Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

{{further|List of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! episodes{{!}}List of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! episodes}}

File:Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Live Taping.jpg, Roxanne Roberts, and Keegan-Michael Key]]

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 on Thursday nights.{{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}} Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, episodes were recorded remotely beginning March 2020, largely from panelists' homes, with sound effects added for broadcast.{{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}} Live audience recordings resumed in August 2021.{{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/}} In June 2022, the show moved to the Studebaker Theater in Chicago's Fine Arts Building.{{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}}{{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}} Episodes are periodically recorded on tour in venues across the United States.

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, Bill Radke, Susan Stamberg, Robert Siegel, Brian Unger, Drew Carey, Tom Hanks, Helen Hong, Jessi Klein,{{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 }}{{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 }}{{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 }}{{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 }}{{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}} Maz Jobrani,{{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}} Negin Farsad,{{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}} Alzo Slade,{{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}} Josh Gondelman,{{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}} Karen Chee.{{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}} and Dulcé Sloan.{{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}}

The announcer, also serving as judge and scorekeeper, has been Bill Kurtis{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/people/578888188/bill-kurtis|title=Bill Kurtis|publisher=NPR|access-date=November 4, 2023}} since 2014, though Chioke I'Anson,{{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}} Lakshmi Singh,{{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}} Andy Richter{{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}} Helen Hong,{{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}} Ayesha Rascoe,{{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}} Joshua Johnson,{{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}} Tim Meadows{{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}} and Alzo Slade have substituted.{{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}} Carl Kasell preceded Kurtis, who often filled in for him.{{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}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C15n7IMM0yf/|title=Instagram|website=www.instagram.com}} 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.{{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 }}

In addition to the regular panelists listed below, the show also occasionally features one-off guest panelists.

File:WaitOctaviaMoRSigningADRB3PanelistsCrop.JPG.]]

Regular{{cite news |title=About The Panelists |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/12/07/110997511/about-the-panelists |date=July 21, 2009 |newspaper=NPR |access-date=January 22, 2020}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Cristela Alonzo
• Brian Babylon
• Roy Blount Jr.
• Alonzo Bodden
• Tom Bodett
• Joel Kim Booster
• Luke Burbank
• Adam Burke
• Eugene Cordero
• Amy Dickinson
• Negin Farsad
• Adam Felber
• Bobcat Goldthwait
• Josh Gondelman
• Peter Grosz
• Maeve Higgins
• Helen Hong
• Maz Jobrani
• Jessi Klein
• Hari Kondabolu
• Laci Mosley
• Tom Papa
• Paula Poundstone
• Roxanne Roberts
• Mo Rocca
• Faith Salie
• Alzo Slade
• Dulcé Sloan

{{div col end}}

Past panelists{{cite web|last=Pham|first=Linh|title=NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: Stats and Show Details |url=http://wwdt.me/panelists |access-date=January 30, 2014}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Sue Ellicott (1998–2007)
• Aamer Haleem (2005–06)
• Margo Kaufman (1998–1999)
• Angela Nissel (2006–2007)
• Patt Morrison (2000–2001)
• Kyrie O'Connor (2004–2015)
• P.J. O'Rourke (2001-2020)
• Charlie Pierce (1998–2015)
• Greg Proops (2015-2017)
• Paul Provenza (2006–2010)
• Richard Roeper (2004–2006)
• Peter Sagal (1998)
• Alison Stewart (2008–2009)
• Julia Sweeney (2009–2010)
• Keegan-Michael Key
• Reza Aslan

{{div col end}}

File:Bill Kurtis and Peter Sagal of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!.jpg

Though there are some deviations from time to time, episodes of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! feature the following format:

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 one 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.

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. Whenever Kurtis is absent, his first name is replaced by that of the person filling in for him in the game's name.

In two separate segments each week, the host asks the panelists questions regarding less serious stories in the week's news, awarding them one point for each correct answer. The questions are phrased similarly to those featured on The Match Game or Hollywood Squares to allow the panelists to offer a comedic answer in addition to their real guess as well as a hint from the host if needed. The answer is often followed by a discussion of the story.

Each panelist reads an unusual story, all sharing a common theme. Only one of the three stories is genuine; the contestant wins the prize by choosing it. A sound bite from a person connected to the genuine story is played to reveal whether the contestant's guess is correct. Regardless of the outcome, the panelist whose story is chosen scores one point.

