997: Wait Wait - Revision history

DollarStoreBa'al at 14:24, 20 April 2026

2026-04-20T14:24:37Z

82.132.238.245: /* Explanation */ Tenuous. More about this in Talk...

2026-03-05T16:05:55Z

‎Explanation: Tenuous. More about this in Talk...

Amateurautist: /* Explanation */

2026-03-05T15:04:27Z

‎Explanation

81.179.199.253: Undo revision 407677 by 172.103.140.100 (talk) Don't think so. No _2x to check, but it looks like "My 'Nam", i.e. (quoted) talking about his 'Nam. i.e. (Viet)nam, only preabbreviated.

2026-03-05T00:25:04Z

Undo revision 407677 by 172.103.140.100 (talk) Don't think so. No _2x to check, but it looks like "My 'Nam", i.e. (quoted) talking about his 'Nam. i.e. (Viet)nam, only preabbreviated.

172.103.140.100: /* Transcript */

2026-03-05T00:00:03Z

‎Transcript

Amateurautist: added explanations for all empty boxes

2026-01-12T19:14:51Z

added explanations for all empty boxes

CheshireCat: I messed up my previous edit

2025-12-16T13:12:31Z

I messed up my previous edit

CheshireCat: This American Life is a weekly public radio podcast which has a different theme each week and puts together a collection of stories on said topic.

2025-12-16T13:10:44Z

This American Life is a weekly public radio podcast which has a different theme each week and puts together a collection of stories on said topic.

Maxcodes: Added explanations for the remaining headlines in the second row.

2025-12-10T01:48:30Z

Added explanations for the remaining headlines in the second row.

42.book.addict at 17:55, 25 November 2025

2025-11-25T17:55:01Z

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 |-
 ! scope="row" | Row 1
-| This panel imagines Peter Sagal in a hostage standoff inside a {{w|Whole Foods}} grocery store. If one were a hostage, they would likely try to plead for their life, maybe saying something similar to "Wait, wait, don't shoot me!"
+| This panel imagines Peter Sagal in a hostage standoff inside a {{w|Whole Foods}} grocery store. If one were a hostage, they would likely try to plead for their life, maybe saying something similar to "Wait, wait, don't shoot me!" The wording of the paper implies that the standoff is ongoing, and as such has been going on for at least a few hours.
 | If someone quit the race for nomination in the {{w|GOP}} (or any political party), they would likely be taken off the ballot and people would no longer be able to vote for them.
 | This paper mocks classic celebrity scandal articles. In this example, {{w|Peter Sagal}} confesses his feelings towards {{w|Kermit the Frog}}.
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ! scope="row" | Row 2
 | One meaning of "axe" is "end, cancel, or dismiss suddenly and ruthlessly." In this case, NPR is canceling ''Wait Wait'', Sagal's quiz show.
-| In this paper, it's imagined that Sagal stabbed Carl Kasell on air, likely out of anger after being interrupted by him.
+| {{w|Carl Kasell}} was the former scorekeeper of the show until he was replaced by {{w|Bill Curtis}}. At the time of this comic's publication, Kasell was still the storekeeper.In this paper, it's imagined that Sagal stabbed Kasell on air out of anger, which would be an incredibly high-profile scandal as most Wait Wait shows are recorded in front of a live audience and there could be hundreds of witnesses.
 | Poison ivy has an irritating oil on its leaves called {{w|urushiol}} that causes an itchy, irritating rash on the contact site. In this scenario, Sagal touched some poison ivy with his face, and is urging people to not look at his unsightly rash.
 | This panel may be inspired by [https://www.npr.org/2011/02/26/134060943/actor-jesse-eisenberg-plays-not-my-job a segment of ''Wait Wait'' in January 2011] in which actor {{w|Jesse Eisenberg}} revealed he had made a Facebook account under Sagal's name, and later deleted it.

