Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: Difference between revisions

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| last_aired = present

| opentheme = [[B.&nbsp;J. Leiderman]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100788 | title=BJ Leiderman, NPR Biography | publisher=NPR | access-date=April 25, 2007}}</ref> (composer)

| website = {{URL|https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/|waitwait.npr.org}}

| podcast = {{URL|https://www.npr.org/programspodcasts/344098539/wait-wait-dontdon-t-tell-me/}}

}}

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[[File:Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Live Taping.jpg|thumb|Taping of a 2010 episode at the Chase Auditorium, with panelists [[Adam Felber]], [[Roxanne Roberts]], and [[Keegan-Michael Key]]]]

Until 2020, ''Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!'' premiered in 1996 and was recorded in front of a live audience in the Chase Auditorium beneath Chicago's [[Chase Tower (Chicago)|Chase Tower]] on Thursday nights.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me Ticketing|url=https://www.wbez.org/events/wait-wait-dont-tell-me-tickets |publisher=[[WBEZ]] Chicago}}</ref> Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], episodes were recorded remotely beginning March 2020, largely from panelists' homes, with sound effects added for broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=For this NPR host, the show goes on ... even during a pandemic |author=Ethan Bauer |work=Deseret News |date=1 May 2020 |access-date=6 May 2022 |url= https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2020/4/30/21238543/people-of-the-pandemic-peter-sagal-npr-wait-wait-dont-tell-me-coronavirus}}</ref> Live audience recordings resumed in August 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me' makes its return to live audiences in Philly |author=Peter Crimmins |work=WHYY |date=6 August 2021 |access-date=6 May 2022 |url= https://whyy.org/articles/wait-wait-dont-tell-me-makes-its-return-to-live-audiences-in-philly/}}</ref> In June 2022, the show moved to the [[Fine Arts Building (Chicago)|Studebaker Theater]] in Chicago's Fine Arts Building.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/05/17/1099627383/mandy-moore|title='Wait Wait' for May 21, 2022: With Not My Job guest Mandy Moore|publisher=NPR|date=May 21, 2022|time=0.47}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/07/1103508516/kenan-thompson|title='Wait Wait' for June 11, 2022: With Not My Job guest Kenan Thompson|publisher=NPR|date=June 11, 2022|time=1.00}}</ref> Episodes are periodically recorded on tour in venues across the United States.<ref name=":0" />

The show is hosted by playwright and actor [[Peter Sagal]]. When the program had its debut in January 1998, Dan Coffey of ''[[Ask Dr. Science]]'' was the original host, but a revamping of the show led to his replacement in May of that year. The show has also been guest-hosted by [[Tom Bodett]], [[Luke Burbank]], [[Adam Felber]], [[Peter Grosz]], [[Tom Papa]], [[Mike Pesca]], [[Richard Sher (producer)|Richard Sher]], [[Bill Radke]], [[Susan Stamberg]], [[Robert Siegel]], [[Brian Unger]], [[Drew Carey]], [[Tom Hanks]], [[Helen Hong]], [[Jessi Klein]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=35&prgDate=08-12-2006 |title=Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!- August 12, 2006|publisher=NPR |access-date=February 3, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/archrndwn/2005/aug/050827.waitwait.html |title=Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!- August 27, 2005 |publisher=NPR |access-date=February 3, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/archrndwn/2004/aug/040814.waitwait.html |title=Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!- August 14, 2004 |publisher=NPR |access-date=February 3, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Roti|first1=Jessi|title=Tom Hanks to guest host 'Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me' in Chicago|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chicagoinc/ct-tom-hanks-to-guest-host-on-npr-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune|date=December 14, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/519656715/wait-wait-for-march-11-2017-with-not-my-job-guest-neal-brennan|title='Wait Wait' For March 11, 2017: With Not My Job Guest Neal Brennan|website=NPR.org}}</ref> [[Maz Jobrani]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2021 |url=https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/996891102/wait-wait-for-may-15-2021-with-not-my-job-guest-elizabeth-warren |title='Wait Wait' For May 15, 2021, With Not My Job Guest Elizabeth Warren |website=NPR.org}}</ref> [[Negin Farsad]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/01/29/1076494413/wait-wait-for-jan-29-2022-with-not-my-job-guest-jeremy-o-harris|title='Wait Wait' for Jan. 29, 2022: With Not My Job guest Jeremy O. Harris|publisher=NPR}}</ref> Alzo Slade,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1157244228/rosie-perez-on-her-first-meeting-with-spike-lee|title=Rosie Perez on her first meeting with Spike Lee and her favorite Rihanna song|publisher=NPR|date=February 18, 2023}}</ref> [[Josh Gondelman]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/01/1160422137/malala-yousafzai-won-the-nobel-peace-prize-while-in-chemistry|title=Malala Yousafzai on winning the Nobel Peace Prize while in chemistry class|publisher=NPR|date=March 4, 2023}}</ref> and [[Karen Chee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/17/1164375148/sam-waterston-on-being-the-most-recognizable-pretend-lawyer-in-new-york|title=Sam Waterston on being the most recognizable pretend lawyer in New York|publisher=NPR|date=March 18, 2023}}</ref> and [[Dulcé Sloan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/10/26/g-s1-30019/wait-wait-for-october-26-2024-with-not-my-job-guests-sue-bird-and-megan-rapinoe|title='Wait Wait' for October 26, 2024: With Not My Job guests Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe|publisher=NPR|date=October 26, 2024}}</ref>

