__NOTOC__ The following is a list of episodes of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, NPR's news panel game, that aired during 2021. All episodes, unless otherwise indicated, feature host Peter Sagal and announcer/scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, and are produced through the facilities of Wait Wait co-producer WBEZ/Chicago (participants join the show through remote links). Dates indicated are the episodes' original Saturday air dates. Job titles and backgrounds of the guests reflect their status at the time of their appearance.
January Date Guest Panelists NotesJanuary 2"Best of 2020" episode featuring actors Christine Baranski & Doug Jones, disguise expert Jonna Mendez, and adventurer Kellee EdwardsJanuary 9Actress/singer Jane KrakowskiJoel Kim Booster, Amy Dickinson, Maeve HigginsJanuary 16Singer/songwriter Phoebe BridgersLuke Burbank, Negin Farsad, Roxanne RobertsJanuary 23Actor/singer Mandy Patinkin and actor Kathryn Grody"Not My Job: Mandy Patinkin Is Big Into TikTok So We Quiz Him On Clocks," from NPR.org, 1/23/2021Josh Gondelman, Helen Hong, Mo RoccaGuest announcer/scorekeeper Chioke I'AnsonJanuary 30White House Press Secretary Jen PsakiJessi Klein, Yassir Lester, Tom Papa
February Date Guest PanelistsFebruary 6Actor/screenwriter Owen WilsonPeter Grosz, Laci Mosley, Faith SalieFebruary 13CNN anchor & political correspondent Abby PhillipAlonzo Bodden, Tom Bodett, Paula PoundstoneFebruary 20"Best of" episode featuring supermodel/TV host Tyra Banks, actors Sarah Paulson & Andrew Rannells, and basketball player A'ja WilsonFebruary 27Aerospace engineer Swati MohanAdam Felber, Mo Rocca, Dulcé Sloan
March Date Guest PanelistsMarch 6Jordan Jonas, survival skills expert and Season 6 winner of AloneBrian Babylon, Peter Grosz, Charla LauristonMarch 13Comedians & late-night TV hosts Desus Nice and The Kid MeroKaren Chee, Josh Gondelman, Maz JobraniMarch 20Sam Sifton, food editor of The New York TimesAmy Dickinson, Negin Farsad, Mo RoccaMarch 27Filmmaker Kemp PowersAlonzo Bodden, Helen Hong, Roxanne Roberts
April Date Guest PanelistsApril 3"Best of" episode featuring musician John Batiste and comediennes/actors Ali Wong and Chelsea PerettiApril 10Fitness instructor Ally LoveJoel Kim Booster, Maeve Higgins, Paula PoundstoneApril 17Singer/songwriter Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast)Brian Babylon, Josh Gondelman, Faith SalieApril 24Actor/singer André De ShieldsAdam Burke, Negin Farsad, Mo Rocca
May Date Guest Panelists NotesMay 1Tariq Trotter (Black Thought), rapper and lead MC of The RootsAdam Felber, Helen Hong, Laci MosleyMay 8Drag performer SymoneAlonzo Bodden, Luke Burbank, Paula PoundstoneMay 15U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of MassachusettsKaren Chee, Peter Grosz, Hari KondaboluGuest host Maz JobraniMay 22Author and activist Jennifer Finney BoylanTom Bodett, Negin Farsad, Maeve HigginsMay 29Actor/comedian/TV host Joel McHaleHelen Hong, Cristela Alonzo, Jessi Klein
June Date Guest PanelistsJune 5"Best of" episode featuring comedians Desus Nice & The Kid Mero, actors Mandy Patinkin & Kathryn Grody, and musicians Este & Alana HaimJune 12Former NBA star and 2021 Hall of Fame enshrinee Chris BoshAlonzo Bodden, Charla Lauriston, Roxanne RobertsJune 19Actress/writer Anna KonkleLuke Burbank, Faith Salie, Dulcé SloanJune 26Musician and producer T-PainBrian Babylon, Amy Dickinson, Josh Gondelman
July Date Guest Panelists NotesJuly 3Roger Bennett, soccer analyst and co-host of the Men in Blazers podcastCristela Alonzo, Peter Grosz, Paula PoundstoneGuest host Faith SalieJuly 10Audience-themed "best of" episode featuring actors Leslie Odom, Jr. & Regina King and surfer Laird HamiltonJuly 17Actress Phillipa SooGina Brillon, Helen Hong, Mo RoccaJuly 24Ellen Stofan, undersecretary for science & research at the Smithsonian InstitutionKaren Chee, Bobcat Goldthwait, Laci MosleyJuly 31Actor/writer Stephen FryTom Bodett, Maeve Higgins, Hari Kondabolu
