Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Stats Page

Show Details: 2009

2009-01-03

2009-01-10

NPR DB ID: 571
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Mo Rocca
Correct: Mo Rocca
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about shortcuts to success, Not My Job about Dennis Rodman, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what advice did Barack Obama get with a private meeting with the four previous Presidents?

2009-01-17

NPR DB ID: 572
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Correct: Paula Poundstone
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about people spending 26 years to reach a goal, Not My Job about the history of inaugural balls, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be President Bush's next job?

2009-01-24

NPR DB ID: 573
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: P.J. O'Rourke
Correct: Tom Bodett
Description
Who's Carl This Time? Listener Limerick Challenge, Not My Job about mixed martial arts, Bluff the Listener about how a member of the Spears family is causing havoc in the world, Panelist Predictions: what was in the note that former President Bush left for President Obama?

2009-01-31

NPR DB ID: 574
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roy Blount, Jr.
Correct: Roy Blount, Jr.
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about people not letting anything get in their way while carrying out their routines, Not My Job about Ronald Reagan's Star Wars missile defense program, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will Rob Blagojevich do now that he is no longer the governor of Illinois?
Notes

During the Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank round, Roy Blount Jr. was asked which science fiction series did Gene Roddenberry create and Majel Barrett was in, Roy answered "Star Wars" in which Peter said that the answer was correct. In fact, the correct answer is Star Trek, which Carl corrected when stating Roy's score. Peter then asked if Carl was a dork, to which Carl sheepishly replied, "I guess?".

2009-02-07

NPR DB ID: 575
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Adam Felber
Correct: Adam Felber
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about classic works of literature being improved, Not My Job about famous peoples' phobias, Who's Carl This Time? Round II, Panelist Predictions: what will be President Obama's next apology?

2009-02-14

Best Of NPR DB ID: 576
Scorekeeper
Description
Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! featuring several Not My Job favorites

2009-02-21

NPR DB ID: 577
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Bluff(s)
#1
Correct: Tom Bodett
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about recent troubles surrounding Apple iPhone applications, Not My Job about The Jonas Brothers, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: unintended consequences of the stimulus bill?
Notes

During the second panelist round, Mo Rocca commented on hating homemade sweaters and that they are always itchy.

Paula stated during the Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank round that she has never had six correct answers in her life. Paula has answered six correct answers at least twice in 2008, and she answered six correct to get her first win.

2009-02-28

NPR DB ID: 578
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roxanne Roberts
Correct: Paul Provenza
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about those who found success because of the recession, Not My Job about Barbie's 50th birthday, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: how will the Republicans respond to next year's State of the Union address?
Notes

Peter stated that they received letters complaining about Mo Rocca's statement on the previous week's show about all homemade sweaters being itchy. Mo Rocca phoned in with an "apology".

2009-03-07

NPR DB ID: 579
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roxanne Roberts
Correct: Roxanne Roberts
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about television doing something good for the world, Not My Job about figure skating lingo, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the next scandal to rock reality [ed: un-real] TV.

2009-03-14

NPR DB ID: 580
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Kyrie O'Connor
Correct: Kyrie O'Connor
Description
Carlbook, Bluff the Listener about unique ways people are pushing health food, Not My Job about Iceland as written by Michael Lewis in a recent issue of Vanity Fair, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: how will Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner inspire confidence in the nation's economy?

2009-03-21

NPR DB ID: 581
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Tom Bodett
Correct: Tom Bodett
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about singers haunted by their own songs, Not My Job about corrupt Pennsylvania Senator Vincent Fumo, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: who will be the next scapegoat after beating on AIG?

2009-03-28

NPR DB ID: 582
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Amy Dickinson
Correct: Amy Dickinson
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about surprising bargains in the news, Not My Job about animal breeding, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the hot topic at the next White House online Town Hall meeting?

2009-04-04

NPR DB ID: 583
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Correct: Paula Poundstone
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about green technology, Not My Job about high tech toilets from Japan, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the next world-changing, earth-shattering invention?
Notes

Paula Poundstone is in rare form, particularly when she goes against Michael Pollan about Ring Dings and when Mo Rocca was flailing around to come up with an answer. Also, Paula finds her groove with questions about space exploration.

2009-04-11

NPR DB ID: 584
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Correct: Mo Rocca
Description
Carl Vision, Bluff the Listener about things getting unexpected second chances, Not My Job about Carvel ice cream, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what lasting effect will President Obama's visit have on Europe?
Notes

The saga of Mo Rocca's comments about knitted sweaters being itchy seems to have come to a close in that several knitters have brought Mo homemade kitten items to wear after the show. The video of Mo Rocca receiving those items can be viewed at: http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=103491093

2009-04-18

NPR DB ID: 585
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Tom Bodett
Correct: Tom Bodett
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about new pioneers in sports, Not My Job about tofu, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the first trick learned by the Obama's family dog, Bo?

2009-04-25

NPR DB ID: 586
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roy Blount, Jr.
Correct: Roy Blount, Jr.
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about news that are perfect for daytime TV, Not My Job about the Guinness Brewing Company, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be President Barack Obama's next embarrassing gesture?
Notes

So much for getting Carl Kasell's voice (or Carl singing "Danny Boy" off-key) on my voice mail... on my birthday! Thank you for trying Monica.

2009-05-02

NPR DB ID: 587
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Charlie Pierce
Correct: Charlie Pierce
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about something that the Farmer's Almanac forgot, Not My Job about the original wolverines, Who's Carl This Time? Round II, Panelist Predictions: what will be the big story out of President Obama's next 100 days?

2009-05-09

NPR DB ID: 588
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Paul Provenza
Correct: Paul Provenza
Description
Ask Carl, Bluff the Listener about changes being made at Disneyland, Not My Job about William Shatner, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the premise of the next big prequel?

2009-05-16

NPR DB ID: 589
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Correct: Mo Rocca
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about big-box retailers in uncomfortable situations, Not My Job about utopians whose ideal communities did not work out quite right, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the next mishap to be caused by the wind?

2009-05-23

Best Of NPR DB ID: 590
Scorekeeper
Description
Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! featuring several Not My Job divas

2009-05-30

NPR DB ID: 591
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Charlie Pierce
Correct: Charlie Pierce
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about plans that are missing crucial pieces of logic, Not My Job about the Skull and Bones secret society, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be some shocking revelations to come out from Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearing?

2009-06-06

NPR DB ID: 592
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Julia Sweeney
Correct: Paula Poundstone
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about teenage rebellion, Not My Job about celebrating the 25th anniversary of the video game, Tetris, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the first official act of the next leader of North Korea?
Notes

Julia Sweeney joins the team of Wait Wait panelists.

2009-06-13

NPR DB ID: 593
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Paul Provenza
Correct: Amy Dickinson
Description
Summer Sequel Game, Bluff the Listener about present problems solved by the past, Not My Job about self-styled big things about people, Who's Carl This Time?, Panelist Predictions: what hidden gems will be found in the new health care package?

2009-06-20

NPR DB ID: 594
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Kyrie O'Connor
Correct: Roy Blount, Jr.
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about less than awesome honors, Not My Job about odd behaviors of Supreme Court Justices, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be President Barack Obama's next exhibition of dominant male behavior?

2009-06-27

NPR DB ID: 595
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Tom Bodett
Correct: Adam Felber
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about unlikely attempts at forming a union, Not My Job about a butcher named Dario Cecchini, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the next great euphemism?

2009-07-04

Repeat: 2005-11-26 NPR DB ID: 596
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roxanne Roberts
Correct: Charlie Pierce
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about strange proposals for living history museums, Not My Job about the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the most important 21st century invention?

2009-07-11

NPR DB ID: 597
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Adam Felber
Correct: Paula Poundstone
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about things lost and found, Not My Job about the beloved confection, Necco wafers, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will to-be former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin do next?
Notes

Adam Felber entered the Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank round with 6 points!

