# Tom Bodett

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American writer, voice actor and radio host (born 1955)

Tom Bodett Bodett on Brattleboro Community Television in 2013 Born Thomas Edward Bodett (1955-02-23) February 23, 1955 (age 71) Champaign, Illinois, U.S. Occupations Author, voice actor, radio host, columnist Years active 1986–present Website Official site

**Thomas Edward Bodett** ([/boʊˈdɛt/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [*boh-DET*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key); born February 23, 1955) is an American author, voice actor, woodworker and radio personality, primarily as a host, correspondent and panelist for a number of shows that air on [National Public Radio](/source/National_Public_Radio) (NPR). Since 1986, he has been the spokesman for the motel chain [Motel 6](/source/Motel_6), ending commercials with the phrase, "I'm Tom Bodett for Motel 6, and we'll leave the light on for you."

## Personal background

Thomas Edward Bodett was born on February 23, 1955, in [Champaign, Illinois](/source/Champaign%2C_Illinois), and raised in [Sturgis, Michigan](/source/Sturgis%2C_Michigan).[1] As of 2013[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tom_Bodett&action=edit), he resided in [Dummerston, Vermont](/source/Dummerston%2C_Vermont), where he is a member of the town's [board of selectmen](/source/Board_of_selectmen).[2] After moving to Vermont, Bodett took up woodworking. In 2019, he co-founded HatchSpace, a non-profit workshop in Brattleboro, Vermont, where residents can use tools and collaborate with others.[3]

## Career

### Spokesperson

#### Motel 6

In 1986, Bodett was building houses in [Homer, Alaska](/source/Homer%2C_Alaska), and contributing to NPR's *[All Things Considered](/source/All_Things_Considered)*. A creative director at the [Richards Group](/source/Richards_Group) ad agency heard him on NPR and hired him to record a commercial for [Motel 6](/source/Motel_6). Bodett ad-libbed the famous line "We'll leave the light on for you" and has been the chain's spokesperson ever since.[4] The director David Fowler hired him because Bodett "sound[ed] like the kind of person who stays there."[5] Fowler said he thought, "Gosh, if I only had an account for a national budget motel brand with a sense of humor and humility, I could make a heck of an advertising campaign with this guy."[4]

In 2000, Motel 6 began using Bodett for their wake-up calls. The chain hoped to bring a more personal touch to people's days by using their spokesperson's voice.[6] Bodett was also featured on the first Motel 6 [podcast](/source/Podcast), released for the holidays.

In November 2015, a new marketing campaign featuring Bodett's voice premiered, highlighted by TV and radio commercials touting the investment in and renovation of Motel 6 properties nationwide.

In June 2025, Bodett filed a lawsuit against Motel 6 for $1.2 million, claiming the motel chain missed the annual payment he has been receiving since 1986. Bodett's contract was due to end in November 2025. Motel 6 is still using Bodett's voice and tagline on their national phone reservation system.[7]

#### Jamesway

From 1993 to 1994, Bodett was also the spokesperson for [Jamesway](/source/Jamesway) department stores in [Delaware](/source/Delaware), New Jersey, New York, and [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), and recorded radio commercials for it. A discount chain, Jamesway filed [Chapter 7](/source/Chapter_7%2C_Title_11%2C_United_States_Code) bankruptcy in the fall of 1995 and closed at the end of the year.

### Media appearances

#### Radio

As a broadcaster, Bodett hosted two radio programs: *The End of the Road* (1988–1990) and *Bodett & Company* (1993).

In 1999, Bodett started *The Loose Leaf Book Company*, a radio program that centered on author and book interviews, discussions, and dramatizations.

Bodett as a panelist on *Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!*

He was a contributor to *[The Bob Edwards Show](/source/The_Bob_Edwards_Show)* on XMPR and remains a member of the stable of panelists on *[Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!](/source/Wait_Wait..._Don't_Tell_Me!)*, a [National Public Radio](/source/National_Public_Radio) news quiz show.[8]

In 2015, he was interviewed as a guest on Episode 301 of [Public Radio International](/source/Public_Radio_International)'s *[Live Wire Radio](/source/Live_Wire_Radio)*.

#### Television

Bodett hosted the [public television](/source/Public_television) program *Travels on America's Historic Trails* (1997).[4][9] He also appeared on the *[Animaniacs](/source/Animaniacs)* cartoon series, doing the voice-over for "Mime Time" and the "Good Idea/Bad Idea" segments featuring [Mr. Skullhead](/source/Mr._Skullhead), had a brief cameo in *[Pinky and the Brain](/source/Pinky_and_the_Brain)*, and narrated the direct-to-video *Animaniacs* movie *[Wakko's Wish](/source/Wakko's_Wish)* (1999).

#### Webzine

Bodett was a regular columnist for the [webzine](/source/Webzine) *Mr. Showbiz*.

