Fox has fast-tracked the production of a new game show from Mark Burnett (pictured) and Mike Darnell. The show, called Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, will take its quiz show questions directly from the textbooks of first through fifth graders. The show could premiere as early as this coming January or February.The show's set will resemble a classroom with one contestant betting cash on whether or not he or she can answer a series of general knowledge questions. There will be five fifth graders of average intelligence on stage with the contestant to act as lifelines and, this is my favorite part, to "gently mock" the adult.
This show could go one of two ways for me. On the one hand, it could be hilarious. We all know that there is vast chasm between what we learn in school and what constitutes useful knowledge in the adult world. I always trounced my older relatives at Jeopardy not because they were dumb, but because the way we were learning things at school more closely resembled quiz show questions and answers than anything grown-ups were asked to know on a daily basis.
On the other hand, this show could end up being an extended Jay Leno "man on the street" segment - the one where he quizzes random people on geography, history, etc. I always find that bit cringe-inducing because it's shocking to see how unbelievably stupid people are when asked who the third president of the United States was. (Gerald Ford, right?) And, really, what will be sadder? What adults don't know, or how little we expect our fifth graders to know? Could you imagine an episode of Are You Smarter than a French, Japanese or Indian 5th Grader? Just the idea of that potential spin-off makes me weep.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
12-14-2006 @ 7:52PM
Kiko said...
I'm just waiting for the show Are You Drunker Than An Irishman?
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12-14-2006 @ 10:39PM
David4 said...
This show sounds fun! It will be even better because it's on Fox!
And has anyone season the Friendly's (It's a resuarant in the eastern USA.) commerical that has the family taking about dog years? The dad goes to the daughter "In dog years you would be 47.". The daughter in a second goes to the mom "That means you are 246". How the hell does a seven year old know how to multiply 30-something times seven? How doies the 7 year old know how to do anything besides adding?
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12-14-2006 @ 11:57PM
TomB said...
Although I'm over my limit on Reality and Game shows, this one could be good. At least it's an original idea.
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12-15-2006 @ 10:01AM
Brendon Carr said...
Maybe the 7 year-old in the Friendly's commercial isn't as dumb as your kid. Or maybe kids are different from each other. I dunno. Anyway, it's not a race. I was reading when I was two but still peed my pants sometimes when I was eight. And that early reading didn't help all that much. I'm 37 now and most everyone I know has caught up to me.
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12-16-2006 @ 3:03AM
Brent McKee said...
Way back in the Golden Age of Radio there was a show called "Quiz Kids" in which the host asked questions of very smart elementary school students. There are no new ideas only different approaches to them.
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2-01-2007 @ 4:25PM
Cathy said...
Why do we want a show demeaning adults? Most of us are smarter than 5th graders. They will do better sometimes because they are still in school things are still fresh in their mind. Ask them these questions in 10 years and see how they do. Adults do not need to be shown to turn to children for answers....children need to be taught to turn to adults. Remember, life experience counts for a LOT!
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2-09-2007 @ 6:33PM
Mari said...
My teacher Michelle skidmore was trying out on the show to be the Teacher/co-host.She was the final one and she made it but they decided to not use a teacher. :0( But if they change their minds she will be the teacher on the show.!!!
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2-20-2007 @ 8:53PM
Mikayla Cauler said...
Posted at 8:41 Feb 20 by Mikayla Cauler This sounds like a very interesting game. I think it is going to be a huge hit. I would love to be on this show.
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2-28-2007 @ 10:00AM
savednpoppin said...
how do i get on the show are you smarter than a 5th grader. because my daughter want to go one this show really bad so how can she get on
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2-28-2007 @ 10:55AM
Judy L Parker said...
I watched the show last night and it was wonderful. I hope the show goes to an early time so my daughter can also watch. Her bed time is 9:00 early to rise for school. I think not only is it entertainment, but also educational.
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2-28-2007 @ 11:19AM
Melissa said...
This show is great. The only problem is in march it will be competing with Grey's anatomy and we all know that there is no competition there.
Melissa:)
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2-28-2007 @ 11:43AM
Lucy said...
It should be on earlier and they should do less talking.....only 5 or 6 questions last night
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2-28-2007 @ 12:21PM
Rose said...
