__NOTOC__ 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),Source: Peter Sagal on Twitter (posted 1/28/2023 and accessed 2/3/2023) but would return to the show the week of March 25.
January Date Guest PanelistsJanuary 7Previously unaired segments, including an interview with actress Mariska HargitayEncore segments including interviews with actor Sean Hayes, vermiculturist Myles Stubblefield, and comedian Mohammed AmerJanuary 14Author George SaundersEmmy Blotnick, Peter Grosz, Paula PoundstoneJanuary 21U.S. Secretary of State Antony BlinkenTom Bodett, Eugene Cordero, Dulcé SloanJanuary 28Actress Natasha LyonneBrian Babylon, Negin Farsad, Maz Jobrani
February Date Guest Panelists NotesFebruary 4Actor/singer Billy PorterAdam Burke, Helen Hong, Zainab JohnsonGuest host Peter GroszFebruary 11Actress Geena DavisAlonzo Bodden, Hari Kondabolu, Paula PoundstoneGuest host Tom PapaFebruary 18Actress/dancer Rosie PerezCristela Alonzo, Negin Farsad, Josh GondelmanGuest host Alzo SladeFebruary 25Wait 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 NotesMarch 4Education activist Malala YousafzaiAlonzo Bodden, Maeve Higgins, Mo RoccaGuest host Josh GondelmanMarch 11Actor/comedian Nick KrollAmy Dickinson, Peter Grosz, Shane O'Neill Guest host Negin FarsadMarch 18Actor Sam WaterstonHelen Hong, Tom Papa, Alzo Slade Guest host Karen CheeMarch 25Political consultant David AxelrodJessi Klein, Hari Kondabolu, Paula PoundstoneShow recorded in Tucson, AZ
April Date Guest Panelists NotesApril 1Actress Michelle RodriguezLuke Burbank, Zainab Johnson, Matt RogersApril 8Wait 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 15Beatboxer Kaila MulladyAlonzo Bodden, Negin Farsad, Shane O'NeillApril 22Comedic musician "Weird Al" Yankovic Tom Bodett, Josh Gondelman, Robby HoffmanApril 29Country musician Brad PaisleyNegin Farsad, Maeve Higgins, Faith SalieShow recorded in Nashville, TN
May Date Guest Panelists NotesMay 6Actor/comedian Ray RomanoHelen Hong, Tom Papa, Matt RogersMay 13Actress/comedienne Gabrielle DennisAlonzo Bodden, Adam Felber, Paula PoundstoneGuest host Alzo SladeMay 20Actress Golda RosheuvelLuke Burbank, Adam Burke, Negin FarsadMay 27Actor John GoodmanMo Rocca, Maeve Higgins, Hari KondaboluShow recorded in New Orleans, LA
June Date Guest Panelists NotesJune 3Wait 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 10Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika JonesEmmy Blotnick, Skyler Higley, Tom PapaJune 17Actor James MarsdenKaren Chee, Adam Felber, Faith SalieJune 24Actress Karen AllenKaren Chee, Roy Blount Jr., Negin FarsadShow recorded in Lenox, MA
July Date Guest Panelists NotesJuly 1Author/relationship coach Aleeza Ben ShalomBrian Babylon, Adam Burke, Roxanne RobertsJuly 8Wait 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 GerwigJuly 15Actress/singer Patti LuPoneEmmy Blotnick, Adam Felber, Joyelle Nicole JohnsonJuly 22Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian LillardLuke Burbank, Paula Poundstone, Helen HongShow recorded in Portland, OR July 29Actor/comedian Randall ParkTom Bodett, Josh Gondelman, Zainab JohnsonGuest host Karen Chee
August Date Guest Panelists NotesAugust 5Poet/writer Maggie SmithShane O'Neill, Emmy Blotnick, Adam BurkeAugust 12Wait 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 19Wait 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 issuesAugust 26Musician Mark RonsonShantira Jackson, Luke Burbank, Alzo SladeGuest host Negin Farsad
September Date Guest Panelists NotesSeptember 2Musician Bob SegerRoy Blount Jr., Josh Gondelman, Helen HongShow recorded in Ann Arbor, MI September 9Marathoner/writer Martinus EvansAmy Dickinson, Peter Grosz, Maeve HigginsSeptember 16Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary ClintonJosh Gondelman, Faith Salie, Dulcé SloanSeptember 23Filmmaker John WilsonTom Bodett, Eugene Cordero, Joyelle Nicole JohnsonSeptember 30Actor/writer Bob Odenkirk and his daughter, visual artist Erin OdenkirkKaren Chee, Maz Jobrani, Jessi KleinShow recorded in Los Angeles, CA
October Date Guest Panelists NotesOctober 7U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth PrelogarRoy Blount Jr., Shantira Jackson, Maz JobraniOctober 14Wait 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 21Author James PattersonFaith Salie, Matt Rogers, Alzo SladeShow recorded in Hartford, CT October 28Bernie Taupin, lyricist for Elton JohnPaula Poundstone, Alonzo Bodden, Zainab JohnsonGuest host Peter Grosz
November Date Guest Panelists NotesNovember 4Ecologist and co-host of Wild Kingdom (2023 revival) Dr. Rae Wynn-GrantTom Papa, Maeve Higgins, Adam BurkeGuest scorekeeper Lakshmi SinghNovember 11Actor John StamosTom Bodett, Emmy Blotnick, Skyler HigleyNovember 18CEO of L.L.Bean Stephen SmithHari Kondabolu, Maeve Higgins, Roy Blount Jr.Show recorded in Portland, ME November 25Wait 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 NotesDecember 2Actress Dakota JohnsonAlonzo Bodden, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Adam FelberDecember 9Singer & frontman of The B-52's Fred SchneiderEugene Cordero, Paula Poundstone, Luke BurbankGuest host Negin FarsadDecember 16Television personality Bethenny FrankelJosh Gondelman, Helen Hong, Alzo SladeShow recorded in New York City, NY December 23Olympic long distance runner Molly SeidelShantira Jackson, Bobcat Goldthwait, Roxanne RobertsDecember 30Wait 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" YankovicSome stations may altered the segments due to donation drive during the airing.
References
External links Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! official website WWDT.me, an unofficial Wait Wait historical site