36:16 >> Neil Patrick Harris: I've been there. >> Mark Dimunation: Yeah. ^M00:36:18 [ Laughing ] ^M00:36:29 It's a good job. Can we go on to the -- can we go on to the next image, if you would, please -- if we could go -- yes. So, Houdini, in order to -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: The Weed Chain. >> Mark Dimunation: The Weed Chain Tire Grip Company. Wherever he would travel around America, he would orchestrate these challenges from the gatekeepers of insane asylums, to the makers of locks and handcuffs, and a variety of other things, and they would issue these challenges. He would sell insurance policies to the audience. If I fail, you'll double your money. Of course, he made a killing. So, we thought one of them, we would just pull one of these for you to see what will become the rise of Houdini so ultimately the most famous man in the world. It happens by locking at the next slide, if you will. In 1908, Houdini -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: He shrunk. >>Mark Dimunation: Yes, he's a very short man. In 1908, he does his famous milk can escape trick, in which he has himself submerged in a milk can full of water and padlocked shut. As he goes underwater, he asks the audience to hold their breath, one minute, two minutes. By now people are recording of the audience is gasping. As he goes under, he reminds people that when you do capture your breath, I'm drowning. Three-and-a-half minutes go by. The audience is now in a panic, and justice they're rising to go liberate him from the can, he walks up the side of the stage dipping wet. This makes him internationally famous and rises to great fame. So much so, that if we look at the next image, he gives his hand at motion pictures. He probably should have stayed in the can, I think. >> Neil Patrick Harris: I like them. I think they're good. >> Mark Dimunation: He does great escapes, and he also does airplane tricks, which he becomes quite famous for, and there's a great incident in which there's an accident, and the stuntman falls, and Houdini insist that they continue filming. And he takes his place on the ground, and it becomes part of the plot of the film. Finally, just to finish it off for your scrapbook, we've given you is she is his stationary. That's the next image. He's very proud of himself and continues to add to the stationary over years with various vignettes of his accomplishments. At the bottom, that little black square, he's quite proud of the fact that Funk & Wagnalls coined a term, "Houdinize," which means to wiggle out. And finally, the last image, his bookplate, never missing an opportunity to promote. So, we thought that it was wonderful given your own interest in magic to be able to share Houdini with you, and we just wanted you to be able to take something -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: Wow, thank you so much. >> Mark Dimunation: Thank you for coming. >> Neil Patrick Harris: I really appreciate it. >> Mark Dimunation: Thanks very much. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Wow. ^M00:39:25 [ Applause ] ^M00:39:29 >> Roswell Encina: That is so kind. You didn't expect that show and tell, did you? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Not at all. >> Roswell Encina: We're going to start taking questions from the audience soon before our music division people come out and start showing their collection. >> Neil Patrick Harris: But wait, I have one question. >> Roswell Encina: Sure. >> Neil Patrick Harris: King of clubs? >> Roswell Encina: No. Before we start questions from the audience, what do you want these young readers,I see a lot of them here in the audience, to learn from the book? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, wow, I wish that there was a singular thing, I think, hmm, I don't know how to answer that to multiple demographics. I think what's exciting about reading is that you can take from but something that's individual to you. ^M00:40:17 And what I'm uncomfortable doing is feeling like I know so much that I'm able to sort of be preachy and speak with too much authority. And so, when I'veied to do with these books is designed them in a way that you can learn magic tricks. You can learn life lessons. You can learn about people who are like you, and you can learn about people who are nothing like you. And you can also just read and enjoy the adventure of it all. So, it's not, you know, trying to do anything super-duper highbrow. At the same time, I hope that I can maybe getting younger demographic, a younger generation of kids, who don't know about magic and how fun it can be, to appreciate it on a few different levels. >> Roswell Encina: I absolutely adored it, as I told you earlier that I was up until two in the morning just solving the puzzles. