Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me! Fans, I would like to announce a new blog dedicated to the ongoing development of the WWDTM Stats Page. Also, I have started working on a new version of the Stats Page that will incorporate some of the most requested features, including: the locations that each show is recorded at, Bluff the Listener information and breaking down panelist points.
Please come check out the new blog at http://wwdt.me/blog and feel free to post any comments, questions or feature requests.
It’s been a while since I’ve blogged about updates to the Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! Stats Page, but I have been making a little bit more progress on a couple of things.
First thing is that I have been able to locate MP3s of Wait Wait shows from early 2003 through early 2006, stopping where the first show was made available as a podcast. My goal is to listen through each show and fill in scores and other information that is currently missing.
Along with that, I will be entering in not only which panelist had the correct bluff, but also the panelist that the listener chose. Once I get that information entered, I will find a way to display both on the page.
Next, I have been slowly collecting where the show has been recorded and will be entering that into the database as well. I will also have to figure out how to display that on the page.
I will also be working on filling out the panelist scores when they start the Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank round and how many they got correct. This will eventually make it on to the page as well.
In the meantime, I will be working on building up a new version of the site. I’ve got a basic mock-up built, but it isn’t quite ready to be made public… yet :)
I have finished entering the list of Not My Job guests into the Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! Stats Page database; although, I have not included any guest scores as that will be a nice process of listening to the older shows.
I am now working on adding in show descriptions for shows, filling the void between 2000 and 2004. This process will probably take a couple of weeks to complete. Thankfully, it isn’t quite as tedious as entering in the list of Not My Job guests. Please note that I am basing the show descriptions on what is listed in the show archives on NPR.org, so the level of detail may vary dramatically.
Once that has been completed, I will work on filling in the data for shows prior to 2000. It’s just easier to do it in chunks, particularly when the really early show information pages aren’t as easy to parse.
I have finished entering in all of the panelist appearances into the database for the Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! Stats Page. Unfortunately, the panelist scores are still void since that data will have to be collected and entered through other means.
It is also unfortunate that a lot of the earlier show audio is no longer available through the Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! archives, so I will need to figure out other means to procure that information.
Next up? I’m going to try to finish filling in the Not My Job guest appearances.
When the latest version of the Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! Statistics Page gets published later today, you might notice a couple of new additions. The one that that I have finished implementing is displaying the percentage of appearances that each panelist has gotten first, tied for first, second, tied for second and third place. This should be a better indicator on how well a panelist has done based on how often their appeared on the show.
The other additions to the page hint at an upcoming feature that I am currently coding up: statistics for both the show hosts and scorekeepers. At this point, I’m not sure exactly what statistics will be displayed. I don’t have a timeline on when I will have the new feature ready for release.
Tonight, Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! came to Portland, Oregon for their third live taping of their show at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Being slightly obsessed with the show, I had to go and try to meet Peter Sagal, Carl Kasell and the gang. The seat that I got was about 9 rows back and had a great view of the stage. Before the show started, the audience was handed out a sheet of paper that had three questions that people would answer, fill in their name and hand back. More on this later.
Tonight’s panelists were Peter Grosz, Roxanne Roberts and Roy Blount, Jr. (who has been one of panelists all three times that Wait Wait has been in Portland). Let’s just say that there were many, many hilarious moments and several not-so-PG jokes and comments; of which, only a few will probably make it on air.
For the Not My Job segment, Wait Wait had Colin Meloy of The Decemberists and he was tasked with answering questions about obscure protests. Why? Lookup “Decemberist revolt” on Wikipedia. Let’s just say that the audience helped Colin get his second point.
After the taping of the show, the producers had collected the sheets of paper that the audience members filled in and returned. They randomly selected one of the forms that had all three correct answers and had the audience member come up on stage. The audience member had to properly complete a limerick in order for the audience to get a small prize. Thankfully, the person got the last work of the limerick correct, and we all cheered.
Right after that, there is the usual audience Q&A session. After about 6-7 questions, I blurted out “Stats, man? What about stats?” (at least, that’s what I tried to shout but was really nervous and anxious). At which, Peter figured out that I was the maintainer of the Wait Wait Stats Page, asked me to stand up, and continued to explain to the audience about the page.
Once the Q&A session was over, I went up and asked for Carl Kasell’s autograph (which he graciously obliged) on the scratch score card I used to track points and scribbled notes. I got to also meet some of the guys and gals that help produce and edit the show. They stated how much they use the page and appreciated what I have done. Next up, the man himself, Peter Sagal. It was the very first time that I got to chat with him in person (though it wasn’t the first time I’ve seen him in person), was able to shake his hands and also got his autograph. He invited me to attend the aftershow meet and greet that OPB had for a select group of supporters.
I went up to the meet and greet, was able to meet and chat with Roxanne Roberts, and chatted with other audience and OPB members that had questions about the Wait Wait Stats Page. I chatted with Peter a little bit more, as well as Emily Ecton (one of the producers that asked if I wanted to be a listener contestant about five months ago).
I had a blast just being at the live taping of the show, but meeting Peter, Carl, Roxanne and the Wait Wait crew in person was unbelievably awesome. You know I’ll be waiting anxiously for the announcement of when Wait Wait will be back in town.