Get out your calendars- here’s the Chicago taping schedule for Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!
2010 Chicago Calendar
I receive a TON of calls and emails about our calendar of shows. Given that, in WWDTM-land, time is strangely flexible and under no normal laws known to to man, it’s difficult to pin things down. WWDTM can be a bit like Brigadoon, appearing when it wants to and, of course, populated with a cast of singing Scotsmen.
With that in mind, below is the current calendar of our Chicago appearances, subject to change at a moment’s notice. Also be advised that tickets go on sale app. six weeks in advance but you should check our Online Store frequently – these shows sell out FAST.
FYI: For those who found this post from someplace other than our online store, tickets are $21.99 ($22.00 at the door because I don’t deal with pennies…)
WWDTM in Chicago
Check-in at 6:30PM – Taping Begins at 7:30PM
Chase Bank Auditorium, 10 S. Dearborn
Thursday, March 18 – SOLD OUT
Thursday, March 25 – SOLD OUT
Thursday, April 1 – NO TAPING
Thursday, April 8 – SOLD OUT (in two days)
Thursday, April 15 – St. Louis
Thursday, April 22 – SOLD OUT (yes…I know the tickets were never on sale. The show was bought out by a philanthropic organization…)
Thursday, April 29 (SOLD OUT)
Thursday, May 6 – Colorado Springs
Thursday, May 13 (on sale March 26 at 10AM)
Thursday, May 20 – NO TAPING
Thursday, May 27
Thursday, June 3 – Seattle
Thursday, June 10
Thursday, June 17
Thursday, June 24 – Minneapolis
Thursday, July 1
Thursday, July 8 – NO TAPING
Thursday, July 15
Thursday, July 22
Thursday, July 29
Thursday, August 5
Thursday, August 12
Thursday, August 19 – NO TAPING
Thursday, August 26 – NO TAPING
Thursday, September 2 – ??
Thursday, September 9
Thursday, September 16
Thursday, September 23 – Oklahoma City
Thursday, September 30
Anything after that, you’ll just have to wait. Be patient. Don’t call me.
ALSO: At this time there is NO Millennium Park taping scheduled. Sorry.
23
11 2009
blogs.vocalo.org
Thank you for responding, I still don’t know how much the tickets for Wait Wait are though. Can you give me that information?
Thanks,
Jody
Sorry to bother you again. I found the prices. No need to respond.
Thanks,
Jody
I like the show; it’s one of the funnier and smarter programs on the radio, even for NPR, which is saying a lot. But I won’t listen anymore, nor will I contirbute to NPR, because of one thing the show does the bugs me to no end:
Simply put, the show pretends it is live when it is not. Every other show on NPR that i’ve listened to lets you know when it is live vs. taped, except this one. When the show is broadcast the fact that it is taped is not mentioned, nor is it broadcast live in chicago. In and of itself that wouldn’t be a problem except THIS IS A CALL-IN SHOW! I feel like you’re manipulating the audience and I don’t care for it.
And as I’ve said, I like the show. A lot. And I love NPR. I would gladly contribute to both if I didn’t feel like I was supposed to be all ‘whipped up’ to listen to the show, but not ‘worthy’ enough to merit being able to actually call in live. If Diane Riehm, Car Talk, Talk of the Nation, Splendid Table, Zorba Pasteur, and What’ya Know can all broadcast live and have live call-in, so can you. Either that, or please make it clear that ‘Wait wait’ is NOT a live show!
Signed:
A disappointed potential contributor to NPR.
How often do these dates change? It would be really, really great if you had a show on February 11. You wouldn’t want to disappoint my mother, now would you?
Seriously, you wouldn’t.
We absolutely love this show, and it’s the last time we’ll be coming to Chicago for a very long time – five, ten years. Please make this last trip special!
Dear NPR:
Our whole family absolutely loves the show. We are interested in purchasing tickets for a Chicago taping. Is there any way to find out which of the panelists will be schedule for a particular taping date?
