List of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! episodes (2025)

Last updated

The following is a list of episodes of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! , NPR's news panel game, that aired during 2025. [1] All episodes, unless otherwise indicated, feature Peter Sagal as host and Bill Kurtis as announcer/scorekeeper, and originate from the Studebaker Theatre at Chicago's Fine Arts Building. Dates indicated are the episodes' original Saturday air dates, and the job titles and backgrounds of the guests reflect their status and positions at the time of their appearance. On some occasions, member stations alter the episodes for their donation drive breaks, which only impact the show's airing within their broadcast area.

Contents

January

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
January 4Unaired segments from previous episodes
"Best of 2024" encores featuring actress/singer Renée Elise Goldsberry, rapper Danny Brown, economic historian Claudia Goldin, Top Chef host Kristen Kish, and CBS NFL studio analyst Bill Cowher
January 11 [2] Actor Josh Gad Negin Farsad, Rachel Coster, Josh Gondelman
January 18Comedian/actress Rose Matafeo Maz Jobrani, Alzo Slade, Helen Hong Guest announcer/scorekeeper Chioke I'Anson [3]
January 25 [4] Singer-songwriter/Youtuber mxmtoon Paula Poundstone, Hari Kondabolu, Faith Salie

February

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
February 1 [5] Taxidermist Amber Maykut Adam Felber, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Rekha Shankar Guest announcer/scorekeeper Chioke I'Anson [3]
February 8 [6] Actress/comedian Vanessa Bayer Peter Grosz, Shantira Jackson, Rachel Feinstein Guest host Tom Papa [6]
Guest announcer/scorekeeper Chioke I'Anson
February 15 [7] Mike Derks & Mike Bishop, members of heavy metal band Gwar Negin Farsad, Alzo Slade, Adam Burke Show recorded in Richmond, VA (Altria Theater)
Guest announcer/scorekeeper Chioke I'Anson [3]
February 22Unaired segments from previous episodes
"Not My Job" encores featuring actors John Leguizamo & James Marsden, musician Mark Ronson, ultramarathoner Tara Dower, and actor/singer Billy Porter 		Guest host Tom Papa
Guest announcer/scorekeeper Chioke I'Anson

March

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
March 1 [8] Comedian/actor Roy Wood Jr. Helen Hong, Paula Poundstone, Tom Bodett
March 8 [9] Actress Lauren Graham Faith Salie, Shantira Jackson, Roy Blount Jr.
March 15 [10] Actress Amanda Seyfried Emmy Blotnick, Peter Grosz, Fortune Feimster
March 22 [11] Orlando Magic center Moe Wagner Eugene Cordero, Paula Poundstone, Alonzo Bodden Show recorded in Orlando, FL (Walt Disney Theater)
March 29"Not My Job" encores featuring actress Diane Lane, actor/comedians Eric Idle, Bridget Everett, & Jeff Hiller, and musicians Christian McBride & Kathleen Hanna

April

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
April 5 [12] Actor Sterling K. Brown Negin Farsad, Josh Gondelman, Tig Notaro
April 12 Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Shane O'Neill, Rachel Coster, Peter Grosz
April 19 [13] Comedian/actor Lewis Black Alonzo Bodden, Adam Burke, Dulcé Sloan Show recorded in Durham, NC (DPAC)
April 26 [14] Actor Brian Tyree Henry Negin Farsad, Luke Burbank, Brian Babylon Guest host Karen Chee

May

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
May 3 [15] Actress/writer Natasha Rothwell Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Peter Grosz, Hari Kondabolu
May 10 [16] Actor/singer Nathan Lane Shantira Jackson, Luke Burbank, Roy Blount Jr. Guest announcer/scorekeeper Alzo Slade
May 17"Not My Job" encores featuring actor Josh Gad, singer–songwriter/former National Youth Poet Laureate Kara Jackson, musician Mike Derks & Mike Bishop of Gwar, taxidermist Amber Maykut and governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer
May 24 [17] Actress/comedian Ego Nwodim Tom Papa, Hari Kondabolu, Dulcé Sloan
May 31 [18] Former Boston Red Sox left fielder/hitter Jim Rice Maz Jobrani, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Adam Felber Show recorded in Boston, MA (Wang Theatre)

