Who Doesn't Love Carl Kasell?

One of the things we used to enjoy so much while living in Chicago was listening to WBEZ on Saturday mornings and tuning in to Chicago-based "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me." (Thank goodness the local NHPR station broadcasts the show as well, an hour later than in Chicago, which I guess, technically, is the same time 11AM EST/10AM CST.) We often debate who is the better panelist. P.J. O'Rourke? Charlie Pierce? Roy Blount, Jr., all the way! But of course, our favorite part of the show is just listening to the "mellifluous voice" of our man, Carl Kasell.

If you've listened to the show, then you know that that week's caller has a chance to win Carl's voice on their answering machine. The ultimate prize! We went to the show's website and found a link to some of Carl's taped messages. Here you go!

Side note: Genevieve used to volunteer at WBEZ, on the program "Stories on Stage," judging submissions for the annual short story contest, and also helping coordinate the contest overall. That was how she met her dear friend Candice! Ah, the memories of shared cubicle space, manila envelopes, purple bathrooms with NPR piped in, so you could listen to "Fresh Air" while you wash your hands. If you're lucky, you'd bump into General Manager Torey Malatia or even Ira Glass. Rog and Gen even got to sit in on a taping of "This American Life" once, where they mix in the music right there. It was pretty cool. I think it was the one where Sarah Vowell talks about the underground cafeteria in a national park. Those bits were taped, but we got sit there and see Ira do the intro and the transitions.

Ah, good public radio.