-Students from Holton-Arms... DeMatha Catholic... and Poolesville meet today on "It's Academic."

♪♪ ♪♪ [ Applause ] Hello, everybody.

Welcome to "It's Academic," the world's longest-running TV quiz show, now in its 65th year, produced by Altman Productions and the great WETA.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... George Mason University -- all together different.

-Call us different.

-Different in where we come from... -Where we're going... -And how we think.

-But the same in our dreams for tomorrow.

-Driven by the pull of possibility... -To inspire... -To think fearlessly... -To protect and to heal the planet.

We know the world will change.

-Together... -We will be... -The ones to change it.

-Call Mason different -- all... -Together... -Different.

-Hey, so glad you all are here for another edition of "It's Academic."

We're very excited for this game, and it begins as all the games do with the Fast Start.

Questions are worth 10 points up or down.

The first team to buzz in gets to answer, and you guys at home, the students do not see what you do.

Alright, here we go, teams.

Don't Go Barefoot.

I'm sure you all have shoes on today, which is appropriate because these questions are all about footwear.

See if you can identify the following.

Yup.

Holton.

-Boot camp.

-Boot camp.

Yes.

Holton.

-Kipling.

-Kipling.

-Yeah.

Athletes wear this type of footwear while competing for the Stanley -- Poolesville.

-Skates, right?

Skates.

-Yep.

Ice skates.

This girl wore ruby red slippers in "The Wizard --" Holton.

Answer?

-Dorothy.

-Yeah, Dorothy.

Holton.

-Moccasin.

-Correct.

DeMatha.

-Hans Christian Andersen.

-Yeah!

Well done!

Yup.

Holton.

-Louis XIV.

-Correct.

So they could run faster, warriors were forbidden to wear sandals by this Zulu leader.

Yeah.

DeMatha.

-Shaka.

-Yes!

This fairy tale girl wore glass slippers to a -- Poolesville.

-Cinderella.

-Yeah.

Deep sea divers wear this "F"-initialed footwear to -- Holton.

-Flippers.

-Flippers is right, and that does it for our Fast Start.

Let's recap the scores.

Holton-Arms -- 160 points.

DeMatha Catholic -- 120 points.

Poolesville -- 120 points.

[ Applause ] Well, let's meet these teams, huh?

We begin with Holton-Arms from Bethesda, Maryland.

Alex, how you doing?

-Hi.

-Hi.

-My name is Alex, and I'm a 17-year-old senior.

And when I'm not playing "It's Ac," I like to spend time with my golden retriever, Molly.

-Goldens are so funny because they never remember how big they are.

Nice to have you, Alex.

How are you, Maggie?

-Hi, I'm Maggie.

I'm also a 17-year-old senior, and in my free time, I love to go hiking.

-Oh, that's nice.

I just did Hawksbill, but that's a short hike.

Hiya, Sasha.

-Hi, I'm Sasha, I'm also a 17-year-old senior, and I like to play tennis.

-Uh-huh.

So you're good?

-[ Chuckles ] Yeah.

-Yeah.

It's okay to say.

Own it!

Own it!

Alright, here we go, guys.

Hidden here is the name of what sort of eight-legged arachnid such as the black widow or tarantula.

-Spider.

-Spider.

Yes.

If you gave a report that was brief and to the point, the report could best be described by which of these adjectives.

-Third choice.

-Yes.

Concise.

To complete this quotation from one writer, add what number of years equal to 156 weeks.

-Three?

-Three.

-Three.

-Yes, it is three years.

Had the Internet been available in the 15th century, this could have been a website for what German printer -- the first European to print a book with movable type?

-Gutenberg.

-Yeah.

To put a little snap in your score, rearrange these letters to name what 1898 war that the US fought in Cuba and the Philippines.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Spanish-American.

-You're right.

Shakespeare doesn't ask this question in one of his plays, but in what type of poem that contains 14 lines?

-A sonnet.

-Sonnet.

Well done, Holton-Arms -- 280 points.

[ Applause ] To DeMatha Catholic from Hyattsville, Maryland.

Dino, good to see you.

-I am also a 17-year-old senior.

