WWDTM: Lauren Graham

Summary

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Episode Summary: Featuring Lauren Graham

Release Date: March 8, 2025

NPR’s beloved quiz show, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, hosted by Peter Sagal, delivers its signature blend of humor and current events from the historic Studebaker Theater in Chicago. This episode, titled WWDTM: Lauren Graham, features a special interview with the acclaimed actress Lauren Graham, renowned for her role in Gilmore Girls, alongside engaging listener contests and witty panelist banter.

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1. Listener Contest: Rebecca Vaughn from Nantucket

Timestamp: [00:41] – [10:13]

The show kicks off with Rebecca Vaughn calling in from Nantucket, Massachusetts. Rebecca participates in the "Who’s Bill?" game, where she must identify or explain three news quotations read by Bill Curtis.

• First Quote: A Canadian barista rebranding Americanos to "Canadianos" in response to U.S. tariffs. Peter humorously remarks, "[...] everybody knows the Americano is the worst. Coffee order. Can I have some coffee, please? But make it watery." [03:08]

• Second Quote: Concerns about publishers discontinuing paperback releases. Faith Saley jokes, "They’re so beautiful," referring to hardcover books' aesthetic appeal. [05:47]

• Third Quote: An article urging early Christmas shopping. The panel chimes in with quips about buying presents in March, highlighting the absurdity of the timing. [08:21]

Rebecca successfully identifies two out of three quotes, winning the prize of a voicemail greeting from the show’s voices. [09:56]

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2. Panel Discussion: Reactions to Current News

Timestamp: [10:13] – [26:31]

The panelists—Shantira Jackson, Roy Blount Jr., and Faith Saley—delve into various news topics with their characteristic humor and insights.

• Venture into Extended Lifespans: Discussion revolves around a new cruise line offering life-extension treatments with the quirky catch of purchasing a stateroom to live indefinitely on a ship. Shantira shares her experience working on a cruise ship, humorously noting, "I've never been funnier." [10:23] – [11:26]

• Publishing Industry Changes: The panel debates the elimination of paperback books in favor of hardcovers, pondering the future of book accessibility and affordability. Shantira quips, "Hard books," while Roy mockingly suggests, "Books will be printed on Charmin." [05:47] – [10:03]

• Tariff Policies and International Relations: The discussion highlights President Trump’s tariff adjustments on Canadian and Mexican goods, with Roy humorously attributing the tariffs to leaders' appearances: "I think he is intimidated by Justin Trudeau's good looks." [04:21] – [05:24]

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3. Bluff the Listener Game: Dustin Durant from Omaha

Timestamp: [13:56] – [20:18]

Dustin Durant joins the show to play the "Bluff the Listener" game, where panelists discern truth from fiction in listener-submitted stories.

• Faith Saley’s Confessional Catastrophe: A 12-year-old inadvertently conducts confessions at a Catholic church, leading to humorous penances like "telling one parishioner to listen to kids bop while praying the rosary." [15:17] – [16:18]

• Roy Blount Jr.'s Soccer Incident: A German soccer referee is bitten by a player’s child during a match, a story that turns out to be true. Roy's guess is validated by an expert, Joey Kenward, confirming the authenticity of the incident. [17:27] – [20:13]

Dustin successfully narrates the true story, earning the panelist their respective prizes. [19:51] – [20:18]

---

4. Special Guest Interview: Lauren Graham

Timestamp: [20:31] – [30:44]

Lauren Graham, best known for her role as Lorelai Gilmore in Gilmore Girls, joins the show to discuss her new project, Z Suite, and her experiences as a fan-favorite actress.

• Comparison of Roles: Peter inquires if her new role mirrors her iconic character, to which Lauren clarifies, "No. No, no, no, no, I love." She describes Z Suite as a distinct departure, emphasizing her versatility. [21:02] – [21:19]

• Fan Interactions and Community Events: Lauren touches on the deep connection fans have with Gilmore Girls, noting the potential for a 25th-anniversary convention in Connecticut. [23:54] – [24:28]

• Blurring Lines Between Actor and Character: Discussing how fans perceive her, Lauren admits, "I don't think I've worked hard enough to dissuade them from believing that." She shares anecdotes about fans seeking personal advice, highlighting the unique relationship between actors and their audiences. [25:05] – [26:31]

During a game aptly named "Gilmore", Lauren answers trivia about mermaid attractions, demonstrating herquick wit and charm. She successfully answers two out of three questions, contributing to the episode’s lighthearted atmosphere. [26:31] – [30:43]

---

5. Listener Limerick Challenge: Mariah Wood from Chestertown

Timestamp: [31:09] – [41:56]

Mariah Wood participates in the Listener Limerick Challenge, completing limericks based on current news.

• Banana Preservation Innovation: Mariah correctly identifies that British scientists developed a banana variety that doesn't spoil once peeled, addressing the limerick about consumers no longer wasting uneaten bananas. [37:40] – [39:01]

• Survival Story with Toothpaste: She interprets a limerick about a teenage boy surviving on melted snow and toothpaste, humorously commenting on his unconventional survival methods. [39:13] – [40:18]

• Expensive Yogurt Craze: Mariah deciphers a limerick mocking the high cost of a new probiotic coconut yogurt, highlighting the absurdity of paying $40 for health enhancements. [40:36] – [41:32]

Achieving a perfect score by correctly completing all three limericks, Mariah wins a prize, showcasing her sharp listening skills and quick thinking. [41:38] – [41:56]

---

6. Lightning Fill in the Blank: Speed Round

Timestamp: [43:35] – [47:55]

In the high-energy Lightning Fill in the Blank segment, panelists race against the clock to complete as many missing phrases as possible.

