# List of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! episodes (2023)

The following is a list of episodes of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, NPR's news panel game, that aired during 2023. All episodes, unless otherwise indicated, originate from the Studebaker Theatre at Chicago's Fine Arts Building. Dates indicated are the episodes' original Saturday air dates. Job titles and backgrounds of the guests reflect their status and positions at the time of their appearance.
Also unless otherwise indicated, each episode features Peter Sagal as host and Bill Kurtis as announcer/scorekeeper. Sagal announced on January 28 that he would step away from the show on parental leave (after the birth of his 5th child), but would return to the show the week of March 25.

## Contents

* Top
* January
* February
* March
* April
* May
* June
* July
* August
* September
* October
* November
* December

## January

| Date | Guest | Panelists |
| January 7 | Previously unaired segments, including an interview with actress Mariska Hargitay Encore segments including interviews with actor Sean Hayes, vermiculturist Myles Stubblefield, and comedian Mohammed Amer | Previously unaired segments, including an interview with actress Mariska Hargitay Encore segments including interviews with actor Sean Hayes, vermiculturist Myles Stubblefield, and comedian Mohammed Amer |
| January 14 | Author George Saunders | Emmy Blotnick, Peter Grosz, Paula Poundstone |
| January 21 | U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken | Tom Bodett, Eugene Cordero, Dulcé Sloan |
| January 28 | Actress Natasha Lyonne | Brian Babylon, Negin Farsad, Maz Jobrani |

## February

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| February 4 | Actor/singer Billy Porter | Adam Burke, Helen Hong, Zainab Johnson | Guest host Peter Grosz |
| February 11 | Actress Geena Davis | Alonzo Bodden, Hari Kondabolu, Paula Poundstone | Guest host Tom Papa |
| February 18 | Actress/dancer Rosie Perez | Cristela Alonzo, Negin Farsad, Josh Gondelman | Guest host Alzo Slade |
| February 25 | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode, featuring athletes Mikaela Shiffrin & Ozzie Smith, humorist John Hodgman, entertainers Stephen Colbert, Rob Reiner, & Leonard Nimoy, and astronaut Mae Jemison | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode, featuring athletes Mikaela Shiffrin & Ozzie Smith, humorist John Hodgman, entertainers Stephen Colbert, Rob Reiner, & Leonard Nimoy, and astronaut Mae Jemison | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode, featuring athletes Mikaela Shiffrin & Ozzie Smith, humorist John Hodgman, entertainers Stephen Colbert, Rob Reiner, & Leonard Nimoy, and astronaut Mae Jemison |

## March

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| March 4 | Education activist Malala Yousafzai | Alonzo Bodden, Maeve Higgins, Mo Rocca | Guest host Josh Gondelman |
| March 11 | Actor/comedian Nick Kroll | Amy Dickinson, Peter Grosz, Shane O'Neill | Guest host Negin Farsad |
| March 18 | Actor Sam Waterston | Helen Hong, Tom Papa, Alzo Slade | Guest host Karen Chee |
| March 25 | Political consultant David Axelrod | Jessi Klein, Hari Kondabolu, Paula Poundstone | Show recorded in Tucson, AZ (Centennial Hall) |

## April

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| April 1 | Actress Michelle Rodriguez | Luke Burbank, Zainab Johnson, Matt Rogers | |
| April 8 | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 2, featuring musicians Bonnie Raitt & Duke Fakir, comedian & current Wait Wait panelist Maz Jobrani, actor Ed Helms, and athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, as well as some favorite panelist moments. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 2, featuring musicians Bonnie Raitt & Duke Fakir, comedian & current Wait Wait panelist Maz Jobrani, actor Ed Helms, and athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, as well as some favorite panelist moments. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 2, featuring musicians Bonnie Raitt & Duke Fakir, comedian & current Wait Wait panelist Maz Jobrani, actor Ed Helms, and athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, as well as some favorite panelist moments. |
| April 15 | Beatboxer Kaila Mullady | Alonzo Bodden, Negin Farsad, Shane O'Neill | |
| April 22 | Comedic musician "Weird Al" Yankovic | Tom Bodett, Josh Gondelman, Robby Hoffman | |
| April 29 | Country musician Brad Paisley | Negin Farsad, Maeve Higgins, Faith Salie | Show recorded in Nashville, TN (Tennessee Performing Arts Center) |

