__NOTOC__ The following is a list of episodes of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, NPR's news panel game, that aired during 2016. All episodes, unless otherwise indicated, are hosted by Peter Sagal with announcer/scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, and originated at Chicago's Chase Auditorium. Dates indicated are the episodes' original Saturday air dates. Job titles and backgrounds of the guests reflect their status at the time of their appearance.
January Date Guest Panelists NotesJanuary 2"Best of" episode, featuring comedians Richard Lewis and Jenny Slate and writer/producer Matthew WeinerJanuary 9Rapper/actor/producer Ice CubeGreg Proops, Amy Dickinson, Roy Blount, Jr.January 16Actress/singer/dancer Sutton FosterBobcat Goldthwait, Roxanne Roberts, Mo RoccaGuest host Mike PescaJanuary 23U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas PerezPaula Poundstone, Luke Burbank, Faith SalieJanuary 30Actor Richard DreyfussPeter Grosz, Shelby Fero, Tom BodettGuest host Mike Pesca
February Date Guest Panelists NotesFebruary 6Actress Lena HeadeyAlonzo Bodden, Roy Blount, Jr., Helen HongFebruary 13Film & TV producers/directors Mark and Jay DuplassMaz Jobrani, Roxanne Roberts, Mo RoccaFebruary 20"Best of" episode featuring French chef Jacques Pépin, hip-hop artist Chance the Rapper, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse TysonFebruary 27Singer Trisha YearwoodPaula Poundstone, Roy Blount, Jr., Faith SalieShow recorded at Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA
March Date Guest Panelists NotesMarch 5U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New JerseyAdam Burke, Roxanne Roberts, Bobcat GoldthwaitMarch 12Singer Josh GrobanFaith Salie, Mo Rocca, Paula PoundstoneShow recorded at Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, NYMarch 19Actor Andre RoyoPeter Grosz, Marina Franklin, Tom BodettMarch 26Jazz musician Esperanza SpaldingLuke Burbank, Roxanne Roberts, Roy Blount, Jr.
April Date Guest Panelists NotesApril 2Author R. L. StineAlonzo Bodden, Amy Dickinson, Adam FelberApril 9Reality TV personalities Drew Scott and Jonathan ScottPeter Grosz, Paula Poundstone, Tom BodettApril 16NASCAR driver Matt KensethMo Rocca, Roxanne Roberts, Luke BurbankShow recorded at Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, WIApril 23"Best of" episode featuring U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, singer Trisha Yearwood, rapper Ice Cube, and motivational speaker Tony RobbinsApril 30Journalist Lesley StahlAdam Burke, Faith Salie, Alonzo Bodden
May Date Guest Panelists NotesMay 7Actress and writer Rachel BloomTom Bodett, Helen Hong, P. J. O'RourkeMay 14Governor Gina Raimondo of Rhode IslandAmy Dickinson, Peter Grosz, Mo RoccaShow recorded at PPAC in Providence, RIMay 21Race car and stunt driver Ben CollinsFaith Salie, Adam Felber, Paula PoundstoneMay 28FEMA Administrator Craig FugateRoy Blount, Jr., Luke Burbank, Roxanne Roberts
June Date Guest Panelists NotesJune 4Musician-themed "Best Of 'Not My Job,'" featuring Esperanza Spalding, Marky Ramone, Josh Groban, Jewel, and Max WeinbergJune 11Chris Wink and Phil Stanton of Blue Man GroupFaith Salie, Peter Grosz, Brian BabylonJune 18Actor Terry O'QuinnPaula Poundstone, Mo Rocca, Tom BodettJune 25Portland Pilots men's basketball coach and former Trail Blazers star Terry PorterBobcat Goldthwait, Maz Jobrani, Roxanne RobertsShow recorded at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, OR
July Date Guest Panelists NotesJuly 2TV producer Norman LearAdam Burke, Amy Dickinson, Gabe LiedmanJuly 9Best of "Not My Job," featuring fashion consultant Tim Gunn, authors Elizabeth Gilbert and Lee Child, travel guru Rick Steves, and actress Lena HeadeyJuly 16Julian Castro, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentBrian Babylon, Jessi Klein, Roy Blount, Jr.July 23NASA Administrator Charles BoldenRoxanne Roberts, Tom Bodett, Paula PoundstoneShow recorded at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VAJuly 30Singer Sharon JonesPeter Grosz, Amy Dickinson, Adam Burke
August Date Guest Panelists NotesAugust 6Comedian and actor Keegan-Michael KeyBobcat Goldthwait, Helen Hong, Faith SalieAugust 13Journalist Katie CouricAlonzo Bodden, Adam Felber, Paula PoundstoneAugust 20"Best of" episode, featuring comedienne Carol Burnett, astronaut Sunita Williams, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, and Chris Wink and Phil Stanton of Blue Man GroupAugust 27Encores of interviews with actress/writer Rachel Bloom and Property Brothers Drew & Jonathan Scott, plus previously unaired segments including an interview with TV writer Bill Oakley
September Date Guest Panelists NotesSeptember 3Former Major League Baseball pitcher Bill "Spaceman" LeeRoy Blount, Jr., Paula Poundstone, Tom BodettShow recorded at Tanglewood in Lenox, MASeptember 10Actress/singer Kristin ChenowethLuke Burbank, Adam Felber, Faith SalieSeptember 17Musician and A Prairie Home Companion host Chris ThilePeter Grosz, Roxanne Roberts, Adam BurkeSeptember 24Actress Jamie Lee CurtisMaz Jobrani, Amy Dickinson, Mo Rocca
October Date Guest Panelists NotesOctober 1Author Randy Wayne WhiteAlonzo Bodden, Tom Bodett, Faith SalieShow recorded at Straz Center in Tampa, FLOctober 8Chef Marcus SamuelssonLuke Burbank, Peter Grosz, Helen HongOctober 15Best of "Not My Job," featuring producer Norman Lear, supermodel Cindy Crawford, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, and Portland Pilots men's basketball coach Terry PorterOctober 22Choreographer Garth FaganPaula Poundstone, Adam Felber, Amy DickinsonShow recorded at Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, NYOctober 29Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve YoungP. J. O'Rourke, Faith Salie, Mo RoccaGuest host Mike Pesca
November Date Guest Panelists NotesNovember 5Country singer WynonnaPeter Grosz, Roxanne Roberts, Alonzo BoddenShow recorded at TPAC in Nashville, TNNovember 12Sportscaster Joe BuckMaz Jobrani, Amy Dickinson, Luke BurbankNovember 19Country singer Garth BrooksRoxanne Roberts, Adam Felber, Paula PoundstoneNovember 26Best of "Not My Job," featuring author R. L. Stine, actor Richard Dreyfuss, journalist Katie Couric, comedian/actor Keegan-Michael Key, and NASCAR's Matt Kenseth
December Date Guest Panelists NotesDecember 3Actor/singer Alan CummingAdam Felber, Helen Hong, Luke BurbankDecember 10U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of VermontPeter Grosz, Paula Poundstone, Faith SalieShow recorded at State Theatre in Cleveland's Playhouse SquareDecember 17Chef and TV personality Anthony BourdainTom Bodett, Adam Burke, Roxanne RobertsDecember 24Composer Michael GiacchinoBrian Babylon, Amy Dickinson, Adam FelberDecember 31"Best of 2016" episode featuring musicians Chris Thile and Esperanza Spalding, Property Brothers Drew & Jonathan Scott, and an all-Paula Poundstone segment
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