2009-07-18

NPR DB ID: 598
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roy Blount, Jr.
Correct: Roxanne Roberts
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about testing in the workplace, Not My Job about unusual minor league baseball game promotions, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will Sonia Sotomayor reveal once she is confirmed?

2009-07-25

NPR DB ID: 599
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Mo Rocca
Correct: Mo Rocca
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about playing it safe, Not My Job about the late Walter Cronkite, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be found when people look closer at the newly restored moon landing footage?
Notes

Another Mo golden quote, "Preparation H on Uranus."

2009-08-01

NPR DB ID: 600
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: P.J. O'Rourke
Correct: P.J. O'Rourke
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about fighting pollution, Not My Job about McDonald's Happy Meal, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the theme of the next White House summit?
Notes

Peter had a Freudian slip when he said "The Dong Show" instead of "The Gong Show" when wrapping up the Not My Job round, hilarity ensued.

2009-08-08

NPR DB ID: 601
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Tom Bodett
Correct: Tom Bodett
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about unexpected or unlikely moral support, Not My Job about conspiracies and conspiracy theories, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be Bill Clinton's next mission, after returning two journalists back home from North Korea?

2009-08-15

NPR DB ID: 602
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Amy Dickinson
Correct: Amy Dickinson
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about inexpensive summer vacations, Not My Job about the original Woodstock music festival, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the first law that will be passed by Congress when they come back from recess?

2009-08-22

Best Of NPR DB ID: 603
Scorekeeper
Panelists
  • Multiple Panelists
Description
Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, featuring great animal-inspired moments

2009-08-29

Best Of NPR DB ID: 604
Scorekeeper
Description
Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, featuring favorite moments as requested by listeners
Notes

Paula Poundstone seems to be involved with most of the highlighted moments.

2009-09-05

NPR DB ID: 605
Scorekeeper
Guest: Korva Coleman
Panelists
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roxanne Roberts
Correct: Adam Felber
Description
Who's Korva This Time?, Bluff the Listener about neighborly feuds, Not My Job about walking, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will President Obama announce in his address to Congress in regards to health care?

2009-09-12

NPR DB ID: 606
Scorekeeper
Guest: Korva Coleman
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Kyrie O'Connor
Correct: Kyrie O'Connor
Description
Who's Korva This Time?, Bluff the Listener about unusual cries for help, Not My Job about wax museums, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the next breach of decorum within the halls of the US Congress?

2009-09-19

NPR DB ID: 607
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Mo Rocca
Correct: Mo Rocca
Description
Who's Corey This Time?, Bluff the Listener about explaining the unexplainable, Not My Job about the sport of bowling, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be Kanye West's next controversy?

2009-09-26

NPR DB ID: 608
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Tom Bodett
Correct: Tom Bodett
Description
Who's Carl This time?, Bluff the Listener about innovative ways to attract tourists, Not My Job about Oprah Winfrey, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: What will Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi do next after his debut at the United Nations?
Notes

Peter had to apologize about mixing up which came first in the previous show, the Slanket or the Snuggie.

Peter Sagal said that 3 meters is close to 12 feet in amazement of Tom's lucky guess in answering the last Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank question. 3 meters is actually close to 10 feet, whereas 4 meters would be closer to 12 feet. I know, I am being a bit pedantic.

2009-10-03

NPR DB ID: 609
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Kyrie O'Connor
Correct: Kyrie O'Connor
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about courtroom mishaps, Not My Job about International Blasphemy Day, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be revealed in Sarah Palin's memoir?
Notes

This episode is sponsored by the letters: W, T and F.

One of P.J. O'Rourke's panelist question and answer is identical to one that guest host Luke Burbank asked panelist Aamer Haleem (2006-08-12), regarding hungry men preferring "generous sized young lady". Both instances made references to Bill Clinton's scandal with Monica Lewinsky, but did not lead to any comments about such women carrying trays of food this time around.

2009-10-10

NPR DB ID: 610
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Charlie Pierce
Correct: Charlie Pierce
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about journalism job openings, Not My Job about the history of the Nobel prizes, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: how will Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor make her mark on the Supreme Court?

