Show Details: 2008
2008-01-05
- First: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second Tied: Adam Felber Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Second Tied: Sue Ellicott Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 6)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Not My Job about strange, but real, patents in recent years; Panel Round #2; Bluff the Listener about scandals from NASA's storied history; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be in the letters that future presidents will send?
2008-01-12
- First: Adam Felber Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Tom Bodett Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about innovative and surprising ways to recycle; Not My Job with questions taken from the "Wait Wait" archives during our first year on the air; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: how Hillary Clinton will next display human emotion on the campaign trail?
2008-01-19
- First: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Mo Rocca Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round: Wait Wait On The Trail; Bluff the Listener about plagiarism in the news; Not My Job about the love affair between Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich, taken from a "Washington Post" article about their courtship and marriage; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will the UFO that people in Texas saw this week turn out to be?
On the topic of men lying during the Listener Limerick Challenge, Roy Blount, Jr. told an anecdote about marriage counseling. This lead to Kyrie O'Connor to start laughing uncontrollably and Peter Sagal retorting with "been in counseling, Kyrie?"
2008-01-26
- First: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Second: Paul Provenza Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 4)
- Third: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 9 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round: Wait Wait On The Trail; Bluff the Listener about unexpected labor unrest in the news; Not My Job about Richard Knerr, the founder of the Wham-O Toy Company, maker of the Hula Hoop and the Frisbee; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: how will the Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stimulate the economy?
2008-02-02
- First: Adam Felber Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Second: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Luke Burbank Total Score: 8 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 3)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about thrilling but potentially dangerous travel situations; Not My Job about the Smurfs, who will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in October; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be the big story out of Super Bowl XLII?
Several members of audience chanted "Luuuuuuke" when Luke Burbank was introduced by Peter Sagal
2008-02-09
- First: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second Tied: Adam Felber Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second Tied: Paul Provenza Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
Carl Kasell's Countdown: Super Tuesday Palooza; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about adults using adolescent behavior to solve problems; Not My Job about college basketball coach Bobby Knight; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time?; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will Mitt Romney do now that he's no longer running for president?
2008-02-16
- First: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 18 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 8)
- Second: Tom Bodett Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: P.J. O'Rourke Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about cosmetic enhancement in the news; Not My Job about the Bush family from Jacob Weisberg's new book, "The Bush Tragedy"; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will bring Barack Obama's campaign back down to Earth?
2008-02-23
- First Tied: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- First Tied: Luke Burbank Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Mo Rocca Total Score: 7 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 2)
Who's Korva This Time?; Opening Panel Round: Wait Wait On The Trail; Bluff the Listener about new developments in psychotherapy; Not My Job about Mr. Rogers taken from "Mental Floss" magazine; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Prediction: what will Fidel Castro do with his free time now that he has stepped down as the ruler of Cuba?
Mo Rocca's Bluff the Listener story includes another reference to "Dingos Ate My Baby".
Peter Sagal mention of Paula Poundstone's smack talk about Cleveland, Ohio was in reference to her comments from the show that aired on 2007-04-28.
Peter names the new blackest black as, "blackity black black black"
2008-03-01
- First: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Second: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Found; Bluff the Listener about poor journalism; Not My Job about the other Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: who will a presidential candidate be forced to renounce next?
2008-03-08
- First: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Paul Provenza Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 4)
- Third: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 9 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 3)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about innovations in the world of beauty pageants; Not My Job about Dungeons and Dragons in tribute to Gary Gygax, the game's inventor, who died this week; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will John McCain do in his free time waiting for the Democrats to come up with a nominee?
2008-03-15
- First: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 18 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 8)
- Second: Tom Bodett Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Mo Rocca Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
Carl Kasell's Countdown; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about people pursuing their dream jobs despite long odds; Not My Job about the film career of recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Madonna; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what is Eliot Spitzer going to do now that he no longer has the burdens of office?
2008-03-22
- First: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: P.J. O'Rourke Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about one person's quest to fix something that's, well, kinda lame; Not My Job about visionary sci-fi great Arthur C. Clarke, who died this week; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be the next sign the economy is tanking?
2008-03-29
- First: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Second: Paul Provenza Total Score: 10 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 4)
- Third: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 2 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 0)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about people taking the wild out of the wilderness; Not My Job about Carl Karcher, the founder of fast food chain Carl's Jr.; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge, Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: now that the U.S. military has sent nuclear weapons parts to Taiwan, what will be the next thing the U.S. mistakenly sends to the wrong country?