• News Topics Covered:
  • Tariffs: "On Thursday, President Trump reversed course and lifted most of the blanks placed on Mexico tariffs." (Tariffs)
  • Health Studies: "According to a new study, Paxlovid may not reduce hospitalization risk for older adults who catch blank." (Covid)
  • Social Media Legislation: "This week, Utah became the first state to pass legislation that requires blank apps to verify their users' ages." (Social media)
  • Corporate Boycotts: "On Thursday, a 40-day boycott against Target began in protest of the company scaling back blank policies." (Return policies)
  • Cybersecurity: "When Blank." (Pandora? Not enough context, but eventually correct answers are provided)
  • Sports Achievements: "On Tuesday, Blank became the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career points." (LeBron James)
  • Environmental Concerns: "This Thursday, scientists warned that human brains could contain up to a spoonful of blank." (Plastic)
  • Legal Disputes: "A tourist in Rome who was trying to flee the police was caught after he blanked." (Dove dived into a fountain)

Panelists Roy Blount Jr., Shantira Jackson, and Faith Saley impress with their rapid-fire answers, humorously debating each correct completion. Faith maintains her lead throughout, while Roy secures additional points to ultimately win the segment. [43:35] – [47:55]

---

7. Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Timestamp: [48:04] – [51:25]

As the episode wraps up, Peter Sagal extends gratitude to the panelists and acknowledges the production team behind the scenes. Final announcements invite listeners to participate in upcoming contests and explore future episodes. Promotional messages from sponsors, including BetterHelp and NetSuite by Oracle, are seamlessly integrated, maintaining the show’s engaging flow.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Peter Sagal on Tariffs: "By the time I finish this sentence, the only Canadian product we will be banning is Drake." [04:21]

• Roy Blount Jr. on Leadership Appearance: "I think he is intimidated by Justin Trudeau's good looks." [04:40]

• Faith Saley on Banana Bread: "I hate banana bread... I like bananas. I don't like bananas in stuff." [38:31]

• Lauren Graham on Fan Perception: "I don’t think I've worked hard enough to dissuade them from believing that." [25:06]

• Shantira Jackson on Digital Banking: "They're printing books on Charmin." [50:10]

---

Conclusion

This episode of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! masterfully blends current events with entertainment, featuring heartfelt interactions, sharp wit, and a special guest who brings her charm and relatability. Lauren Graham’s appearance provides a delightful bridge between television fame and real-world discussions, leaving listeners both informed and amused.

For those who missed the live show, the episode remains accessible through NPR’s platforms, continuing to entertain and educate a diverse audience week after week.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

This message comes from Pemco Mutual Insurance Company. Their mission is to help customers worry less and live more. So they're sharing prevention tips that empower you to prevent some of life's pitfalls before they happen. Visit pemco.com prevention.

[Bill Curtis]

From NPR at WBEC Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell me, the NPR News quiz. I've got the voice of an angel and the body of a hot angel. I'm Bill Curtis, and here is your host at the Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Bill. Thank you, everybody. Thank you so much. We have got such a great show for you today. Later on, we're going to be talking to Lauren Graham, star of the legendary TV show the Gilmore Girls, a show so beloved that 25 years after after it debuted, people still rewatch it in times of extreme stress just for its calming cheering effect. So today we are not sure if we should interview her or just have her reenact Season one. But first, we want to be soothed and reassured by the sound of your voice. So give us a call. The number is 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. Let's welcome our first listener contestant. Hi. You are on WAIT, Wait, don't tell me. Hi, this is Rebecca Vaughn calling from Nantucket, Massachusetts. Nantucket.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

There once was a listener from Nantucket.

[Peter Sagal]

I was about to say. Indeed. What a shame you're not playing our listener Limerick challenge. That would be ideal. What do you do in that beautiful island? I help to run a sailing program.

[Faith Saley]

For a yacht club and enjoy the.

[Peter Sagal]

Off season when it's nice and quiet. I have friends who live on Martha's Vineyard and I know what it's like. It's like the summer is just filled with all these rich people, but in the winter, they all leave. And I assume you just walk around breaking into their houses and pretending you're wealthy.

[Faith Saley]

We try to avoid doing that, but it is a little bit tempting.

[Peter Sagal]

It really is, isn't it? Well, welcome to the show, Rebecca. Let me introduce you to our panel this week. First up, it's a writer for Clean Sound Slate. Season one is on Prime. It's Shantira Jackson.

[Faith Saley]

Hi, Shantira. Hi.

[Peter Sagal]

Next, a writer whose unmissable substack is Take Another Little Piece of My Heart. Now it's our old friend Roy Blunt Jr. Hi. Hey, Roy. And a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning, in woman about town is Faith Saley.

[Faith Saley]

Hey, Rebecca. Hi, Faith.

[Peter Sagal]

So, Rebecca, welcome To the show, you, of course, are going to play who's Bill? This time, Bill Curtis is going to read you three quotations from this week's news. If you can correctly identify or explain two of them, you will win our prize. Any voice from our show, you might choose for your voicemail. Are you ready to go? I am ready. All right, I can tell. Here we go, then. Your first quote is from a coffee shop owner in Canada talking about the Americanos on his beverage menu.

[Bill Curtis]

Join us. Call them Canadianas.

[Peter Sagal]

That barista was renaming his drink as part of Canada's national uprising. Against what? The tariff? Yes. The trade war, as they always say. You won't like Canadians when they're mad. Actually, they're adorable. First, Canadians booed the national anthem at NBA games. Now they're rebranding the Americano up there as the Canadiano. And I just want to say to the Canadians, thank you. Everybody knows the Americano is the worst. Coffee order. Can I have some coffee, please? But make it watery. President Trump began the week by announcing a 25% tariff against all goods from Canada and Mexico. And then he exempted cars from the Canadian tariff, and then he just delayed the Mexican tariff entirely. And then finally, he delayed the Canadian tariff for a month, all in four days. By the time I finish this sentence, the only Canadian product we will be banning is Drake.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Do you think that Trump really focusing on Mexico and Canada has anything to do with how good looking both of their leaders are? Probably Like, I think I really. I think there might be something to this. I think he is intimidated by Justin Trudeau's good looks.

[Peter Sagal]

Right.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Which his wife has.

[Faith Saley]

Gay that thinks he's hot.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

There you go. And I'm not gay. And I think the president of Mexico is super hot.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

She is gorgeous.

[Faith Saley]

And I am gay and she is hot. There you go.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

I am confirmed.

