I was just randomly switching channels when I stumbled upon the premiere of Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader an American game show on Channel 5, currently showing on Thursday nights at 7.30pm.
(Note: Fifth grade is the local equivalent of Primary 5)
Its concept is rather interesting, and incorporates certain elements from other shows like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, amongst others.
Contestants, are given a list of Elementary (Primary) School subjects to choose from, and each correct answer moves them up the ladder, of a million dollars.
Just like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, the various financial stages are the same, and contestants are given three lifelines. Nope, it's not the Call A Friend or 50-50, but an educational version, which is Peek, Cheat, and Save.
Yea, I know, sounds pretty mundane so far right? Well, what good would a Fifth grade show be, without any kids?
So, five kids are there, each with their own tables, and writing pads. They have to answer the same question as the contestant. But, of these five, the contestant has to choose one to be standing beside her, thus being her 'opponent'.
Remember the lifelines? Well, the lifelines are answers of that particular kiddo. If he decides to use the Peek lifeline, peeks into the kid's answer, and goes with it, and it's correct, he's still in the game!
From questions like How many decades are there in two millennial? to How many sides are there in a trapezoid?, questions tackle geography to math to astronomy, from First Grade to Fifth Grade.
Of course, this got me thinking about the localized version. After all, we've all had our experience in the education system, and we all have, at one point or the other, memorized information, merely for the sake of memorizing.
Chances are, if you go up on the show, you would die. (Not literally, of course).
Unless you happen to be working in the field that you studied, you would definitely need to put on your thinking cap.
Then again, would the show be successful? Maybe not. Being such a small country, which adult would mind getting ridiculed for giving an incorrect answer to a seemingly easy question.
You can almost hear the school canteen gossip.
"eh, you know ah, beng lao bu, cannot answer that question lehh. so easy la! trapezoid got four sides, so easy also donno sia'
'eh beng! ur lao bu so not smart can. trapezoid also donno how many sides'
Well, that's enough input from me. You can form your own opinions yourself.
You can catch Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader, on Channel 5, every Thurs, at 7.30pm.