Paula Poundstone did not answer any Lightning Fill In The Blank questions correct, though she had a lot of fun in doing so.
2008-04-05
- First: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Tom Bodett Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Mo Rocca Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about cartoon characters protecting their brand; Not My Job about famous pranks in British history as collected by the "Times of London" on April Fool's Day; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: now that we know John McCain's high school nickname, what other newsmaker nicknames will be revealed?
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! was one of thirty five recipients to be awarded the 67th Annual Peabody Award.
Tom Bodett's Bluff the Listener story involved enhanced mice touted as "Pinky and The Brain", which Tom did voiceover work on as well as "The Animaniacs".
During the Lightning Fill In The Blank segment, Tom tried to get a point by passing off Darth Vader (the current answer) an "uber" Storm Trooper (Tom's response), in which Peter went on exclaim that "Darth Vader is a fallen Jedi, whereas Storm Troopers are clones, and it's just not the same. Moving on, Moving on!".
2008-04-12
- First: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Tom Bodett Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about a new frontier for the popular gaming console, the Wii; Not My Job about the history of prohibition of alcohol in the U.S. 75 years after its repeal; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be the next public relations disaster for the Olympics?
2008-04-19
- First: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Tom Bodett Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Listener Limerick Challenge; Not My Job about pheromones, taken from the book "Bonk" by Mary Roach; Panel Round #2; Bluff the Listener about employee motivation taken to an extreme; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: The Pope celebrated his 81 birthday at the White House this week, what did President Bush get the Pope for his birthday?
At the start of the second Panel Round segment, Peter Sagal said that the following segment would be Listener Limerick Challenge instead of Bluff the Listener. The version of the show that aired had the Listener Limerick Challenge and the Bluff the Listener segments swapped positions in the show when compared to previous shows.
2008-04-26
- First Tied: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 5)
- First Tied: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Drew Carey Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Moby 1
Who's Korva This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about family restaurants sharpening their image; Not My Job about the short-lived play "Moose Murders"; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: now that he's appeared on "Deal or No Deal", where will President Bush turn up next?
Peter Sagal started the show by saying that Carl Kasell is out on jury duty. Drew Carey, who made his debut appearance as a panelist, asked if somebody gets convicted, does Carl leave a message on their answering machine?
The second Panel Round segment includes a discussion about "Truck Nutz".
2008-05-03
- First: Adam Felber Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 10 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about someone trying to close the barn door after the horse has bolted; Not My Job about nice things to ask the man who has scared us out of our wits for decades; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: how will Miley Cyrus rebuild her tattered image?
2008-05-10
- First: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Mo Rocca Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 4)
Carl Kasell's Countdown; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about new and unexpected vacation destinations; Not My Job about "Dracula" author Bram Stoker from the book "The Dead Travel Fast"; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time?; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will happen at Jenna Bush's wedding?
2008-05-17
- First: P.J. O'Rourke Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Third: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
Carl Kasell's Answering Machine; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about learning just how old or young somebody is; Not My Job about the lore and history of miniature golf; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will families do for a summer vacation now that gas prices are so high?
2008-05-24
- First: Adam Felber Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Tom Bodett Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about people in the news e-mailing us at "Wait Wait" and asking us not to make fun of them; Not My Job about the life and career of action star Steven Seagal; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be the big story coming out of John McCain's weekend barbecue with his VP candidates?
2008-05-31
Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! where Peter Sagal, Carl Kasell, Roxanne Roberts, Tom Bodett, Paula Poundstone, Charlie Pierce and Kyrie O'Connor review their favorite moments from the past ten years.
2008-06-07
- First: Tom Bodett Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second Tied: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Second Tied: P.J. O'Rourke Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Jim Webb 1
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about the Internet making life easier; Not My Job about the life of wealthy playboy Huntington Hartford; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be Hillary Clinton's role in Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency?
Tom Bodett started the Lightning Fill In the Blank segment with 3 points and Carl stated that Tom answered 7 questions correctly. This would have given Tom a total of 17 points, not the 16 points as Carl noted. Since 16 points is the official score, it is the score now noted for this show.
2008-06-14
- First: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about making summers even lazier; Not My Job about the famed gossip, writer Truman Capote; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what cool feature will Apple build into the next generations of iPhones?