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, you know another cool thing? When you take the jackets off the books -- it doesn't look like the book. I had them do this nice gold leafing and it says the name of the kids. So this one says Carter, and then this one says Leila. The other says Theo. And then there's my initials are on the top, because I wrote it. ^M00:41:41 [ Laughing ] ^M00:41:45 But I also have three random letters that aren't so random, because when you put all four books together, A, it looks like you're very smart, because it looks more like an encyclopedia, but then it says M-A-G, mag, and I-C-M, icm. And itsp. So, it will say magic misfits when you have all four of them together, but I thought that was kind of cool. ^M00:42:04 [ Applause ] ^M00:42:07 So, just don't put a glass on top of it. >> Roswell Encina: So, let's take questions from the audience. I will let you pick him. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, really? >> Roswell Encina: Yes. >> Neil Patrick Harris: All right, you raised your hand really fast in the middle. ^M00:42:19 ^M00:42:23 That was so nice, that gift was really -- that's very sweet. Hi. >> Man: Can you hear me? >> Roswell Encina: Yes. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Hi. >> Man: Hey, so, every magician sort of had their own signature magic trick, right? Have you developed your own, and are you able to show it to us now? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Well, it went so well the first time. If I -- I probably know the most about stage magic, because of lot of the principles within stage magic have to do with -- are also principles for theater, and so, I've always been drawn to [inaudible] and to the Thurston and William Robinson and people that designed illusion stuff. Because I was a kid who -- I was born in 1973. So, when I was watching TV, there was very little inter-web, and there were few channels on TV. And David Copperfield used to be on TV once a year. He still performs more than any magician ever. He's in the Guinness Book of World Records, I believe, but he would do these singular shows where he would make the Statue of Liberty vanish live on TV. And then, the next year he would walk through the Great Wall of China, and you'd see it happening. And then he'd take an Orient express car, train car, and people will be holding hands surrounding the train car. He'd make it levitate and then vanish, the entire train car, and within it, he would do lots of other smaller, interesting tricks. So, I had an affinity for stage magic. Lately I've been more interested in mentalism. Like I mentioned before. I don't know. I think there's something fun about debunking the spiritualists who claim that they can, you know, read, authentically read minds, but I do think there is something about intuition and being able to sort of read tells of people, and kind of glean information from them in certain ways. Is probably what I do most often when I dabble. >> Roswell Encina: Let's get a kid with a question. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, yeah, hi. Yeah, you -- right, absolutely, in the dress. Yeah, hi. >> Girl: Who's your favorite magician? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Who's my favorite magician? Well, wait, keep the microphone. Do you mean my favorite magician ever of all time, or do you mean my favorite magician now that's currently doing magic? >> Girl: Your favorite -- both. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Both, all right. ^M00:45:01 [ Laughter ] ^M00:45:05 I think you only get one question. [laughter] I'm just teasing my favorite magician of all time is -- oh, gosh, I don't know. Probably Howard Thurston. He traveled around at the turn-of-the-century on sleeper train cars, and it was right at the time when those big stage shows were the height of entertainment, and people dressed up and had never seen some of these effects before. So, I just loved the theatricality of that time period. Currently speaking, there's a guy named Derek DelGaudio that I directed a show of his called Nothing to Hide. And then, I produced a show of his called In and of Itself. And he does card stuff. But he's able to take magical effects and put them in a context that makes you feel like you're having a TED Talk kind of life lesson about things. Ted's this guy who knows a lot of stuff. ^M00:46:14 [ Laughing ] ^M00:46:17 So, Penn & Teller in Las Vegas are doing really fantastic stuff. I love the Vegas magicians. That the really good question, thanks for asking both of them. You look beautiful, by the way. Is that dress -- and the shoes match the dress. What's your name? >> Chaylee [assumed spelling]: Chaylee. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Chaylee, and a beautiful name. >> Chaylee: Thank you. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah, thank you. >> Roswell Encina: I thought Mr. Thurston actually was the millionaire from Gilligan's Island. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh. >> Roswell Encina: That somebody else though. ^M00:46:53 [ Laughing ] ^M00:46:54 >> Neil Patrick Harris: Was that Thurston? ^M00:46:56 [ Audience Responding ] ^M00:46:59 Oh, Thurston Howell III. True dat, true dat, all right, what about this lovely girl here in the blue with the dark hair? Yeah? I'm picking girls with blue dresses today. >> Girl in Blue: What was your favorite time when you hosted the Tony awards? >> Neil Patrick Harris: When I was done. ^M00:47:20 [ Laughing and Applause ] ^M00:47:22 11:05. Have you watched those Tony award things? They were so -- that is the crazy -- I never thought in my life that I would be hosting an award show honoring Broadway musicals. I was a kid from small-town New Mexico that didn't even know that Broadway musicals existed until I heard of a show called Les Miserables, and I went to see it, it was this epic show, and the stage spun around, which was new back then. And there was a barricade that came on. It spoke about the French -- it was so cool, and from that point forward, I went to New York, and I just saw a bunch of shows every chance I could, and then, suddenly, I was on a CBS TV show, and wouldn't you know, the Tony's are on CBS? So, I was able to be in the small pool of people considered for hosting the gigs, cross-promotion, and so, I got to do it, and it is my favorite award show to watch. It's my favorite award show to be a part of, because you're honoring people who really work very, very diligently, eight times a week, twice on two days, and they perform these ensemble members who change their costumes and play seven different characters and dance like you've never seen before, and they do it for not much money and for not many people, for maybe 1000 people. And it's unbelievable when you see a show, and you think like how do they do that every single night? Well, the Tonys, they get one night where they do it for a million people, more. And they get to do -- and so, you're sitting in the show at home, and you're watching these people who are so appreciative to be there, to perform the best number from their show. It's a big advertisement, in a way, for them, but deservedly so, and they've all worked with each other. So, it's nice in the audience. There's no feuds going on. You know what I mean? It's not like, "Oh, there's the Game of Thrones cast. Oh, look, it's Downton Abbey." ^M00:49:29 [ Laughing ] ^M00:49:33 They're like, "Oh! Bernadette Peters!" So, because that, the energy's really good, and is just a fun thing to do, to be PT Barnum went to get this they now look it this amazing show. You thought that was cool. Now look at this amazing so. Since I like -- well, you see me. I'm like Tigger. I like being a host because I get to then do opening numbers. So, I got to do that one opening number when they moved from a smaller theater, The Beacon, to Radio City Music Hall, and that was a big, giant space, right. And so, it seemed like, well there's your opening number something about how big we are now that we're here, and so, Lin-Manuel Miranda who -- this was pre-Hamilton, the musical, not the...guy. He wrote this song called figure, and it involved so many people from all the shows. ^M00:50:27 And there were so many -- I did a magic trick within it. And there were so many things that really, really could've gone wrong. We could spend an hour and a half talking about all of the things that really, legitimately, almost went terribly wrong, and in turn, they made me jump through a hoop. There is a paper hoop was this big. I'm rehearsing with Pippin' the Pippin cast, and they say, "We have this good idea. Why don't you just jump to run and yield jump through this hoop like Pippin does in the show?" And I said okay. How does that work? >> Roswell Encina: I do remember you popping up at the very and from the back of the theater and running up front. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah, but I said how does this work, this whole -- and they said, well, you just run and jump through the hoop. ^M00:51:06 [ Laughing ] ^M00:51:07 I said, really? That's all you do, and they said, yeah, just commit, run, jump, hurtle right through it, and I said this is going to be a terrible meme. This is going to be the worst gif ever when I'm like so excited and confident, bonk. Bonk. Thankfully, that didn't happen, and it turned out to be just great. That was so fun. I love the Tonys, and I could talk about them for ages. >> Roswell Encina: Would you consider doing it again? