Nobel Prize Winner George Smoot Wins “5th Grader”. Way to Go?
On Friday’s series finale of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, George Smoot became the second person to win the million dollar top prize, and the first man to do so. So congratulations for knowing more than a ten year old. Of course all of this is taken down so many notches after you remember he’s a Nobel Prize winner. He helped with the big bang theory. Not the show, the actual thing. And people are amazed and want me to throw tons of praise his way? Give me a break?
I mean be honest: was anyone stunned he won? If he didn’t get to the 10th question and $500,000 it would have been an embarrassment. If he didn’t answer the million dollar question correctly it would have sucked a bit. The only tough decision he had was if he was going to risk $475,000. You can ask someone to raise their right hand and they’ll get nervous for a $500,000 gamble. But he wisely did it and won the money for himself, not charity. Again, should we have been shocked? It’s the entire issue I have with this show (well, at least the primetime version). I see no sense of accomplishment for winning the million dollars. On Millionaire, if you win the million dollars you sure as hell earned it. Same with just about any other million dollar game show. But he answered questions that, legitimately, a 10 year old shouldn’t have much trouble with. I don’t think it was anything to go crazy about.
I’m not trying to take anything away from him. Well, yes I am. But he still won a million dollars and that can’t be taken away so way to go. It basically proves if you shove a million dollar top prize in something and someone wins, people will think it’s the greatest thing ever.
The daytime version of Fifth Grader, which just started, is so much better. I mean the same idea is there, but it’s not a Millionaire clone anymore. You have to bank money, questions are actually a bit harder somehow (go figure), that final question which can multiply your money by ten is a tempting gamble, it’s quicker, and the top prize is an appropriate level. It’s amazing how a vast majority of the shows go from popular trash to popular treasure as soon as they go daytime. The same thing happened with Deal or No Deal. However, the premiere of daytime Fifth Grader only scored a 0.9 and if Merv Griffin’s Crosswords can’t survive with that rating I really doubt Fifth Grader with its higher budget can.
So what do you think of this all? Like the daytime version better than the primetime?
Even ignoring the fact that he's smart enough to have won a Nobel prize, that victory dance still screams "nerd".
After watching a couple of 5th grader episodes today, I'll say that the gameplay is much better in the 1/2 hour format, but I honestly wish they didn't get the contestants from central casting like the annoying girl who's favorite hobby is talking on todays 2nd episode of the double run. I must admit thath it was hilarious to blow what is an easy question in…
True or False: The United States is a continent?
Of course it's false, but she is dumber than a box of rocks and said True. She leaves with nothing but humiliation and a $250 prepaid card. That aside though, this has become an ok show from an agonizingly slow show on Fox. I still don't think it'll last after this season, but oh well.
I like the new fifth grader, except for 1 thing
You could get 9 questions right and miss the last one, and win $0, times 10, STILL EQUALS NOTHING!
You could get 9 questions right and miss the first one and still win $24,500, times ten is $245,000
Something is wrong with that…
Once you answer 5 correct, that money should be banked automatically
So if you lose on that last question, you only fall back to $13,500 or something
But the play is much better in the 30 minute format than an hour
I give it 3.5 of 5
It wasn’t bad. The pace is faster than it was on Fox. And the woman on today’s show (the 2nd episode for those who aren’t in a market that double run the show) should never (and i do mean NEVER) go on another game show again. The United States is a continent? Seriously? Has it come to this? They’re getting people who isn’t smarter than a kindergartener. At least the woman on yesterday’s show went home with a chunk of change. But all in all, it’s better than the Millionaire for Dummies that is the primetime version. I’m sure the ratings will get better as the show goes along.
Don't see what's "wrong" with it. Each show has its unique ways luck can work to your advantage or disadvantage. In this case, it's how you pick the questions. If the first scenario happens, oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.
I like the half hour format (though I'm still trying to get used to only seeing three kids). Good pacing, still fun, and you can make a mistake and keep going.
But, sheesh, the horse is dead already. No need to keep beating it–the hate for the primetime version has been a bit much over all these months.
"…how many shows go from popular treasure to popular treasure once they hit daytime"?
Is that what you meant to say, or am I missing something here?
What I'm from the Philippines and I have no idea what the answer was to the million dollar question, and I guessed Maine, and it was right! I don't even know where Maine is!
I agree with you about that annoying she was in embarssment to the game. She should have stay home.
I'm not sure where you're getting 5th Grader guys, but in my neck of the woods in Philly, a deli worker named Dave wom $11,500 & chose to quit right there. They even showed the "Bonus Question" which wasn't shown on Monday night. Maybe the scheduling's a bit different than yours I dunno.
Anyways, the syndie version is MUCH better than the Fox version. A 0.9? That's what happens when my affiliate airs it at 10:30 PM. This is gonna be just like TP:AP was last year, a one-season wonder? Will ANYTHING knock off the tandem of Whee/J!? Maybe in 10-15 years, but not now. Sheesh!
I like the money structure for daytime 5th Grader, and the show seems to move smoother and quicker than on prime time. As for negatives — the 11th question should be called the "Final Exam" or "Extra Credit" — "Bonus Question" doesn't work for a school-themed show. I'd also like to see 5th Grader utilize the monitors in front of the contestant's podium. Instead of just showing the 5th Grader logo, why not keep a running tab on how much money a contestant has in his/her bank.
Regarding ratings — I have a feeling Fox will look at ratings from all fronts — syndie, MyNetwork and CMT, before deciding its future. CMT is frontloading with celebrity and theme weeks for at least the first month, so it appears the network is going all out to make this a ratings winner. I could see MyNet focusing exclusively on celeb and "big money/big money attempt" civilian episodes for its run.
At least that gift card wasn't in TEMPTATION DOLLARS! AAAAAUUGHHHH!
"Way to go?" I offer "Good for him!". He's definitely worthy of a million bucks, not necessarily for this but for other things he has done.
Also, this show isn't easy, it's just sufficiently moderate in difficulty that any really smart contestant is probably going to lay waste to it. And George did that. Good for him!
Penny is really pretty on the series Big Bang Theory, she is quite perky too.`,: