Brandi Carlile helps us say goodbye to Bill Kurtis!
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In a heartfelt farewell episode of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, the show honors longtime host Bill Curtis after 12 years of comedic anchoring, marking his retirement with a mix of humor, nostalgia, and genuine affection. The episode opens with a playful jab at Curtis’s legacy, joking that he’s either stepping down or finally realizing the absurdity of his role. The panel—Paula Poundstone, Nagin Farsad, and Luke Burbank—engage in trademark games like Bluff the Listener and Not My Job, with Grammy-winning singer Brandi Carlile joining as a guest to discuss her journey from rural Washington to global stardom, including her deep admiration for Elton John and her unconventional upbringing. The show’s signature blend of satire and warmth shines through, especially in the final tribute to Curtis, where host Peter Sagal flips the script: it’s not Curtis who’s lucky, but the entire team who got to work with him. The episode closes with the panel’s wildly imaginative predictions for Curtis’s post-show life—ranging from becoming a male bikini model to seeking reparations for voice-based objectification—underscoring the deep camaraderie and affection that defined his tenure.
Bill Curtis is retiring after 12 years as the show’s legendary anchorman, with the team affirming they were the lucky ones.
Brandi Carlile shares her formative years growing up poor in rural Washington, including hunting deer from the house window and being driven to fistfights by her father.
Carlile reveals she dressed as Elton John in school and later became close friends with him, admitting she told him about her obsession immediately.
The show’s 'Returning to the Store' game highlights absurd return stories, including a man winning $315 million after returning a $5 bottle of orange juice.
A viral wedding video features a bridesmaid’s dress tearing during a worm dance, leading to a 'Bridezilla' moment and a viral caption: 'Stop zooming in, you bastards.'
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Opening Salute to Bill Curtis
“But Bill, for once, you're wrong. We are the lucky ones, the producers and engineers and managers of our show and the panelists and, of course, me because we got to spend 12 years doing that with you.”
Listener Contest: Who's Bill This Time?
Tiffany Washburn from Dayton, Ohio, wins the quiz by correctly identifying bean consumption as an economic indicator, the rise of senior-focused TV shows, and AI being booed at graduations.
Bluff the Listener: One Letter, Big Consequences
Rhonda Grass correctly identifies the true story: a urologist mistaken for a ufologist due to a typo in his LinkedIn profile, leading to a viral mix-up.
Brandi Carlile: From Elton John Fan to Global Icon
“Life is too short to not be friends and to get close with people you respect.”
Not My Job: Returning to the Store
“Costco will take almost anything back if you bought it at Costco. That last guy, everything he'd ever bought, he pulled up with a U-Haul.”
“But Bill, for once, you're wrong. We are the lucky ones, the producers and engineers and managers of our show and the panelists and, of course, me because we got to spend 12 years doing that with you.”
“Costco will take almost anything back if you bought it at Costco. That last guy, everything he'd ever bought, he pulled up with a U”
“The only way you know something is absolutely true is if you say it. So would you please do the honors? This is NPR.”
Host
Guest
brandi carlile
person
peter sagal
person
bill curtis
person
npr
organization
elton john
person
paula poundstone
person
luke burbank
person
nagin farsad
person
studebaker theater
place
wbez chicago
organization
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