I do "It's Academic," and in my free time I play trombone, I'm on our mock trial team, and I act.

-Great.

That's very cool.

Hi, Kaleb.

Good to see you.

-Hello.

Hi.

So I'm also a 17-year-old senior.

Shocking.

And in my spare time, I usually tend to read.

I've been getting really into Franz Kafka lately, so I've been reading a lot of his stuff.

-That's very cool.

Nice to have you again.

And hello, Liam.

-Hello.

My name is Liam.

I'm a 17-year-old senior.

When I'm not doing "It's Academic," I play the trumpet and piano.

-Very nice.

Alright, guys, here you go.

See if you can find within this phrase the name of what 15th century Portuguese prince nicknamed "the Navigator."

-Henry.

-Yes.

It's Henry.

Which of these adjectives best describe someone who is phlegmatic?

-Hmm.

-I'd say one.

One.

-You're right.

It's sluggish.

To complete this observation from one writer, add what courageous word that ends our national anthem.

-Brave.

-Yeah!

This would have been a good website for what 19th century man who wrote the first American dictionary?

-First... Samuel Johnson.

-Maybe?

-Oh.

Samuel Johnson.

-No.

No, Noah Webster.

-Ahh.

American.

-Yeah.

You will truly have earned 20 points when you rearrange the letters in this phrase to name what Middle East River that joins the Tigris in Iraq?

-Euphrates.

-Correct again.

This tribute to moms came from what thoughtful woman, the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

-Harriet Beecher Stowe.

-You've got it again.

Alright.

Great job, DeMatha -- 220 points.

[ Applause ] Alright.

To Poolesville from Montgomery County.

Ahilan, how are you?

-I'm doing well.

I'm Ahilan.

I am a 17-year-old senior in the global ecology program.

And when I'm not doing "It's Academic," I like to spend time in nature, read, and play the clarinet.

-Wow.

That's wonderful.

It sounds very, very cool.

-Yeah.

-Alex.

Hi.

What are you up to?

-Hi.

I've been doing "It's Academic" for two years.

In my free time, I like to learn languages, and I'm in the science, math, and computer science program at Poolesville High School.

-Really cool.

Good to see you.

And hello, Nicholas.

-Hi.

My name is Nicholas.

I'm also a senior in the science, math, and computer science program.

And when I'm not doing "It's Academic," I like to volunteer in my local library.

-Well, that's great, guys.

I've got some questions for you.

Here's the first one.

Hidden in the midst of these mythical creatures is the last name of what American industrialist who produced the Model T car?

-Ford.

-Ford.

-Yes.

Which of these terms would best describe a person who suffers from sleepwalking?

-Two.

-Two.

-Somnambulist.

-Option two.

-Option two it is.

To complete this quote from the philosopher Spinoza, add what word that precedes security in a government program to protect retired American workers.

-Social.

-Social.

-Social.

-Yes.

Man is a social animal system.

This could have been an appropriate website for what American librarian -- this one is for you, Nicholas -- who developed and named a decimal system used in libraries to locate books?

-Dewey.

-Yeah.

Very good.

Rearranged the letters in this phrase and you'll name what Germanic tribe that sacked Rome in 455 BC?

Their name now describes people who maliciously destroy property.

-Vandals?

-Yes.

This view of journalism was written by what 19th century New England writer who kept up with the news at his cabin on Walden Pond?

-Thoreau.

-Thoreau is right.

Well done, Poolesville -- 240 points.

That does it for the Mix & Match round.

Stay with us.

Picture Perfect is next.

-In 1961, nine high school students walked into a TV studio in Washington, DC, to film the very first episode of "It's Academic."

-Good evening, and welcome to "It's Academic," the weekly program... -Little did they know that, over the course of the next 65 years, thousands of high school students would follow them onto the set and into broadcast history.

-I think what has kept "It's Academic" on the air for so long, you had strong support from the schools and we've had a strong community support.

-There aren't a ton of outlets to, like, be competitive in an academic setting.

-It teaches composure, knowledge, wisdom.

-And it's like an engaging, fun quiz show.

But it also teaches you so much about the world and so many different facets.

-Today, "It's Academic" is celebrating 65 years, and is the world's longest-running TV quiz show.