## May

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| May 6 | Actor/comedian Ray Romano | Helen Hong, Tom Papa, Matt Rogers | |
| May 13 | Actress/comedienne Gabrielle Dennis | Alonzo Bodden, Adam Felber, Paula Poundstone | Guest host Alzo Slade |
| May 20 | Actress Golda Rosheuvel | Luke Burbank, Adam Burke, Negin Farsad | |
| May 27 | Actor John Goodman | Mo Rocca, Maeve Higgins, Hari Kondabolu | Show recorded in New Orleans, LA (Saenger Theatre) |

## June

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| June 3 | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 3, featuring actor/comedian & former Wait Wait panelist Keegan-Michael Key, actors Regina King & Colin Hanks, musician Bobby McFerrin, and author Susan Orlean. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 3, featuring actor/comedian & former Wait Wait panelist Keegan-Michael Key, actors Regina King & Colin Hanks, musician Bobby McFerrin, and author Susan Orlean. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 3, featuring actor/comedian & former Wait Wait panelist Keegan-Michael Key, actors Regina King & Colin Hanks, musician Bobby McFerrin, and author Susan Orlean. |
| June 10 | Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones | Emmy Blotnick, Skyler Higley, Tom Papa | |
| June 17 | Actor James Marsden | Karen Chee, Adam Felber, Faith Salie | |
| June 24 | Actress Karen Allen | Karen Chee, Roy Blount Jr., Negin Farsad | Show recorded in Lenox, MA (Tanglewood) |

## July

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| July 1 | Author/relationship coach Aleeza Ben Shalom | Brian Babylon, Adam Burke, Roxanne Roberts | |
| July 8 | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 4, featuring actors Mariska Hargitay & George Takei, TV host/author Martha Stewart, musician Vince Gill, and director Greta Gerwig | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 4, featuring actors Mariska Hargitay & George Takei, TV host/author Martha Stewart, musician Vince Gill, and director Greta Gerwig | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 4, featuring actors Mariska Hargitay & George Takei, TV host/author Martha Stewart, musician Vince Gill, and director Greta Gerwig |
| July 15 | Actress/singer Patti LuPone | Emmy Blotnick, Adam Felber, Joyelle Nicole Johnson | |
| July 22 | Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard | Luke Burbank, Paula Poundstone, Helen Hong | Show recorded in Portland, OR (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall) |
| July 29 | Actor/comedian Randall Park | Tom Bodett, Josh Gondelman, Zainab Johnson | Guest host Karen Chee |

## August

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| August 5 | Poet/writer Maggie Smith | Shane O'Neill, Emmy Blotnick, Adam Burke | |
| August 12 | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 5, featuring actors Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, & Mindy Kaling, writer/television personality Ina Garten, musician Donny Osmond, and rocket scientist Tiera Fletcher. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 5, featuring actors Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, & Mindy Kaling, writer/television personality Ina Garten, musician Donny Osmond, and rocket scientist Tiera Fletcher. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 5, featuring actors Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, & Mindy Kaling, writer/television personality Ina Garten, musician Donny Osmond, and rocket scientist Tiera Fletcher. |
| August 19 | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 6, featuring musicians Brian May, Esperanza Spalding, & Cyndi Lauper, actor/comedians Bashir & Sultan Salahuddin, and ballet dancer Misty Copeland. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 6, featuring musicians Brian May, Esperanza Spalding, & Cyndi Lauper, actor/comedians Bashir & Sultan Salahuddin, and ballet dancer Misty Copeland. | On demand replay was delayed or unavailable in some platforms due to music licensing issues |
| August 26 | Musician Mark Ronson | Shantira Jackson, Luke Burbank, Alzo Slade | Guest host Negin Farsad |

