VCU news

By Tamurlaine Melby
Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU

On Feb. 13, when Richmonders fill the seats of the Altria Theater for a sold-out taping of National Public Radio’s comedy news game show “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!,” they’ll see one of their own on the stage: Chioke I’Anson, Ph.D., director of community media at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University.

It will be I’Anson’s fifth appearance on the show in as many weeks, having just wrapped up four performances in Chicago, where most episodes are produced. He’s filling in for regular announcer and scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, who has held the post since 2014.

A fixture of NPR since the late ’90s, “Wait Wait” is one of the quirkier offerings from an organization best known for serious news, interviews and storytelling podcasts. It takes the form of a 50-minute news quiz led by Kurtis and longtime host Peter Sagal in front of a live audience, in participation with a panel of comedians, call-in contestants and celebrity guests.

In advance of his hometown debut, I’Anson – who is also an underwriting announcer for NPR – shared his thoughts on the show, and how being funny (or unfunny) on stage ties into the work he does as a media educator and supporter of public radio.

This isn’t your first time announcing “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” When and how did you land the gig?

Somewhere around 2019 I was getting ready for bed when I got a phone call from “Wait Wait” asking me to come and do a show [in Chicago] – like, the next day. It was a crazy call to get. I had been joking among NPR people whenever I saw them, saying, “Hey, you gotta let me fill in for Bill Kurtis sometime if he ever wants to go on vacation.” I would say it. It was hilarious. They actually called me. And I’ve been on there more than 12 times at this point.

What keeps you coming back?

It’s really cool to be around professional comedians who are joking about news. Like, it’s a very specific kind of thing. And it’s amazing to see the team put the show together at such a furious clip, you know? Because they assemble the show that week and it’s recorded that Thursday, so they move really fast. It’s also fun to use my voice in this live way. I’m often a ghost voice in a recording booth, but this is in front of a live studio audience, and that’s a great feeling.

Do you just show up and read your prompts or do you have to prepare?

I go to the rehearsal. I’ve got to make sure I get those limericks right. And then, when on stage, I will riff a bit and make some stuff up. I’m mostly not funny and it gets cut from the show, but it’s still pretty cool.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve encountered on the show?

There’s a lot of wild stuff. Last week we interviewed a taxidermist, who was like a celebrity taxidermist, who had a raccoon in a cowboy hat doing finger guns. So we got to see this glimpse into the life of an artist that I don’t think I would have gotten otherwise, and I really love that.

In a few words, can you describe the experience of being on the show?

An overwhelming dream come true.

How come?

Well, I’m a lifelong NPR listener, and I’ve been listening to “Wait Wait” for years and years. And so, the idea first of all that I’m an underwriting voice and that I help support public media [by introducing the support credits at the beginning and end of newscasts and podcasts], that’s already amazing to me. And then furthermore to be a guest scorekeeper on this show is like being part of public media history in a way.

What do you think is the key to the show’s longevity?

I think that they’re down to try new things. And that Peter Sagal and the team are really amazing. And also the support from all of the radio stations across the nation.

Your current run on the show has spanned an especially tumultuous few weeks in politics. How does a lighthearted comedy game show that’s about the week’s news navigate difficult news cycles?

Well it turns out that no matter what’s happening in the news cycle, there is always ridiculous news. So I think that it’s the “Wait Wait” team’s job to find the news that is fun and talk about that. And though it can be difficult sometimes, they’re very good at finding the funny.

In your work as community media director at the ICA at VCU, you champion the power of podcast storytelling to forge a sense of connection and community among listeners. Do you feel like “Wait Wait” accomplishes this in its own way?

Yeah. I mean, I think that “Wait Wait” is interesting because it prioritizes the fun, and everyone is just kind of following the riff. And so I think it stands alone as a fun community experience that gets people tuned in. And then “Wait Wait” ends and what have you got? You’ve got the news and you have other amazing shows like “This American Life” and “RadioLab” that you can listen to on that same station.

One of the bigger laughs on the Feb. 1 show came when you introduced yourself as “the voice that puts the ‘fun’ in ‘defund public broadcasting,’” a reference to the fact that in recent weeks, NPR’s underwriting announcements and federal funding have come under scrutiny from the newly appointed Federal Communications Commission chair. Can you talk a little about your relationship with public radio and why you think it matters?

Public radio is for everybody. It’s about informing the public. And a crucial thing is that it’s free and widely available. All you need to do is tune in. If you’re on your commute or listening from home, it permeates all of society, which means that you never have to worry that you’re not informed. You can just turn on the radio. I think that’s the most beautiful thing about it. It’s a public resource. The kind of thing one needs in a commonwealth.

Your “Wait Wait” stint concludes with a show in Richmond. Was that a coincidence or by design?

It’s a pure coincidence. Actually the last time it came here, I was at the show, but I was in the audience.

What are you most looking forward to about it?

I guess the thing I’m most looking forward to is also the thing that I’m most dreading, which is putting on a show in front of my home crowd with the people who know me well and a local radio station [VPM] that has been really supportive of the Community Media Center at the ICA.

Anything to add?

Just that everyone should support their local public radio station.

Chioke I’Anson, Ph.D., is director of the VPM + ICA Community Media Center at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, founder of the RESONATE Podcast Festival, and an underwriting announcer for NPR. The Richmond episode of “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” will air Saturday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m., and Sunday, Feb. 16, at 3 p.m., on VPM News 88.9 FM.