Scott McClellan is the third (although former) White House Press Secretary of the George W. Bush Administration to appear on the show after Tony Snow and Dana Perino.
When Peter Sagal started to ask Amy Dickinson a question during the second Panel Round segment, Amy responded with "No! Don't look at me".
2008-06-21
- First: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 19 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 8)
- Second: Mo Rocca Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Paul Provenza Total Score: 9 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 3)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about controversial in the online world of virtual reality; Not My Job about the life and times of Henry Nicholas, billionaire founder of tech giant Broadcom, and a man who has lived a little too large; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be the first line in George W. Bush's memoir?
Another instance where Mo Rocca uses the surname "Bagnoli" in his Bluff the Listener story.
When Peter Sagal was explaining the story during the second panelist round, he added sound effects to the reenactment.
2008-06-28
- First: Adam Felber Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Paul Provenza Total Score: 10 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 4)
- Third: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 9 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about the perfect gift for a billionaire who has everything; Not My Job about pop superstar Celine Dion; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: now that the Supreme Court has said Americans have a right to own a handgun, what is the next right that the court will say is protected by the Constitution?
The whole Clippy portion from Who's Carl This Time? #2 has become a fan favorite, especially Adam Felber's and Paul Provenza's take on Clippy.
2008-07-05
Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! featuring several favorite Not My Job guests from 2006
2008-07-12
- First: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 19 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 8)
- Second: Tom Bodett Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?; Openinig Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about even more annoying things being done by airlines; Not My Job about Sonny Landham, the third actor from the movie "Predator" to try his luck in politics; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: who will be the next person to fall for Madonna's charms?
Charlie Pierce tried to get his answer of through an airplane window or door to be accepted by Peter and Carl, even though the correct answer was the airplane emergency slide.
2008-07-19
- First: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 19 (Starting Score: 5 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Paul Provenza Total Score: 10 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about Christmas in July, Not My Job about Jersey City, N.J. based on an article in "Politics" magazine; Panel Round #2; Who's Carl This Time? #2; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: Now that the Belgians own Budweiser, what will be the first noticeable change?
2008-07-26
- First Tied: Paul Provenza Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- First Tied: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Mo Rocca Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?; Opening Panel Round; Bluff the Listener about one person's past coming back to haunt them at their current job; Not My Job about derivation of different words as taken from the book "I Didn't Know That..."; Panel Round #2; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: how will John McCain top Barack Obama's trip abroad?
Another show in which all three correct Not My Job answers were the second answer.
2008-08-02
- First: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Alison Stewart Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about a new innovation that will make life great for men, Not My Job about Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, Who's Carl This Time? Round II, Panelist Predictions: who will be the surprise candidate for vice president?
Alison Stewart, who co-hosted NPR's "Bryant Park Project" with Luke Burbank before he left, made her debut as a panelist.
2008-08-09
- First Tied: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- First Tied: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Third: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Corey This Time?, Bluff the Listener about unexpected dangers of trying to live healthy, Not My Job about a New York Times article about the history of the modern Olympic movement, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the big story coming from the Olympics in Beijing?
2008-08-16
- First: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Adam Felber Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Mo Rocca Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Korva This Time?, Bluff the Listener about innovative ways to cut costs, Not My Job about Miss Manners, Who's Korva This Time? Round II, Panelist Predictions: what will Michael Phelps do once he conquers this year's Olympics?
2008-08-23
- First: Adam Felber Total Score: 19 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 8)
- Second: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Third: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
Who's Carl This Time?, Listener Limerick Challenge, Not My Job not about "Scooter" Libby, Bluff the Listener about unusual summer camps, Panelist Predictions: what the next popular fantasy series after Harry Potter?
2008-08-30
- First: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Alison Stewart Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Tom Bodett Total Score: 7 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 2)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff The Listener about normally reserved dorks doing crazy things, Not My Job about Matthew McConaughey, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: How will John McCain top Barack Obama's acceptance speech, while at the Republican National Convention?
While commenting about the cable news coverage of the Democratic National Convention, Peter noted how "angry" Keith Olbermann was. Alison Stewart is a regular backup host for Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
2008-09-06
- First: Tom Bodett Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 4)
- Third: Mo Rocca Total Score: 8 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 3)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about leaders emerging in odd and unusual ways, Not My Job about Michael Jackson, Who's Carl This Time? Round II, Panelist Predictions: what will be the next big bombshell to drop about either of the vice presidential candidates?
