NPR’s ‘Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me’ Is Being Developed for TV By NBCU’s Wilshire Studios

Current events trivia game will see three celebrity panelists compete in a series of comedic challenges

| December 11, 2018 @ 10:29 AM Last Updated: December 11, 2018 @ 11:05 AM
Peter Sagal NPR

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

NRP’s popular radio show/podcast, “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me,” is coming to television.

NBCUniversal’s unscripted studio, Wilshire Studios, is developing a TV adaptation of the Peter Sagal-hosted series with Storied Media.

The weekly show is a funny and fast-paced game of provocative questions and snappy answers about current events, with celebrity guests — most recently,  Candace Bergen was a guest. The TV adaptation is an hour-long current events trivia game featuring three celebrity panelists who will compete in a series of comedic challenges, earning points as they correctly answer questions about the week’s news. The panelist who earns the most points will earn a cash prize for the charity of his or her choice.

No host has been picked yet for the TV version.

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“We are delighted to be adapting the iconic ‘Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!'” Dawn Olmstead, president, Wilshire Studios, said. “The series, radio show and podcast, working in tandem, will allow us to expand the audience across multiple platforms. We look forward to working with our partners at NPR and Storied Media Group on growing this timely franchise.”

Wilshire Studios focuses on unscripted programming, produces USA Network’s “Real Country,” Netflix’s “The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell,” Oxygen’s “Unspeakable Crime: The Killing of Jessica Chambers and Mysteries and Scandals,” E!’s “Busy Tonight” hosted by Busy Philipps, and E! “People’s Choice Awards.” Storied Media’s current series includes “Insatiable” on Netflix, “Modern Love” on Amazon Prime Video and “The Oath” on Sony’s Crackle.

“We are honored to work with NPR and Wilshire Studios to bring this iconic series to the screen. We are longtime fans of ‘Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!,’ and could not be more excited to be part of the team!” said Aaron Fishman, president of Unscripted for Storied Media Group.

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