TV Development

There were previous stabs at turning NPR and CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA News-Talk WBEZ/CHICAGO's weekly comic news panel/game show "WAIT WAIT... DON'T TELL ME!" into a TV show -- a pilot for CBS in 2008 and a special for BBC AMERICA in 2011 -- but DEADLINE reports that NBCUNIVERSAL CABLE ENTERTAINMENT's WILSHIRE STUDIOS and STORIED MEDIA GROUP are going to give it a go again, developing a TV version of the show.

The hour-long TV version, for which no host has yet been named, will include some visual games suited for the TV medium and cash prizes for players' favorite charities; the radio version, hosted by PETER SAGAL with BILL KURTIS as announcer, offers a single prize of a voice mail read by a show personality.

“We are delighted to be adapting the iconic WAIT WAIT…DON’T TELL ME!” said WILSHIRE STUDIOS President DAWN OLMSTEAD. “The series, radio show and podcast, working in tandem, will allow us to expand the audience across multiple platforms. We look forward to working with our partners at NPR and STORIED MEDIA GROUP on growing this timely franchise.”

“WAIT WAIT… DON’T TELL ME! is one of our flagship programs, so we are especially excited to bring it to WILSHIRE STUDIOS, part of the NBCUNIVERSAL family, to develop for television,” said NPR VP of Business Development MICHAEL LUTZKY. “We are thrilled that one of the longest-running and most listened to radio and podcast franchises in history will now entertain television audiences with a fresh and fun look at the week’s news.”

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