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"Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by Estee on 02-27-07 at 10:02 PM
Executive producer: Mark Burnett. Host: Jeff Foxworthy. Goal: to prove just how dumb Americans are -- or at least, the Americans who are carefully screened and ultimately selected to go on this show. When we lead off with a UCLA graduate who can't remember that Columbus Day is in October...

The game: ten questions and a gradually-escalating payout table that goes to half a million if you get all ten right. You can quit at any time and keep your winnings to that point. Get through the ten and you can try one more question to bring your winnings to a million.

The questions are all on things that are taught in grade school, up to fifth grade. (All ten categories are on the board at the start and ranked by grade: you pick and choose to taste until the board is clear.) Five actual fifth-graders are on the stage with you, and you select one of them to be your classmate. S/he will answer the questions along with you. This also leads to your cheats.

Two peeks: look at your classmates' answer.
One copy: use your classmates' answer for your own without seeing it first.
One save: if you get the answer wrong, but your classmate got it right, you advance.

So yes, the questions are going to be pretty basic. And naturally, they will only select contestants who have a chance of getting them seriously wrong.

It follows American Idol. Kind of makes you wonder what kind of audience it's supposed to be attracting. And given the glacial pace combined with a half-hour format... well, do you have a fifth-graders' attention span? 'cause if you do, you beat most American adults.

Remember: recently on 1 vs. 100, over a third of the Mob didn't know the symbol of the Democratic party. This show is not going to give away the big money all that often, courtesy of the casting department. In fact, MB's biggest worry might be a surprise twist that lets the kids play for cash...


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Messages in this discussion
"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by Jadens Mommy on 02-27-07 at 10:42 PM
>It follows American Idol.

But it won't stay there I don't think. House follows AI beginning again next week.

"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by Jadens Mommy on 02-27-07 at 10:43 PM
I just caught that last 10 minutes of it. I kinda like it so far I guess because I'm testing myself. I have to see it a few more times to make up my mind.

I couldn't believe the woman didn't know what REM stands for.

"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by aquariaqueen on 02-28-07 at 08:03 AM
LAST EDITED ON 02-28-07 AT 08:04 AM (EST)

My family was EXTREMELY disappointed....they asked 5, maybe 6 questions....we would only remember 5!!!! Too much talking and nonsense.

How did they screen these people??? They were somewhat acting, not being realistic.

I have a 5th and 6th grader along with a husband who were competing with me....no competition because there were hardly any questions, just talk. Even with the math question, they didn't leave it up, so you could concentrate on it. Even Jeff kept talking to the contestant instead of letting them work it out.

Towards the end of the episode, they went to break, did one question, and back to a break again. Frustrating.

Geez, they didn't put out more than $6000.00 bucks. It's not like they're stalling on "Who wants to be a Millionaire".

thank you Arkiegrl!!!

"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by brvnkrz on 02-28-07 at 03:32 PM
We were saying the same thin in our house. 6 stinking questions for the entire show?!?!?!? What a snoozefest. The concept is okay but if this show is going to last they need to pick up the pace. A LOT.

One nation, under Romber

"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by lgianna on 02-28-07 at 06:31 PM
I was a little hesitant, in the beginning, about a "game show" hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, but the majority vote ruled in my house. We were totally disappointed as well. With all of the commercials you would think they would be giving away bigger bucks. But they're not, because they only have complete idiots on the show. These people cannot really NOT know this stuff. I would be embarassed, especially the supposed UCLA grad. I would hate for him to be my boss. I hope it gets better, because we'll still be watching if for nothing else to watch the 10 yr olds beat the "contestants".
"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by batts on 03-04-07 at 06:35 AM
These contestants HAVE to be acting. Who doesn't know
What country has the longest border with the U.S.? She picked Mexico? Come onnnnn.....
And the look on the guys face when he was trying to figure out how many teaspoons were in a tablespoon, (3), he thought it was 2, and was trying to multiply 2 X 10 ??

I forgive the person who didn't know what a trapezoid was. I knew it had 4 sides, but started second guessing myself, and before the answer was given, I had talked myself into it having 5 sides.

If I watch this show again, it'll just be for the 'laugh' factor. I agree, too much time between questions.

"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by MKitty on 03-06-07 at 05:24 PM
I totally agree with the idea that some of the adults are "throwing" the questions. YEah, like the UCLA grad really couldn't answer ANY of the questions on his own before using all his lifelines? PULLLLEASE!
And, the woman who didn't know how many decades were in a millenium? Sheesh.

And yes, I agree...pick up the dang pace..it's painful to watch this soooooo.....slowly....... (which is why I taped the second one and zoomed through it to see if it was any better...)

"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by prosecutor on 03-09-07 at 03:09 PM
I am the opposite of you all. I am totally enjoying this show.
I have a 2 year old in the house and I had to ask her the grade 1 animal science answers. She got the answer correct every time. She learns animal science from watching Diego, that's Dora's cousin for those only familiar with Dora.BTW I am a college graduate hehe.
My point is it's totally easy for the kids to get the answer because they know up to the 5th grade, where we will be trying to rack our brains trying to remember. The accountant last night could have copied the 5th grader but he was not greedy and did not want to put that much pressure on the kid so he quit with $175,000 the kid had the correct answer but IMO he did the right thing by quitting.
"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by prosecutor on 04-13-07 at 09:43 PM
This show is funny. No adult has been smarter than a fifth grader as far as I know. One woman came close but did not know the answer to the last question. Apparently after the contestants answer all the questions from grade 1-5 the million dollar question is a grade 11 one.
"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by bacon on 04-16-07 at 03:04 PM
My biggest problem is that the host rubs it in the face of the contestant everytime they can't answer 5th grade questions. Reminder: The Host is JEFF FOXWORTHY! A guy who has made a living off of being dumber than a 5th grader.
"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by prosecutor on 04-26-07 at 03:05 PM

>JEFF FOXWORTHY! A guy who
>has made a living off
>of being dumber than a
>5th grader.


LMAO. too funny

"RE: Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?"
Posted by agman on 05-12-07 at 09:31 PM

I would love to see Jeff Foxworth have to actually play the game himself..He sucks as the mcee because all he does is talk talk talk......boring


I know everything, except the things I don't know