| Bio | Panelist |
| The author of 20 books, most recently Long Time Leaving: Dispatches From Up South. | |
| Left a promising career building houses to become a writer and subsequently a commentator on All Things Considered. | |
| Writes the syndicated advice column 'Ask Amy' for The Chicago Tribune. | |
| Comprises one third of the Irwin Smalls Trio, a sketch comedy group. | |
| Deputy managing editor/features at the Houston Chronicle and writer of the daily blog MeMo on the Houston Chronicle Web site. | |
| Correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly. | |
| Staff writer at The Boston Globe Magazine and a contributing writer to Esquire. | |
| Provided humor and commentary for the Emmy and Oscar Awards shows, and served as 'official correspondent' for The Tonight Show during the '92 Presidential race. | |
| Stand-up comic and a classically-trained actor. | |
| Co-author of The Washington Post's Reliable Source column. | |
| Contributor to CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood and the host of The Tomorrow Show. | |
| Host | |
| Judge/Scorekeeper | |