Thank you students, schools, viewers, and fans.

And remember... "It's Academic."

♪♪ -Time to look at some pictures and give me some answers about them.

This is the Picture Perfect round.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Guys... [ Beep ] [ Chuckles ] -Ring Nebula.

-Oh, wait, I haven't asked the question yet.

What -- You're giving -- -Ring Nebula.

-It's -- No, that's not what we were going for, but that was so good.

The question was, this is the Helix Nebula, part of what constellation known in the zodiac as "the water bearer"?

But it was a great jump.

The answer was Aquarius.

President Rutherford B. Hayes left his stamp on American history when he withdrew federal troops from the South, ending what era that followed -- Poolesville.

-Reconstruction.

-Yeah.

That's it.

President of the American Anti-Slavery Society, this is what 19th century abolitionist who founded a journal called -- Yes, Holton.

Answer?

Three, two... -Garrison.

-Yeah.

Garrison.

You just got it in.

Here's your math question.

Solve for x. Holton.

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer.

-16.

-16 it is.

This is the church of La Sagrada Familia in what second-largest -- Poolesville.

-Huh?

-Barcelona.

-Yeah.

Barcelona.

-Barcelona is correct.

The Liberty Bell cracked on July 8, 1835, when tolling the death of what fourth Supreme Court Justice?

Poolesville.

-Marshall.

-Marshall is right.

Choice -- the Exclusion Principle says that -- -Pauli.

-Yeah.

Nicely done.

Posing here is what Confederate officer whose name is associated with an unsuccessful charge?

Poolesville.

-Pickett.

-Pickett is right.

Well done.

That does it for the Picture Perfect round.

Let's take a look at these scores.

Holton-Arms -- 320 DeMatha Catholic -- 220.

Poolesville -- 320.

[ Applause ] So we don't just have questions for students.

We have a question for you.

Ready?

We'll have that answer for you after we meet the coaches.

And we begin with Holton-Arms.

Maggie, who are the two women behind you?

-So behind us, we have the amazing Dr.

Krug and Ms.

Siddiqui, who are two of our coaches.

And then not here with us today are Mr.

Tupper and Ms.

Gagne, who are our other two coaches, and our wonderful alternate Marina.

-Awesome.

Really nice to have you guys here.

And over to DeMatha Catholic, Kaleb, who's standing behind you?

-So we have Dr.

Crusemire and Mr.

Austin.

They are our coaches for this year.

Not here is our past coach, Mr.

Hager -- he retired -- and also our alternate, Daniel.

-Alright.

Nice to see you, Daniel.

And, you guys, thanks so much for being here.

-We'd like to thank you to Ms.

Snavely, our coach.

She teaches the AP World History in the global ecology program.

We'd also like to thank our alternates, Liam and Vittal, who unfortunately could not make it today, as well as our friends and family who have helped us.

-Alrighty.

-Wait!

-Additionally, we would like to thank our principal, Mr.

Carothers, who could not make it today.

-Okay.

Thank you, Poolesville.

And thank you, everybody.

It's great to have all of you.

And now we've got the answer to that question about which astronaut hit a golf ball after landing on the moon.

It was Alan Shepard.

And if you want to see the golf ball he used, you can.

It's in the Golf Museum in Liberty Corner, New Jersey.

Alright.

Now that we've gotten past that interesting question and those lovely introductions, we get to do the Packet Round.

Holton-Arms, you answer questions first.

DeMatha, which packet will they answer questions from -- one, two, or three?

-One.

-One.

Okay.

Holton... in 2018, astronomers discovered 12 additional moons orbiting what planet fifth from the sun?

-Jupiter.

Jupiter?

-Yes.

What extremely salty sea in the Middle East gets its name from the fact that most plants and animals can't live in its waters?

-The Dead Sea.

-The Dead Sea.

And it's amazing to float in.

Like, you can't sink.

You just can't.

The Voyager 1 spacecraft, the first man-made object to enter interstellar space, is powered by the radioactive decay of an isotope of what element whose symbol is Pu?

-Plutonium.

-Plutonium it is.

Here's your science question.

Which of these devices would most likely be used to detect a small current?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Electroscope.

