Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
Episode: Rhea Seehorn
Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Peter Sagal
Special Guest: Rhea Seehorn
Main Theme
This episode of "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" brings the trademark blend of news quiz, irreverent comedy, and pop culture commentary. The highlight is a conversation with acclaimed actress Rhea Seehorn, known for "Better Call Saul" and starring in the new Apple TV+ show "Pluribus". Along the way, the panel—Paula Poundstone, Hari Kondabolu, and Josh Gondelman—bat around the latest weird news stories and celebrity shenanigans.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Weekly News Quiz & Panel Banter
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Vanity Fair’s Trump White House Photo Spread (04:00)
- Main Story: Vanity Fair published uncomfortably close-up photos of Trump administration officials.
- Panel banter: Jokes about the photos’ “before quality,” skin details, and comparison to dermatology warning images.
- Memorable Quote:
- Josh Gondelman (06:15): “What we have to do is say that they are evil people and they look hideous in these pictures. Those are two separate things to criticize them for.”
- Paula Poundstone (05:36): “[Stephen Miller] looks like a hairless cat.”
-
Roomba Parent Company Bankruptcy (06:47)
- iRobot, maker of Roomba vacuums, files for bankruptcy.
- Panel confessions: Hari and Josh admit to owning Roombas—Paula says, “It’s the sort of thing friends tell each other.”
- Jokes about telling your Roomba the bad news so it doesn’t drive itself down the stairs.
-
Connecticut’s Hallmark Movie Tourism (08:45)
- Connecticut rolls out a tourism campaign mapping Hallmark Christmas movie sites. Panel cracks up picturing fans hoping to encounter small-town romance or fictional drama.
- Memorable Quote:
- Peter Sagal (10:56): “Every guy who fails to move away from his small town becomes a cop.”
2. Panelist Quiz Segment: Smart Wearable Tech
- A “Bluff the Listener” segment with stories about absurd new wearable devices.
- The real innovation: Mayo Clinic’s smartwatch to predict children’s temper tantrums (20:39).
- Expert confirmation: Prof. Arjun Atreya (Mayo Clinic) explains the child tantrum-tracker's science.
3. Interview: Rhea Seehorn (“Not My Job”) (22:05 - 31:54)
- Her Breakthrough on “Better Call Saul”
- Initially a smaller role, but writers and audience loved her, so the character (Kim Wexler) expanded.
- Quote:
- Rhea Seehorn (22:05): “I do think they enjoyed my performance, but I also think they realized it was a very good storytelling tool.”
- Living With Uncertainty in TV
- Cast feared their characters might be killed off because their fates weren’t shown in “Breaking Bad”.
- Patrick Fabian's (Howard Hamlin) Death: He kept his TV death secret even from his wife.
- Quote:
- Seehorn (23:13): “The first couple of seasons, I would say we would get our scripts and just call each other, flipping through and just go, I'm not dead.”
- Pluribus and Technical Challenges
- Rhea discusses her role in “Pluribus” and her inability to stream (Paula Poundstone is baffled by streaming services).
- Comic Aside:
- Paula Poundstone (25:01): “I don’t know how to do streaming or any kind of paid television. ... If it doesn’t come out on DVD or there’s not like a puppet show version of it, I don’t [watch].”
- Seehorn (25:56): “Vince [Gilligan] is going to find out if there’s a way for us to make VHS tapes of the show.”
- Her First IMDb Credit
- Playing the tutorial Sorceress in an early “Magic: The Gathering” video game, complete with DIY “gladiator” boots made from tube socks and electrical tape.
- Quote:
- Seehorn (27:15): “We’re just wearing tube socks with electrical tape in crisscross fashion.”
- She aces the Not My Job quiz: Christmas Carols
- Correctly answers all questions (28:49–31:34).
4. More Absurd News Games & Panel Play
- NYT Guide to Surviving In-Laws: “Just Go to Bed” (34:47)
- Suggests easiest way to dodge awkward family time is to retire early.
- Memorable exchange:
- Peter Sagal (36:24): “Your mother-in-law’s like, well guess I need to go to bed. And you’re like, mama, we just had lunch.”