#### Podcasts

Bodett's name was used humorously for various non-playable characters in the *[Dungeons & Dragons](/source/Dungeons_%26_Dragons)* [podcast](/source/Podcast) series *[The Adventure Zone](/source/The_Adventure_Zone)*, though these were voiced by [DM](/source/Dungeon_Master) [Griffin McElroy](/source/Griffin_McElroy), not Bodett himself.[10] In the [graphic novel](/source/Graphic_novel) under the same name, an uncanny likeness of Bodett can be seen interacting with the series' main characters.[11]

## Writing

In 1999, Bodett published his first children's book, *Williwaw!*[12]

### Published works

- *As Far As You Can Go Without a Passport* (1986), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-201-10661-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-201-10661-2)

- *Small Comforts* (1987), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-201-13417-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-201-13417-9)

- *The End of the Road* (1989), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-688-08701-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-688-08701-9)

- *The Big Garage on Clear Shot* (1990), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-688-09525-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-688-09525-9)

- *The Free Fall of Webster Cummings* (1996), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7868-6209-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7868-6209-2)

- *America's Historic Trails* (1997), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-912333-00-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-912333-00-6)

- *Williwaw!* (2000), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-375-80687-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-375-80687-3)

- *Norman Tuttle on the Last Frontier* (2004), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-679-89031-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-679-89031-9)

- "Alaska A to Z: The Most Comprehensive Book of Facts and Figures Ever Compiled About Alaska" (1993), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1878425757](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1878425757)

- "The Free Fall of Webster Cummings: Volume One of "Tom Bodett's American Odyssey" (1960)

- "America's Historic Trails: With Tom Bodett" (1997), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0912333006](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0912333006)

- "Growing Up, Growing Old & Going Fishing at the End of the Road" [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0553470183](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0553470183)

- "Those Grand Occasions at the End of the Road"

- "As Far as You Can Go Without a Passport: Views from the End of the Road" (1985)

- "First Words"

- "Old Fools & Young Hearts"

- "No Place Like Home"

- "(The) Last Decent Parking Place in North America", [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [055345272X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/055345272X)

Audio Cassette - 1991 by Random House Audio "The Free Fall of Webster Cummings: Volume One of "Tom Bodett's American Odyssey" (1960) Audio Cassette

- "The Great Divide, Volume Two (Tom Bodett's American Odyssey)" (1995), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1561008567](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1561008567) Audio Cassette

- "Peach Picking Time, Volume Three (Tom Bodett's American Odyssey)" (1995), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1561008575](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1561008575) Audio Cassette

- "No Place Like Home, Volume Four (Tom Bodett's American Odyssey)" (1996), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1561008583](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1561008583) Audio Cassette

- "Ed's Fruits and Vegetables, Volume 5 (Tom Bodett's American Odyssey)" (1996), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1561008591](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1561008591) Audio Cassette

Song, Tom Bodett by Mark David Manders

- "Better Part of the Road"(1992), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0553470191](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0553470191) Audio Cassette

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Gross, Ken (August 1, 1988). ["Alaska's Tom Bodett Is the Folksy Voice of Motel 6, but for Him There's No Place Like Homer"](https://people.com/archive/alaskas-tom-bodett-is-the-folksy-voice-of-motel-6-but-for-him-theres-no-place-like-homer-vol-30-no-5/). People Magazine. Retrieved July 7, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Tom Bodett of East Dummerston appointed to Governor's Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission"](http://vtdigger.org/2012/11/14/tom-bodett-of-east-dummerston-appointed-to-governors-energy-generation-siting-policy-commission/). *VTDigger*. VTdigger.org. November 14, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Salie, Faith (July 2, 2023). ["Tom Bodett crafts his third act - CBS News"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tom-bodett-writer-npr-essayiist-motel-6-spokesman-and-woodworker/). *www.cbsnews.com*. Retrieved July 10, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-six_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-six_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-six_4-2) ["Who is Tom Bodett?"](http://www.motel6.com/about/bodett.aspx). Motel 6. Retrieved June 18, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-aa_5-0)** Williams, Kimberly D. "Actually, you can get the light", *Advertising Age* 78, no. 35 (September 3, 2007): 8–8.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Jayne Clark. "This is a new recording: Souped-up wake-up calls", *USA Today*, December 30, 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Stempel, Jonathan (June 10, 2025). ["Longtime Motel 6 spokesman Tom Bodett sues chain over using his name, voice"](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/longtime-motel-6-spokesman-tom-bodett-sues-chain-over-using-his-name-voice-2025-06-10/). *Reuters*. Retrieved June 16, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Tom Bodett | Panelists | Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! Stats Page"](https://stats.wwdt.me/panelists/tom-bodett). *stats.wwdt.me*. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Stump, Julia, and Bette-Lee Fox. "Video reviews", *Library Journal* 122, no. 19 (November 15, 1997): 87.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Transcript: The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited: Chapter Two"](https://maximumfun.org/transcripts/adventure-zone/transcript-the-adventure-zone-murder-on-the-rockport-limited-chapter-two/). March 26, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["The page"](https://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/articles/assets_c/2019/06/TAZVol25-1126218.html). Cdn.pastemagazine.com. June 26, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Maughan, Shannon. "Bodett Brings Kids' Books to the Airwaves", *Publishers Weekly* 246, no. 51 (December 20, 1999): 29.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.bodett.com)

- [Tom Bodett](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0090909/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States Artists MusicBrainz 2 Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tom Bodett](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Bodett) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Bodett?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.