-From the KC studio at WETA, students from Montgomery Blair Landon, and Robinson meet today on "It's Academic."

[ Applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [Applause] Hello, everybody.

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

-Support for its academic has been provided by the following -- George Mason University.

All Together Different.

♪♪ -Call us different.

-Different in where we come from.

-Where we 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.

[Applause] -Hi.

We are so glad that you've joined us today for "It's Academic ."

And you know, we're so happy the students are here.

We begin with our Fast Start, guys.

You know how it works.

Questions are worth ten points up or down.

And the first team to buzz in gets to answer.

By the way, the contestants don't see what you do on the screens at home in this round.

Here we go.

Crunch Time.

Nuts are among the oldest and most nutritious foods, so let's enjoy a little food for thought as these questions are all about nuts.

-Blair.

-Brazil.

-Correct.

-Blair.

-California.

-California is it.

In 1882, these "M"-initialed nut trees were -- Landon.

-Macadamia.

-Macadamia.

-Macadamia is right.

Yeah, Robinson.

-Pistachio.

-Pistachios, correct.

Cashews are mentioned in "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" -- Yes, Blair.

-Joyce.

-Joyce is correct.

Walnuts were found in the ruins of this city destroyed in 79 A.D.

by -- Blair.

-Pompeii.

-Yeah.

That's it.

"The Nutcracker" is a ballet by this -- Landon.

-Tchaikovsky.

-Correct.

This Charles Schulz comic strip features Charlie Brown -- Blair?

-"Peanuts."

-"Peanuts" is right.

Once a peanut farmer, he succeeded -- Landon.

-Carter.

Carter's correct.

Blair.

-Jordan.

-Jordan is right.

And that does it for our Fast Start.

Nicely done.

[ Applause ] Let's take a look at the scores.

Montgomery Blair, 160 points.

Landon, 130 points.

Robinson, 110 points.

[ Applause ] Before we move into the Mix and Match round, we get to meet these students.

And we begin with Montgomery Blair from Silver Spring, home of the Blazers.

How are you doing, Gugan?

-Hi.

I'm doing well.

-Good, good.

Tell us something about yourself.

-I went to Spain this summer.

-Lovely.

Where were you?

-Uh, in Andalucía.

-Oh, beautiful.

I was there in January.

It's gorgeous.

Hello, Sophia.

-Hello.

Um, I'm Sophia, and I'm a senior at Blair, and I'm currently working on our fall play, doing costumes.

-Very nice.

And Justin, hey.

-Hi, there.

I'm Justin.

I'm a senior at Blair.

I'm currently working on our newspaper cycle for Silver Chips, our student newspaper.

-Awesome.

Go student newspaper.

All right, guys, as you know, in this round, questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Instead of heating air, please find in this phrase the name of what capital of Egypt?

-Cairo.

-Cairo is right.

A decision that is inequitable can best be described by which of these adjectives?

-Unfair.

-Yeah.

Rearrange the letters in this anagram and you'll name what software company founded by Bill Gates?

-Microsoft.

-Yep.

This book title is not quite right.

Please eliminate one word and make this Anthony Burgess title correct.

-Remove the word juice.

-Yes.

Which of these animals is not a separate species, but rather a hybrid of two different animals?

-Mule.

-Yeah, a mule.

-Yeah.

This thoughtful observation is found in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by what author?

-Rowling.

-Yeah, that does it.

Well done, Blair.

280 points.

[ Applause ] Over to team two from the Landon School.

And we begin with Jack.

Hello, Jack.

-Hi, I'm Jack.

This is my first year on "It's Academic" and I like to fish and ski.

-Wonderful.

Noah, how you doing?

-Hi, I'm Noah, this is my second year on "It's Academic" and I'm also currently a co-captain on the Landon swim team.

-All right.

And finally, hi, Arthur.

-Hi, Hillary.

This is my second year on "It's Ac," and along with Noah, I swam Landon's first swim meet this Thursday.

