THIS is NPR - Wait Wait.. Don't Tell Me!

Since i have to brave rush hour almost every day on my way to Wolf Trap, I've come to appreciate public radio a lot more. It's a great way to stay updated with the events of the world and pass the time while you're yelling at other drivers. But Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me has been one of my favorite shows for years. I remember driving home from church every Sunday and listening to lightening fill in the blank or the limericks. So you can imagine it was a real treat finally seeing the broadcast live with all my favorite people like Peter Sagal, Bill Kurtis, and Paula Poundstone! Wait Wait was started in early 1998 and quickly became one of the most popular NPR broadcasts around. Sagal even said that the broadcast on Thursday will be heard by over 5 million people over the weekend. The broadcast consists of a panel of people commenting on national and international news while also hosting interviews and games. They usually broadcast from the Chase Bank Auditorium in Chicago but they also travel around the US to theaters like Wolf Trap.

The show is definitely just as good live as it is on the radio! Despite some technical difficulties early on, Sagal and company have the segment down pat and everything flowed very smoothly. I think what makes the broadcast stand out is that the panelists all have done things other than radio and even when they're live, they know how to command an audience and bounce off one another. The person interviewed was Charlie Bolden, the administrator of NASA. While yes there were some funny moments of his talk, he really got me excited about NASA again and even promised that humans would be going to the moon by the 2030's! The Wait Wait crew always does a great job of bringing even some of their most famous interviewees down to earth and Bolden really seemed relaxed and happy to be there. Along with the interview, the panelists had lots to talk about since we were in the midst of the Republican National Convention. After the show, Sagal and the panel did a Q&A session which I thought was a great gesture for the fans, especially in a theater this big. I was really impressed with their performance and it was a very easy show to usher at. the weather held up just fine and it was a great night!

My favorite part was definitely the interview with Boldon. Amidst all the talk about the RNC and the sad political situation, it's nice to know that NASA is at least in good hands with Bolden. He has a clear vision of the future and it was reassuring seeing that NASA has no interest in being complacent. Also shout out to Carl Kasell for the surprise guest appearance in the audience!

As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC