Wait Wait Don't Tell Me

On a recent trip to Chicago, my wife and I attended a taping of the NPR Quiz Show Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. It's really more of a comedy show with panelists and callers answering questions on the absurdity of the news - the prize is getting Carl Castle's voice on yout anwering machine. I've listened to this show for a while so I jumped at the chance to attend a live taping at the Bank One Auditorium. The taping lasts 2.5 hours on a Thursday night but the show is only an hour on the radio - some of this is due to needing to re-record sections for audio quality and technical glitches. But there is a lot more of the show that just needs to be cut to make the show into an hour. Personally, I wouldn't mind if the show was longer with less polish based on the live taping. After the show, the host and panelists answer questions from the audience which are mostly trivia about the show. For example, someone asked Carl Castle if he would record anything on people's answering machine messages and he said that he draws the line at blatant commercials (and apparently he's been asked). If your in Chicago and have the time, I highly recommend it. The only disappointment was that the guest was NPRs Terry Gross but she was doing the show remotely. The week before they had had Barack Obama on the show and he was live. Also, Richard Roeper (from Ebert & Roeper at the Movies) was supposed to be a panelist but couldn't make it so I guess we will have to attend another taping the next time we are in Chicago.