[Peter Sagal]

I mean, what's weird about this is, of course, as you know, President Trump came into office promising massive tariffs against everybody for any reason he could think of. And then he finally said he was going to do it, and he did it, and then all of a sudden, he's not doing it. His approach to economic policy is the same as my approach to making plans with friends. Absolutely. We are going to get together. Count on it. And then I never see them again.

[Faith Saley]

Yeah. The me who agreed to go is very different than the me needs to leave.

[Peter Sagal]

That's true.

[Faith Saley]

You asked me in the daytime. You want me to leave at night.

[Peter Sagal]

And you know, Canada has an advantage in this whole renaming thing. Right. Because there's all these American things they can rename to Canadian. But as for Canadian things, what are we going to rename? They have the worst bacon and the meanest bird. All right, here. Here is your next quote, Rebecca.

[Bill Curtis]

I blame the little free libraries.

[Peter Sagal]

That was a commenter on a Wall Street Journal piece about how publishers are planning to stop putting out. What kind of books? Actual printed books? Well, a particular kind of printed books. There are, in general, two kinds. There's the hardbacks. Oh, hardcover. No, the other one. Oh, paperbacks. Yes. Say goodbye to paperback books. You cannot now wait for the paperback version of a book you want to come out. The publishing is moving to a model where it is going to be the hardcover or nothing.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

That makes me so. Who is clapping.

[Faith Saley]

People who like fancy shelves?

[Peter Sagal]

No, no, this makes sense. The publisher's plans to make all books much heavier and more expensive will be great for sales. This, apparently, is because of a lot of things affecting the publishing industry. Among them the fact that instead of buying paperbacks or hardbacks, most people are now reading books on E readers such as the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes and Noble. Oh, that's so cute. They have one, too.

[Faith Saley]

I was hoping you'd say what it was, because I couldn't.

[Shantira Jackson]

You can ask hard books, though.

[Peter Sagal]

Hard books.

[Shantira Jackson]

Hard books. I don't like hard books. I like a book.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

They're rigid.

[Shantira Jackson]

Will work with me.

[Lauren Graham]

Great.

[Shantira Jackson]

But they look good on the shelf.

[Peter Sagal]

They do.

[Faith Saley]

They're so beautiful.

[Peter Sagal]

That's the thing.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

And I think some people buy them to display. There's a Japanese word, because Japanese have the best words for all these things. It's sandoku. It's your pile of books that you're never gonna read. It just makes you look smart.

[Faith Saley]

I will say I had every intention of reading them. I just did it.

[Peter Sagal]

The way it's gonna work is instead of there being a paperback release for every hardback, which sort of was the tradition, right? Writers get one shot. If the hardback doesn't sell, they're done. Right. They don't get a paperback release. That really will raise the stakes for hardback sales, especially for those serious, more obscure, less popular authors. So everybody is all of a sudden very excited about Joyce Carol Oates new novel. One quick tip to melt belly fat.

[Shantira Jackson]

I can see that a couple of my books were way in advance of today because they have a paperback. And they told me that it was because I had written the wrong book.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, Rebecca, we got one more quote for you. Here you go.

[Bill Curtis]

It's never too early to get planning.

[Peter Sagal]

That was from an article in the New York Post urging people that despite it being almost 10 months away, right now is the best time to start shopping. For what? Oh, gosh. Back to school items. No, I know. We just finished the second month of the year, so 10 months would put us. Yes, Christmas, of course. Great news.

[Faith Saley]

What?

[Peter Sagal]

Great news? For psychopaths, Buying Christmas presents in March is now a thing. You can save money, but make sure you get those people in your life something that you would like, too, because chances are, by December, at least one person on your list is not going to be your friend wife anymore. Wait, Peter who?

[Shantira Jackson]

This is for next Christmas.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, the New York Post is saying this, and they're utterly reliable.

[Faith Saley]

Then they just talked to a suburban mom. My grandma's been buying candles for Christmas for the last 30 years. Everybody goes to TJ Maxx and is like, your cousin will like this towel in six months.

[Peter Sagal]

And is she right? Does she predict she gives it to them.

[Faith Saley]

I don't know if they want it.

[Peter Sagal]

You have to be careful, though. You have to be careful. You have to do a little bit of planning because the last thing in the world you want to do is embarrass yourself when your beloved opens up a package and pulls out the special Department of Education forever T shirt. He didn't do it. Bill, how did Rebecca do in our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

Well, there was a young lady from Nucket.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, my goodness.

[Bill Curtis]

But she did great.

[Peter Sagal]

There you go. Congratulations, Rebecca. Bye. Bye, Rebecca. Thank you.

[Faith Saley]

Thank you.

[Peter Sagal]

Bye bye. Bye Bye. Right now, panel, it is time for you to answer some questions about this week's news. Roy, There's a new company that promises to use cutting edge treatments to significantly extend your lifespan. The only catch is you will have to live the rest of your lengthy life. Where?

[Shantira Jackson]

In a jar?

[Peter Sagal]

I'll give you a hint. We'll be doing ultrasonic colon cleanses down in the lido deck.

[Shantira Jackson]

Oh. On a cruise ship.

[Peter Sagal]

On a cruise ship, passengers who embark possibly as soon as next year on the MV Narrative cruise line will get personal training, genetic testing, stem cell therapy, and to even extend their life further, the blood of young people who died over on Carnival Cruises. The catch is, and you're wondering, there has to be a catch. Because who wouldn't want to live forever in a cruise ship? The catch is you don't buy a ticket. You spend a million dollars to purchase a stateroom, and then you get to live there forever.

[Faith Saley]

I lived on a cruise ship. I worked on a cruise ship for 18 weeks.

[Peter Sagal]

18 weeks that's a lot.

[Faith Saley]

And let me tell you, you couldn't pay me a million dollars to go be living on a cruise ship for that long.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Shintira. What were you doing?

[Faith Saley]

I was doing comedy, you guys. And you know what? It everybody's drunk. I've never been funnier.

[Peter Sagal]

Coming up, our kids ruin everything and our bluff the listener game. Call one triple eight. Wait, wait to play. We'll be back in a minute with more Wait, Wait, don't tell me. From npr, this message comes from Grammarly. The work week can be fast paced and it's hard to focus on getting everything done. Let Grammarly be your AI writing partner. It works where you do it can help you write and quickly edit with suggestions. 93% of professionals report that Grammarly helps them get more work done. Get more done with Grammarly. Download Grammarly for [e-mail] podcast that's Grammarly.com podcast.

