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Show Details: 2026

2026-01-03

Best Of NPR DB ID: 1463
Scorekeeper That big ball in Times Square doesn't drop until it hears me count down from ten Bill Kurtis
Description

Best Of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by revisiting of all the fun from 2025

Notes

Tom Papa was the guest host for the 2025-08-09 show with Pedro Pascal as the Not My Job guest.

The Bluff the Listener segment came from the show that aired on 2025-03-22.

Negin Farsad was the guest host for the 2025-06-14 show with Chris Perfetti as the Not My Job guest.

Alzo Slade was the guest scorekeeper for the 2025-08-02 show with Heather Gay as the Not My Job guest.

As of 2026-01-10, this episode has not made it on to the podcast feeds. The full show audio is available on the episode's page on NPR.org.

2026-01-10

NPR DB ID: 1464
Scorekeeper I'm the voice so rich, it makes you sign a pre-nup Bill Kurtis
Panelists
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
Description

Who's Bill This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about an unlikely hero saving lives; Not My Job about the New Orleans Saints; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: now that we have a new food pyramid, what will be the next new food to go on sale?

Notes

Delroy Lindo asked the audience for help on the second Not My Job question. The audience yelled out "B", which Delroy chose as his answer and it was the correct answer.

While explaining the story behind the second limerick for Listener Limerick Challenge, Peter Sagal had a verbal slip by saying "Dick and Chain" instead of "Dick and Jane".

2026-01-17

NPR DB ID: 1465
Scorekeeper I'm the voice so smooth, lullabies listen to me to fall asleep Bill Kurtis
Panelists
  • Rank: First: Luke Burbank Total: 12
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 5
  • Rank: Second: Hari Kondabolu Total: 11
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 4
  • Rank: Third: Rachel Coster Total: 10
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 4
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Chosen Rachel Coster
Correct Rachel Coster
Description

Who's Bill This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about a celebrity encounter; Not My Job about the Consumer Electronics Show; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what we'll find when we travel back to the Moon

2026-01-24

NPR DB ID: 1466
Scorekeeper My voice is the only set of pipes in America that's not freezing this weekend Bill Kurtis
Panelists
  • Rank: First: Adam Burke Total: 13
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 5
  • Rank: Second: Mo Rocca Total: 12
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 5
  • Rank: Third: Shantira Jackson Total: 8
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 3
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Chosen Mo Rocca
Correct Mo Rocca
Description

Who's Bill This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about innovation in stadiums; Not My Job about the biggest parties ever; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: now that they can use tools, what'll be the next surprising thing cows do?

2026-01-31

NPR DB ID: 1467
Scorekeeper It's cold out there. But, don't worry, I'm still hot Bill Kurtis
Panelists
  • Rank: First: Negin Farsad Total: 15
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 6
  • Rank: Second Tied: Peter Grosz Total: 10
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 4
  • Rank: Second Tied: Annie Rauwerda Total: 10
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 4
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Chosen Peter Grosz
Correct Negin Farsad
Description

Who's Bill This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about a surprising new international tourist attraction; Not My Job about Boston, Massachusetts; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: now that we know trees can explode, what will trees do next?

2026-02-07

NPR DB ID: 1468
Scorekeeper I'm the reason everybody's throwing Super Bill parties this weekend Bill Kurtis
Panelists
  • Rank: First: Josh Gondelman Total: 15
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 6
  • Rank: Second: Tig Notaro Total: 13
    Lightning Start: 1 Correct: 6
  • Rank: Third: Tom Bodett Total: 11
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 4
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Correct Josh Gondelman
Description

Who's Bill This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about a secret revealed in the news; Not My Job about Skittles; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In the Blank; Panelist Predictions: what Super Bowl commercial we'll all be talking about next week?

Notes

Another instance where all three choices for the third Not My Job question were correct.

2026-02-14

NPR DB ID: 1469
Host Guest: Negin Farsad
Scorekeeper Hey there, Cupid. Put down that arrow and let me voice pierce some hearts Bill Kurtis
Panelists
  • Rank: First: Paula Poundstone Total: 13
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 5
  • Rank: Second: Beth Stelling Total: 12
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 5
  • Rank: Third: Tom Papa Total: 11
    Lightning Start: 1 Correct: 5
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
Description

Who's Bill This TIme?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about a news story inspired by a movie; Not My Job about K-Mart; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be the big story out of the final week of the Olympics?

