A special called “A Royal Pain in the News”, which from the trailer appears to be their regular stage show format on video, will air on BBC America a week from tonight.
Peter Sagal has gotten more bald since I saw him in Berkeley.
Carl Kasell never changes.
I can’t wait!
Roddy
I keep hoping BBC America is testing this as a possible QI kind of show for the US.
Our DVR is now set.
I wish that BBC America would just show QI. I like Peter Sagal, but he’s no Stephen Fry.
First off, hooray, but I do have a couple questions.
What the hell is this doing on BBC America? Wait, Wait,… has no connection to the actual BBC that I know of. Is this the process of every cable TV channel abandoning its roots?
How did they have a clip in the trailer? The show has to be written and taped very shortly before it airs (the radio show records on the Thursday before broadcast). Unless it’s some sort of year-end recap type of show, which I don’t think would be at its best.
What do the callers win if they get correct answers? For the radio version, you get an audio recording for your voicemail. Now that they’re going to video, I assume you win some sort of Carl Kasell sex tape or something.
In case you’re looking for it on the TV schedule it’s on next Friday, Dec 23, during prime time. You have to find BBC America on your cable lineup on your own.
Re: #2, I believe the title, “A Royal Pain in the News” plus the promo material you can see at BBCA reveals this to be the case - it’s not a topical show, probably.
Don’t know.
Hope not!
Roddy
Sure it has. Wait, Wait,… is totally a rip-off of BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, and BBC TV’s Have I Got News for You.
However, IMHO (and speaking as a Brit), Wait, Wait is the superior show. I am not convinced it is going to work well on TV, though.
It is not clear to me what people think Wait, Wait has in common with QI, except for the fact that they are both panel games. It is true, though, that panel games are pretty rare on U.S. TV these days (whereas British TV is heavily infested with them). Perhaps American viewers are now so unfamiliar with thee genre that they now all look alike, or will look like something fresh and new.
I’d watch! I love “Wait Wait” and it is handily the best thing about living in Shitcago. I’ll see a taping one day, but nobody wants to go with me. 
Can’t wait for the Carl Kassel sex tapes!
I’ve been to a taping in Chicago and I don’t even live there.
Don’t rub it in!
And don’t you worry your pretty little head, I have a highly persuasive method that I’m reserving for when all other methods fail. It consists of persistent whining that will eventually result in someone giving in just to shut me up.
these contemporary radio shows copied earlier radio shows such as
Information Please
It Pays to Be Ignorant
Go alone, I did. Or if I’m ever in Chicago again, I’ll meet you there.
Set up on my DVR. I assume they did the trailer as part of the pilot or test show.
I saw them when they were in Monterey. Great - and I have the Wait Wait coffee mug holding my pencils.
I think I still have the “Carl Kasell, International Newsman of Mystery” car air freshener, but it’s packed away somewhere.
I watched this last night, and thought it was quite good. I had a bit of a mental disconnect seeing these voices I’m so familiar with (primarily Peter & Carl) coming out of actual people, but that went away quickly. I missed the call-in aspect of the show, but as long as I still get my weekly radio dose, I could be ok with a TV show.
For those of us without cable TV, any where we can view or buy this on the web?
^^^ Yes, please! I’m listening to the radio version of this right now, and is always, I love it, but I will totally look up this same show online to watch it later. I suppose I could try to find it myself, but if someone else can tell me here, that would make my life about 1% easier.
I found some sneak previews and outtakes at the BBC America website, at least.
Yeah saw that but not the real show anywhere that I can find at least. bummer.
You’d think with the success of Louis CK’s recent online show that more folks would get on board with this! We’re out there and we want to spend money with you!