August {| class="wikitable" ! style="background:#871E00;color:#FFFFFF;"|Date !! style="background:#871E00;color:#FFFFFF;"|Guest !! style="background:#871E00;color:#FFFFFF;"|Panelists !! style="background:#871E00;color:#FFFFFF;"|Notes |- |style="background:#FDD6CC;color:#000000;"|August 7||Larry Krasner, district attorney of Philadelphia||Alonzo Bodden, Mo Rocca, Dulcé Sloan||Show recorded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wait Wait'''s first show before a live audience since March 2020"Larry Krasner finally discusses his infamous ponytail on NPR’s ‘Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me,’" from The Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/6/2021 |- |style="background:#FDD6CC;color:#000000;"|August 14||colspan=3|"Best of" episode featuring actors Zach Galifianakis & Charlie Day and soccer star Kristine Lilly |- |style="background:#FDD6CC;color:#000000;"|August 21||colspan=3|"Relaxing" best-of episode featuring Singer/songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, survival skills expert Jordan Jonas, animated filmmaker Jennifer Lee, and actor Owen Wilson |- |style="background:#FDD6CC;color:#000000;"|August 28||Actress Jane Kaczmarek||Josh Gondelman, Maz Jobrani, Paula Poundstone||Show recorded in Lenox, MA Guest announcer/scorekeeper Chioke I'Anson
September Date Guest PanelistsSeptember 4Actor Martin ShortEmmy Blotnick, Peter Grosz, Helen HongSeptember 11Chef and TV personality Antoni PorowskiLuke Burbank, Maeve Higgins, Laci MosleySeptember 18Journalist Yamiche AlcindorCristela Alonzo, Brian Babylon, Tom PapaSeptember 25Actor Bowen YangRoy Blount, Jr., Hari Kondabolu, Faith Salie
October Date Guest Panelists NotesOctober 2Rapper/actor RZAEmmy Blotnick, Negin Farsad, Josh GondelmanOctober 9Comedian Ilana GlazerAdam Burke, Helen Hong, Roxanne RobertsOctober 16"Best of" episode featuring actors Joel McHale & Phillipa Soo, scientist Ellen Stofan, and rapper Black ThoughtOctober 23Actor Clint Howard and filmmaker Ron HowardAlonzo Bodden, Karen Chee, Maz JobraniOctober 30New Jersey Devils defenseman P. K. SubbanJosh Gondelman, Amy Dickinson, Peter GroszGuest host Negin Farsad
November Date Guest Panelists NotesNovember 6Hip-hop artist Chance the RapperBrian Babylon, Negin Farsad, Bobcat GoldthwaitShow recorded at the Harris Theater in Chicago's Millennium ParkNovember 13Actor and activist Ed Begley, Jr.Alonzo Bodden, Emmy Blotnick, Paula PoundstoneNovember 20Basketball centers Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks) and Robin Lopez (Orlando Magic)Adam Felber, Hari Kondabolu, Atsuko OkatsukaNovember 27"Best of" episode featuring actor/writer Stephen Fry, author Jennifer Finney Boylan, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, and basketball hall of famer Chris Bosh
December Date Guest Panelists NotesDecember 4Actress/singer Audra McDonaldAdam Burke, Karen Chee, Maz JobraniDecember 11Actors Bashir and Sultan SalahuddinCristela Alonzo, Luke Burbank, Maeve HigginsShow recorded at the Harris Theater in Chicago's Millennium ParkDecember 18Actress/singer Keke PalmerTom Bodett, Mo Rocca, Faith SalieDecember 25Previously unaired panel and contest segments"Best of" segments featuring actor Bowen Yang, former alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, and drag performer Symone
References
External links Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! official website WWDT.me, an unofficial Wait Wait'' historical site