Thanks very much,
Art
“disappointed” -
I feel you. While I think your reaction is, perhaps, a bit extreme, I think you have every right to decry the non-live nature of the broadcast. That said, if you ever sat through Paul Provenza and Adam Felber riffing on a Peter Sagal Viagra joke – you’d understand why we cannot do a live broadcast and stay on the air.
The key to the show is allowing five very funny people the opportunity to freely make jokes about news they are hearing (sometimes) for the first time and at the very least just that week or day. Comedy and caution do not go hand in hand and if we broadcast this thing live, caution would be the killer of the funny.
Sure hope you get over this rage you feel – the show is as funny and topical as anything you’re likely to hear.
Olivia -
The schedule does change but I’m pretty certain we are not taping in Chicago on February 11. It pains me to disappoint your mother – why not bump that trip up a week and check out Chicago on February 4?
Art -
As much as I wish we held the panelists prisoner in the basement of WBEZ, they are all free birds and have incredibly diverse schedules. Our producer Emily Ecton does her best to wrangle them in and we pretty much only have the full list a month in advance, a month at a time. Check the online store – as soon as I know ‘em, the names go up on the site.
“That said, if you ever sat through Paul Provenza and Adam Felber riffing on a Peter Sagal Viagra joke – you’d understand why we cannot do a live broadcast and stay on the air.”
#1: I don’t buy your argument. I’ve listened to the show many times, and there is NOTHING in it that is out of bounds to the FCC. Have you ever listened to a morning show on commercial radio? And besides; they have a live audience in the studio. If they can be funny with a studio audience surely they can be funny with a live one? The folks at ‘What’ya know’ do it successfully.
#2: Your response does nothing to address the fact that the announcements for the show do NOT mention that it is not live. Most other NPR call-in shows do, or say ‘rebroadcast’ if they do not.
I’m sorry, your arguments still do not satisfy me. You pretend to be a live call-in show that doesn’t broadcast live. I think you are stuck in a paradigm called ‘this is how it must be’, and don’t see that you are not bound by those rules. Hopefully someday that can change.
“disappointed” -
I’d suggest that you are the one stuck in a paradigm.
The show works exactly the way it works because we do it that way. We’re happy with it – as are a lot of other people.
“I’ve listened to the show many times, and there is NOTHING in it that is out of bounds to the FCC.” Awesome. But until you see it live, you have no frame of reference whatsoever. Seriously. See, our audience IS “live.” The show is “live to tape.” Like most game shows.
I’m sorry that this “matter of principle” issue has made you so unhappy – the show is still funny, the people are still fantastic, and the audiences (both “live” and at home) seem to enjoy it. If it ain’t broke, don’t “fix” it, you know?
“But until you see it live, you have no frame of reference whatsoever. Seriously. See, our audience IS “live.” The show is “live to tape.” Like most game shows.”
–Again, how is this any different from ‘what’ya know?’
“I’m sorry that this “matter of principle” issue has made you so unhappy – the show is still funny, the people are still fantastic, and the audiences (both “live” and at home) seem to enjoy it. If it ain’t broke, don’t “fix” it, you know?”
–Well, I still disagree (on whether or not it is ‘broke’), but we are where we are, so at this point we agree that we disagree and life goes on. I do appreciate your response.
disappointed – I think it’s worth noting that a few of the shows you mention, Car Talk for example, are taped and not broadcast live. If you call into Car Talk, you leave a message, and wait for the producers to call you. In fact, Car Talk is edited so heavily that occasionally the “laughs” from Click and Clack are added in post-production. At least Wait, Wait isn’t edited that dramatically. Moreover, I’ve been to a couple of Wait, Wait performances, and they are a joy to watch. If your bias against taped shows is preventing you from attending one, then you are really missing out.
I guess I’ve not been paying attention. I don’t remember WWDTM offering a phone number and telling me to call them, like actual call-in shows. Now that I know that what I hear on the radio isn’t all I’m going to get when I see it in person, I’m even more eager to get to Chicago!
