Американская телевизионная викторина "It's Academic"

American quiz show

It's Academic is the name for a number of televised academic student quiz shows for high school students through the United States and internationally. It's Academic programs have notably aired on NBC owned WRC TV (and, as of October 29, 2022, exclusively on PBS member station WETA TV) in Washington, D. C., NBC affiliate WVIR TV in Charlottesville, Virginia, and CBS owned WJZ TV in Baltimore, Maryland. The Washington, D. C. version of the show has been on the air since October 7, 1961, and is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the longest running quiz program in TV history. The program was created for WRC by Sophie Altman, who continued as executive producer until her death on May 24, 2008. Mac McGarry hosted the Washington shows from the beginning until June 25, 2011. Hillary Howard, formerly a news anchor for Washington radio station WTOP FM, took over as host subsequent to McGarry's official retirement in November 2011. The program is sponsored by philanthropist investor David Rubenstein and by the McLean, Virginia based Mitre Corporation.

The single elimination tournament features 81 schools in the Washington metropolitan area, 81 schools in the Baltimore metropolitan area (including Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore), and nine schools in the Central Virginia region. The winners in each region go on to battle each other in the Super Bowl. Each contest is composed of five rounds. Round 1 is a category round with eight themed questions (e. g. "the letter B" or "famous paintings"). Questions do not appear on the players' monitors but do appear for the home viewers. Each team is given 100 points before this round and teams receive 10 points for each correct answer and lose 10 for each incorrect answer. In Round 2, each team is individually asked five questions and receive 20 points each for a correct answer, but do not lose points for an incorrect answer. Round 3 is a toss up visual round. The monitor displays an image and the host provides a question accompanying the image. Teams receive 20 points for each correct answer and lose 20 for each incorrect answer (10 until April 19, 2014 in Washington, Baltimore, and starting with the 2014 season in Charlottesville; other cities' visual rounds are still 10 points up or down). Eight questions are used. The fourth question is always a math question. Before Round 4 the captain of each team introduces the sponsors and school administrators and coaches. Teams then select from three question packets. The team to the immediate left of the team that is supposed to answer chooses which packet the answering team will use. Eight questions are given to each team, with 20 points for a correct answer and no penalties. A 25 point bonus is given if a team correctly answers all eight questions, for a total of 185 points in this round. The fourth question is always a science question and the seventh question is always a math question (data from both those questions are displayed on the monitor or team's screen). Round 5 features quick fire toss up questions, each worth +/ 20 points. Visual questions are worth +/ 30 points. The number of questions varies depending on the time left in the game. The game ends when the buzzer sounds, home viewers may realize that the game will come to a close while the countdown clock appears on the television screen. If a team has buzzed in prior the buzzer sounding, the team is required to answer the question before the game is considered over. If there is a tie in the knockout round (e. g. the final), the presenter may ask one last tie breaker question to determine the winner. After the host has announced the teams' final scores, the studio audience is invited down from the stands to join the contestants on camera during the closing credit sequence. In the Washington version from about 1976 to June 2017, the song heard under the credit roll (if there are no musicians from any of the competing schools) was "T. L. C. (Tender Loving Care)" by the band MFSB (a new theme was introduced in Washington for the 2017–18 season, entitled "Just Let Go", by Marti Amado and Ron Bolton, music production by Network Music which is used throughout the show). As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic in the United States, later episodes in the 2019–2020 season were played in a remote format, with teams in separate locations, and without buzzers. Teams were recorded separately, and were not aware of other teams' scores. The competition will return to the studio in late winter/early spring 2023.

Prior to the adoption of the current format, there were several other formats of play.

