Groupon CEO Andrew Mason knew he wasn't going to say anything of substance to the Today Show's Matt Lauer Friday.
"About to do Today show and beta test a new technique for dodging questions," Mason tweeted just before the interview. He pulled off the strategy with flying colors.
His new technique turned the TODAY Show into the Tonight show when Matt Lauer tried asking Mason about the rumored Google bid to purchase Groupon.
"Were you involved in something like that?" Lauer asked.
"Let me tell you a story to answer that question Matt," Mason answered with a smile.
"I have a feeling I'm not going to get an answer here," replied Lauer.
Mason then went on to explain how he was made fun of and picked on because of his middle name, Divens.
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"This is answering my question, how?" joked Lauer.
Mason joked that he had eight more stories ready to go for any questions regarding Google.
Mason used the same tactic when Lauer tried to flatter and build him up by comparing him to the likes of Mark Zuckerberg to answer another question.
"What do you want to do with your clout?"
"I want to see if I can get more buildings to have laser in their name, the word laser," answered Mason. "Do I have clout?"
Lauer kept trying for a serious answer but gave up when Mason said clout mind him think of stuff the build up on teeth. After that he was out of time.
"Did I get one serious answer here?" asked Lauer at the end of the interview while chuckling and shaking his head. "I'm not sure."