June

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
June 7 [19] Jeff Gordon, vice-chairman of Hendrick Motorsports and former NASCAR champion Adam Burke, Negin Farsad, Zach Zimmerman
June 14 [20] Actor Chris Perfetti Luke Burbank, Alonzo Bodden, Joyelle Nicole JohnsonGuest host Negin Farsad
June 21 [21] Olympic sabre fencing medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad Hari Kondabolu, Rachel Coster, Jeff Hiller
June 28 [22] Actress/singer Anna Kendrick Paula Poundstone, Karen Chee, Josh Gondelman Show recorded in Portland, ME (Merrill Auditorium)

July

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
July 5"Not My Job" encores featuring actress Amanda Seyfried & Lauren Graham, comedians Roy Wood Jr. & Jim Gaffigan and singer–songwriter/YouTuber mxmtoon
July 12 [23] Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball head coach Jan Jensen Emmy Blotnick, Hari Kondabolu, Faith Salie Show recorded in Des Moines, IA (Des Moines Civic Center)
July 19 [24] Filmmaker/producer James Gunn Bobcat Goldthwaite, Paula Poundstone, Adam Burke
July 26 [25] Singer–songwriter Laufey Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Adam Burke, Peter Grosz

August

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
August 2 [26] Television personality Heather Gay Luke Burbank, Shantira Jackson, Shane O'NeillShow recorded in Salt Lake City, UT (Abravanel Hall) [27]
Guest announcer/scorekeeper Alzo Slade
August 9 [28] Actor Pedro Pascal Brian Babylon, Negin Farsad, Roy Blount Jr. Guest host Tom Papa
August 16Previously unaired segments, including an interview with Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras and its current CEO Louise Story
"Not My Job" encores featuring comedians Lewis Black & Rose Matafeo and Orlando Magic center Moe Wagner
August 23Unaired segments from previous episodes
"Not My Job" encores featuring actors Brian Tyree Henry, Nathan Lane & Sterling K. Brown and comedian Vanessa Bayer
August 30 [29] Actor Paul Giamatti Mo Rocca, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Tom Bodett Show recorded in Lenox, MA (Tanglewood)

September

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
September 6 [30] Singer-songwriter/actress Renee Rapp Shane O'Neill, Amy Dickinson, Alonzo Bodden
September 13 [31] Sportscaster Bob Costas Brian Babylon, Emmy Blotnick, Peter Grosz Guest announcer/scorekeeper Rhymefest [32]
September 20Sportscaster Chip Caray Rachel Coster, Adam Felber, Dulcé Sloan Show recorded in St. Louis, MO (Fox Theatre) [33]
Guest announcer/scorekeeper Chioke I'Anson
September 27TBATBA, TBA, TBA

October

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
October 4TBATBA, TBA, TBA
October 11TBATBA, TBA, TBAShow recorded in Honolulu, HI (Blaisdell Concert Hall)
October 18"Not My Job" encores
October 25TBATBA, TBA, TBA

November

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
November 1TBATBA, TBA, TBA
November 8TBATBA, TBA, TBAShow recorded in location TBA
November 15TBATBA, TBA, TBA
November 22TBATBA, TBA, TBA
November 29"Not My Job" encores

December

DateGuestPanelistsNotes
December 6TBATBA, TBA, TBA
December 13TBATBA, TBA, TBA
December 20TBATBA, TBA, TBA
December 27"Best of 2025" encores