I’ve been to a ‘What’ya know’ show, and it is a much more controlled show than WWDTM. It seems obvious the putting WWDTM live-on-the-air would result in a much different show.
I hope ‘disappointed’ will realize he now knows the truth about WWDTM, and can relax and enjoy the show.
any chance that wait wait is coming back to pittsburgh iun 2010?
Any change WWDTM is coming to Boston in 2010? If so, could you provide me with the dates WWDTM will be in town?
*chance. Ugh for fast typing/not proofing.
When can I buy tickets for the Houston taping?
Okay, I ‘get’ that the schedule is fluid; but how do we get any advance notice about when you might be taping away from Chicago? I’d love to go to a show in Seattle, but last time you were hear I didn’t know about it until all the tickets had been snapped up.
Thanks.
My wife and I missed the 2009 Boston show…uggg. But we plan on going to Chicago this summer to catch a taping. Any planned 2010 Boston or “close” to Boston shows? WWDTM rocks!
To ‘disappointed’ and Eric:
See the show live! I finally did last winter in Chicago, and I was amazed! I’ve loved the show for a long time and have listened to every show for the past four years, but I enjoyed the live version even more! It’s two hours long, so there’s more to love, and the panelists get into even longer riffs (as Don Hall says). The taped version for widespread consumption is still great, but I’m going to take every opportunity I can to see them live.
I remember learning about the “taped” aspect of it early on, and it was a bit of a surprise, but I don’t recall feeling terribly misled. It actually can lead to some fairly amusing “predictions” on Peter’s part, since they sometimes refer to events in the future (say, the next day (Friday)) as if they were in the past (since it starts broadcasting (I think) on Saturday). I particularly noticed this during the 2008 presidential campaign, since certain major events/speeches were happening on a few Fridays. I don’t understand why WWDTM wants to give the impression they are truly live, but that’s their business. Doesn’t hurt me any.
Whad’ Ya Know (which I’ve also seen live) can be interesting in its own way because it does keep to its truly live status, but that show is strongly managed by Michael Feldman and the producers to keep it on time (which it hardly ever is, humorously so). I like both shows, but WWDTM is far funnier, in my opinion. WYK is a slower pace, more of a talk show.
“I remember learning about the “taped” aspect of it early on, and it was a bit of a surprise, but I don’t recall feeling terribly misled.”
–I appreciate your point, but I DO feel manipulated. Yes I will see the show live, but that’s NOT THE POINT. The point is they sell it as a call-in show when it isn’t one. All they have to do is say ‘you’re listening to a tape/rebroadcast of wait wait, don’t tell me’ and I would be fine. They don’t, and that’s my beef.
Peter Sagal’s name is misspelled on your website where his book is listed for sale.
Hi! I can’t seem to find ticket prices stated anywhere. Would you mind directing me to those?
Hi, can WWDTM tickets for Chicago shows be purchased through Ticketmaster? I received a gift card and would like to use it to buy tickets. Thanks!
i find the conversation about the showing being live vs. taped to be, in a word, hilarious.
Anyone with sense, or even someone with a lack of sense but a familiarity with the show, can tell that it couldn’t possibly be put on live.
When has a live show ever been able to calculate the exact length of time it takes Mo Rocca to spit out a complete sentence?
The folks on the panel are fantastic, yes, but it seems inhuman to have comedic timing so precise as to end the riffing on a perfect high-point time after time after time.
Lastly, you can actually *hear* the editing. Audiences don’t shut up that quickly.
Holding back support to NPR because you feel “duped” by a comedy show is like boycotting Sesame Street for not informing us that it is not, in fact, a real street.
This may be pointless, but “disappointed” is wrong about a few things that need to be cleared up.
He or she says, “If Diane Riehm, Car Talk, Talk of the Nation, Splendid Table, Zorba Pasteur, and What’ya Know can all broadcast live and have live call-in, so can you.”