-How'd you do?

-Uh, the results haven't come out yet, but we'll see.

-All right.

Guys, questions.

More Chrome Than Ever.

Hidden in this phrase is the name of what gas created by decomposing organic matter and represented by the formula CH4?

-Methane.

-Yes.

Someone who was clumsy can best be described by which of these adjectives?

-Ungainly.

-Uh-huh, you've got it.

You don't have to make a speech.

Just rearrange these letters to name what Canadian province that shares its name with one of the Great Lakes.

-Ontario.

-Ontario.

-Yeah.

I don't think so.

Please eliminate one word to make this Isaac Asimov title correct.

-Remove engagement.

-Yes.

Which of these individuals was the first English child born in the New World?

-Virginia Dare.

-Virginia Dare.

Yeah.

This was what one critic had to say about what English author of "Animal Farm"?

-Orwell.

-Orwell.

-Orwell.

-Orwell is right.

Landon, home of the Bears, 250 points.

[Applause] To team three from Fairfax, Virginia.

Robinson High School, home of the Rams.

Hello, Patrick.

-Hello.

I'm Patrick, I'm a senior and I'm the president of my school's computer science club.

-Awesome.

-Noah, hey.

-Uh, hi, I'm Noah, I am a senior, and I am the secretary of our school's computer science club.

-[laughs] Very good.

Christopher, are you on the computer science club?

-Unfortunately, I am not.

But I am also a senior at Robinson Secondary.

And one fun fact about me is that I collect vinyl records.

-Oh, very -- that's, that's cool.

I like that.

They sound just a little different.

All right, guys, here we go.

April June, August.

Hidden in this list of months is the name of what capital city of Alaska?

-Juneau.

-Juneau.

-Juneau.

-Yes.

If you were alleviating someone's problems, you'd be taking which of these actions?

-Easing them.

-Yeah.

Please see if you can rearrange the letters in this anagram to name what sort of long range viewing device used by astronomers since 1608?

-Telescope.

-Telescope's right.

Close, but not quite.

Eliminate one word to make this Edgar Allan Poe title correct.

-Beat.

-Yes.

If you know your roots, you should select which of these to describe a single long primary root of a plant.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Brace root.

-Nah, It's taproot.

It is good, however, if you know that this quote comes from the works of what 14th century British author of "Canterbury Tales"?

-Dennis.

-Nah, it's Geoffrey Chaucer.

Robinson, nice job.

190 points.

[ Applause ] Mix and Match in the books.

Picture Perfect next.

See you in a minute.

♪♪ In 1961, nine high school students walked into a TV studio in Washington, D.C.

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."

♪♪ Horns up, everybody.

That is Robbie the Ram from Robinson Secondary.

Whoo!

And inside the ram suit, that's Ryan.

Thanks, Ryan.

-[ Applause ] Okay, guys, now it's time for the Picture Perfect round.

As you know, questions in this round are worth 20 points up or down.

Once again, the first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Teams, to prove its strength in 1884, a herd -- Landon, answer.

-Brooklyn Bridge.

-Brooklyn Bridge, yeah.

The Native Americans depicted in this 19th century painting are members of what tribe that shares its name with a common black bird?

Blair.

-Crow.

-Crow is right.

This detail for a 1790 engraving shows the fierce battle that took place between -- Landon.

- Merrimack and Monitor .

-Pardon me?

- Merrimack and Monitor .

-No, we were looking for the Bonhomme Richard , but nice jump.

Evaluate this expression, giving -- yes, Robinson.

-Three plus el -- 14?

-No, Tim.

-Ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world, this is what "M"-initialed city, one of Australia's most populous?

Blair.

-Melbourne.

-Melbourne's correct.

"Too many notes."

With these words, the Emperor of Austria dismissed an early opera by what composer who later wrote "The Magic Flute"?

Blair.

-Mozart?

-Mozart, yes.

"Too many notes."

Used as a steel additive, this is a carbide of what metallic -- Yes, Blair.

