Kasell gets to sleep in, as of January

Longtime pubcasting voice Carl Kasell, 75, is retiring after three decades of rolling out of bed at 1:05 a.m. for Morning Edition, according to a statement to staffers at NPR. He’ll stay on as judge and scorekeeper for the popular quiz show Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me! NPR noted that his role on the show “turned him from a newsman into a rock star!” He’s been with the program since its inception in January 1998. Kasell has been in broadcasting for 50 years, with NPR since 1975. He’s won several major broadcast awards, including a Peabody he shares with Morning Edition and another he shares with Wait Wait. Earlier this year he was chosen for Mediaite.com's Power Grid of media movers and shakers, ranking 84th out of 1,585 individuals from 382 broadcast, online and print entities. Selections were based audience numbers, Google hits and mentions in social media networks. Kasell has nearly 5,000 Facebook friends. His last newscast will be Dec. 30. NPR said he’ll get a “fitting farewell” in January. (Photo: NPR)