Did anyone tape/dvr it? Our family is arguing over the triangle question but no one can remember exactly what the question was. The answer was 4 I think. If anyone knows please write. Also, I agree too much talk and not enough questions. Why did that woman kill so much time and then say Mayflower. It was like she knew the answer all along but was just trying to add tension. I got bored. Also, Brad Garrett's new show 'Til Death has already been given one night after Idol so who knows where this will end up.
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2-28-2007 @ 12:40PM
Alicia said...
The question was something like "The area of a triangle is 16 square inches. The base of the triangle is 8 inches long. What is the height of the triangle?"
The show just made me sad. I hope they just screened the applicants for dumbness or something, because the previews show someone getting confused over 2 times 5. Lord help all of us.
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2-28-2007 @ 1:24PM
BBB said...
This show was TOTALLY UTTERLY FAKE/FIXED!!!
Come on people! Get REAL!!!! Talk about a bunch of FAKE bad actors! The UCLA graduate who had no idea what month COLUMBUS DAY was in? Puh-LEASE! I "loved" his BAD acting..."Gee...wow...ummm...gosh...this is a HARD ONE! Wow...I have no idea! I'm just gonna GUESS...umm..is it..Sep...September?"
FAKE FAKE FAKE!
The second contestant was BAFFLED as to what the "REM" in REM Sleep" means!!! BS!!!! She was just as bad an ACTRESS..."Gee! Wow! *giggle* I have NO CLUE! Wow...you guys must be SMART if you know THIS one! I don't even have a single CLUE! Wow! Gosh!"
GET REAL!!!!! Totally FAKE/FIXED!
The UCLA grad had NO IDEA polar bears DON'T eat PENGUINS *roll eyes in disgust* Fake fake fake fake
Then the previews for upcoming episodes where the guy is asked "What is 2X5" and he's STUMPED???" DON'T INSULT OUR INTELLIGENCE FOX!!! And NOT ONE adult seems to know what a prime number or a trapazoid is? I can't even rant anymore...the show is so obviously FAKE!
I think (I KNOW) The whole show was staged to boost rating and those "contestants" were cast and told to bomb on all the questions (Notice no one walked away with decent money!) I think it was staged for ratings to keep people coming back and also to make the 5th grade panel feel good about themselves.
The show was a GREAT concept but a TOTAL JOKE! There is NO WAY a working ADULT doesn't know COLUMBUS DAY!
Uggh!
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2-28-2007 @ 2:10PM
DJ said...
My husband and I liked the show last night. My only complaint was that Jeff Foxworthy wouldn't SHUT UP!!! Some of the answers were so easy but I couldn't think straight because he kept talking! Every other trivia host gives the contestants and viewers time to think. If he doesn't start to zip it,I won't be watching. Fake or not I like trying to answer the questions myself. It made me realize how much I have forgotten and how much we learn in school that we really don't need in real life.
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2-28-2007 @ 2:31PM
Anna said...
I really liked the show, it made me think of things that I did not think of for a long time. I have learn things too, so I think this show will help all ages of people learn. Good job
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2-28-2007 @ 3:51PM
TV sucks these days said...
This show is complete TRASH! It is aimed at White trash dumb @sses, hence their retard king as host. What is the purpose of having the kids help cheat? What is their motivation not to get the answer wrong on purpose? First contestant... completely FAKE. How could a HISTORY major from UCLA not know the first president to get impeached? Second contestant... even more FAKE! The Mayflower... are you kidding me. Ahhhh... all I can think of is they had a big supper, but I think I will say the Mayflower. What is REM?? Tryin to figure out the R, the E, and the M... I have no idea. Whatever... I just hope that this crap gets canceled due to viewers realizing how fake these people are and taking a stand by not watching, I know I won't be. 2 X 5... I have no idea... whatever, move it along, nice try but let somebody else produce a quiz show worth watching.
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2-28-2007 @ 4:35PM
RodneyG said...
Ummmm, I'm a working adult and I'm not entirely stupid (college grad, 3.5 GPA, not that that means anything), and I have no idea when Columbus Day is. Sorry rantman.
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2-28-2007 @ 7:35PM
tara said...
Okay, so the show is funny and creative, but what 5th grader is going to remember the same information 30 years from now? We were 5th graders once too and had to learn the same information....where is the information now? It has been buried in our brains because we never really need to know the information unless we are a teacher!!!!
I think I am going to really enjoy this show though!!!!!
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