The "very fast" category round consisted of questions pertaining to the same category. In some cases, the question was the same throughout the round: teams were given different items, and had to answer the common question on the basis of each item (e. g., given a state, name either senator from that state). In other cases, all the answers in the category round shared an announced characteristic in common (e. g., geographical locations whose names begin and end with "A" In another form, teams have one and a half minutes to answer questions for 20 points each. However, 20 points are deducted for a wrong answer. Teams may pass a question, losing 10 points; however, the other two teams may buzz in to answer the passed questions (with a few exceptions) for plus or minus 20 points after the time runs out for the team's turn. Every question that is fully read must be answered or passed within a reasonable time. However, if a question is not finished when time expires, the team may reject it without penalty or answer the question at their own risk. In this form, getting all 10 questions (later eight) correct originally earned the team a 50 point bonus, later reduced to 25.

A "scrimmage round" was once used during the 1977–78 Buffalo season championship, as well as in Washington and Baltimore through much of the 1970s, and also in Cleveland at about that time. Teams were instructed to "use [their] lights and buzzers" for a "one minute scrimmage round." 10 points were scored for a correct answer, with no penalties.

An Australian version of the show aired on Network 10 and the Seven Network from 1968 to 1975, and was revived by Seven's Perth affiliate in 2001. Seven took the show national in 2005. A New Zealand version was also screened by TVNZ in the 1980s, with Lockwood Smith and John Hayden as hosts. WNBC in New York aired a local edition of It's Academic from September 15, 1963 through July 1, 1972, hosted most of the time by Art James, with Lee Leonard filling in for a year. WMAQ TV in Chicago had a version in the 1960s and 1970s under the It's Academic name, hosted by Ed Grennan. The show debuted on September 29, 1962, with Arlington High School facing off against Homewood Flossmoor High School. WLWT, WCPO TV and WCET in Cincinnati aired a local It's Academic from October 13, 1963 to May 30, 1982. The Cincinnati hosts included Dave Manning, Lloyd Baldwin, Steve Douglas and Claire Slemmer. A version of It's Academic aired on CBS affiliate WBEN TV in Buffalo from January 27, 1968 through 1986. Initially hosted by National Football League Hall of Fame radio broadcaster of the Buffalo Bills, Van Miller, the first season concluded on April 20, 1968. The show was later revived for a few months in 2008 by NBC affiliate WGRZ, with Kevin O'Neill as host. The show returned to the area starting January 12, 2013 and was hosted by O'Neill and produced by Full Circle Studios for broadcast on WGRZ. A show using the It's Academic name aired in Richmond, Virginia on the NBC affiliate, WWBT Channel 12, from November 22, 1975 to June 26, 1976 (the Richmond championship aired on May 16, 1976), which was also hosted by Mac McGarry and sponsored by Giant. That was replaced by Battle of the Brains. Battle of the Brains has also replaced a version of It's Academic that aired in Hampton Roads. The World Affairs Council, in conjunction with the United States Department of State, hosted an It's Academic International event in 2002, also hosted by Mac McGarry. KHII TV in Honolulu aired a local version titled It's Academic Hawaii hosted by Billy V (from Hawaii News Now Sunrise). It was previously hosted by Rick Hamada and Keahi Tucker. WEWS in Cleveland has had a version of the series since 1964. It was originally titled It's Academic and hosted by Don Cameron. In 1972, the series changed its name to Academic Challenge with host Don Webster, later replaced by Lou Maglio; the series later reverted to its former title during the mid 1990s, at which time Webster also returned as emcee. After a 35 consecutive year run and a brief hiatus, Academic Challenge returned to the WEWS airwaves in 2003 with host Adam Shapiro. Danita Harris hosted the 2006 season; from 2007 to 2016, Jason Nicholas was the host, succeeded by Hakem Dermish in December 2016 after Nicholas left WEWS. Dermish was succeeded by WCPN host Rick Jackson on April 28, 2018 after Dermish left WEWS for CBS Sports in New York, while Jackson was subsequently replaced by Rob Powers for the 2019 season.

A similar show predating It's Academic ran in the United Kingdom for many years featuring teams from British secondary schools. Top of the Form which ran on BBC Radio from 1948 to 1986 with a television version airing on BBC 1 from 1962 to 1975. A Canadian quiz show, Reach for the Top was modelled on Top of the Form and began on CBUT in Vancouver in 1961 with locally produced versions airing across Canada on CBC Television from 1966 to 1985. The Toronto edition of the show on CBLT was hosted for several years by Alex Trebek, who later went on to be the long term host of Jeopardy!. Another similar British quiz show featuring competition by post secondary teams is University Challenge, which has been on air since 1962, making it only slightly younger than It's Academic. It was featured in the British sitcom The Young Ones where one of the characters, Adrian, used a Stielhandgranate against another university team.

