American idiot with zero pizzazz making chit-chat (10)

I believe the answer is:

schmoozing

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'chit-chat' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'american idiot with zero pizzazz' is the wordplay.
'american idiot' becomes 'schmo' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'zero' becomes 'O' (O resembles 0).
'pizzazz' becomes 'zing' (synonyms).
'schmo'+'o'+'zing'='SCHMOOZING'

'making' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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