## September

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| September 2 | Musician Bob Seger | Roy Blount Jr., Josh Gondelman, Helen Hong | Show recorded in Ann Arbor, MI (Hill Auditorium) |
| September 9 | Marathoner/writer Martinus Evans | Amy Dickinson, Peter Grosz, Maeve Higgins | |
| September 16 | Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton | Josh Gondelman, Faith Salie, Dulcé Sloan | |
| September 23 | Filmmaker John Wilson | Tom Bodett, Eugene Cordero, Joyelle Nicole Johnson | |
| September 30 | Actor/writer Bob Odenkirk and his daughter, visual artist Erin Odenkirk | Karen Chee, Maz Jobrani, Jessi Klein | Show recorded in Los Angeles, CA (Greek Theatre) |

## October

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| October 7 | U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar | Roy Blount Jr., Shantira Jackson, Maz Jobrani |
| October 14 | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 7, featuring previously unaired segments, including an interview with musician/composer Stewart Copeland. Also features encore segments with actors John Goodman & Sam Waterston, and actress/comedian Jenny Slate. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 7, featuring previously unaired segments, including an interview with musician/composer Stewart Copeland. Also features encore segments with actors John Goodman & Sam Waterston, and actress/comedian Jenny Slate. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 7, featuring previously unaired segments, including an interview with musician/composer Stewart Copeland. Also features encore segments with actors John Goodman & Sam Waterston, and actress/comedian Jenny Slate. |
| October 21 | Author James Patterson | Faith Salie, Matt Rogers, Alzo Slade | Show recorded in Hartford, CT (The Bushnell) |
| October 28 | Bernie Taupin, lyricist for Elton John | Paula Poundstone, Alonzo Bodden, Zainab Johnson | Guest host Peter Grosz |

## November

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| November 4 | Ecologist and co-host of Wild Kingdom (2023 revival) Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant | Tom Papa, Maeve Higgins, Adam Burke | Guest scorekeeper Lakshmi Singh |
| November 11 | Actor John Stamos | Tom Bodett, Emmy Blotnick, Skyler Higley | |
| November 18 | CEO of L.L.Bean Stephen Smith | Hari Kondabolu, Maeve Higgins, Roy Blount Jr. | Show recorded in Portland, ME (Merrill Auditorium) |
| November 25 | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 8, featuring actress/comedian Jane Curtin, former chairman/CEO of Google Eric Schmidt, Olympic mogul skier Hannah Kearney, former host of Mythbusters Adam Savage, and former Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 8, featuring actress/comedian Jane Curtin, former chairman/CEO of Google Eric Schmidt, Olympic mogul skier Hannah Kearney, former host of Mythbusters Adam Savage, and former Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw. | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 8, featuring actress/comedian Jane Curtin, former chairman/CEO of Google Eric Schmidt, Olympic mogul skier Hannah Kearney, former host of Mythbusters Adam Savage, and former Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw. |

## December

| Date | Guest | Panelists | Notes |
| December 2 | Actress Dakota Johnson | Alonzo Bodden, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Adam Felber | |
| December 9 | Singer & frontman of The B-52's Fred Schneider | Eugene Cordero, Paula Poundstone, Luke Burbank | Guest host Negin Farsad |
| December 16 | Television personality Bethenny Frankel | Josh Gondelman, Helen Hong, Alzo Slade | Show recorded in New York City, NY (Carnegie Hall) |
| December 23 | Olympic long distance runner Molly Seidel | Shantira Jackson, Bobcat Goldthwait, Roxanne Roberts | |
| December 30 | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 9, featuring previously unaired segments, including an interview with 5th generation lobster fisherman Jacob Knowles Encore segments including interviews with actresses Geena Davis & Karen Allen, and comedic musician "Weird Al" Yankovic | Wait Wait 25th anniversary "best of" episode part 9, featuring previously unaired segments, including an interview with 5th generation lobster fisherman Jacob Knowles Encore segments including interviews with actresses Geena Davis & Karen Allen, and comedic musician "Weird Al" Yankovic | Some stations may altered the segments due to donation drive during the airing. |