(Note: bold denotes Super Bowl Champions (since 1972).) Year Winners 1961 Washington: St. Albans School 1963 Washington: Oxon Hill High School 1964 Washington: Oxon Hill High School 1965 Washington: Walt Whitman High SchoolCleveland: Magnificat High School 1966 Cincinnati: Wyoming High School 1967 New York, NY: Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High SchoolCincinnati: Walnut Hills High School 1968 Washington: Fairfax High SchoolBuffalo, NY: Lake Shore Central High School, Angola, New York 1969 Washington: Walt Whitman High SchoolCincinnati: Purcell High School 1972 Washington: Walt Whitman High SchoolBaltimore: Gilman SchoolNew York, NY St. Anthony's High School, Smithtown, NYChicago: Joliet East High School 1973 Baltimore: Randallstown High SchoolWashington: Bethesda Chevy Chase High SchoolCleveland: West Geauga High School 1974 Washington: Herndon High SchoolBaltimore: Randallstown High SchoolCleveland: Barberton High School (Ohio) 1975 Washington: Walt Whitman High SchoolBaltimore: Randallstown High School 1976 Washington: Northwood High SchoolBaltimore: Archbishop Curley High SchoolRichmond, VA: Collegiate SchoolBuffalo: Mount Saint Mary Academy 1977 Washington: Bethesda Chevy Chase High School 1978 Washington: Northwood High SchoolBuffalo: Nichols School 1979 Washington: Bethesda Chevy Chase High SchoolBaltimore: Franklin High School (Reisterstown, Maryland)Buffalo: Grand Island High SchoolCincinnati: St. Xavier High School 1980 Washington: Walt Whitman High SchoolBaltimore: Randallstown High SchoolBuffalo: Iroquois Central School DistrictCincinnati: St. Xavier High School 1981 Washington: Holton Arms SchoolCincinnati: St. Xavier High School 1982 Washington: Walt Whitman High School 1983 Washington: Bethesda Chevy Chase High SchoolBaltimore: Dulaney High School 1984 Baltimore: Dulaney High SchoolWashington: Rockville High School 1985 Washington: Walt Whitman High SchoolBaltimore: Dulaney High SchoolBuffalo: Williamsville East High School 1986 Washington: Bethesda Chevy Chase High SchoolBaltimore: Wilde Lake High School 1987 Washington: Bethesda Chevy Chase High SchoolBaltimore: Wilde Lake High SchoolCentral Virginia: St. Anne's Belfield School 1988 Baltimore: Dulaney High SchoolWashington: Walt Whitman High School
Buffalo: West Seneca West Senior High School 1989 Washington: Georgetown Day SchoolCentral Virginia: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and TechnologyBaltimore: Dulaney High School 1990 Baltimore: Oakland Mills High School Washington: Rockville High School Central Virginia: St. Anne's Belfield School 1991 Baltimore: Dulaney High SchoolWashington: Walt Whitman High School 1992 Baltimore: Wilde Lake High SchoolWashington: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology 1993 Washington: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and TechnologyBaltimore: Gilman School 1994 Baltimore: Linganore High SchoolWashington: Eleanor Roosevelt High SchoolCentral Virginia: Woodberry Forest School 1995 Washington: Montgomery Blair High SchoolCentral Virginia: Woodberry Forest School 1996 Washington: Georgetown Day SchoolCentral Virginia: Woodberry Forest SchoolBaltimore: Mount Saint Joseph High School 1997 Washington: Georgetown Day SchoolBaltimore: Oakland Mills High SchoolCentral Virginia: Charlottesville High SchoolCleveland: Lakewood High School 1998 Washington: Gonzaga College High SchoolBaltimore: Hammond High School 1999 Washington: Rockville High SchoolBaltimore: Towson High SchoolCleveland: Copley High School 2000 Baltimore: Howard High SchoolWashington: Eleanor Roosevelt High SchoolCentral Virginia: Staunton High School 2001 Washington: Eleanor Roosevelt High SchoolBaltimore: Howard High School 2002 Baltimore: Howard High SchoolWashington: Holton Arms SchoolPittsburgh: Ringgold High School 2003 Washington: Holton Arms SchoolBaltimore: Centennial High School 2004 Baltimore: Howard High SchoolWashington: Richard Montgomery High SchoolCleveland: Solon High School 2005 Washington: Walter Johnson High SchoolBaltimore: Centennial High SchoolCentral Virginia: Staunton High SchoolCleveland: Solon High School 2006 Washington: Richard Montgomery High SchoolBaltimore: Hammond High SchoolCentral Virginia: Charlottesville High SchoolCleveland: Copley High School 2007 Washington: Walter Johnson High SchoolBaltimore: Centennial High SchoolCentral Virginia: Staunton High SchoolCleveland: Gilmour Academy 2008 Washington: Rockville High SchoolBaltimore: Mount Saint Joseph High SchoolCentral Virginia: Charlottesville High SchoolCleveland: Hawken SchoolPittsburgh: Shady Side AcademyBuffalo, NY: Iroquois Central School District 2009 Baltimore: Centennial High SchoolWashington: Montgomery Blair High SchoolCentral Virginia: Charlottesville High SchoolCleveland: Archbishop Hoban High SchoolPittsburgh: Uniontown Area High School 2010 Washington: Rockville High SchoolCentral Virginia: Charlottesville High SchoolBaltimore: Gilman SchoolCleveland: Copley High SchoolPittsburgh: Hampton High School 2011 Washington: Wilbert Tucker Woodson High SchoolBaltimore: Walkersville High SchoolCentral Virginia: Rappahannock County High SchoolCleveland: St. Edward High School 2012 Washington: James Hubert Blake High SchoolBaltimore: Catonsville High SchoolCentral Virginia: Louisa County High SchoolCleveland: Firestone Community Learning CenterPittsburgh: Winchester Thurston SchoolHawaii: Waiakea High School 2013 Washington: James Hubert Blake High SchoolBaltimore: Centennial High SchoolCentral Virginia: Orange County High SchoolCleveland: Twinsburg High SchoolBuffalo, NY: Williamsville East High SchoolHawaii: Punahou School 2014 Washington: James Hubert Blake High SchoolBaltimore: James M. Bennett High SchoolCentral Virginia: Charlottesville High SchoolCleveland: Cloverleaf High SchoolBuffalo, NY: Williamsville East High School 2015 Washington: James Hubert Blake High SchoolBaltimore: Centennial High SchoolCentral Virginia: Rappahannock County High SchoolCleveland: Berea Midpark High School 2016 Washington: Walt Whitman High SchoolBaltimore: Centennial High SchoolCentral Virginia: Staunton High SchoolCleveland: Solon High School 2017 Washington: Montgomery Blair High SchoolBaltimore: Centennial High SchoolCentral Virginia: Kettle Run High SchoolCleveland: Lakewood High SchoolHawaii: Kaiser High School 2018 Washington: Montgomery Blair High SchoolBaltimore: Centennial High SchoolCentral Virginia: Stuarts Draft High SchoolCleveland: Westlake High School 2019 Washington: Montgomery Blair High SchoolBaltimore: Walkersville High SchoolCentral Virginia: Kettle Run High School Cleveland: Revere High School 2020 Washington: Bethesda Chevy Chase High SchoolBaltimore: Centennial High SchoolCentral Virginia: Fauquier High School2021Washington: James Hubert Blake High SchoolBaltimore: Howard High SchoolCentral Virginia: Western Albemarle High School 2022 Washington: McLean High SchoolCleveland: Avon Lake High School2023Washington: McLean High School2024Washington: James Hubert Blake High School