2026-02-21

Best Of NPR DB ID: 1470
Host Guest: Negin Farsad
Scorekeeper I'm the man who does quadruple axels with my voice Bill Kurtis
Description

Best Of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! where we give out our own Olympic gold medals to some of our favorite guests and segments of the past year

Notes

Alzo Slade was the guest scorekeeper for the 2025-11-08 show with Roy Choi as the Not My Job guest and the included Bluff the Listener segment.

The first portion of the included Panel Questions segment was from the 2026-01-10 show. The second and third portions were from the 2025-12-20 with additional content that was cut for time or other reasons.

2026-03-07

NPR DB ID: 1472
Scorekeeper I'm the voice so powerful, I command the clocks to spring forward Bill Kurtis
Panelists
  • Rank: First: Hari Kondabolu Total: 17
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 7
  • Rank: Second: Negin Farsad Total: 12
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 5
  • Rank: Third: Luke Burbank Total: 11
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 4
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Chosen Luke Burbank
Correct Luke Burbank
Description

Who's Bill This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about a time out in the news; Not My Job about confetti; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: after looksmaxxing, what will be next big internet beauty trend?

Notes

When the Bluff the Listener contestant said that they were from Indiana, Peter Sagal said that he said that she didn't see the listener when they taped in Bloomington, Indiana the prior week. The contestant said that they asked Peter a question during the Q&A session after the taping finished.

When Peter listed the teams that Jason Benetti had been announcers for, someone booed after the Detroit Tigers were mentioned. Jason said that they were saying "Luke". This is in reference to the audience chanting "Luke", which sounds like they are booing Luke Burbank. Of course, people could be booing as well not knowing the lore behind the "Luke" chant.

2026-03-14

NPR DB ID: 1473
Scorekeeper I'm Alzo Slade filling in for Bill Kurtis, who flew to LA to accept the Oscar for Best Pipes Guest: Alzo Slade
Panelists
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Chosen Adam Felber
Correct Adam Felber
Description

Who's Alzo This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about something 30 years in the making; Not My Job about people who should have stayed quiet; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be the big surprise at this year's Oscar ceremony?

Notes

Joyelle Nicole Johnson answered her third Lightning Fill In The Blank question with "Pill". Peter Sagal responded with "Sure, what the hell" and gave Joyelle credit for her answer.

2026-03-21

NPR DB ID: 1474
Scorekeeper I'm the voice so hot, the mic could drop itself Bill Kurtis
Panelists
  • Rank: First: Paula Poundstone Total: 16
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 7
  • Rank: Second: Shane Torres Total: 15
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 6
  • Rank: Third: Alonzo Bodden Total: 11
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 4
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Chosen Alonzo Bodden
Description

Who's Bill This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about someone's first trip to New York City; Not My Job about wedding cakes; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: now that his identity has been revealed, what will Banksy do next?

Notes

Aasif Mandvi initially chose "B" for the third Not My Job question. The audience started shouting out "C" and Aasif switched his answer to "C". "C" was the correct answer.

During Lightning Fill In The Blank, Alonzo Bodden mentioned that his mind was slightly pre-occupied by NCAA's March Madness. The third Lightning question that Shane Torres was about March Madness.

2026-03-28

NPR DB ID: 1475
Scorekeeper I'm Alzo Slade, the they they bring in when Bill Kurtis is stuck in the TSA line back home Guest: Alzo Slade
Panelists
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Chosen Adam Burke
Description

Who's Alzo This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about a hot new dining destination; Not My Job about melees; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: after the Bachelorette, what will be the next TV series to get cancelled at the last minute?

Notes

After Alzo Slade said that Joyelle Nicole Johnson answered five of her Lightning Fill In The Blank questions correct, Joyelle said, "That's the most I've ever gotten right, Peter!". Joyelle has actually correctly answered six Lightning Fill In The blank questions three times before on the shows that aired on 2024-11-23, 2024-12-14 and 2025-05-03.

When Peter Sagal asked Alzo if Adam Burke did well enough to win, before Alzo could response, someone in the audience audibly said "No".