The announcer, also serving as judge and scorekeeper, has been Bill Kurtis<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/people/578888188/bill-kurtis|title=Bill Kurtis|publisher=NPR|access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref> since 2014,<ref name=Oregonian/> though Chioke I'Anson,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/wait-wait-for-dec-24-2022-with-not-my-job-guest-sarah-polley/|title='Wait Wait' for Dec. 24, 2022: With Not My Job guest Sarah Polley|publisher=[[WNYC]]|access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref> [[Lakshmi Singh]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/11/04/1198908185/dr-rae-wynn-grant-talks-bear-attacks-and-gummy-bears|title=Large carnivore ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant talks black bears and gummy bears|publisher=NPR|date=November 4, 2023|access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref> [[Andy Richter]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/16/1238865519/wait-wait-for-march-16-2024-with-not-my-job-guest-david-alan-grier|title='Wait Wait' for March 16, 2024: With Not My Job guest David Alan Grier|publisher=NPR|date=March 16, 2024|access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref> and Helen Hong have substituted.,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/04/20/1245939719/wait-wait-for-april-20-2024-with-not-my-job-guest-judith-butler|title='Wait Wait' for April 20, 2024: With Not My Job guest Judith Butler|publisher=NPR|date=April 20, 2024|access-date=April 20, 2024}}</ref> [[Ayesha Rascoe]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/09/21/g-s1-23945/wait-wait-for-september-21-2024-with-not-my-job-guest-gary-oldman|title='Wait Wait' for September 21, 2024: With Not My Job guest Gary Oldman|publisher=NPR|date=September 21, 2024|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref> [[Joshua Johnson (journalist)|Joshua Johnson]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/11/09/g-s1-33508/wait-wait-for-november-9-2024-with-not-my-job-guest-tara-dower|title='Wait Wait' for November 9, 2024: With Not My Job guest Tara Dower|publisher=NPR|date=November 9, 2024}}</ref> [[Tim Meadows]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/11/23/1215004115/wait-wait-dont-tell-me-draft-11-23-2024|title='Wait Wait' for November 23, 2024: With Not My Job guests Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller|publisher=NPR|date=November 23, 2024}}</ref> and Alzo Slade have substituted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2025/05/10/1250441648/wait-wait-dont-tell-me-draft-05-10-2025|title='Wait Wait' for May 10, 2025: With Not My Job guest Nathan Lane|publisher=NPR|date=May 10, 2025}}</ref> [[Carl Kasell]] preceded Kurtis, who often filled in for him.<ref name=Oregonian>{{cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/movies/2014/05/who_should_replace_carl_kasell.html|title=Who should replace Carl Kasell as 'Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!' scorekeeper? (poll)|last=Turnquist|first=Kristi|work=[[The Oregonian]]|date=May 16, 2014|access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref>