-Nope.

Galvanometer.

In order to get a Panama Canal treaty, the United States helped Panama win independence in 1903 from what South American country whose capital is Bogotá?

-Colombia.

-Yeah.

Although she wrote about travel to foreign lands, what 19th century American poet hated leaving her Amherst home and lived as a recluse?

-Dickinson.

-Yes.

Here's your math question.

Simplify this expression.

-X plus one.

-X plus one is right.

Although Medicare didn't take effect until 1966, it had been proposed earlier by what Democrat who served as our 33rd president?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Truman.

-Truman is right.

Well done, Holton-Arms -- 460 points.

[ Applause ] Your turn to DeMatha.

Poolesville, two or three?

-Let's give 'em three.

-Three.

-Three.

-Okay.

Three.

The unsuccessful Spanish Revolution of 1820 followed Spain's sale to the United States of what present-day Sunshine State first explored by Ponce de León?

-Florida.

-Yeah!

That's it.

Sightseers at Harpers Ferry National Park learned the details of the 1859 raid led by what abolitionist?

-John Brown.

-John Brown is right.

In 1999, scientists used hair dryers to thaw out the remains of a 20,000-year-old woolly mammoth discovered in what vast, cold region of Russia?

-Siberia.

-Siberia is right.

Here's your science question.

Which of these three acids is one of the 20 common amino acids?

-Acetic.

-No, it's glutamic acid.

In 1802, G.F.

Grotefend made linguistic history by deciphering what wedge-shaped writing used in ancient Babylonia to write on clay tablets?

-Cuneiform.

-Yeah.

After being rescued from cannibals by the crew of a whaling ship, what American author drew on that experience in writing "Moby Dick"?

-Herman Melville.

-You've got it.

Here's your math question.

What is the value of x in this equation?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Two.

-Two.

Yeah.

You get an A-plus and 20 points if you know that the Department of Education was established in 1979 during the administration of what 39th President?

-Carter.

-Carter it is.

Nice, DeMatha -- 360 points.

[ Applause ] And that leaves packet number two for Poolesville.

Here we go.

It was a bonanza for the glass business in 1998, when all 6,500 windows were replaced in what New York City skyscraper climbed by King Kong?

-Empire State.

-Yeah.

-The Empire State Building.

-The Empire State building.

Yes.

If you passed through the Brenner Pass, you'd be traveling between Italy and Austria in what European mountain range?

-The Alps.

-It's the Alps.

It wasn't until he'd been dead for 200 years that anyone published a collection of fables attributed to what ancient slave who was probably born in Africa?

-Aesop.

-Oh, yeah.

-Aesop.

-Yes.

That's right.

Here's your science question.

Which of these is a free-living flatworm that can, if cut in two, grow into two new flatworms?

-Planarian?

-Yeah.

Bernardo O'Higgins was a half-Irish, half-Spanish soldier who helped win independence for what long, narrow South American country on the Pacific coast?

-Chile.

-Chile.

Yeah.

What fictional man marooned on an island found the days went by faster once he met a companion he named Friday.

-Crusoe.

-Yeah.

That's it, Robinson Crusoe.

Math question.

Find the least common multiple of these numbers.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -15.

-30!

-Which is it, captain?

-30.

-30 it is.

-[ Exhales sharply ] -Lucky.

In 2012, the US issued a postage stamp to mark the centennial of the birth of which president -- our 40th chief executive?

-Reagan.

-Reagan.

-Reagan.

-It is Ronald Reagan.

And with that, Poolesville, you have a 25-point bonus.

Nice job.

505 points.

That does it for the Packet Round.

Anything can happen next because it is the Grab Bag.

Stay with us.

-Did you know that after he died in 1834, the Marquis de Lafayette, who had come to our aid during the American Revolution, was buried in France under dirt taken from Bunker Hill?

Now you know.

♪♪ You know what I love about the Grab Bag round?

It gives everybody an opportunity to give it all they've got.

And that's what we're going to do in this Grab Bag, guys, where questions are worth 20 points up or down, the first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

The 20th day of what month was established by the 20th amendment as Inauguration Day for the -- Poolesville.

-January.

-January.

-Yes.