-Vanadium.

-Yeah, that's it.

This is the badge of what French fighting force formed in 1831?

Landon.

-French Foreign Legion.

-You've got it.

And that does it for our Picture Perfect round.

Let's recap those scores, everybody.

Montgomery Blair, 360 points.

Landon, 270 points.

Robinson, 170 points.

[Applause] And now, let's meet the coaches.

We begin with Montgomery Blair.

Sophia, who's that team behind you?

-Well, with us, we have our awesome coaches, Miss Partan and Mr.

Rada.

And we'd also like to shout out our other great coaches, Mr.

Hammond and Mr.

Shafer and all the rest of our club.

-Beautiful.

Really good to see you guys.

And over to Landon.

Noah, who's behind you?

-We're joined today by two amazing teachers, Mr.

Anderson, an English teacher, and my current English teacher, actually, actually, as well as Mr.

Calhoun, a chemistry teacher, and swim coach, as well as our coach, Miss Chambers, who dedicates so much time to us.

We'd also like to shout out our two alternates in the crowd, Jacob and Steven, and we'd like to thank the "It's Academic" production team for keeping things running smoothly.

-Aw.

Yeah, of course.

We're just happy you guys are here.

Thanks so much for supporting your team.

And over to Robinson.

Noah, who's the trio behind you?

-We got our, uh, quiz bowl coach, Mr.

Campana and Miss Glotfelty, as well as our athletic director, Mr.

Jimoh.

I'd also like to shout out our alternate, Drew, and our whole academic team who helped us get here today.

-All right.

Very nice to have all of you guys.

Thanks so much.

[ Applause ] Now that we've met all the coaches, it's time to embark on [ Vocalizing ] the packet round.

Blair, you go first.

Landon, you pick what packet they'll answer questions from.

-Packet one.

-Packet one.

All right.

Blair, you know questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

And if you get all the questions right there is a...?

-25 point bonus.

-Yes.

Thank you very much.

Here we go.

The huge waiting rooms at the West Railroad Station can hold up to 25,000 people in what Chinese capital city?

-Beijing.

Beijing.

-Yes.

One study has suggested that the abominable Snowman of the Himalayas is actually what ursine animal?

-Bear?

-Yeah.

-Is it gonna be bear or polar bear?

-Just say bear.

-Bear.

-Yeah, bear.

Without the help he received from Medea, what legendary Greek hero would never have been able to find the Golden Fleece?

-Jason.

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

Given that these numbers are pH values, which one most closely represents an aqueous solution of the base potassium hydroxide?

-13.0.

-Defer.

-13.0.

-13 is right, yeah.

Gold coins worth $4 billion were lost when the HMS Sussex sank in 1694 near what famous rocky landmark at the entrance to the Mediterranean?

-Gibraltar.

-Gibraltar.

-Yeah, the Rock of Gibraltar.

-It's right.

Yes.

Cinderella syndrome, which is a psychological term for the problems of neglected children might have affected Cordelia, the third daughter of what Shakespearean king?

-King Lear.

-King Lear and poor Cordelia, right?

The only noble one.

Here's your math question.

Solve for X, giving your answer as a positive integer.

-Two, right?

-Two.

-Yeah.

-Two.

-Two is right.

Students at one Florida Community College attend a school named for what Florida Indian tribe, one of whose leaders was Osceola?

-Seminole.

-Seminole is right.

And with that, you've got a 25 point bonus, Montgomery Blair.

[ Applause ] Nice job.

Over to Landon.

Robinson, which packet will Landon answer questions from?

-Packet three.

-Packet three.

Here we go.

Packet three, Landon, In a book titled "The God That Failed," Arthur Kessler condemned what totalitarian political system associated with Marx and Lenin?

-Communism.

-Communism.

-Yes.

-Mice can sing, an ability shared only by three other mammals -- humans, whales, and what small flying mammals?

-Bats.

-Yeah.

