WAMC Northeast Public Radio Announces Launch of New Quiz Segment Any Questions?

ALBANY, NY (09/02/2011)(readMedia)-- WAMC Northeast Public Radio is proud to announce the launch of Any Questions?, a weekly quiz segment that airs Fridays on Northeast Report Late Edition beginning September 2nd. The segment will air near the end of Northeast Report Late Edition, which begins at 6 p.m.

The segment, in the tradition of the popular NPR Weekend Edition Sunday puzzle with Will Shortz heard for decades on WAMC, puts news producer Ian Pickus in the hot seat, as he and listeners field topical trivia questions from quizmaster Mike Nothnagel.

Nothnagel is Associate Professor of mathematics at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and a crossword constructor for the New York Times and Games Magazine, among other venues.

Nothnagel and Pickus, a Times crossword enthusiast, first connected for an interview that aired on The Roundtable in May. Over lunch at The Culinary Institute of America soon after, WAMC President and CEO Alan Chartock suggested beginning a regular segment featuring the pair.

"I was intrigued by Ian's pitch for the new segment," says WAMC Program Director Katie Britton, "and after I heard the pilot episode, I was hooked. Any Questions? is the perfect way to get listeners' minds going and provide a new fact for weekend conversations."

Listeners are encouraged to play along and solve Nothnagel's weekly challenge. Extra credit questions will be posted to www.wamc.org/anyquestions, and listeners can email the show at quiz@wamc.org.

A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, Pickus has been with WAMC since late 2008. He is heard on Morning Edition, The Roundtable, Weekend Edition, and produces The Capitol Connection, Congressional Corner, and various other programs. He holds a BA in English and journalism and an MA in English, both from the University at Albany, and appeared as a Jeopardy! contestant in April of 2011 (unsuccessfully).

"Mike Nothnagel is quick, witty, and has an impressive puzzling pedigree," Pickus says. "I hope WAMC listeners have as much fun playing his games as I do."

A native of Hyde Park, Nothnagel has a Master's degree in secondary mathematics education from the University of New Hampshire. He has been on the faculty of The Culinary Institute of America since August of 2006.

"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to do a quiz segment on WAMC, especially with a fellow puzzle-head like Ian," Nothnagel says. " My biggest challenge will be to bring trivia that challenges both him and the listeners of WAMC, who are a clever bunch of people."

Member-supported WAMC Northeast Public Radio broadcasts news, informational and cultural programming to listeners in portions of seven northeastern states. WAMC is an award winning producer of regionally based programming and an affiliate of National Public Radio, American Public Media, and Public Radio International. To become a member go to: http://www.wamc.org/support.html

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