A 1918 novel titled "His Family" was the first fictional work awarded what prize named for a 19th century -- Holton.

-Newbery.

-No -- -No, Pulitzer!

-I'm sorry.

That one I can't give you.

Can I?

No.

I'm so sorry.

Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II employed as his court astronomer what German mathematician who formulated the laws of planetary motion?

Poolesville.

-Kepler.

-Yep.

It's Kepler.

On your screens.

This was the Key West home of what American author who wrote about Spain, not Florida?

DeMatha.

-Ernest Hemingway.

-Yeah, you've got it!

Conservationists are distressed at the continuing market for the horns of what large -- Holton.

-Rhinos.

-Rhinos is right.

How many degrees are there in the sum of the interior angles of a regular pentagon?

Yup.

Holton.

Answer.

Three, two, one.

-360.

-No.

540 degrees.

A musical tribute to baseball titled "The National Game March" was composed by what march king?

Yeah, Holton.

-Philip Sousa.

-You've got it.

On your screens.

Rearrange these letters and you'll name what Frankish king crowned emperor in 800?

Poolesville.

-Charlemagne.

-Charlemagne's right.

The 2008 animated movie "Fly Me to the Moon" was about three young flies who sneak aboard what number Apollo flight, the first to land on the moon?

Poolesville.

-11.

-Yeah.

Choice.

Which of these is heavier -- a hydrogen nucleus, an alpha particle, or a beta particle?

Poolesville.

-An alpha particle.

-You've got it again.

John Steinbeck's "Winter of Our Discontent" takes its title from a line in what Shakespeare drama?

Holton.

Answer.

Three, two, one.

-"12th Night."

-No.

"Richard III."

On your screens.

By launching a rocket in 1926, what American scientist -- Poolesville.

-Goddard.

-Goddard is correct.

Although you won't find steamboats there, there is a Steamboat Springs in what western state?

Yep.

Holton.

-Colorado.

-Colorado is right.

The sum of an integer and its reciprocal is six and a half.

What is this integer?

The answer is six.

Chief Black Partridge welcomed settlers, but an 1840s war was named for what other Native American chief whose two-word name identifies a military helicopter?

Holton.

Answer.

-Blackhawk.

-That's it.

On your screens.

Here, the artist tried to -- Yes, Poolesville?

-Bolívar.

-Yeah, very nicely done.

It was Simón Bolívar.

Many wars are fought over territory, but the mutilated ear of what British sea captain -- Holton.

Answer.

Three, two -- -Jenkins.

-Yes, it's Robert Jenkins, and that does it.

That is the end of the game.

We'll have the scores in just a minute.

Stay with us.

-As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, here are some things you should know.

An American Revolutionary War spy ring that learned of Benedict Arnold's treachery was made up of several women, including one who transmitted information by hanging specific items on a clothesline.

Learn more about America's founding -- stream "The American Revolution," a new documentary from Ken Burns, premiering November 16th on WETA+ -- a brand-new, free, and easy-to-use streaming service created specifically for DC-area viewers like you.

For more information, go to weta.org/wetaplus.

The scores are now official.

We begin with DeMatha Catholic from Hyattsville, Maryland.

Dino, Kaleb, Liam -- 380 points.

You almost got that bonus.

It was just one question away.

Good job.

[ Applause ] From Holton-Arms in Bethesda, Alex, Maggie, Sasha, same thing.

You almost got that bonus.

It was just one away.

500 points.

Good job.

[ Applause ] And racking up the points, Poolesville High School from Poolesville in Montgomery County.

Ahilan, Alex, and Nicholas -- 645 points!

[ Applause ] Amazing, guys.

We are so happy that you were with us today.

See you next time.

I'm Hillary Howard.

Remember, everybody... "It's Academic!"

Bye-bye.

See you.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... George Mason University -- all together different.

-Call us different.

-Different in where we come from... -Where we're going... -And how we think.

-But the same in our dreams for tomorrow.

-Driven by the pull of possibility... -To inspire... -To think fearlessly... -To protect and to heal the planet.

We know the world will change.

-Together... -We will be... -The ones to change it.

-Call Mason different -- all... -Together... -Different.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