The Circle
spring 2010
Leadership Circle
the wgbh leadership circle newsletter
Bring It On! High School Quiz Show
Q How did High School Quiz Show come to be? A Inspired by the success of existing public television quiz shows including As Schools Match Wits, WGBH President Jon Abbott was intrigued by the idea of creating a statewide contest. He took the idea to Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell D. Chester, who encouraged WGBH to “Bring it on!” It was at this point that Jon passed me the baton. Q Was it difficult to find schools to participate in the show? A We were told by station after station that if we build it, they [the schools] will come. Nevertheless, we were skeptical, so before we officially green-lit the series, we sent out a flyer to test the waters. Within just a few weeks, more than 70
MIT graduate and stand-up comedian Dhaya Lakshminarayanan hosts High School Quiz Show, produced here at WGBH’s Brighton studios
schools in eastern Massachusetts had applied for the 20 available slots. We hadn’t even built it! Q What do you think appeals to people about the show? A The celebratory nature of the program is what seems to resonate most. When you walk through a school, you see cases of trophies for athletic teams. This is an opportunity to give high-achieving students the chance for public recognition as well. I see the need for more trophy cases in the future! Q Tell us about the host, Dhaya Lakshminarayanan. A Dhaya has two degrees from MIT and is a stand-up comedian. She’s a great mentor for the kids, and brings a unique energy and spontaneity to the show. She was part of her high school’s academic team, learned English by watching Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and is a self-professed “super nerd”—so this is familiar territory for her.
©WGBH/ALISON KENNEDY
n March, we introduced a new WGBH production: High School Quiz Show, a fast-paced academic challenge that showcases and rewards the academic achievement and intellectual curiosity of Massachusetts’ high school students. High School Quiz Show pits four-person academic teams from 20 area schools against each other. They compete in 10 qualifying matches in eastern Massachusetts, six statewide playoff matches against schools from WGBY’s long-running As Schools Match Wits in western Massachusetts, and the coveted state championship. Tied to the Commonwealth’s core curriculum, the series celebrates academic achievement and brings students, families, schools, and communities together to root for their home teams. WGBH’s Jennifer Goebel recently spoke with executive producer Hillary Wells about the popular new series.
HOST WITH KIDS: MARK OSTOW FOR WGBH; BACKGROUND: MICHAEL WILKINS FOR WGBH
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Hillary Wells
Q What’s the most challenging part of producing a program like this? A We had a steep learning curve on the technology end, but I’d have to say that the most challenging aspect has been, and will continue to be, striking the balance between academics and entertainment. This plays out in all aspects of the game. Q Do you have any advice for schools that may want to participate next year? A Believe it or not, we’re already in discussions about next year. My advice for teams that may want to participate next year is to friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter; to check our website regularly for updates; and, most importantly, to watch the show to understand how the game works and how to most effectively build a competitive team. High School Quiz Show airs on Mondays at 7:30pm on WGBH 2. Watch online or see a complete list of school matchups at highschoolquizshow.org.
Major production support is provided by the University of Massachusetts. Research, development, and production funding generously provided by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Additional funding is provided by Comcast, Massachusetts Teachers Association, and New England Aquarium.