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 | There are many ethical and philosophical concerns about cloning, and so it makes sense that a prominent figure like Sagal might come out against it, especially if his DNA was harvested without his consent.
 | This headline is a reference to the movie ''{{w|Ghostbusters}}'', in which a team of scientists is tasked with capturing and "busting" malicious ghosts.
-| This paper is a reference to {{w|Granny Weatherwax}} of Terry Pratchett's ''{{w|Discworld}}'' novels; Granny Weatherwax is a witch who carries a sign saying "[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=i%20aten't%20ded I ATEN'T DED]"[sic] while having out-of-body experiences.
+| This paper may be a reference to {{w|Granny Weatherwax}} of Terry Pratchett's ''{{w|Discworld}}'' novels; Granny Weatherwax is a witch who carries a sign saying "[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=i%20aten't%20ded I ATEN'T DED]"[sic] while having out-of-body experiences.
 | Objectifying people is generally frowned upon as it can be harmful and demeaning, and this headline plays on that, referencing how someone might describe their experience with objectification as being reduced to a piece of meat.
 |-

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 | There are many ethical and philosophical concerns about cloning, and so it makes sense that a prominent figure like Sagal might come out against it, especially if his DNA was harvested without his consent.
 | This headline is a reference to the movie ''{{w|Ghostbusters}}'', in which a team of scientists is tasked with capturing and "busting" malicious ghosts.
-| This paper may be a reference to {{w|Granny Weatherwax}} of Terry Pratchett's ''{{w|Discworld}}'' novels; Granny Weatherwax is a witch who carries a sign saying "[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=i%20aten't%20ded I ATEN'T DED]"[sic] while having out-of-body experiences.
+| This paper is a reference to {{w|Granny Weatherwax}} of Terry Pratchett's ''{{w|Discworld}}'' novels; Granny Weatherwax is a witch who carries a sign saying "[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=i%20aten't%20ded I ATEN'T DED]"[sic] while having out-of-body experiences.
 | Objectifying people is generally frowned upon as it can be harmful and demeaning, and this headline plays on that, referencing how someone might describe their experience with objectification as being reduced to a piece of meat.
 |-
 ! scope="row" | Row 5
-| {{w|Beatification}}, not to be confused with {{w|beautification}}, is a religious process that recognizes the entry of a deceased person into heaven and their ability to intercede on behalf of others who pray in their name. This process is usually reserved for especially holy individuals, so it is unlikely that Sagal would be beatified.
+| {{w|Beatification}}, not to be confused with {{w|beautification}}, is a religious process that recognizes the entry of a deceased person into heaven and their ability to intercede on behalf of others who pray in their name. This process is usually reserved for especially holy individuals, so it is unlikely that Sagal would be beatified. Additionally, it is usually viewed as a great honor, so Sagal's objection is unusual.
 | This paper references an internet meme in which someone leaves out the verb in the sentence. The implication is that the verb is something bad, but ''which'' bad thing is left as an exercise to stew in the reader's mind. See the [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/i-accidentally I Accidentally ___ meme] for more information.
 | This paper is a reference to stories and myths in which an entity known as an {{tvtropes|EldritchAbomination|Eldritch Abomination}} can be summoned, awoken, or alerted to someone's presence when its name is spoken. A well-known example of this is the entity Cthulhu in the Lovecraft mythos.

@@ Line 95: / Line 95: @@
 :Peter Sagal's Poison Ivy Ordeal
 :[Peter Sagal with a skin condition.]
-:Peter Sagal: "My 'Nam'"
+:Peter Sagal: "My 'Nam"
 :[Second row, fourth newspaper.]

@@ Line 95: / Line 95: @@
 :Peter Sagal's Poison Ivy Ordeal
 :[Peter Sagal with a skin condition.]
-:Peter Sagal: "My 'Nam"
+:Peter Sagal: "My 'Nam'"
 :[Second row, fourth newspaper.]