2026-04-04

NPR DB ID: 1476
Host Guest: Negin Farsad
Scorekeeper Hey, Easter Bunny. Fill your giant ears with my voice Bill Kurtis
Panelists
Not My Job Guest(s)
Description

Who's Bill This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about someone's crazy four day experience; Not My Job about the sitcom "Friends" and the soap opera "Neighbours"; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: after turning up at the Supreme Court, what surprising place where we see Trump next?

Notes

For the first Not My Job question, the audience yelled out what sounded like "C" but Olivia Munn couldn't distinguish if the audience were yelling "B" or "C". Olivia asked them to yell "Banana" for "B" or "Cat" for "C". The audience yelled out "Cat", though Olivia then said that it distinguishing between "Banana" and "Cat" from the stage was difficult. Olivia went with "C", which was the correct answer. The first and third Not My Job questions were about "Friends" and the second question was about "Neighbours".

When Negin Farsad asked how did Peter Grosz did, Bill Kurtis said, "Well, in my 12 years here, we've never had a three-way tie." This was the second time where all three panelists started and ended in a three-way tie, but the first time it happened with Bill as the scorekeeper. The first time all three panelists started and ended in a three-way tie was on the 2003-03-22 show with Carl Kasell as the scorekeeper.

It was also not the first time where all three panelists ended in a three-way tie where Bill was the scorekeeper, but rather the fifth time. The previous four times that it happened with Bill as the scorekeeper were: 2014-09-06, 2015-11-07, 2019-03-09, and 2023-07-22.

2026-04-11

Best Of NPR DB ID: 1477
Scorekeeper I'm the seven-time winner of the Fort Lauderdale Wet Blazer Contest Bill Kurtis
Description

Best Of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! with special guests and favorite moments with the panel from the past year while we're on Spring Break

Notes

Alzo Slade was the guest scorekeeper for the 2025-12-06 show with Andy Richter as the Not My Job guest.

For the second clip included in the Panel Questions segment, Negin Farsad was the guest host for the 2026-04-04 show where the original audio would have come from.

For the third clip included in the Panel Questions segment, the panelists would be Paula Poundstone, Alonzo Bodden and Shane Torres when they were on the 2026-03-21 where the original audio would have come from. The NPR transcripts for this show lists the voices as being Peter Grosz's and Alzo Slade's.

2026-04-18

NPR DB ID: 1478
Scorekeeper I'm the guy they bring in when Bill Kurtis gets busted for claiming Peter as a dependent Guest: Alzo Slade
Panelists
  • Rank: First: Alonzo Bodden Total: 14
    Lightning Start: 4 Correct: 5
  • Rank: Second: Adam Burke Total: 13
    Lightning Start: 3 Correct: 5
  • Rank: Third: Dulcé Sloan Total: 11
    Lightning Start: 5 Correct: 3
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Chosen Dulcé Sloan
Correct Dulcé Sloan
Description

Who's Alzo This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about someone missing a huge opportunity; Not My Job about National Historic Landmarks; The Trump Dump; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: after all the food left behind in fridges, what will be the next reason Airbnb is in the news?

2026-04-25

NPR DB ID: 1479
Host Guest: Tom Papa
Scorekeeper Screw you, seasonal allergies. I'm the voice so fine, even my sneezes sound like music Bill Kurtis
Panelists
  • Rank: First Tied: Shantira Jackson Total: 14
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 6
  • Rank: First Tied: Katie Nolan Total: 14
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 6
  • Rank: Third: Josh Gondelman Total: 8
    Lightning Start: 2 Correct: 3
Not My Job Guest(s)
Bluff
#1
Correct Josh Gondelman
Description

Who's Bill This Time?; Panel Questions; Bluff the Listener about a once in a lifetime job opening; Not My Job about stadium concessions; Panel Questions; Listener Limerick Challenge; Lightning Fill In The Blank; Panelist Predictions: what will be the next thing that robots beat us at?

Notes

For the third Who's Bill This Time? question, the listener answered with "Cooking" but Tom Papa said "Drinking?". Shantira Jackson commented by saying "Cooking. She said cooking.". Tom Papa then said "You said, 'cooking'? Drinking, you're right!".