2009-10-17

NPR DB ID: 611
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roy Blount, Jr.
Correct: Roy Blount, Jr.
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about help from the Brady Bunch, Not My Job about Catholic Church saints, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be this season's big holiday gift?
Notes

The second limerick during the Listener Limerick Challenge called the two slashes in a URL "backslashes". Technically, the two slashes in a URI/URL are actually forward slashes.

While Mo Rocca was trying to come up with an answer for Mo's last Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank question for the round, Peter interrupted Mo and told Faith Salie that "this might go on for a while".

2009-10-24

NPR DB ID: 612
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Not My Job about Florence Foster Jenkins, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the next story to take over cable news?

2009-10-31

NPR DB ID: 613
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Julia Sweeney
Correct: Luke Burbank
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about getting what you want and the consequences thereafter, Not My Job about nice and cuddly Disney movies, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: after President Obama plays a round of golf with a woman, what will be the President's next show he's inclusive of the fairer sex?
Notes

Luke Burbank returns!!!

During the second panelist round, while Peter was asking Julia Sweeney's second question of the round, Julia yelled out "No! Don't ask me a sports thing!".

2009-11-07

NPR DB ID: 614
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roxanne Roberts
Correct: Mo Rocca
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about adopting to the modern Christmas, Not My Job about safety measures, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what surprise will be found in the next stimulus program report?

2009-11-14

NPR DB ID: 615
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Kyrie O'Connor
Correct: Kyrie O'Connor
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about new methods of fundraising, Not My Job about the Osmonds, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will Lou Dobbs do next, after leaving CNN?
Notes

Both Rufus Wainwright and his father, Loudon Wainwright III, (who was the Not My Job guest for the 2014-09-06 show), answered two Not My Job questions correctly.

2009-11-21

NPR DB ID: 616
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Roy Blount, Jr.
Correct: Paula Poundstone
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about far-flung fantasies becoming reality, Not My Job about Asian idioms, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the name of Sarah Palin's next book?
Notes

Another instance where all of the correct answers for the Not My Job round is the second answer.

Paula Poundstone got eight questions correct in the Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank round, including the last question which Carl said her answer was close enough.

2009-11-28

Best Of NPR DB ID: 617
Scorekeeper
Description
Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! featuring several manly Not My Job guests

2009-12-05

NPR DB ID: 618
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: P.J. O'Rourke
Correct: P.J. O'Rourke
Description
Carl Kasell's Countdown, Bluff the Listener about sports scandals that do not involve Tiger Woods, Not My Job about Dubai, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: where will the White House party crashers show up next?

2009-12-12

NPR DB ID: 619
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Amy Dickinson
Correct: Amy Dickinson
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about presents that did not included needed instructions, Not My Job about the telegraph, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what climate change solution will emerge from the Climate Summit in Copenhagen?
Notes

During the first panelist round, there were puns made re: Three Wise Men and their gifts.

2009-12-19

NPR DB ID: 620
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Correct: Tom Bodett
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about evolutionary roots of our modern-day behaviors, Not My Job about gadgets that you do not want in your gift stockings, Listener Limerick Challenge, Panelist Predictions: who will be Time Magazine Person of the Year for 2010?
Notes

Andy Williams had answered one of the Not My Job with "eyeball massager", which was not the correct answer as the show's staff had made it up. In actuality, the SkyMall catalog in fact had and sold an eyeball massager, which which Peter and Carl corrected on the 2010-01-09 show. The score now reflects the two correct answers Andy Williams had (to which, Carl proclaimed that the listener had won Carl's voice on the listener's answering machine).

2009-12-26

NPR DB ID: 621
Scorekeeper
Panelists
Guests
Bluff(s)
#1
Chosen: Adam Felber
Correct: Adam Felber
Description
Who's Carl This Time?, Bluff the Listener about family feuds, Not My Job about modern childbirth, Listener Limericks Challenge, Panelist Predictions: what will be the next parenting trend that will sweep the nation?