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 |-
 ! scope="row" | Row 1
+| This panel imagines Peter Sagal in a hostage standoff inside a {{w|Whole Foods}} grocery store. If one were a hostage, they would likely try to plead for their life, maybe saying something similar to "Wait, wait, don't shoot me!"
+| If someone quit the race for nomination in the {{w|GOP}} (or any political party), they would likely be taken off the ballot and people would no longer be able to vote for them.
-| The 1st row, 3rd paper mocks classic celebrity scandal articles. In this example, {{w|Peter Sagal}} confesses his feelings towards {{w|Kermit the Frog}}.
+| This paper mocks classic celebrity scandal articles. In this example, {{w|Peter Sagal}} confesses his feelings towards {{w|Kermit the Frog}}.
-| The 1st row, 4th paper may refer to the {{w|Michael_Richards#2006–2012:_Laugh_Factory_incident_and_aftermath| Laugh Factory Incident}} of 2006.
+| This paper may refer to the {{w|Michael_Richards#2006–2012:_Laugh_Factory_incident_and_aftermath| Laugh Factory Incident}} of 2006.
 |-
 ! scope="row" | Row 2
-| One meaning of "axe" is "end, cancel, or dismiss suddenly and ruthlessly." In the second row, first headline, NPR is canceling ''Wait Wait''.
+| One meaning of "axe" is "end, cancel, or dismiss suddenly and ruthlessly." In this case, NPR is canceling ''Wait Wait'', Sagal's quiz show.
-| In the second row, second headline, it's imagined that Sagal stabbed Carl Kasell on air after being interrupted by him.
+| In this paper, it's imagined that Sagal stabbed Carl Kasell on air, likely out of anger after being interrupted by him.
-| Poison ivy has an irritating oil on its leaves called {{w|urushiol}} that causes an itchy, irritating rash on the contact site. In the 3rd paper on the 2nd row, Sagal touched some poison ivy with his face, and is urging people to not look at his unsightly rash.
+| Poison ivy has an irritating oil on its leaves called {{w|urushiol}} that causes an itchy, irritating rash on the contact site. In this scenario, Sagal touched some poison ivy with his face, and is urging people to not look at his unsightly rash.
-| The 4th paper of the 2nd row may be inspired by [https://www.npr.org/2011/02/26/134060943/actor-jesse-eisenberg-plays-not-my-job a segment of ''Wait Wait'' in January 2011] in which actor {{w|Jesse Eisenberg}} revealed he had made a Facebook account under Sagal's name, and later deleted it.
+| This panel may be inspired by [https://www.npr.org/2011/02/26/134060943/actor-jesse-eisenberg-plays-not-my-job a segment of ''Wait Wait'' in January 2011] in which actor {{w|Jesse Eisenberg}} revealed he had made a Facebook account under Sagal's name, and later deleted it.
 |-
 ! scope="row" | Row 3
-| {{w|Lakshmi Singh}} is NPR's national midday newscaster. In the 3rd row, 1st paper, it's revealed that Sagal had an affair with Singh.
+| {{w|Lakshmi Singh}} is NPR's national midday newscaster. In this panel, it's revealed that Sagal had an affair with Singh.
-| In the 2nd paper on the 3rd row, Sagal's wife divorces him over his affair with Singh.
+| In this headline, Sagal's wife divorces him over his affair with Singh.
-| The 3rd row, 3rd paper references a protest at {{w|UC Davis}} (on the campus of University of California, Davis) in early 2012 in which sitting, peaceful protesters were calmly pepper-sprayed in their faces by a police officer. That spawned an [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/casually-pepper-spray-everything-cop internet meme of epic proportions].
+| This paper references a protest at {{w|UC Davis}} (on the campus of University of California, Davis) in early 2012 in which sitting, peaceful protesters were calmly pepper-sprayed in their faces by a police officer. That spawned an [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/casually-pepper-spray-everything-cop internet meme of epic proportions].
+|Exchanging cash for tote bags is typically legal, so the headline noting a "scandal" implies that Sagal and his associates were doing something less savory in addition to selling/buying tote bags.
 |-
 ! scope="row" | Row 4
+| There are many ethical and philosophical concerns about cloning, and so it makes sense that a prominent figure like Sagal might come out against it, especially if his DNA was harvested without his consent.
