When I first saw a live taping of “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me,” two things surprised me. One was that Carl Kasell was actually present in the flesh. Somehow I had assumed that the guy was beamed in somehow. Or that they’d roll out an old-timey radio on a cart and his voice would simply amble out. The second surprise was how spry Carl is. As his name was announced, he loped athletically onstage, a tall and wiry septuagenarian.
But when Carl sat down in our studio with me to reflect on his long career, I’m pleased to say I was not surprised. He was exactly as genteel, warm and good-natured as you’d expect him to be. To mark the day of his final Morning Edition newscast, we present this special extended version of that interview.
