Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Famous People Who Returned Our Calls: Celebrity Highlights from the Oddly Informative News Quiz

by Peter Sagal, Paula Poundstone, Paul Provenza

Each week, two million listeners tune into Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me! to test their knowledge of the week's dumbest news against some of the best and brightest-panelists including author and humorist Roy Blount Jr., author and radio anomaly Tom Bodett, syndicated advice columnist Amy Dickinson ("Ask Amy"), Atlantic Monthly journalist P.J. O'Rourke, Washington Post columnist Roxanne Roberts, and other know-it-alls.

Genres: Humor, Audiobook, Nonfiction

Preloaded Digital Audio Player

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Naksed · Rating 5 out of 5]

With hilarious interviews and trivia games with witty celebrities such as Carrie Fisher, Denis Leary, and Jane Curtin, this audio book compilation of the NPR radio programme Wait, wait, don't tell me, is the perfect antidote to mindnumbing chores or long road trips. Had me laughing out loud the whole way through.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I don't remember how I came about this particular CD, but am happy I did. While I listen to NPR (National Public Radio) from time to time I don't remember ever listening to this actual program. But these audios are taken from NPR and the Chicago Public Radio Group in and around 2008 and 2009.

The premise of the audio is 'famous people who returned our phone calls'. Once the person returned the call then the news group would talk to them for a while, then give them a 3 question quiz. This quiz is about things that are way off that persons radar - such as Japanese toilet technology and things about the Star Wars films.

Some of the various 'famous people' they interviewed were Neil Patrick Harris, Leonard Nimoy, Denis Leary, Stephen Colbert, Jane Curtain. I think the funniest one was the interview with Paula Dean.

I found this audio to be really funny and however I found it, I am happy that I did.

[James Biser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent show. This collection has a few of the finest guests that Wait Wait... has had. It is fun.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published by HighBridge Audio in 2009.
Performed by the guests and cast of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
Duration: 2 and 29 minutes.

If you have not discovered NPR's weekly radio show Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! , then I pity you. This clever show is truly one of the funniest shows on radio or television or just about anywhere and this collection is promoted as a distillation of 12 of the best visits from a very funny crop of celebrity visits.

They truly are all funny. Even the people who I had never heard of like Philippe Petit and Michael Pollan were funny and interesting. Other, more well known personalities (at least to me), like Carrie Fisher (Star Wars), Jane Curtin (Saturday Night Live, 3rd Rock from the Sun) , Neal Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, How I Met Your Mother), and Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek) were as funny or funnier than I expected.

This audiobook focuses on a part of the show - the "Not my job" segment. In this segment a celebrity is asked 3 questions about a topic about which they may not have any particular expertise and if they get 2 of the 3 correct they win a prize for a listener. For example, Leonard Nimoy, who is famed for playing Mr. Spock on Star Trek was asked questions about advice from baby experts like Dr. Benjamin Spock. Fearless tightrope walker Philippe Petit was asked questions about the phobias of certain celebrities.

For me, the funniest moment came when one of the hosts (comedian Paula Poundstone) went after healthy food expert Michael Pollan about Ringdings. Of course, it was all done in fun and this is one truly enjoyable audiobook.

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[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really short and for once, super funny. I really, really enjoyed it.

5 stars

Happy Reading!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, witty, intriguing, and worth the listen!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a confession....
I'm not one for sketch comedy.
While I loved the Monty Python show, I've never been a big SNL fan. My favorite parts of the bits and pieces I've seen of SNL have always been the news satire. I am a huge fan of the Daily Show, so I guess I prefer news satire to sketch comedy.

I mention this because I started to listen to a "best of" Wait, Wait... and it seemed like a litany of "dad jokes".

This, however....
I loved these interviews. They were kind and informative and VERY funny!
I didn't think I could love Leonard Nimoy more than I already do, but his interview on this audiobook proved that wrong.

[Jay French · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of the radio show this is based on, but this collection of "greatest hits" of one of the repeated bits on the show is very good. Always good to hear celebrities answering trivia questions that they by all rights shouldn't know the answers to. Mostly, they really sound like they want to get the questions right, and they often don't. Lots of fun interaction between the panel, the host, and the guest. Enjoyable even for those that don't know the show. I'll try the next Wait Wait CD.

[Patty Marvel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lone problem with this collection is that it's only two-and-a-half hours long. It features celebrities - well, celebrities and a few people you may have heard of - answering questions for the "Not My Job" segment of the show. Hear actor Leonard Nimoy answer questions having to do with DOCTOR Spock, singer Mavis Staples guess about office supplies (Staples, office supplies - get it?) and comfort food queen Paula Dean respond to queries about - I kid you not - tofu.

Get this from your local library ASAP, and then tune into the NPR show every Saturday for more silliness.

[Margot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick listen. I stumbled onto it from Michael Pollan's bibliography, but there are a ton of other great celebrity guests on here as well, including Carrie Fisher (Star Wars), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), and Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report).

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ageless, timeless, and always a delight -- and a riot -- to listen to this classic NPR treat (20 years old this year! the news quiz is nearly of drinking age!). It doesn't matter if the show is months, or even years, old because the panel, guests, host, and "scorekeeper" are entertaining and interesting regardless of the topic. The "cast" of Wait, wait... is so obviously having a great time and their laughter is infectious, even when the news is historical. It's about the people, and human nature never really changes.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of some of the best interviews from NPR's show, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me. Perfect if you are looking for something to make you laugh aloud. It features an eclectic group of guests including Paula Dean, Michael Pollan, Neil Patrick Harris, and more. Very funny - perfect for a road trip with other friends.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this podcast and the compilations. Thanks to David for getting me into this! :)

[Beckiezra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant to listen to, a bit more politically biased than I prefer in my entertainment.

[Emme Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good time waster and space filler. I did not love it at all.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, short interviews, too short by far.

[Stacy]

Funny, as expected!

[Laura Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hilarious audiobook that will keep you entertained in the car. From Leonard Nemoy to Paula Deen to Neil Patrick Harris, you will not stop laughing. Highly recommend!!!

[Ligaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this NPR quiz show, so it only follows that I really liked this as well! I only wish that it was a longer listen.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled across this on the virtual library shelf and thought it would be an easy, enjoyable listen. I was correct! Got me listening to Mavis Staples again too.

[Janet Woodward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fun and easy read.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and fun.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of my my fave radio program ever! Still a highlight of my Saturday mornings. Hilarious. But the brilliant Carrie Fisher segment--made me grieve her all over again. What a wit she had!

[Robbin Golden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and absurd at the same time. I really enjoyed listening to this!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been so long since I listened the first time that this felt new to me. It was like a time capsule, with people who have since been canceled (Paula Deen), people whose star has ascended (Stephen Colbert), SF icons who are no longer with us (Leonard Nimoy, Carrie Fisher), and people you barely remember (the guy who walked a tightrope between the Twin Towers).

Highlights: the entirety of the Nimoy interview (with Sagal geeking out hard), and Paula Poundstone's inspirational defense of the Ring Ding from natural food proponent Michael Pollan.

Could someone volunteer to call me every weekend to remind me to listen to this show?

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy listening to this show on NPR, but don't listen to it as often as I'd like, so I was thrilled to find this audio CD at my local library so I cold listen to it in my car anytime.

I know that I could stream the podcasts, but I haven't done that yet on my phone, just on my home computer.

In any case, it was an entertaining collection of interviews and quizzes with celebrity guests, and I was a bit surprised at how many did not win the 'prize' for the selected listener.