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

Revision as of 21:33, 6 March 2024

Revision as of 15:06, 16 March 2024

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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>

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> and [[Lakshmi Singh]] have substituted.<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> and [[Andy Richter]] have substituted.<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> 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>https://www.instagram.com/p/C15n7IMM0yf/</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>