babbling blue

Being a liberal and a bit of a geek, I am naturally drawn to NPR (National Public Radio). But who actually listens to the radio any more? I don’t. But thanks to the miracle of podcasts, I can get my fix.

And of the numerous quality NPR programs, my favorite is most definitely “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me”. For those of you not as in the know as I, “Wait Wait” is a weekly news quiz show, recorded Thursday night in Chicago and broadcast on the radio on Saturday morning. But of course, as previously mentioned, those of us who have little use for the radio (or Saturday mornings) can get the podcast. (Or we can go to a taping, which I’ve done and plan to do again.)

The show is a perfect combination of comedy and information. It includes a host (Peter Sagal), an announcer (NPR newsman Carl Kassell) and a panel of three minor celebrities that changes from week to week. Frequent guests include Paula Poundstone, (Ho)Mo Rocca, P.J. O’Rourke and Roy Blount, Jr. There are also regular people that call in and participate and usually another celebrity call-in guest. When I was at the taping, it was S. Epatha Merkerson (a.k.a. Lt. VanBuren on “Law & Order”). A couple weeks ago it was Sally Jesse Raphael, who was actually quite funny.

The prize the contestants win if they’re successful in whatever news-related challenge they are presented with is Carl Kassell’s distinctive voice on their answering machine. The panelists compete and get points, but just to have fun.

The latest episode was taped after Cheney’s semi-successful legal-eagle hunting expedition and it’s hilarious. Of course with an event like that, the jokes practically write themselves. But they had some good ones.

Now that you’re done reading this, go download the podcast and listen.

I said “now”.