{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | audio1 = [https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/2006/11/04/13109791/ Jimmy Wales plays "Not my job"], 10:19, NPR, November 4, 2006{{cite web | title =Not My Job: Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales | work = Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! | publisher =NPR | date = November 4, 2006 | url =https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/2006/11/04/13109791/ | access-date =January 13, 2017}} }}

{{For|a full list of "Not My Job" participants|List of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! guests}}

A celebrity guest calls in (or occasionally appears onstage) to be interviewed by the host and the panelists as well as take a three-question multiple-choice quiz. In Wait Wait{{'}}s early years, "Not My Job" guests were mainly pulled from NPR's roster of personalities and reporters; the pool of guests later expanded to include guests of greater celebrity. As the segment's title suggests, the guests are quizzed on topics that are not normally associated with their field of work. For example, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was asked questions on the history of Hugh Hefner and Playboy magazine,{{cite interview | subject=Madeleine Albright | interviewer=Peter Sagal |title=Not My Job! | url=https://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/archrndwn/2003/dec/031206.waitwait.html | type=Interview: Audio | work=Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! | publisher=NPR/WGBH | date=December 6, 2003 | access-date=January 13, 2008}} while author Salman Rushdie was asked about the history of Pez candy.{{cite interview | subject=Salman Rushdie | interviewer=Peter Sagal |title=Not My Job! | url=https://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/archrndwn/2001/sep/010908.waitwait.html | type=Interview: Audio | work=Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! | publisher=NPR/WGBH | date=September 9, 2001 | access-date=January 13, 2008}}{{cite news |title=NPR's 'Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me!' You Can't Make This Stuff Up. Or Can You? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/04/arts/television/04brenn.html?_r=0 |work=[New York Times] |date=June 4, 2006 |last=Brenna |first=Susan |access-date=July 22, 2016}} Often, the subject matter of the quizzes serve as an oblique yet comic juxtaposition to the guests' fields of work, such as when Mad Men creator/producer Matthew Weiner was quizzed on ways people try to cheer others up ("Glad Men") in a March 2015 appearance.[https://www.npr.org/2015/03/28/395741081/not-my-job-mad-men-creator-matthew-weiner-gets-quizzed-on-glad-men "Not My Job: 'Mad Men' Creator Matthew Weiner Gets Quizzed On Glad Men,"] from NPR.org (March 28, 2015)

Kurtis (or the announcer) reads three limericks connected to unusual news stories, leaving out the last word or phrase of each. The contestant wins the prize by correctly completing any two of them. The limericks are written by Philipp Goedicke.[https://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/features/2001/011116.limerick.html Limerick Lesson by Philipp Goedicke] Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me.

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 whoever is guest hosting; this question usually deals with an especially odd or obscure news story from the week.

In 2008, National Public Radio reached an agreement with CBS Entertainment to create a television pilot of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me![http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-tue-phil-rosenthal-0909sep09,0,2782717.column 'Wait' may soon get answer on TV vision], Chicago Tribune, September 9, 2008 Peter Sagal and Carl Kasell would be in the pilot, and Doug Berman would be the executive producer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/radio/wait_wait_to_become_tv_show_93640.asp|title="Wait, Wait" To Become TV Show? - mediabistro.com}}

On November 16, 2011, BBC America announced that the show would make its television debut with a "2011 Year in Review" special airing on December 23, to be retransmitted by NPR stations on the 24th and 25th. The taping included two American panelists—Wait Wait regulars Paula Poundstone and Alonzo Bodden—and British newcomer Nick Hancock.{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/network-press-releases/bbc-america-and-npr-to-bring-wait-wait-dont-tell-me-to-tv-in-december/|title=BBC America And NPR To Bring Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! To TV In December|date=November 16, 2011|access-date=August 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804212626/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/network-press-releases/bbc-america-and-npr-to-bring-wait-wait-dont-tell-me-to-tv-in-december/|archive-date=August 4, 2018|url-status=dead}} In December 2018, NBCUniversal announced it was developing a television version of Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me!{{cite web | url=https://www.thewrap.com/nprs-wait-wait-dont-tell-me-is-being-developed-for-tv-by-nbcus-wilshire-studios/ | title = NPR's 'Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me' Is Being Developed for TV By NBCU's Wilshire Studios | date=December 11, 2018 }}

On May 2, 2013, an episode was performed at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City and was streamed live via satellite as a Fathom Events presentation to hundreds of cinema theaters throughout the United States and Canada.{{cite web | url=http://www.fathomevents.com/#!wait-wait-dont-tell-me-encore | title=Fathom Events - Wait Wait..Don't Tell Me! | access-date=May 3, 2013}} The show included host Peter Sagal, announcer Carl Kasell, and panelists Mo Rocca, Paula Poundstone, and Tom Bodett. Celebrity guest Steve Martin won in the Not My Job segment.{{cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/2011/07/16/110997820/see-the-show-live | title=See the Show | date=March 15, 2013 |newspaper=NPR |publisher=National Public Radio |access-date=May 3, 2013}}

File:Peter Sagal and the crew of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me at the 67th Annual Peabody Awards.jpg

In April 2008, Wait Wait won a Peabody Award.[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/wait-wait...dont-tell-me 67th Annual Peabody Awards], May 2008. The program website was nominated for a Webby Award for Humor in 2008.{{cite web | title=Webby Nominees | url=http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=12 | publisher=Webby Awards | year=2008 | access-date=June 29, 2008}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|1=http://waitwait.npr.org/}}
• [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]
• [https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2019-10-28/wait-wait-its-peter-sagal-and-doug-berman "Wait, Wait... It's Peter Sagal and Doug Berman"]—October 28, 2019 Commonwealth Club of California interview and discussion of the show and its origins

{{Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!}}

{{NPR}}

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