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah, I would love to. I would love to. It was really -- you know, it's a big -- it's much more corporate than just picking a host, and James Cordon, who is on CBS, doing a late-night hosting dig has won a Tony himself for brilliant performance in a play called One Man, Two Governors. He's hilarious. He can sing. Super talented. So, a great host at the moment. But if I ever got the chance, I would get beat Angela Lansbury's record. ^M00:52:08 [ Laughing ] ^M00:52:13 I'm coming for you. >> Roswell Encina: All right, I think we have time like for one or two more questions. >> Neil Patrick Harris: One for you, miss. Love it. >> Roswell Encina: This kid is really excited up here, so, yeah. >> Neil Patrick Harris: I never should never have said that about Angela --oh, you're switching seats. That's so sweet. >> Roswell Encina: This kid's very excited. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, man, yeah you are. What up? You're so tall. >> Roswell Encina: And he's arms -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, you're standing. Got it. What your name? >> Elliot: I"m Elliot. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Hey, Elliot, how old are you? >> Elliot: Eleven. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Eleven, cool. What your question? >> Elliot: have you ever written a book about an animal? ^M00:52:52 [ Laughing ] ^M00:52:55 >> Roswell Encina: Is a monkey in book two, right? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah, there's a few animals within, but do you mean just in my spare time? Just like in a -- >> Elliot: Like at all. Have you ever? >> Neil Patrick Harris: No, but can I ask me a follow-up question? And I might ask you the same thing. If I were to write a book about an animal, what animal would I choose to write about? I'm going to choose a dolphin. I love dolphins. They look like they're smiling all the time, and when they're in the wild, they just jump up and do backflips, what a cool life. And they eat sushi all the time. What would you choose? >> Elliot: Probably a fox. >> Neil Patrick Harris: A fox? Tell me why. >> Elliot: O they're cool and pretty and like creepy and like the fastest animals. ^M00:53:46 [ Laughing ] ^M00:53:47 >> Neil Patrick Harris: Totally. ^M00:53:49 [ Laughing ] ^M00:53:52 Years is the way better answer than mine. Nice. Good question. >> Roswell Encina: All right, let's do one more question. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Okay. >> Roswell Encina: I'll give you the honors of picking. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh my goodness. Everyone's pointing to this lovely young girl in the back with the peach dress on. Hiya. How are you. >> Girl in Peach Dress: I'm good. >> Neil Patrick Harris: What your name? >> Girl in Peach Dress: Basil. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Basil. What a lovely name and a delicious herb. But your question? >> Basil: Out all the Misfits, what is your favorite misfit? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Out of all the misfit, who is my favorite? Well, that's a very interesting question. Probably most like Carter, but I think my favorite one to write for is Ridley, because she has a really kind of dark sensibility, but you know that she's also very kind and that there's a heart there, and I can't wait for her story to be, you know, more fully fleshed out. It's hard to choose though, you know? Because they're all different. They all provide different elements of a bigger, complete picture for me. So, yeah, probably those two. Oh no, or Theo, no, Leila. Not Izzy and Ollie. ^M00:55:22 [ Laughing ] ^M00:55:24 Their comedy is terrible. >> Roswell Encina: So, before we let you go -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: Thank you for asking that question. >> Roswell Encina: Have you guessed what my card is yet? ^M00:55:34 [ Laughing ] ^M00:55:38 >> Neil Patrick Harris: That's how we're going to end? With you reminding me that I failed at that card trick? It really wasn't the eight of -- I could do one more thing, but I'll try and do a mentalism thing again. I would do a card trick, but that went terribly wrong the first time. Why don't I try and do mentalism and get people to see if I can come up with things that people are thinking in their head. But I don't want to just pick random people. So, I have a random number generator that I brought with me, it's also called a die that I stole from a Monopoly game. So, what I'm going to do, I can hand this to someone. I'm going to hand it to you. And what I'd like you to do is handed -- do you know either of those two gentlemen behind you? No. Will you hand it to one of them? Yeah? All right, cool, have we met before? Do you work here? Yeah, so I feel like people may think that we know -- the woman next to you, we've never met before, have we? Oh, my gosh. This front row. Who have I not -- you, sir? You've never heard of me. ^M00:57:00 [ Laughing ] ^M00:57:09 Okay, perfect. Will you stand up. This is perfect. Hiya. >> Charlie: I feel like a target now. