BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR

Subject: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Art Thieme
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 11:56 AM

Saturday morning NPR radio shows have been a bright spot in my life these days. I used to enjoy "Car Talk", but lately when I hear the brothers snorting and laughing too loud and often at their lame jokes I just can take only about fifteen minutes of the show. I just am completely tired of Garrison Keillor and have been for more than a decade. Michael Feldman never did do it for me---even when he was popular early in his career on Wisconsin Public Radio broadcasting live from that club in Madison, WI , Club DeWash where Peter and Lu Berryman always played.

But the show called WAIT, WAIT DON'T TELL ME is the freshest thing on the air. Very funny (usually). Host, Peter Sagle, keeps a great pace and is just on top of the action all the time. He always seems to have the right (and funny) thing to say. Carl Kastle(?spelling), the NPR newsman, is their great announcer. The rest of the panel is simply great from show to show. And they all bring biting political (and otherwise) humor to the airwaves to these times that are sadly and badly in need of real thinking-person's humor to help us deal with an era that is otherwise truly insane.

Is it just me, or do other folks like this show too???

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 12:16 PM

It grew on us, Art and now we really enjoy it. I'd love to win and have Carl Castle(?) on my home answering machine!!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: JenEllen
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 01:43 PM

Yeah, Art. It isn't played on our local NPR (yet), but I happened to catch a broadcast last fall on a drive to Utah. Giggled for a good hundred miles, and even planned my drive home so I'd be in the same area at the same time to catch the next weeks show. It's that good.
~Jen

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 01:45 PM

I listen to it regularly. That, and "Says You."

I'm not actually tired of Garrison Keillor. I usually enjoy PHC when I listen to it, but I find I haven't been listening all that much lately. Two hours is a big chunk out of the day.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Merritt
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 02:31 PM

Asuntos del savor no se puede disputar.

In a way I'm glad to hear that someone likes WWDTM because I've been absolutely mystified as to why it lasted more than a couple of weeks.

I've tried several times to listen to this show and find it as unfunny and empty as anything I've heard on radio, public or otherwise. I rarely find the jokes funny. The host and others apparently agree because they often keep "laughing" long after the humor's left the room. The quiz questions asked are often obvious. And my idea of winning something would not involve Carl Castle leaving a voice-mail message for me....and, well, I'm just mystified.

Everybody has their preferences, but I'd like to see NPR rename the show "For God's Sake, I'm Begging You, Please Don't Tell Me." Having now heard that some folks like it tho', I will not continue to recommend to my local affiliate that they drop it; NPR has plenty of programs I do like.

- Merritt

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 02:43 PM

Sorry just a little thread creep, but since you brought up Garrison Keillor, I will be seeing him live in about 3 hours! He is doing a live broadcast from The John Glas Fieldhouse, at Bemidji State University, Minnesota. I'm on my way over there in about an hour. Listen in! He is having Rick Scaggs as one of the bands. Anyway I am excited to go, and will fill you all in on the show on my return.
Peace, Rustic

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: open mike
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 04:18 PM

i do think that carl castle was an announcer on a radio show in omaha ne
i think it was w.o.w. radio--it seems i've beebn hearing his vopice all my life--can this be? waking up with carl castle for years....
recently the Club Passim did that same phone announcement
premium thing for an auction with the prize being Greg Brown's
voice on the answering maching of the winner. (I won!!)

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 04:30 PM

Kewl! I'd love to have Greg Browne...can you imagine he answers and breaks out into I don't wanna have a nice day...!**bg**

Have fun, RR!!

Did anyone catch the old rock and roll reviewer they had on, her last name was Scott and she is 83, just retired last year, but still goes to concerts?! I mean rock concerts...she's just been to Bon Jovi and sees Pearl Jam next week. I wanna be like her when I grow up!!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 04:47 PM

Yeah, I did. And she got all three of the questions right. I loved the part where she said that Bob Dylan was supposed to have dedicated a song to her, but she didn't know it because he's kind of a mush-mouth and she couldn't tell what he was saying.

"Rent-a-sheep???"

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 04:49 PM

Yeah, that was great, wasn't it, Don!! What an inspiration!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: NicoleC
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 05:07 PM

I've always wondered if Carl was a distant relative. With that southern hint in his voice, he sure does sound like he's from Virginia.

So I looked up his bio. He spells his name Kasell, and it turns out he's from NC. So he's probably a member of that *other* German Castle family in the area. Hmpf.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 08:54 PM

I am with Merrit....the show bores me to tears. After a few weeks, you know the jokes and routine and there is just no POINT to shallow questions about the stereotyped version of the 'news'.

It is the Reader's Digest of 'quiz' shows, and relies on the concept that you GET most of your news from headlines and sound bytes.

(I also saw an old Marx Brothers movie a couple days ago, and was surprised at myself for thinking it silly, dumb and poorly planned. Maybe I am just getting too picky in my old age..*grin*)

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 11:38 PM

I'm tellin' ya, it grows on ya. I hated it at first, then after many trial runs where I insisted we turn it off, it just hit me and I've liked it ever since. Not to the point where I have to listen, but if it's on, it's okay. I also like the fact that they had on the guy who wroite Bush's brain - Carl Rove, the man behind etc. Sorry can't remember the whole title. Or, was he on the earlier show with Michael Feldman, Whaddaya Know?

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Art Thieme
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 12:12 AM

I guess I'm just saying that we've had such a proliferation of political correctness that all the great humorous topics we used to have are passe now. There was real intellect to Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl and Lord Buckley-----but their topics---the stuff that was fair game half a century ago---would get you in trouble now. But at least two or three times a show, W.W.D.T.M. pushes the envelope a little bit. And that is rather refreshing. Still, you can just hear them hold back when they start to go over some invisible line. But maybe this war and Bush's so-called National Security measures have intimidated us.

