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First Wins

A list of panelists with the show they got their first outright win, by finishing the Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank segment in first place, and their first overall win, which includes outright wins and finishing the segment tied for first.

Panelists who have not won outright and have not finished tied for first will not be listed.

Panelist Outright Win Overall Win
Show Date Total Score Rank Show Date Total Score Rank
Adam Burke 2017-10-21 12 First 2015-12-19 13 First Tied
Adam Felber 1998-05-02 10 First 1998-05-02 10 First
Alexandra Petri 2017-02-18 16 First 2017-02-18 16 First
Alison Stewart 2009-01-31 14 First 2009-01-31 14 First
Alonzo Bodden 2012-04-14 16 First 2012-04-14 16 First
Alzo Slade 2024-06-08 14 First 2023-10-21 12 First Tied
Amy Dickinson 2007-02-03 13 First 2006-03-25 14 First Tied
Andrea Michaels 1999-04-10 13 First 1999-04-10 13 First
Angela Nissel - 2007-03-31 16 First Tied
Ashley Ray - 2022-02-19 14 First Tied
Bim Adewunmi 2018-12-01 16 First 2018-12-01 16 First
Bobcat Goldthwait 2018-08-11 17 First 2018-08-11 17 First
Brian Babylon 2012-01-28 15 First 2011-09-24 15 First Tied
Charlie Pierce 1998-06-27 13 First 1998-05-16 6 First Tied
Claudia Perry 2000-02-12 17 First 2000-02-12 17 First
Cristela Alonzo 2021-07-03 14 First 2021-05-29 13 First Tied
Dulcé Sloan 2024-12-21 16 First 2022-10-01 12 First Tied
Emmy Blotnick 2022-01-15 16 First 2022-01-15 16 First
Evan Smith 2001-09-29 16 First 2001-09-29 16 First
Faith Salie 2010-01-16 15 First 2010-01-16 15 First
Gabe Liedman 2015-05-16 16 First 2015-05-16 16 First
Hari Kondabolu 2019-03-30 16 First 2019-03-30 16 First
Helen Hong 2017-09-09 12 First 2017-09-09 12 First
Jeff Hiller 2025-06-21 16 First 2025-06-21 16 First
Jessi Klein 2013-03-02 12 First 2012-03-24 15 First Tied
Joel Kim Booster 2020-05-02 14 First 2020-05-02 14 First
John Hodgman - 2017-11-18 13 First Tied
Josh Gondelman 2019-11-02 13 First 2019-11-02 13 First
Joyelle Nicole Johnson 2023-12-02 13 First 2023-12-02 13 First
Karen Chee 2021-07-24 12 First 2021-07-24 12 First
Karen Grigsby Bates 2004-03-27 18 First 2004-03-27 18 First
Ken Jennings - 2013-06-01 16 First Tied
Kyrie O'Connor 2005-02-19 13 First 2004-10-16 17 First Tied
Luke Burbank 2006-07-01 15 First 2006-07-01 15 First
Maeve Higgins 2020-11-14 15 First 2020-11-14 15 First
Margo Kaufman 1998-01-31 24.5 First 1998-01-31 24.5 First
Matt Rogers 2023-04-01 13 First 2023-04-01 13 First
Maz Jobrani 2011-12-17 17 First 2010-12-11 14 First Tied
Mike Birbiglia - 2014-09-06 12 First Tied
Mo Rocca 2002-03-30 15 First 2002-03-30 15 First
Moshe Kasher 2014-09-13 12 First 2014-09-13 12 First
Negin Farsad 2017-03-18 13 First 2017-03-18 13 First
Nick Hancock 2011-12-24 16 First 2011-12-24 16 First
Ophira Eisenberg 2014-06-14 14 First 2014-06-14 14 First
P.J. O'Rourke 2003-09-13 15 First 2003-09-13 15 First
Patt Morrison 2000-07-08 14 First 2000-07-08 14 First
Paul Provenza 2007-11-10 15 First 2007-11-10 15 First
Paula Poundstone 2005-07-16 16 First 2003-06-07 12 First Tied
Peter Grosz 2010-06-19 13 First 2010-06-19 13 First
Peter Sagal 1998-01-03 24 First 1998-01-03 24 First
Phoebe Robinson - 2017-06-24 12 First Tied
Rachel Feinstein 2025-02-08 14 First 2025-02-08 14 First
Richard Roeper 2005-05-28 16 First 2005-05-28 16 First
River Butcher 2024-05-04 16 First 2024-05-04 16 First
Robby Hoffman 2023-04-22 14 First 2023-04-22 14 First
Roxanne Roberts 1998-01-10 21 First 1998-01-10 21 First
Roy Blount, Jr. 1998-10-10 7.5 First 1998-10-10 7.5 First
Shane O'Neill 2022-10-29 15 First 2022-10-29 15 First
Shelby Fero 2016-01-30 14 First 2016-01-30 14 First
Skyler Higley 2023-06-10 11 First 2023-06-10 11 First
Sue Ellicott 1998-12-05 14 First 1998-12-05 14 First
Tara Clancy 2018-03-10 17 First 2018-03-10 17 First
Tom Bodett 2005-10-01 15 First 2005-10-01 15 First
Tom Papa 2021-01-30 13 First 2021-01-30 13 First