[Commercial Announcer]

This message comes from PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company. You know that moment when things take an unexpected turn and you get that sudden sinking feeling that maybe it could have been avoided? Pemco Insurance wants to help you avoid that feeling by sharing prevention tips that empower you to prevent some of life's preventable pitfalls. Because Pemco's commitment to their customers goes beyond the moment of acclaim, it's about being with their customers every day. [e-mail] Prevention this message comes from BetterHelp.

[BetterHelp Announcer]

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[Bill Curtis]

From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, Wait, Don't TELL me, the NPR News quiz. I'm Bill Curtis. We are playing this week with Faith Seely, Shantira Jackson, and Roy Blunt, Jr. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Del. Right now it's time for the Wait, Wait, don't tell me bluff the listener game. Call 1-888-wait- wait to play our game in the air. Or you can check out the pinned post on our Instagram page, aightwaitnpro. How you run. Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Bill Curtis]

Hi, this is Dustin Durant from Omaha, Nebraska.

[Peter Sagal]

Hey. Okay, so what do you do there in Omaha?

[Bill Curtis]

Well, my wife and I keep poison dart frogs. We have over 30 different frogs.

[Peter Sagal]

That's new. You keep poison dart frogs? Do they come when you call them?

[Bill Curtis]

They jump at you when you spray water at them. So you gotta be careful when you open it up.

[Faith Saley]

You know what? Me too.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, we've all been there. All right, Dustin. Well, welcome to the show. You are going to play our game in which you have to tell truth from fiction. Bill, what is Dustin's topic?

[Bill Curtis]

Don't bring your kid to work.

[Peter Sagal]

You may remember the day a decade or more ago when NPR had a take your kid to work day and somebody's kid pushed a button and took NPR off the air for more than a minute. This week, somebody's kid did something even more interesting while at their parents place of work. Our panelists are going to tell you about it. Pick the one who's telling the truth and you will win our prize, the wait waiter of your choice for your voicemail. You ready to play?

[Bill Curtis]

Yeah.

[Peter Sagal]

All right. Well, let's start then with a story from Faith Saley.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Last week, Sharon McGann had to take her 12 year old son Oscar with her to her admin job at Church of the Blessing Blessed Sacrament in Columbus, Ohio. Sharon told Oscar to keep quiet and stay out of trouble. He didn't. He ensconced himself in a confessional. When penitent parishioner Lorna McMahon came into the booth and said through the screen, bless me Father, for I have sinned. Oscar froze. Then he lowered his voice and replied, tell me all the bad stuff, my child. Oscar heard confessions for an hour until he farted and laughed so hard that his mom found him. But before she did, young fake father Oscar doled out some punishing penances like telling one parishioner to listen to kids bop while praying the rosary. A googolplex number of times a 12.

[Peter Sagal]

Year old gets taken to church by his parent and ends up taking confessions and learning a little about the world. Your next story of a kid catastrophe comes from Roy Blount Jr.

[Shantira Jackson]

If you're a German soccer player, we learned this week, it's all very well to bring your little boy to one of your games as long as you tell him this up front. Don't bite the referee in the balls. A match between two lower level teams was about to begin. Suddenly it was called off because the only referee was in too much pain. Let the referee tell it. A small child was doing warm up exercises alongside the players. He came closer and closer to me, suddenly to my Complete surprise. He gave me a sharp bite in my left testicle. So give the kid a break. Maybe the thing was hanging loose. Anyway, as any parent knows, you can never think think of everything you need to tell a child not to do.

[Peter Sagal]

A German soccer ref gets surprised by a player's son on the pitch. Your last story of a kiddo, oh. Comes from Shantira Jackson.

[Faith Saley]

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Or as his friends like to call him, the Met has a long history of displaying beautiful art pieces and welcoming, welcoming children of all ages. One day, a docent brought his daughter to work only to immediately lose her. The girl had been to the museum hundreds of times and she decided it was time to put her own spin on the exhibits. One by one, she went around replacing the placards that give details about the art in the rooms with her own handwritten, honest reviews. The Egyptian room, originally known as the Temple of Dender, was replaced with a placard that said, this stuff in here is pretty cool, but don't forget about what happened in the mummy. Be chill in here. The room with the antique furniture placard changed from Renaissance revival room to skip this room. You can't even sit on any of the couches. Throughout the day, docents were finding and removing the placards display after display. When asked why she did it, the girl said that at school they were learning how the best arts is honest art. And also, I just lied and said I had permission to do this.

[Peter Sagal]

So one of these stories really happened. Was it from faith Saley, a 12 year old who ended up taking confessions at a Catholic church? From Roy Blunt Jr. A kid at a German soccer pitch, well, not using his hands on the ball. Or from Shantira Jackson, a docent's daughter at the Metropolitan Museum, changing the placards on the art to more honest ones. Which of these is the real story of a kid at his parents workplace?

[Bill Curtis]

I'm gonna have to go with the soccer balls incident because the truth is stranger than fiction. And if you're gonna make it up, I don't think they go that far.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, you've chosen Roy's story of the soccer player's son who attacked the soccer referee. Well, we spoke to someone who had an opinion on this real story. I just felt so bad for the referee and for everyone involved. That was Joey Kenward. He's a soccer referee and broadcaster in Vancouver, Canada, talking with, I think some apprehension about the boy who attacked the referee with his teeth in Germany. Congratulations. You got it right. You Earned a point for Roy. You have won our prize, the voice of any one you might choose from our show in your voicemail. Congratulations and well done.

[Bill Curtis]

Thank you.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you.

[Bill Curtis]

It's a pleasure being on the show.

[Peter Sagal]

Best to your frogs. Thank you.

[Bill Curtis]

Bye.

[Peter Sagal]

And now, the game where we ask famous people about obscure things. We call it Not My Job. Lauren Graham became very famous and even more beloved by playing Lorelai Gilmore in the Gilmore Girls. A grown woman dealing with her own problems and the problems of her young daughter. She's now starring in Z Suite, a new comedy in which she plays a grown woman dealing with her own problems and the problems of her much younger colleagues. Perhaps she has found a niche. Lauren Graham, welcome to. Wait, Wait, don't tell me. Thank you.