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah, what your name? >> Charlie: Charlie. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Charlie, how are you, good? >> Charlie: Good. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Okay, so here's what I want you to do. You have a die in your hand. And I'm going to -- instead of reading your mind by picking a number, which I don't think one can do, I'm going to come up with something to associate something to each number, and then I'm going to have you randomly select a number, and then I'll try and figure out if I can figure out what you have chosen. So, let's pick a place, like the location, a city, okay? So, hand the microphone off, because I need both of your hands for this. Cover the die in your hands, and I want you to shake your hands, and it's going to land on a number. And I want you to peek at the number, and the number's going to be the one that's facing up, obviously, right? Do you have that? Can you show someone so they don't think that you're [inaudible]. Okay, perfect, so, what I'm going to do is, if it's the number one, let's say it's London. If it's the number two, let's say it's Paris. Number three, let's say, Washington DC. Four, let's say let's say it's Orlando. Five is Los Angeles, and six would be Albuquerque, where I'm from, okay? So, you heard of all of those. I want you to think of the town that aligned with your number. You got it? You thinking of it? Okay, this is interesting, because as I said those, I kind of looked around, but I saw that kind of your posture changed a little bit. Ooo-la-la, was it Paris? Nice very good, awesome. All right, cool. Hand it to somebody else. Hand the die is somebody else. How about this gentleman with the beard? We don't know each other, do we? Okay, cool, would you stand up. You don't need the microphone; it's okay. What is your name? >> Brad: Brad. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Brad, cool. All right, I want you to do this again. I want you to, yeah, shake it up, and you'll come up with a number, and now, instead, why don't we do -- I don't know, colors. No, let's do food, because I'm starving. Okay, take a gander at the number that you've thrown. It's the one that's on top, right? And why don't you show -- is that your daughter? I don't want to think that you could changing your mind. You don't trust her. Okay, okay, well -- it's okay. Wow. No family drama here. Okay, so, food. Let's say one is burgers. Two is ice cream. Thee is sushi. Four would be chicken. Five would be -- what is also delicious? Pork chops. Six would be pizza. Here, we'll do it a little bit differently. This time, I want you to -- I want you to lie to me. I want you to say, the food I chose is, and pick one of the different ones, not the one that you chose, right? Does that make sense? So, say it to me now. Say, "I chose," and then tell me, and mean it, but lie to me. Say I chose but not the one that's your actual food, but say a different one >> Brad: I chose sushi. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Interesting. You didn't choose sushi. ^M01:00:54 [ Laughing ] ^M01:00:57 You chose a pizza. Nice! Two for two, baby. I'm going to try one more time. One more time, I want to try it. Hand the dice -- the die over again. You want to take it? Why don't you, in the green? Okay, cool, why don't you stand up? What's your name? >> Chris: Chris. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Chris, all right, we're going to try this again. This time let's do a person, like a celebrity person. Okay, so shake it up. This time, though, you know what, instead of just being random, I don't want people to think that the die is tricky. So, and that it's weighted or something, and it's going to land in a certain position. So, instead, you can look, and you can turn the die so that the one you want is face up, right? So, you're actually picking the number. You got that? >> Chris: Yep. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Interesting. Okay, let's put a person for each number. Number one, let's make Oprah Winfrey. Number two, let's make Taylor Swift. Number three let's make -- I need help. What are good people? ^M01:02:13 [ Multiple Speakers ] ^M01:02:18 Angela Lansbury is good. ^M01:02:19 [ Laughing ] ^M01:02:24 Number four, Barack Obama. Too soon? ^M01:02:27 [ Cheers and Applause ] ^M01:02:31 Number five, Nick Jonas. ^M01:02:37 [ Laughing ] ^M01:02:38 And number six, Barney Stinson, yes! ^M01:02:45 [ Applause and Laughter ] ^M01:02:54 All right, think of the person that's associated with the number, okay? I'm sort of -- I don't think it's a female. I think I'm sort of torn between Barney Stinson, Nick Jonas -- oh, you blinked when I said -- was it Nick Jonas. Nice! [inaudible], thank you very much. ^M01:03:21 [ Applause ] ^M01:03:26 >> Roswell Encina: Good catch. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Thank you. ^M01:03:28 [ Applause ] ^M01:03:35 >> Roswell Encina: Cool. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, wait. Wait a minute. Wait one second. Before this started I was in the Omaha room, I handed the guy an envelope, didn't I? Can we still see it? >> Roswell Encina: Oh, there it is. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Awesome! Awesome. Okay, this'll be so great. Okay, wait, so you have an envelope. Do you microphone, too? Can I hear you? >> Man: Is it working? Yes. Was, and it is again. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, I can't hear you. ^M01:04:09 [ Sighing Heavily ] ^M01:04:10 [ Laughing ] ^M01:04:11 Is his mic on? Oh, that's working. Whatever you're doing there is actually working. >> Roswell Encina: Oh, we can't hear him. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, we can't hear you. >> Roswell Encina: Rush over here. >> Neil Patrick Harris: What a buzz kill this will be. Okay, well, you know what? We can't hear you with the microphone. No, I think I know I think you can hear -- oh, now someone's singing. That's exciting. No, I'll tell you what we'll do. You're holding in your hand, just pantomime it with me, because it'll be great, and I'm hoping that this camera can zoom in a little bit, and we'll all read the prediction that I've written inside this envelope, can you open it up? Oh, he can't hear me. ^M01:04:52 [ Laughing ] ^M01:04:58 This works so well and dress rehearsal. Hey, why don't you -- no, wait, wait. Why doesn't he come over here? Don't have them open it, have him come over here, Tim. >> Man: You want to go down there? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Have him come over. To have him come over to me. Run. >> Man: Just tell him to come over. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Hurry, run. Run like the wind. ^M01:05:16 [ Applause ] ^M01:05:21 [ Applause ] ^M01:05:24 I knew I gave him this piece of paper for a reason. He'll be here in about 12 minutes. So... >> Roswell Encina: While we're waiting -- >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yes, sir. >> Roswell Encina: I know Halloween's around the corner, and you and your family are known for these marvelous hollowing costumes. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Thank you. >> Roswell Encina: Do you have an idea yet what you guys are doing? >> Neil Patrick Harris: Hey! ^M01:05:48 [ Applause ] ^M01:05:52 You made it! Bravo! Hey, come up on stage. Come up on stage. This is fantastic. Okay, so, tell me your name again. >> Justin: Justin. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Justin. Neil, nice to see you. So, Justin, did you guys see in the beginning? So, did you hear then? So, I handed you this. >> Justin: Yes. >> Neil Patrick Harris: And it has been sealed. No one touched it this whole time, and inside, now open it up, it's taped on the top. There's a little -- okay, great. And inside this bag is a letter that I wrote earlier today, and Justin, will you read it? >> Justin: I will be happy to. "Hiya, last night in my sleep, I dreamt that Nick Jonas was in Paris France, eating a slice of pizza, OXNP. >> Neil Patrick Harris: P.S. >> Justin: Roswell chose the four of hearts. >> Neil Patrick Harris: What? ^M01:06:46 [ Laughter and Applause ] ^M01:06:48 Is that right? >> Roswell Encina: Yes. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Was of the four of hearts? >> Roswell Encina: Yes, it was. ^M01:06:51 [ Applause and Cheers ] ^M01:06:56 >> Neil Patrick Harris: Thanks, man. Nice to meet you. >> Roswell Encina: Well, that was awesome. So, ladies and gentlemen, Neil Patrick Harris. Thank you, guys. >> Neil Patrick Harris: And say hello. I'll sign some stuff. >> Roswell Encina: So, don't go anywhere. While Neil's getting ready upstairs to sign your books, I need you to get set up upstairs. >> Neil Patrick Harris: Yes, sir. We'll see you in a second. ^M01:07:19 [ Cheering ] ^M01:07:24 >> Roswell Encina: Special instructions for everyone, so you have to listen. This goes to everyone in the overflow room, too. So, if you bought books, their special instructions for all of you. So, to join the line upstairs -- I need my glasses. When you purchased your book and the copy of The Magic Misfits, The Minor Third, this evening, it came along with like a ticket. The ticket will tell you where you are in line along with a group. So, Neil will be signing any book that you bring up, but he won't be signing any memorabilia. No photos will be taken, and all this will be going on on the second floor of the library. So please go up. If you have your book, bring it up there. If you still need to buy a book, Politics & Prose is outside. Thank you. ^E01:08:07