As has already been pointed out, Car Talk is not live. Since you thought otherwise, “disappointed”, I presume you’ll boycott that show as well? And don’t forget The Splendid Table, which I have to assume is taped (like Car Talk) and plays at all different times during the week. From their website: “To talk to Lynne on the air, just call 800 537 5252 anytime. Leave us your name and number(s) and the nature of your call. Due to the high volume of calls we receive each week, it is not possible for us to get back to everyone.” I haven’t heard the Zorba Paster show, but considering the variation in days/times that the show runs, I would guess it’s taped as well. From their website: “Call 800-462-7413 or email zorba@wpr.org with your health, fitness or nutrition question.”
The Diane Rehm Show and Talk of the Nation are talk shows, not quiz shows, and thus take live calls as part of their purpose. They also cut people off as necessary to fit into the timeframe.
But being right about 3 out of 6 isn’t too bad, I suppose. Whad’Ya Know is the only game show (but it’s also, and perhaps mostly, a talk show) that broadcasts live, but Michael Feldman doesn’t let the participants say a whole lot (unless he wants to fill time). And how many times do they have to rush through the quiz because they’re running out of time?
Then in a response to Don Hall, disappointed makes another wrong statement: “I’ve listened to the show many times, and there is NOTHING in it that is out of bounds to the FCC.”
You’ve heard nothing “out of bounds”, disappointed, because … they’ve edited out anything unacceptable. So of course you haven’t heard it.
You also say, “the announcements for the show do NOT mention that it is not live. Most other NPR call-in shows do, or say ‘rebroadcast’ if they do not.” This isn’t quite accurate. Even Whad’Ya Know, which does broadcast live in some places, is taped and rebroadcast for the West Coast a few hours later. Yet they don’t say this is done. The only time they’ll say “don’t call, this is a taped show” is when it’s a re-run. So is this fair to those of us on the West Coast? Isn’t it a misrepresentation? Should I pull my support for NPR because I have to call Whad’Ya Know before the show is even on where I am?
Way too much effort to spend on such a strange argument, I know, but I’m done.
You are so funny!
I’m clicking refresh like a jack rabbit (I noticed tickets for the next taping go on sale today) – is there a time when tickets typically become available? My mouse finger is getting sore…
Jerry -
Tickets go on sale six weeks in advance of the taping date (for Chicago shows). I usually get them up by 10AM on that Friday.
jpr -
No Ticketmaster for Chicago tapings. You can get tickets either on our website or get one of the forty I release to Goldstar.com (half price). Those tickets usually sell out in about two days once posted and Goldstar controls when.
Everyone else – if you’d like to see WWDTM LIVE, swing on by the offices at Navy Pier and I’ll sit you in the bullpen while Peter, Mike, Ian, Emily, Eva and the rest sit on their computers and type. It’s thrilling in the same way that getting your taxes done is a laugh riot.
We’re coming to Chicago for my birthday and really wanted to attend a WWDTM performance LIVE at the Chase Auditorium, thinking, naturally, that it would be on Saturday morning, but it’s on Thursday night – what’s up with that???? we work during the week in a different state so there is NO WAY we can attend, since we won’t be taking a during-the-week vacation in Chicago. So disappointed. Why don’t you actually do a LIVE show? Censorship? What good reason do you have for advertising that it’s a LIVE show when it’s actually taped?
Is there not a show taped on June 24th? I do not see that date on the schedule. We were hoping to catch the show that night on our way back to Atlanta after celebrating my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary in Wisconsin.
We’re coming to town for our first taping this week (1/28/10) and are very very excited. I hate to bug you, but absent a FAQ page, I’m wondering if you can help the novice with a couple logistic questions?
-What time do the doors open for Chase Auditorium tapings?
-What is the size of the venue? (Translated- how critical will it be for us to get there early to get decent seating.)
Why are ticket prices such a secret? This info isn’t in any obvious place, any clues?