''Wait Wait...'' listeners also participate by telephoning or sending emails to nominate themselves as contestants, or as of January 9, 2024, followers of the show's official Instagram account can click a link in the bio which will take them to a form to fill out and register to be a contestant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C15n7IMM0yf/ {{Bare URL inline|datetitle=August 2024Instagram|website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> The producers select several listeners for each show and call them to appear on the program, playing various games featuring questions based on the week's news. Prior to October 21, 2017, the usual prize for winning any game was to have Kasell (named "Scorekeeper [[Emeritus]]" following his retirement) record a greeting on the contestant's home [[answering machine]] or [[voice mail]] system; after Kasell's death in 2018, the prize was changed to have a host or panelist of the contestant's choice record a greeting.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.avclub.com/article/carl-kasell-steps-down-wait-wait-dont-tell-me-201796 | title = Carl Kasell steps down from Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me | first = Erik | last = Adams | date = March 4, 2014 | access-date = July 11, 2017 | work = [[The A.V. Club]] }}</ref>

==Panelists==

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* [[Luke Burbank]]

* [[Adam Burke (comedian)|Adam Burke]]

* [[Eugene Cordero]]

* [[Amy Dickinson]]

* [[Negin Farsad]]

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<!--All other panelists with at least five appearances but none in 2018/2019-->

* [[Sue Ellicott]] <small>(1998–2007)</small>

* [[Aamer Haleem]] <small>(2005–06)</small>

* [[Margo Kaufman]] <small>(1998–1999)</small>

* [[Angela Nissel]] <small>(2006–2007)</small>

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* [[Alison Stewart]] <small>(2008–2009)</small>

* [[Julia Sweeney]] <small>(2009–2010)</small>

* [[Keegan-Michael Key]]

* [[Reza Aslan]]

{{div col end}}

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===Opening tease===

As with other NPR programs, ''Wait Wait'' offers a one-minute top-of-hour billboard teasing the program that will follow the network's hourly newscast (which traditionally starts at 1one minute past the hour). In this minute, the host offers a humorous comment on the week's news, mentions the identity of the week's interview guest, and sets up an out-of-context reading by the announcer of a quote or game title from the episode.

===Who's Bill This Time?===

The contestant is asked to identify the speaker or explain the context of three quotations from that week's major news stories as read by the announcer (usually Bill Kurtis). Each answer is followed by a humorous discussion of the story by the host and the panelists. Two correct answers constitute a win for the contestant. Prior to Kasell's retirement, the segment was known as "Who's Carl This Time?" and he read the quotations. TheWhenever game nameKurtis is modifiedabsent, ifhis someonefirst name is sittingreplaced inby forthat Billof (forthe exampleperson iffilling Chiokein I'Ansonfor is fillinghim in the game becomes "Who's Chioke This Time?")name.

===Panel questions===

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=== Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank ===

In the Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank, each panelist has to answer as many questions as they can in 60 seconds with each correct answer earning the panelist 2 points. At the end there is a question whose answer gets an expanded clarification by Peter or whomeverwhoever is guest hosting; this question usually deals with an especially odd or obscure news story from the week.

==Television==

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==External links==

<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->

* {{official website|1=http://waitwait.npr.org/}}

* {{Twitter|waitwait|''Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!''}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120810204334/http://www.bbcamerica.com/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/ ''Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!'']'s [[BBC America]] site

* [http://wwdt.me/ Show Details and Statistics]

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[[Category:2020s American radio programs]]

[[Category:American radio game shows]]

[[Category:AmericanPeabody satireAward–winning radio programs]]

[[Category:Peabody Award-winning radio programs]]

[[Category:Chicago radio shows]]

[[Category:Radio programs adapted into television shows]]

[[Category:SatiricalAmerican satirical radio programmesprograms]]