- Parents Swiping for Kids on Dating Apps (36:46)
- Burned-out singles let their moms Tinder-match for them.
- Quote:
- Hari Kondabolu (37:56): “So the whole thing is that parents are helping to pick potential partners for their children. Wow. What an original idea. ... They met on their wedding day.”
- Lightning Fill in the Blank (45:16)
- Fast-paced quiz covering the week’s news. Josh Gondelman wins the game.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Peter Sagal (22:29): "You could have just admitted to sucking up, but that also was a lovely [explanation]."
- Paula Poundstone (25:01): “If it doesn’t come out on DVD or there’s not like a puppet show version of it, I don’t [watch].”
- Rhea Seehorn (27:50): "I showed them the picture on the back [of the Magic: The Gathering game], and I was like, this is—oh, my God, I did that. Could you… Would you give me a copy?"
- Josh Gondelman (06:18): "And unlike Paula, I do like making fun of people’s appearances."
- Panel, on Christmas tree trends (40:11):
- Peter Sagal: "So instead of… covering it with tinsel and ornaments... You either leave it completely bare, or just a single, maybe two strands of white lights. That's the idea."
- Paula Poundstone: “I probably should have done that this year. I'm not having a tree this year because I have kittens.”
Important Timestamps
- 01:47 — Peter Sagal opens the show & introduces guests
- 04:00 — News quiz: Vanity Fair Trump admin photos
- 06:47 — Roomba bankruptcy and confessions
- 08:45 — Hallmark movie tourism in Connecticut
- 11:41 — AI-powered vending machines go haywire
- 15:08 — Bluff the Listener: Wearable tech for tantrums
- 20:39 — Real story: Mayo Clinic tantrum smartwatch (confirming expert audio)
- 22:05 — Rhea Seehorn interview begins
- 23:13 — “Not dead” script stories from “Better Call Saul”
- 25:01 — Streaming TV, DVDs, and Paula's tech resistance
- 27:15 — Magic: The Gathering tutorial job
- 28:49 — "Not My Job" Christmas Carols quiz
- 31:34 — Rhea aces her quiz
- 34:47 — NYT tips for surviving in-laws: “Go to bed”
- 36:46 — Mom-picked matches on dating apps
- 45:16 — Lightning Fill in the Blank game begins
Structure
Opening Banter
- Classic panel jokes and playful teasing.
- Standard “Wait Wait” format with topical news questions and humorous responses.
Listener Segments
- Playful, supportive atmosphere for contestants.
- Panel frequently riffs off contestant backgrounds (e.g., Rachel, the pelvic floor PT; Lisa, the child psychologist).
Interview: Rhea Seehorn
- Insight into acting career trajectory, roles, relationships with showrunners.
- Warm, humorous panel rapport.
Listener Limerick & Lightning Round
- Fast-paced, pun-filled limericks and news questions.
- Running themes: pop culture, holiday trends, internet oddities.
Panelists & Attributions
- Peter Sagal (Host) — News quiz, sharp wit; sets up and guides the flow.
- Bill Curtis (Announcer) — Quotation reader, scorekeeper.
- Paula Poundstone — Comedian, frequent comic interjections, tech confusion.
- Hari Kondabolu — Comic, cultural observations, reveals personal anecdotes.
- Josh Gondelman — Comic, winner of Lightning Round, adds self-deprecating humor.
- Rhea Seehorn (Guest) — Honest, personable insights about TV, industry, and her own bizarre early jobs.
- Various Listeners — Lively contestants from all over the US.
Tone
The episode is jovial, irreverent, quick-witted, and warm. The celebrities and panelists freely poke fun at themselves and each other, while also showing genuine affection for the art and absurdity of “Wait Wait” banter.
Summary Takeaway
A memorable “Wait Wait” episode where news absurdity, holiday jokes, and the television world collide. Rhea Seehorn, good-natured and funny, provides a captivating interview with showbiz war stories, and the panel keeps the momentum brisk and laughter flowing. The blend of light political jabs, cultural quirks, and all-out panel goofiness makes for an entertaining listen—even if you missed the show live.