Wait wait….
Posted on | February 21, 2009 |
Coming from a BBC Radio 4 background, I can’t say that I was too thrilled about leaving that behind me and exploring what radio the US has to offer…until, that is, I discovered NPR. During a wonderful holiday in Scotland last Summer, Sam introduced me to the comedy news quiz show Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, which for those English radio-listeners out there is similar to Radio 4’s The News Quiz. My membership of the NPR fanclub - and particularly of Wait Wait - was confirmed last night, when I managed to get a last minute ticket to their live show at the Zellerbach theater in Berkeley. On Thursday they recorded the episode that came out this morning, which follows the usual news quiz format. Last night was a special show, to be aired later in the year, which had the general theme of technology…and was hilarious. Carl Kassell looked as venerable as he sounds; Peter Segal was a non-stop bundle of witticisms; Paula Poundstack stole the show completely with her biting humor, completely eclipsing her co-panellists Mo Rocca and Tom Bodett. The interviewee was Berkeley’s own Michael Pollan, author of The Ominivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, who fought for non-corn-syrup products against Paula’s support of the twinkie (another American staple which I’ve only recently discovered). It was also fascinating to see what goes on behind the scenes of a radio performance, particularly what’s edited and what’s not : “the Roman emperor who gave us a kick-ass salad” was deemed too rude; non-live listeners will never know that Peter Segal first said “an archaeologist from penis” rather than “from Pisa”…and after repeated failed attempts gave up and said merely “an Italian archaeologist”! I still get a regular dose of British humor through BBC podcasts, but I’m becoming a rapid convert to such American radio gems as Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me.
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February 22nd, 2009 @ 9:21 am
Ah, yes. And if your NPR station also, perchance, airs the CBC’s “As It Happens”, as ours did in Hawaii, you are truly blessed! Now about Twinkies…..
February 27th, 2009 @ 10:53 am
Hi, Naomi! We love “Wait! Wait!,” too - I’m jealous that you got a ticket to a live show! Fun stuff. Please don’t say that Twinkies are an American staple - ‘way too insulting to us!
Just kidding, I loved ‘em as a child but now can’t face them.
March 1st, 2009 @ 9:18 pm
Thanks for the tip Sue! I listened to a podcast of “As It Happens” on my train ride to Salinas this weekend and was impressed.
April 14th, 2009 @ 8:29 am
Jim and I are NPR fans also. We’re pleased that you found a radio station that filled a space, left empty by your change of address. The comedienne you mentioned…Paula Poundstack? I think her name is Paula Poundstone. I could be wrong; I am wrong occasionally! Grin. At least you know we are reading your blog carefully…(: As far as the Twinkies are concerned, I believe they have a shelf life of 100 years…or something ugly like that. Eat them at your own risk. There are some places that deep fry them. Aagh…!