[Faith Saley]

I'm so glad to be here.

[Peter Sagal]

Give me a fact check. Was I correct in drawing a parallel? Does your role in Z Suite remind you at all of your former adventures as Lorelai Gilmore? No. No.

[Lauren Graham]

Because the sort of premise of the show is what a bad job they're doing at taking over the office. And I tend to be playing irritable at them, which I hardly ever did with Rory because she was such an A student. No, it's been really fun to just do something that feels different.

[Peter Sagal]

I have to ask. I watched the first episodes of Z Suite and are there actual young people writing this show? Because I have to say, not being a young person myself, the young people seem like lunatics to me.

[Lauren Graham]

There are. We. We consulted with actual young advertising people and obviously it is making fun of all of all of us. So it's not. Not being overly critical of anyone because it's overly critical of everyone. It's fun because because of the show. I've heard even worse stories. I have a friend whose young employee called in sick because his eyes were baggy, he had under eye bags, and he needed more time for them to settle before he felt.

[Peter Sagal]

That's true. That is a thing that happened. Wow. I want to talk about the fans of the show, but I have to engage in just a little speculation. One of the things that I have learned about the Gilmore Girls is that it's famed for its references. Constantly. There are web pages giving the explanation of every reference in every episode of the Gilmore Girls. In the very first scene of the first episode of the Gilmore Girls, your character Lorelai offers some flavored lip gloss to your daughter Rory. In one of the very first scenes of Z Suite, your character describes one of the colleagues as so young she still uses flavored lip gloss was that it's mostly npr. And I'm like, this has got to be a subtle callback right on somebody's. No, no, no, I love.

[Lauren Graham]

I don't think so. No one, no one. I did not make that association. And no one said, hey, that's a little Easter egg for you. I think it's just you're a very smart man and you're a very lovely.

[Peter Sagal]

Woman, but we knew that. So let's talk about the Gilmore Girls. Gilmore Girls is so beloved that there are two fan conventions this year in Connecticut alone. Have you ever gone to one?

[Lauren Graham]

No, I haven't. And it is the 25th anniversary this year, and we are in discussions by we, I mean myself and Amy Sherman Palladino, the creator of the show, to say, what can we do? What can we do to give people the experience they seem to crave of community around the show, you know, maybe getting all of us together in some way. So we're working on it.

[Peter Sagal]

You're working on. So there might be something like.

[Lauren Graham]

I hope so. There will be something. What will it be? At an inn in Connecticut, you know, I don't know.

[Peter Sagal]

It'll be great to have all the people wear plaid. That'll be exciting. Many years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Leonard Nimoy, and he had a thing early in his career where he got very upset that people thought he was Mr. Spock. He later embraced it. And I wonder, you played a similarly iconic character. Do people think you are you, Lauren Graham, actual human being? Are Lorelei Gilmore fictional creation?

[Faith Saley]

Yes.

[Lauren Graham]

And I don't think I've worked hard enough to dissuade them from believing that. No, I think the show, you know, as any long running TV show, you become it and it becomes you. And sort of the reason I gravitated toward this way back when I first read the pilot was it felt like, familiar somehow. It felt like the way I speak or think already. So it was kind of meant to be in that way. And, and, and yes, I. In general, it's really positive. People view me as their cool mom. And I don't, you know, that's not bad.

[Peter Sagal]

No. Does it. Has it ever gotten awkward? Has anybody, like, come and like, laid out their troubles and asked for Lorelei's advice?

[Lauren Graham]

Yeah, I mean, I mean, it's not even awkward so much as it's. And this is just being on TV and playing someone who's like, not Walter White, you know, like, if you play a friendly, kind of warm person, like, people just feel that they know you and, you know, people Cry sometimes and, you know, it gets awkward, like, if I'm in the bathroom and, like, coming out of a stall, like, that's not my favorite. They're like, oh, my God, can I. And I'm like, let me just. Let's leave this room and.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, well, Lauren Graham, it is a joy to talk to you, and we have asked you here to play a game, and we are calling it Gilmore.

[Bill Curtis]

Girl Meet girls with Gills.

[Peter Sagal]

I know. All right, work with me here. Work with me. I will. You played a Gilmore Girl. So we're going to ask you three questions about Gil girls. That is mermaids. Okay, Makes sense. Answer two to three questions correctly, you'll win a prize for one of our listeners, the voice of anyone they choose from our show on their voicemail, perhaps mothering them.

[Lauren Graham]

Well, that's a great gift.

[Peter Sagal]

It is. I think. I think it's the only one we could possibly afford, so it better be Bill. Who is Lauren Graham playing for?

[Bill Curtis]

Aoife Murray of Oak Park, Illinois.

[Peter Sagal]

Ah. A place I know. Well, Here we go. Lauren, you ready to play?

[Lauren Graham]

I am.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, here's your first question. The old 20,000 leagues under the Sea ride at Disneyland now gone. Well, for a brief period in the 1960s, had actresses dressed up as mermaids lounging on rocks in the lagoon and waving to the visitors. They had to end that part of the attraction just after a few years. Why? A, one of the mermaids got a tail caught in the submarine and got dragged through the lagoon. B, visitors kept jumping in the water and trying to hit on the mermaids. Or C, somebody who said they represented the real mermaid community said it was offensive stereotyping.

[Lauren Graham]

I believe that people would get in the water to meet them.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes. You apparently have met some people. Yes, that's right. It was, unsurprisingly, mostly men who were jumping into the water to go talk to. To the mermaids. I don't know if the men had noticed that the mermaids are fish from the waist down. All right, very good. Very perceptive. Here's your next question. The most famous mermaid attraction in America is, of course, the Mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs, also in Florida. If you were to dive to the bottom of the Weeki Wachee Springs where The Mermaids play 75 years after that show started, what would you find down there? A, a, about 10 metric tons of loose plastic mermaid scales, B, a carton of cigarettes that was dropped by a mermaid in 1968 who actually thought she could have a smoke break down there, or C, nobody has any idea because nobody's ever seen the bottom.

[Lauren Graham]

Ooh, well, scales, I guess.

[Peter Sagal]

Scales? No, it's not scales. It's that nobody knows. The Weeki Wachee Springs is the deepest natural springs in the world, and nobody has gotten down there. All right, you have one more chance. If you get this right, you win. An aquarium in China also offers a mermaid show with performers dressed as mermaids performing, this time in a giant fish tank. But they were recently accused of covering up an incident in which what happened? A, the tail fell off a particular mermaid, revealing it to be a merman, B, the head fell off a mermaid, revealing it to be a giant sturgeon, or C, a giant sturgeon tried to eat a mermaid's head. The audience is yelling c. No, no.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

They'Re just an acapella group.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, I know. I've got to say, they're yelling, see in C. So am I being booed by. No, no, you're not being booed. You are being helped.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

You're being helped by the.

[Peter Sagal]

By the. By the C. C. It's C. It's C. It is. Yes. The giant surgeon which was in the tank just swam it over and just tried to swallow that mermaid's head. And I have to say, having seen the video, it is horrifying, but in a good way. And the mermaid was fine. Bill, how did Lauren Graham do in our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

Lauren got two out of three, and that is a win. Lauren, Congratulations, Lauren.

[Peter Sagal]

And I have to say, you did that like Lorelai. You were thoughtful, you struggled a bit, but you won in the end. You came through. Lauren Graham is now starring on the Z Suite. You can find it on Tubi. Lauren Graham, thank you so much for joining us on Wait Wait.

[Bill Curtis]

Don't tell me so much.

[Faith Saley]

Such fun.

[Peter Sagal]

That was a delight. Thank you, Lauren. Take care.

[Bill Curtis]

Bye bye.

[Peter Sagal]

Bye. In just a minute, the one thing you cannot, cannot go camping without. That's in our Listener Limerick challenge. Call 1-88-HAIT-WAIT to join us on the air. We'll be back in a minute with more of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me from npr.

[Commercial Announcer]

Support for NPR and the following message come from Bolan Branch. Change your sleep with Bolen Branch's airy blankets, cloud like duvets and breathable sheets. Feel the difference with 15% off your first [e-mail] with code NPR exclusions apply. See site for details. This message comes from Charles Schwab with their original podcast Choiceology, hosted by Katie Milkman, an award winning behavioral scientist and author of the best selling book how to Change Choiceology is a show about the psychology and economics behind people's decisions. Hear true stories from Nobel laureates, historians, authors, athletes and more about why people do the things they do. Download the latest episode and [e-mail] podcast or wherever you listen. This message comes from Lisa. Since 2015, Lisa has donated over 41,000 mattresses nationwide. Elevate your sleep with Lisa. Go to Lisa.com for 20% off, plus an extra 50 off with promo code. NPR.

[Bill Curtis]

From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell me, the NPR News quiz. I'm Bill Curtis. We are playing this week with Roy Blunt, Jr. Faith Salee and Shantira Jackson. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sago.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you so much, Bill. In just a minute. Roses are red, violets are blue. Bill does the limericks because he's better at rhyming. Listener Limerick Challenge. If you'd like to play, give us a call. 1-888-wait wait. That's 1-888-924-8924. Right now, panel, some more questions for you from the week's news. Faith There's a controversial new trend taking over the Internet that challenges people to show up only 15 minutes before their.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

What, their wedding?

[Peter Sagal]

No, not their wedding.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Their funeral.

[Peter Sagal]

No, that's my plan though, actually. Well, gosh, I mean, most people, most of the time, you recommended you show up two hours before this.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Oh, your flight.

[Peter Sagal]

Your flight. Yes. In a challenge designed.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

That makes you sweat.

[Peter Sagal]

Exactly. In a challenge designed to make your dad furious. The airport theory trend suggests that with modern airports and everything else, you only need to arrive at the airport 15 minutes before your departure time in order to make your flight.

[Faith Saley]

No, no, no, no.

[Peter Sagal]

It's perfect. No, I'm going to absolutely do this on Thanksgiving with my two small children and my non refundable fares. And it's going to be awesome if.

[Shantira Jackson]

You get there so close you don't get to kick back and enjoy a little packet of thousand dollar Crackle.

[Peter Sagal]

That's true. Enjoying each one because they cost $40 each. Over the last month, TikTok has been full of people testing out this theory, coincidentally. And this is true. In the last month, Google searches for I missed my flight have gone up 645%. Roy We've all experienced our banks going digital. So we do things on our apps now on our phones. A new organization has also moved to digital banking. What is it? It's a bank that all of us, well, almost all of us have been to the bank.

[Shantira Jackson]

You know, like, you swim to a bank? That kind of bank?

[Peter Sagal]

No, no.

[Shantira Jackson]

Bank by the river.

[Peter Sagal]

I'll give you a hint.

[Shantira Jackson]

Not a sperm bank.

[Peter Sagal]

No, no, no. That would be interesting how you'd use your phone to make a deposit in that. No. I'll say I don't mind using the app for banking, but it is a little uncomfortable just to have to swipe left to get out of jail free.

[Shantira Jackson]

Oh, to rob a bank.

[Peter Sagal]

No, get out of jail free. Monopoly. Yes, the Monopoly bank has gone digital to keep up with the times. Hasbro is releasing a new version of Monopoly where instead of the classic, you know, bank and all the Monopoly money and its colors, you'll manage your money via Monopoly mobile banking app. That's right. It's like crypto.

[Faith Saley]

I hate that. Yes.

[Peter Sagal]

Boo. That they've automated the Monopoly bankers, sending the unemployment rate among older siblings skyrocketing.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

What are we taking away from our children?

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, I know. I mean, you cannot replicate with some, you know, bites digital data the cocaine, like, high of waving your hundred dollar bill in your sobbing little sister's face.

[Lauren Graham]

Cocaine like, yeah, you want to let it rain.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. And where does this end? Are we going to see, like, airbnbs instead of hotels? And I swear, if they replace railroads with rideshare apps, I would burn Marvin Gardens to the ground.