There was an old joke that went something like,

"How many feminists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"

The angry answer was: "THAT'S NOT FUNNY !!!!!!!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 04:36 AM

I love the program--they make the players reach, and they assume you've been paying attention to what's going on in the world. But they also convey enough nonsense to make it clear that not all that is "news" is equally important, making the segment that asks the contestant to figure out which one of three outlandish stories is true a real treat to listen to.

I also like the fact that they didn't ditch Paula Poundstone as a panelist when all of her difficulties occurred last year. That shows real character.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Mrrzy
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 11:48 AM

Great show, but you really have to watch the news to enjoy it. Or at least, I find it much more enjoyable when I've been watching the news...

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 12:08 PM

I enjoy the show, when I get the chance, as well.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 09:37 PM

I give a two thumbs up for the show as well. I especially like the bit where the caller has to tell truth from fiction. If the panelists make up their own stories (probably not) they sure are creative about it. Probably stafdf writers do those bits.The only thing I sometimes have a problem with is they talk tooo fast for me. At least for these Cherokee/Hillbilly ears.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: JenEllen
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 10:14 AM

Art, that's NOT funny....(*g*)

Most of the appeal for me was the novelty. The premise is okay, but the content would probably be pretty predictable over time. However, my only other radio choice at the time was an equally predictable Top40 and CountryPlastique, and they are the kind of predictability that forces people to drive into concrete medians. It's all about safety, y'all.

~J

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 05:58 PM

I don't know about you all, but when NPR cancelled it's regular programing for All War All the Time I about went nuts. Commercial music just doesn't appeal to me. I can't get the jazz and classical stations on my home radio and I refuse to watch TV coverage. Christian stations came blaring through loud and clear. There was some relief though with another NPR station that didn't change it's music format. And a local AM station plays old time, bluegrass, and Texas Swing music on Sunday. I was glad to get my programs back.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Carly
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 06:25 PM

No one show can be everything to everybody, but I'm with you, Art, I enjoy the wordplay and the nonsense; I feel as though I'm listening to people I'd like to meet.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 07:04 PM

Sorry Art, thread creep-
I had a great time at the show. I found it to be a lot funnier live, maybe because of audience participation, maybe because it was just a funny show and I could relate, being it was about the area where I live.
Before we went on air Garrison sang a couple of tunes and the Shoe Band played, we all stood for the Bemidji Chamber Singers singing, the National Anthem.
The set was an old, gray farmhouse, and when he sat down to do Lake Wobegone the light came on in the house. He sat out front of the house wearing a tux with bright red socks and black tennis shoes with wide bright white laces.
We did a gospel sing-along right before the break and closing of the show, I think it was called Lord, It's a Needing Time ?
He also had the marching band from Bemidji, Ricky Skaggs did, Black-eyed Sue, A Simple Life, Goin' to the Ceili and Bill Monroe's Uncle Pen.
The Concordia Language Villages did a skit that I thought was pretty fun and I enjoyed hearing and seeing the Shoe Band play.
Thanks Art for a place to post this! Peace. Rustic

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Art Thieme
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 07:48 PM

Rustic,

I'm with you. I only used to enjoy my old NPR radio show when I was the host. They paid such a piddling amount that I couldn't be there every week. (I had to travel and do gigs to make a living.) So we alternated hosts. Never liked that show when I wasn't there !

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Melani
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 11:05 PM

We love it!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: MAG
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 12:14 AM

Ah, NPR. I listen all the time; otherwise I'd go stir-crazy.

Sometimees the laughter is a little too forced on WWDTM but the News is definitely to laugh at, and they do a good job. I loved the time when the issue wassome Govt Head saying we don't buy foreign governments, and the press corps laughed. (That was the answer: what did the press corps do when he said ...)

I usually check out PHC to see who the guests are and then act accordingly. I used to really like the news from L.W. but too much of it is recycled these days; he takes little pieces of old stories and reworks them.

Other shows I usually like are too ful of war news these days; I can only stand so much before that recycles too. Except for the BBC. That is a must.

When all American sources say our forces have done precision pinpoint bombing of military targets, and you turn on the Beeb and they say, American forces are carpet-bombing Baghdad I get a real deja vu -- I was a student in Europe 1968-69, and hearing what the rest of the world thought of the American Viet Nam adventure was life-changing. Staying in hostels with Canadians who all put big maple leaves on their backpacks so they wouldn't be taken for Americans. Dust off the chords to them ol' songs, indeed ...

(Sorry for the thread creep, Art ...)

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 10:19 AM

I actually stopped by Radio Shack yesterday to take a look at shortwave radios. The prices for the decent radios stifled my interest in first-hand accounts emanating from other parts of the world--I'll keep listening to the BBC on NPR. I always keep in mind that the British did a lot of the partitioning that has contributed to these troubles--there is no truly objective source of news. You have to listen to several sources and decide what is most credible. At least NPR allows us to do that.

There are topics that are clearly "hands off" for the folks at "Wait Wait," but not to such a degree that they are stifled in their search for interesting or amusing news. Since war isn't amusing, that's a no-brainer.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Kim C
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 05:44 PM

I love Wait Wait Don't Tell Me!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me' on NPR
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 03:51 PM

I haven't heard the show, yet.

As for PHC. I agree, Art. Although, I have to say that I got bored with in the second year of its original run.

Stephen Lee.