References

  1. ↑ "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! archive". NPR . Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  2. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaiytnpr]; (January 11, 2025). "We're starting off 2025 strong with our first guest of the year @joshgad 🎉 The actor, snowman, and author of In Gad We Trust joins us with our in house Josh G, @joshgondelman , @neginfarsad and newbie panelist @rachelcoster 💖 Tune in now!!! Also, I will not apologize for the above image. It's just science, people" . Retrieved January 19, 2025– via Instagram.
  3. 1 2 3 Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (January 15, 2025). "In honor of Chioke I'Anson stepping in as Bill for the next few weeks, here he is reading the iconic trench coat buttoned up to the TOP monologue. You're welcome" . Retrieved January 19, 2025– via Instagram.
  4. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (January 24, 2025). "Singer/songwriter/internet culture final boss @mxmtoon joins us this week to talk about her new album Liminal Space! Tune in to hear Maia, who, by the way, grew up listening to the show, with guest announcer Chioke I'Anson and panelists @paulapoundstone @harikondabolu and @faithsalie 🔮👾🦄" . Retrieved January 25, 2025– via Instagram.
  5. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (January 31, 2025). "Taxidermist to the stars Amber Maykut of @brooklyntaxidermy joins us this week with @adam_felber @joyellenicole and first time panelist @rekha_s 🦝🐿️🐇🐭" . Retrieved February 1, 2025– via Instagram.
  6. 1 2 Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (February 7, 2024). "We're so excited to have @vanessabayer on the show this week with guest host @tompapa guest Bill Chioke I'Anson, and panelists @petergrosz @tira_tira_tira and newbie @rachelfeinstein_ 🎉 and just in time for a Totino's Super Bowl weekend!" . Retrieved February 7, 2025– via Instagram.
  7. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (February 14, 2025). "GWAR's Mikes join wait wait this week live from the @altriatheaterva in Richmond, VA with panelists @neginfarsad @alzoslade and @atpburke 🏴‍☠️☠️🫡✨" . Retrieved February 15, 2025– via Instagram.
  8. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (February 28, 2025). "Comedian @roywoodjr joins us on Wait Wait this week alongside panelists @funnyhelenhong @paulapoundstone and @tombodett1123 !! AND BILL IS BACK! His BBL went perfectly and was 100% worth it #slay" . Retrieved March 2, 2025– via Instagram.
  9. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (March 7, 2024). "🎶La la la la laaaaa….🎶 This week the iconic @laurengraham plays our silly game on Wait Wait!! The Gilmore Girl herself is joined by panelists @faithsalie @tira_tira_tira and Roy Blount Jr. Oh, and #teamjess forever" . Retrieved March 8, 2024– via Instagram.
  10. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (March 14, 2025). "Mamma Mia! We've got @mingey on the show this week talking about her new show Long Bright River and how exactly she got so awesome at the dulcimer. This OG Mean Girl is joined by @emmyblotnick @petergrosz and first time panelist @fortunefeimster 🎉🎉 #imamouse" . Retrieved March 15, 2025– via Instagram.
  11. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (March 22, 2025). "Tune in to hear Moe live onstage in Orlando Florida with panelists @paulapoundstone @zofunny and @eugcordero" . Retrieved March 22, 2025– via Instagram.
  12. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (April 4, 2025). "This week the amazing @sterlingkbrown joins us on the show to NOT TALK about the twist in new show @paradiseonhulu 🤫 plus we got panelists @neginfarsad @joshgondelman and first timer Tig Notaro on the panel! Yup THAT Tig Notaro! Let's DO THIS!!!" . Retrieved April 5, 2025– via Instagram.
  13. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (April 19, 2025). "Tune in to hear @thelewisblack live at DPAC in Durham, North Carolina with panelists @zofunny @dulcesloan and @adam_felber 🤘🤘🤘" . Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Instagram.
  14. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (April 25, 2025). "Tune in this week to hear guest host @karencheee play Kiss, Marry, Kill with the one and only @briantyreehenry 🧸 The Paper Boi himself joins us with panelist @neginfarsad @luke_burbank and @brianbabylon 🐻🐻🐻" . Retrieved April 26, 2025– via Instagram.
  15. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (May 2, 2025). "The White Lotus's premier masseuse and bag-getter @natasharothwell joins us on Wait Wait this week! Also checking in is our panel @joyellenicole @petergrosz and @harikondabolu 🌺🍹and this time no one's leaving in a body bag!!! Probably" . Retrieved May 3, 2025– via Instagram.
  16. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (May 9, 2025). "Nathan Lane joins us on Wait Wait this weekend to talk @midcenturyonhulu and to reminisce on Broadway's biggest flop of all time, Merlin 🔮 Tune in to hear the legendary Lane along with panelists @tira_tira_tira @luke_burbank and Roy Blount Jr 🙇🏻‍♂️💖" – via Instagram.