Just read the “live/live-on-tape” debate, and wanted to share:
Wife has a yearly meeting in the early spring in Chicago, and in two of the last three trips, we’ve been able to attend a Thursday night taping. (Delta and United airlines combined with Mother Nature to make us miss the third taping.)
The point about spontaneity is well made. I remember how much we laughed during a “riff” by Paula Poundstone and fellow panelists on some subject–odd, but I remember how much we laughed but not the subject.
Later, we heard a podcast of the show we had attended and marveled at the skill of editing that got the gist of the whole show (which had taken over two hours to present live) into an hour.
Maybe “Disappointed” can find enough accomplishment in Garrison Keillor’s skill at packing APHC live into an hour to salve his or her anger.
May a 15 year old attend?
How can I get tickets to the Denver taping?
Any chance of finding out who the “Philanthropic” organization was that bought out the April 22 show? Even a hint………… I have never been in Chicago and planning train trip, yes that’s right, train. Would love to see the show.
I am coming to Chicago during a short window. I would have love to come to the show but I will only be around Thursdyan 4/22. Is the philanthropic organization going to resell them for charity purposes?
Thursday, April 22 – SOLD OUT (yes…I know the tickets were never on sale. The show was bought out by a philanthropic organization…)
I am traveling to Chicago the week of march 15th to the 20th from the right wing land of multiple wives and guns for EVERYONE…..that would be Utah and wondered if there is a waiting list for the show on the 18th? I sure would like to get my weekly left leaning dose in person if possible.
Any chance you could post here with the panelists for upcoming shows? I bought tickets for March 18 when the panelists were still TBD, but now that the show is sold out there’s no place with info on whom we’ll be seeing. Thanks!
Can anyone tell me where there is public parking by Chase Auditorium? We want to be sure we can find parking close to the Auditorium. Are there any restaurants near the auditorium, that are reasonable, and have a variety?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. We are having family visiting from CA, and they have been wanting to see a taping.
Thank you for your time.
cbar577329@aol.com – please ….. I will reply to your emails.
Lucy -
We’re in Minneapolis on June 24.
Mona -
They are not reselling the tickets. We do not allow that for group sales.
Fasterscooter/Brian -
We have a ‘first come, first served’ waiting list that starts sign up at 6PM on the night of the show (yes – you must be present to win.) There is no guarantees that you’ll get a seat, but we generally have about a 5% no-show rate so it is always possible.
Cathy -
Parking. Hmmm. It’s downtown Chicago. On a Thursday night. The best parking option is to park around an El station somewhere north and take the Blue line to Monroe. If you want convenience and you don’t mind dropping some dough, there is a SELF park two blocks west of the bank on Madison. Also the Millennium Park Garage – about a five block walk from there.
Food? Lots of it, but I always recommend The Italian Village.
http://www.italianvillage-chicago.com/
I am bringing a group up fron Hilton Head SC to Chicago and alot of them have expressed a desire to attend your show? taping? what is it that you exactly do?
Hi,
I purchased tickets for a Thursday night taping and received a confirmation e-mail stating that I would not receive tickets and I should just show up with the confirmation printed out. Turns out that I cannot make it, and I would like to give my “tickets” to a friend. Will that same e-mail confirmation suffice as proof of purchase for my friends if I’m not present?
Thanks!
Bev – C’mon. Look it up on the internet. Listen to a podcast. We tape the show in front of a live audience. That’s pretty much it.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=35
Amy -
Yes.
Hey — Nancy and I loved you in Berkeley, CA!! Any idea when you are coming back? And bring Paula and Roy with you… thanks.. dave r
Hi Don, Do you know if Wait, Wait plans to come to DC or Baltimore area in the next year or two? My husband listens to the show every Saturday morning on WAMU-FM (88.5). I am pretty much a new listener, but what a GREAT show this is. We especially LOVE Paula Poundstone, Mo Rocca, Roy Blount, Jr. and Tom Bodett, and the others are pretty funny, too. The whole show is a wonderful addition to our Saturday morning.