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Legendary Announcer for NPR’s ‘Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!’ Stepping Away From the Mic

Mar 5, 2014  •  Post A Comment

Fans of the NPR quiz show “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” will likely be disappointed to learn that one of the show’s fixtures, veteran newsman Carl Kasell — who serves as official judge and scorekeeper, along with being the show’s announcer — is retiring from the show, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town.

Kasell, 79, will tape his final broadcast of the show this spring. The program is in its 16th year on the air and draws more than 3.8 million listeners per week.

“And whose autograph do they line up for after each show?" host Peter Sagal asked in a statement. “Carl’s. The 50-year-old computer programmers are in my line telling me C-plus-plus jokes, and the 20-something women are beside themselves posing for pictures with Carl.”

Kasell, who was the newscaster for NPR’s “Morning Edition” for 30 years, will still record custom voice mail greetings for winners on “Wait Wait” and will still sometimes appear on the show, the story notes.

“I can honestly say I am the luckiest man around to be able to have worked at a job I love for so many years," Kasell said in a statement. "It’s truly been a joy for me.”

carl kasell.jpgCarl Kasell

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