  17. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (May 23, 2025). "SNL's own @eggyboom joins us on the show this week with panelists @tompapa @harikondabolu and @dulcesloan !!!!!" . Retrieved May 24, 2025– via Instagram.
  18. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (May 30, 2025). "Red Sox legend and Cooperstown Hall of Famer Jim Rice joins us live in Boston this week with panelists @mazjobrani @joyellenicole @adam_felber ⚾️🏟️ Let's PLAY BALL!!" . Retrieved May 31, 2025– via Instagram.
  19. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (June 7, 2025). "The motor GOAT himself @jeffgordonweb joins us LIVE onstage this week to talk about how freaking fast he can go!!!! Plus with panelists @atpburke @neginfarsad and NEWBIE @zzdoublezz you KNOW it's going to be a vroom vroom time!!!! 🏎️🏁" . Retrieved June 8, 2025– via Instagram.
  20. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (June 13, 2025). "Abbott Elementary's star 6th grade teacher @chrisperfetti joins us this week with panelists @luke_burbank @zofunny and @joyellenicole and special guest host @neginfarsad 🎉🎊📕📓" . Retrieved June 14, 2025– via Instagram.
  21. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (June 20, 2025). "This week on Wait Wait Olympic fencer @ibtihajmuhammad joins us with panelists @harikondabolu @rachelcoster and first timer @boomboomhiller !!" . Retrieved June 21, 2025– via Instagram.
  22. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (June 27, 2025). "We're live in Portland, Maine this week with local hero @annakendrick47 🎶💕Tune in to hear our panelists @paulapoundstone @karencheee and @joshgondelman with the cup song legend herself!!" . Retrieved June 28, 2025– via Instagram.
  23. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (July 11, 2025). "We're live from Des Moines this week with @iowawbb 's own @janjensen13 🏀 Tune in to hear Coach J with panelists @faithsalie @emmyblotnick and @harikondabolu 🌽😍💕" . Retrieved July 12, 2025– via Instagram.
  24. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (July 18, 2025). "For our 100th(!!!) show at the Studebaker Theater the one and only @jamesgunn joins us in nerding out about his new movie Superman 🦸‍♂️ Tune in to hear this Guardian of the Galaxy with panelists @bobcatgoldthwait @paulapoundstone and @adam_felber ⚡️🎇🎆" . Retrieved July 19, 2025– via Instagram.
  25. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (July 25, 2025). "We're absolutely bewitched this week to welcome @laufey on the show! The dreamer herself joins panelists @joyellenicole @atpburke and @petergrosz to talk about her upcoming album A Matter of Time ✨🧚🦄" . Retrieved July 26, 2025– via Instagram.
  26. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (August 1, 2025). "The realest housewife of Salt Lake City @heathergay joins us live in SLC this week to talk about RECEIPTS 👏 PROOF 👏 TIMELINE 👏 F-ING EVERYTHING 👏👏👏 plus we got @tira_tira_tira @luke_burbank and @shaneisland on the panel and @alzoslade as our guest scorekeeper! Yay Utah!" . Retrieved August 2, 2025– via Instagram.
  27. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (June 11, 2025). "Come see us in Salt Lake City on July 31!" . Retrieved June 14, 2025– via Instagram.
  28. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (August 8, 2025). "Pedro Pascal joins us on the show this week to talk about how he's in literally every movie! Tune in to hear the Last of Us and Fantastic Four star talk with our special guest host @tompapa and panelists @brianbabylon @neginfarsad and Roy Blount Jr!" . Retrieved August 9, 2025– via Instagram.
  29. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (August 29, 2025). "We're live from Tanglewood this week with special guest Paul Giamatti! The Holdover joins us onstage with panelists @joyellenicole @tombodett1123 and @mobituaries 🌳🌲🏕️" . Retrieved August 30, 2025– via Instagram.
  30. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (September 5, 2025). "Singer, actor, and Mean Girl @reneerapp joins us this week to talk about her new album Bite Me🦷 Tune in to hear Reneé with panelists @askingamy @zofunny and @shaneisland 💓💞💖💕" . Retrieved September 6, 2025– via Instagram.
  31. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (September 12, 2025). "This week we're joined by the legendary sports broadcaster Bob Costas! The voice of all sports joins us alongside panelists @brianbabylon @emmyblotnick and @petergrosz and VERY SPECIAL GUEST SCOREKEEPER @rhymefest" . Retrieved September 13, 2025– via Instagram.
  32. ↑ Che Kweku [@rhymefest]; (September 12, 2025). "I've been listening to @waitwaitnpr for 15 of it's 27yrs on air! Last Nights opportunity to fill in as guest Co-Host for Bill Kurtis, Standing alongside the Legendary @psagal was an EPIC accomplishment in my journey. #Luv to all the writers & Producers that set us up for a successful episode!" . Retrieved September 13, 2025– via Instagram.
  33. ↑ Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! [@waitwaitnpr]; (September 5, 2025). "The last block of tickets for our 9/18 St. Louis show is available now! Head to the link in our bio to snap em up! 🎟️" . Retrieved September 6, 2025– via Instagram.
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