-| The 4th row, 2nd paper is a reference to the movie ''{{w|Ghostbusters}}''.
+| This headline is a reference to the movie ''{{w|Ghostbusters}}'', in which a team of scientists is tasked with capturing and "busting" malicious ghosts.
-| The 4th row, 3rd paper is a reference to {{w|Granny Weatherwax}} of Terry Pratchett's ''{{w|Discworld}}'' novels; Granny Weatherwax is a witch who carries a sign saying "[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=i%20aten't%20ded I ATEN'T DED]"[sic] while having out-of-body experiences.
+| This paper may be a reference to {{w|Granny Weatherwax}} of Terry Pratchett's ''{{w|Discworld}}'' novels; Granny Weatherwax is a witch who carries a sign saying "[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=i%20aten't%20ded I ATEN'T DED]"[sic] while having out-of-body experiences.
+| Objectifying people is generally frowned upon as it can be harmful and demeaning, and this headline plays on that, referencing how someone might describe their experience with objectification as being reduced to a piece of meat.
 |-
 ! scope="row" | Row 5
+| {{w|Beatification}}, not to be confused with {{w|beautification}}, is a religious process that recognizes the entry of a deceased person into heaven and their ability to intercede on behalf of others who pray in their name. This process is usually reserved for especially holy individuals, so it is unlikely that Sagal would be beatified.
-| The 5th row, 2nd paper references an internet meme in which someone leaves out the verb in the sentence. The implication is that the verb is something bad, but ''which'' bad thing is left as an exercise to stew in the reader's mind. See the [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/i-accidentally I Accidentally ___ meme] for more information.
+| This paper references an internet meme in which someone leaves out the verb in the sentence. The implication is that the verb is something bad, but ''which'' bad thing is left as an exercise to stew in the reader's mind. See the [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/i-accidentally I Accidentally ___ meme] for more information.
-| The 5th row, 3rd paper is a reference to stories and myths in which an entity known as an {{tvtropes|EldritchAbomination|Eldritch Abomination}} can be summoned, awoken, or alerted to someone's presence when its name is spoken. A well-known example of this is the entity Cthulhu in the Lovecraft mythos.
+| This paper is a reference to stories and myths in which an entity known as an {{tvtropes|EldritchAbomination|Eldritch Abomination}} can be summoned, awoken, or alerted to someone's presence when its name is spoken. A well-known example of this is the entity Cthulhu in the Lovecraft mythos.
-|This American Life is a weekly public radio podcast which has a different theme each week and puts together a collection of stories on said topic.
+|''This American Life'' is a weekly public radio podcast which has a different theme each week and puts together a collection of stories on said topic. ''Wait Wait'' is usually treated as a fun, low-stakes game, so the "trauma" of losing is unclear.
 |}
@@ Line 100: / Line 100: @@
 :Title: Wait Wait Don't Friend Me
 :Peter Sagal deletes his Facebook account.
-:[Person holding up a laptop with an "Facebook account not found" screen.]
+:[Person holding up a laptop with a "Facebook account not found" screen.]
 :[Third row, first newspaper.]

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 | The 5th row, 3rd paper is a reference to stories and myths in which an entity known as an {{tvtropes|EldritchAbomination|Eldritch Abomination}} can be summoned, awoken, or alerted to someone's presence when its name is spoken. A well-known example of this is the entity Cthulhu in the Lovecraft mythos.
+|
-|}
+| This American Life is a weekly public radio podcast which has a different theme each week and puts together a collection of stories on said topic.
 Two years later another New Years comic, [[1311: 2014]], took a similar look at what could happen in 2014, just as this does for 2012. Interesting enough the title of that comic (just the year it was looking at) is more related to the title of the next comic after this one, which is also a New Year comic, and the title is also just the number of the year: [[998: 2012]].