[Faith Saley]

I'm really upset about this. This is like, I have such fond memories of me and my cousin screaming at each other over that money. Yeah, I just. That's how you, like, learn how to count and decide whether or not being a landlord is a good thing.

[Peter Sagal]

It's all about the care. Coming up. It's lightning. Fill in the blank. But first, it's the game where you have to listen for the rhyme. If you'd like to play on air, call or leave a message at 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. You can see us most weeks here at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago or on the road. We'll be at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando on March 20th. Tickets and info is at nprpresents.org hi, you're on. Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Bill Curtis]

Hi, this is Mariah Wood.

[Peter Sagal]

I'm from Chestertown, Maryland. Chestertown, Maryland. Okay, I don't know exactly where that is. No, you're. You wouldn't. Why wouldn't I know where it is? Well, it's a teeny little town in a teeny little county on the opposite side of the Chesapeake Bay from where everybody thinks Maryland is right. Well, welcome to the show, Mariah. Bill Curtis is going to read you three news related limericks with the last word or phrase missing from each. If you can fill in the last word or phrase correctly and two of the limericks will be a winner. You ready to go? I sure am. Here is your first limerick.

[Bill Curtis]

Half uneaten. Don't throw that away. Leave it out. It stays firm and. Okay. Consumers will clamor for our new banana. Unpeeled, it can last a whole day.

[Peter Sagal]

Whole day? Yes. British scientists have developed a variety of banana that doesn't spoil once it is peeled. This is a huge win for fruit salad and anyone who wants to save 19 cents by eating half a banana today and saving the other half for tomorrow. Otherwise known as why are there fruit flies in my car? This is amazing. Just think what in advance. Think of all the bananas that wouldn't have gone bad and been made into banana bread. And think of no one having to pretend they like banana bread. I love banana bread.

[Faith Saley]

I hate banana bread.

[Peter Sagal]

You do?

[Faith Saley]

I do not like it. I like bananas. I don't like bananas in stuff.

[Peter Sagal]

Sorry.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Roy, how do you feel about banana bread?

[Shantira Jackson]

It was the only thing my children would eat for about six months. It was not banana bread, but with bananas. And I mix it up with chocolate and milk and stuff. They love that.

[Faith Saley]

Well, if you put it like that.

[Peter Sagal]

I'll probably eat that too. So for six months you're. Your kids would only eat mashed bananas with chocolate and milk?

[Shantira Jackson]

Yeah. You know, I'm sort of saying this for effect, but they loved it. They loved that. And it was healthy for them.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. All right, here is your next limerick.

[Bill Curtis]

My survival tales totally truth based food was minty with hints of vermouth taste. Since I'm not a noob, I consume the whole tube when I drank melted snow and ate toothpaste.

[Peter Sagal]

Toothpaste. A teenager in China who was stranded in the remote, frigid mountains with no food survived on river water, melted snow and a lot of toothpaste for 10 days.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

One tube of toothpaste.

[Peter Sagal]

One tube of toothpaste. Fortunately for him, it was Colgate's new beef toothpaste. I'm very happy for the guy and I'm glad he got rescued. But who decides to go hiking on a trail that was closed because it was too dangerous, with no water, no food, but a tube of toothpaste?

[Faith Saley]

A teenage boy.

[Peter Sagal]

A teenage. Really?

[Faith Saley]

That has teenage boy written all over it.

[Peter Sagal]

Really? Explain the logic. I haven't been a teenage boy for a while.

[Faith Saley]

The logic is it's a boy and he's a teenager and he made a big mistake.

[Shantira Jackson]

You just didn't think.

[Faith Saley]

No. Yeah. A teenage girl would have had, like, too much stuff. She would have been like, I had to leave one of my bags on the top of the mountain.

[Peter Sagal]

Poor guy will never be able to brush his teeth without experiencing PTSD again. All right, here's your last limerick. You're doing great.

[Bill Curtis]

Once my tummy was bloated and so hurt. Now I'm hot and can go out with no shirt thanks to coconut cultures. My body's sculpture and I've paid 40 bucks for the yogurt.

[Peter Sagal]

Yogurt. According to influencers, there is a new kind of yogurt that makes you look hotter as opposed to traditional yogurt that makes you look old. Because there you are eating yogurt. Coconut Cult is a probiotic coconut yogurt that, quote, promotes gut health, eliminates bloating, improves immunity, and clears skin. And at $40, a jar facilitates poorness.

[Faith Saley]

$40? I think I'm just like, turning into my dad because I'll be like, $40. I can make my own yogurt for half that price.

[Peter Sagal]

Won't make me hot. Maybe a little warm, but, you know, that's good enough.

[Faith Saley]

You gave me two. I'll figure it out.

[Peter Sagal]

Bill, how did Mariah do in our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

Perfect score. Three straight.

[Peter Sagal]

There you are. Well done, Mariah. Thank you so much.

[Shantira Jackson]

Take care.

[Peter Sagal]

You too. Bye. Bye. I'm feeling good.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Peter Sagal]

Lightning Fill in the blank. Each of our players will have 60 seconds in which to answer as many fill in the blank questions as they can. Each correct answer now worth two points. Bill, can you give us the scores?

[Bill Curtis]

Shantira and Faith each have two. Roy has four.

[Peter Sagal]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Well, Roy's in first place. Faith and Shantira are tied for second. So I'm going to arbitrarily pick Faith to go first this time. Here we go. Faith. The clock will start when I begin your first question. Fill in the blank. On Wednesday, European leaders met at a special summit after the White House pulled critical support for Blank.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Ukraine.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. Following several collisions and near misses, a House hearing was held to address the shortage of blanks.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Federal aviation workers.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. Air traffic traffic controllers. This week, the county of Los Angeles sued California Edison, saying the company's equipment sparked blank wildfires. Right. On Monday, streaming video site Blank announced it was cracking down on gambling. Related content.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Uh, Netflix?

[Peter Sagal]

No. YouTube. This week, Citibank said a quote inputting error was the reason a customer who made a $280 deposit was accidentally credited with blank.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

280 million.

[Peter Sagal]

No, $81 trillion. On Tuesday, FIFA announced that for the first time ever, the 2026 men's blank would include a halftime show.