2008-09-13
- First: Paul Provenza Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about new diplomatic efforts by the United States, Not My Job about North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Carl's List, Panelist Predictions: what will happen to the world now that the Large Hadron Collider has been activated?
2008-09-20
- First: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 4)
- Third: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 9 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about surprising apologies from those in leadership questions, Not My Job about the expertise of Dr. Spock, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what e-mail messages will be recovered from vice presidential candidate, Alaska governor Sarah Palin's hacked e-mail account.
2008-09-27
- First Tied: Tom Bodett Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 5)
- First Tied: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- First Tied: Mo Rocca Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about suburban angst, Not My Job about hard hitting presidential campaigns, Who's Carl This Time? Round II, Panelist Predictions: how will the U.S. Government raise the seven-hundred billion dollars needed to bail out Wall Street?
2008-10-04
- First: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 19 (Starting Score: 5 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Mo Rocca Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Paul Provenza Total Score: 8 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 3)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about travel mishaps, Not My Job about fringe presidential candidates, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: how will President Bush, who has the highest disapproval rate ever, win back the affection of the American people?
2008-10-11
- First: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Tom Bodett Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Alison Stewart Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about one tiny mistake that significantly alters a person's life, Not My Job about the tropical island nation Nauru, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the October Surprise that will shake up the presidential race?
2008-10-18
Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! featuring several favorite Not My Job guests from 2008
2008-10-25
- First: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Tom Bodett Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff The Listener about embarrassing government cover-ups, Not My Job about fashion critic Mr. Blackwell, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be this year's most popular Halloween costume?
2008-11-01
- First: Paul Provenza Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 4)
- Third: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 8 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 3)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about new approaches in responding to emergencies, Not My Job about the history of Microsoft, Who's Carl This Time? Round II, Panelist Predictions: how will Barack Obama spend his campaign cash?
2008-11-08
- First: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 16 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Mo Rocca Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about robocalls gone awry, Not My Job about Bill O'Reilly's recent memoir, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what big surprise will come out of the first 100 days of the Obama administration?
Carl stated that Amy needed to answer 5 questions correctly to tie or 6 to win outright after announcing Charlie's score of 12. Amy started the round with 4 points, which meant that she only needed to answer 4 questions correctly to tie or 5 questions to win.
2008-11-15
- First Tied: P.J. O'Rourke Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- First Tied: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 4 / Correct Answers: 4)
- Third: Tom Bodett Total Score: 7 (Starting Score: 1 / Correct Answers: 3)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about the Internet letting us down, Not My Job about ways kids are wasting their time, Who's Carl This Time? Round II, Panelist Predictions: what will be the first line of President Bush's memoir?
2008-11-22
- First: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 15 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Second: Adam Felber Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 9 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 3)
Carl Kasell's Countdown, Bluff The Listener about brilliant new ways to lose weight, Not My Job about Mickey Mouse (who is celebrating his 80th birthday), Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: how will the American auto industry save itself?
When Peter Sagal was talking about the Detroit Big Three going to DC to testify, Peter accidentally said "FUV" instead of "SUV". Hilarity ensued.
2008-11-29
Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! featuring several Not My Job favorites
2008-12-06
- First: Adam Felber Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Second: Mo Rocca Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Kyrie O'Connor Total Score: 10 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff The Listener about new scams threatening our peace and prosperity, Not My Job about beloved kids shows, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will cause the first disagreement between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton?
2008-12-13
- First Tied: Roxanne Roberts Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- First Tied: Paula Poundstone Total Score: 14 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 6)
- Third: Tom Bodett Total Score: 13 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 5)
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about brand new holiday characters, Not My Job about the history of breakfast cereals, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: how will Barack Obama's open U.S. Senate seat be chosen?
2008-12-20
- First: Roy Blount, Jr. Total Score: 17 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 7)
- Second: Charlie Pierce Total Score: 12 (Starting Score: 2 / Correct Answers: 5)
- Third: Amy Dickinson Total Score: 11 (Starting Score: 3 / Correct Answers: 4)
Who's Carl This Time?, Not My Job about office supplies, Who's Carl This Time? Round II, Panelist Predictions: who will be Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2009?
2008-12-27
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! takes a look back at the 2008 presidential race.