[3] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, episodes were recorded remotely beginning March 2020, largely from panelists' homes, with sound effects added for broadcast.

When the program had its debut in January 1998, Dan Coffey of Ask Dr. Science was the original host, but a revamping of the show led to his replacement in May of that year.

[19] The announcer, also serving as judge and scorekeeper, has been Bill Kurtis[20] since 2014,[21] though Chioke I'Anson,[22] Lakshmi Singh,[23] Andy Richter[24] Helen Hong,[25] Ayesha Rascoe,[26] Joshua Johnson[27] and Tim Meadows have substituted.

[29] The producers select several listeners for each show and call them to appear on the program, playing various games featuring questions based on the week's news.

Prior to October 21, 2017, the usual prize for winning any game was to have Kasell (named "Scorekeeper Emeritus" following his retirement) record a greeting on the contestant's home answering machine or voice mail system; after Kasell's death in 2018, the prize was changed to have a host or panelist of the contestant's choice record a greeting.

The contestant is asked to identify the speaker or explain the context of three quotations from that week's major news stories as read by the announcer (usually Bill Kurtis).

The questions are phrased similarly to those featured on The Match Game or Hollywood Squares to allow the panelists to offer a comedic answer in addition to their real guess as well as a hint from the host if needed.

A celebrity guest calls in (or occasionally appears onstage) to be interviewed by the host and the panelists as well as take a three-question multiple-choice quiz.

[40] On November 16, 2011, BBC America announced that the show would make its television debut with a "2011 Year in Review" special airing on December 23, to be retransmitted by NPR stations on the 24th and 25th.

The taping included two American panelists—Wait Wait regulars Paula Poundstone and Alonzo Bodden—and British newcomer Nick Hancock.

[43] The show included host Peter Sagal, announcer Carl Kasell, and panelists Mo Rocca, Paula Poundstone, and Tom Bodett.