[Commercial Announcer]

World Cup.

[Peter Sagal]

Exactly. Drake's Revenge. On Sunday, Honora was the big winner at the 2025 Blank Awards.

[Commercial Announcer]

Oscars.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. This week, a family in England is fighting over their father's headstone after his wife engraved it with the epitaph blank.

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Oh, he was an arse.

[Peter Sagal]

No, close, though. The gravestone said, in loving memory of John, husband, son, father, adulterer. All right, the first question is. Come on. Who would cheat on somebody so funny? The father's side of the family has demanded a new headstone, but his son says no. And he has the support of his mother, his two siblings, and four other people who also are his siblings, it turns out. Bill, how did Faith do in our quiz? Five.

[Bill Curtis]

Right. Ten more points. Total of 12. She's in the lead.

[Peter Sagal]

All right. Well done. Here we go then. Shantira, you are up next. Fill in the Blank. On Thursday, President Trump reversed course and lifted most of the blanks placed on Mexico tariffs. Right. According to a new study, Paxlovid may not reduce hospitalization risk for older adults who catch blank.

[Faith Saley]

Covid.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. This week, Utah became the first state to pass legislation that requires blank apps to verify their users ages.

[Faith Saley]

Porn apps?

[Peter Sagal]

No social media apps.

[Faith Saley]

That sounds like something Utah would do.

[Peter Sagal]

On Thursday, a 40 day boycott against Target began in protest of the company scaling back blank policies.

[Faith Saley]

The.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. The existence of a top secret CIA black site in Virginia was accidentally revealed this week. When Blank.

[Faith Saley]

Somebody went to go play golf there.

[Peter Sagal]

No. When the Trump administration listed the building for sale on Monday, Uber began offering blankless vehicles for riders in Austin, Texas.

[Faith Saley]

Driverless.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. This week, a court in Canada ruled against a man who said he couldn't provide spousal support because he was injured from blanking.

[Faith Saley]

Cheating all the time.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, he did that, but he said he was injured from hunting for Sasquatch. The court denied the man's claims that he was unable to provide financial support due to a slip and fall injury he suffered while searching for Sasquatch. The court documents didn't have a lot of detail, but they do say the slip and fall incident happened on a set of stairs in Vancouver, Canada. So I guess he was at the Sasquatch's apartment. Phil, how did Shantira do in our quiz?

[Bill Curtis]

Four rights, eight more points, total of 10. Faith still leads.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, so then how many does Roy need to win?

[Bill Curtis]

4 to tie, 5 to win.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, up to it. Here we go, Roy. This is for the game. On Thursday, the White House prepared an executive order aimed at eliminating the Department of Blank.

[Shantira Jackson]

Oh, probably all of them. Department of Education.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. Following his protest during Trump's address to Congress, the House censured Representative Blank.

[Shantira Jackson]

Our representative.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. This week, the US Began negotiating directly with Hamas about the ceasefire in Blank in Gaza. Right. On Tuesday, the CDC warned that the Blank outbreak in Texas has continued to grow.

[Shantira Jackson]

Oh, no. I know. Measles. Measles.

[Peter Sagal]

This week, a dispatcher in Oklahoma worked closely with police after a toddler called 911 and asked for a blank arrest.

[Shantira Jackson]

Of someone in the toddler's family.

[Peter Sagal]

No. He asked for emergency donuts and he got them. On Tuesday, Blank became the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career points.

[Shantira Jackson]

LeBron James.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. On Thursday, scientists warned that human brains could contain up to a spoonful of blank.

[Shantira Jackson]

Oh, plastic.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. This week, a tourist in Rome who was trying to flee the police was caught after he blanked.

[Shantira Jackson]

Dove dived into a fountain.

[Peter Sagal]

Exactly right.

[Shantira Jackson]

Oh, I just made that up.

[Peter Sagal]

Specifically the treasure fountain. Famous fountain there. He dove into it and thought he would swim away from the police. Oh my gosh. It was a brilliant plan, except for he swam. When he got to the other side, the police were already waiting for him because they just walked around the outside of it. Bill, did Roy do well enough to win?

[Bill Curtis]

We bow down in Roy's presence. 7. Right. 14 more points. 8. Teen total.

[Shantira Jackson]

Greatest moment in my life.

[Peter Sagal]

In just a minute, we're going to ask our panelists to predict now that publishing has given up on paperbacks, what will be the next cost saving innovation in books. But first, let me tell you that Wait, wait, don't tell me. It's a production of NPR and WBEZ Chicago in association with Urgent Haircut Productions. Doug berman, Benevolent overlord Philip Ga writes our limericks are public. Public address announcer is Paul Friedman. Our tour manager is Shana Donald. Thanks to the staff and crew at the Studebaker Theater. BJ Ledemann composed our theme. Our program is produced by Jennifer Mills, Miles Gurnboss and Lillian King. Special thanks to Mohamed El Shehi and Monica Hickey. Peter Gwynn is our Sasquatch wrangler. Emma Choi is our vibe curator. Our jolly good fellow is Hannah Anderson. Technical direction is from Lorna White. Her CFO is Colin Miller. Our production manager is Robert Neuhaus. Our senior producer, Ian Chillock. And the executive producer of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me is Michael Danforth. Now, panel, how is the publishing industry going to save money? Next, Shantira jackson, no spines, just tops.

[Faith Saley]

And bottom covers so you can read everything like an accordion.

[Peter Sagal]

Roy Blunt, Jr.

[Shantira Jackson]

They're going to eliminate italics people. They did a study, they did a survey and people just don't like them. People want to decide which words to emphasize on their own.

[Peter Sagal]

And Faith, would you like to follow that?

[Roy Blount Jr.]

Books will be printed on Charmin.

[Bill Curtis]

And if any of that happens, we're going to ask you about it here on Wait Wait, Don't Tell me.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Bill Curtis. Thanks also to Shintira Jackson, Roy Blount, Jr. And Faith Sally, thanks to our fabulous audience here at the Studebaker Theater in downtown Chicago. Thanks all of you listening wherever you might be. I'm Peter Sagal. We'll see you next week. This is NPR.

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