Rare on Earth, but prevalent on the moon, is an isotope of what noble gas with symbol He that's known as the ideal fuel, because it's powerful and non-polluting?

-Helium.

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

Which of these is commonly referred to as the shin bone?

-Tibia.

-Tibia.

-Yeah.

Pirates are usually considered outlaws.

But what pirate helped Americans defend New Orleans from the British in the War of 1812?

-Jean Lafitte -Jean Lafitte is right.

The devastating World War II firebombing of Dresden is described in what Kurt Vonnegut novel that has the word "Slaughter" in its title?

-"Slaughterhouse-Five."

-"Slaughterhouse-Five."

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

Solve for A.

-Negative three.

-You've got it again.

Alaska's largest peninsula is named for what U.S.

Secretary of State who arranged for the purchase of Alaska in 1867?

-Seward.

-Yes, Seward is right.

Another bonus.

Way to go, Landon.

[ Applause ] And now Robinson, home of the Rams, packet number two.

An 18th century gunboat discovered at the bottom of Lake Champlain in 1997 was part of a fleet commanded by what American Revolutionary War general who later turned traitor?

-Benedict Arnold.

-Yep, you've got it.

In Renaissance paintings, the amaryllis flower was sometimes used to symbolize what emotion paired with prejudice in the title of a Jane Austen novel?

-Pride.

-Pride is right.

Lame Deer, Montana is a center for what tribe of Plains Indians whose name was given to the capital of Wyoming?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Wichita.

-Nah, Cheyenne.

Here's your science question.

Which of these three choices A, B, or C is approximately Avogadro's number?

-C.

-B.

-B?

-Yep, you've got that one.

Peter Faneuil, who built Boston's historic Faneuil Hall, was descended from what group of French Protestants granted rights by the Edict of Nantes?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -What?

-Peasants.

Peasants?

I don't think it's peasants.

-Answer -- is... -Peasants?

-Huguenots.

Nah, Huguenots.

The 1906 Meat Inspection Act was passed largely because of public reaction to what Upton Sinclair work about conditions in the Chicago stockyards.

-"The Jungle."

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

What is the value of X if the area of the rectangle is 32?

-Four.

-Four?

Four.

-Yes.

Gavrilo Princip had just stopped for a sandwich at the Moritz Schiller Delicatessen in Sarajevo, when he saw and shot an Archduke with what two word name?

-Franz Ferdinand.

You've got it.

Nicely done.

Robinson Rams 290 points.

[ Applause ] That's it for the Packet round.

We have the Grab Bag next.

"It's Academic" has been on the air for 65 years, and over the decades we've showcased thousands of high school students from all over the DC area.

Today, "It's Academic" continues to celebrate education and remains a critical part of WETA's mission focused programming.

With the recent loss of federal funding for public media, we need your help now more than ever to support "It's Academic."

Please make a donation and become a Friend of "It's Academic" today and help keep "It's Academic" on the air and streaming for our students and their futures.

♪♪ [ Applause ] We've reached the Grab Bag and before we dive in, let's recap those scores.

Montgomery Blair, 545 points.

Landon, 455 points.

Robinson, 290 points.

[ Applause ] Teams, questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

There were no movie theaters in 1893, when Charles Cretors patented a machine to cook kernels for what buttered -- Landon.

-Popcorn.

-Yes, popcorn.

The setting for Tim O'Brien's work, "The Things They Carried" -- Landon.

-Vietnam.

-Vietnam, yeah.

According to one cycling magazine, one of the country's most bicycle friendly colleges is the University of what Bluegrass state?

-Yeah, Blair.

-Kentucky.

Kentucky.

-Yes.

You're on your screens.

Though Monet was born in -- Blair.

-Rouen, yeah.

Rouen.

-Rouen?

-Yes, Rouen.

Very nicely done.

In 1929, an expedition to Antarctica was led by what American explorer?

Landon.

-Amundsen?

No.

Robert Byrd.

Choice.

The part of the flower that produces pollen is -- yes, Landon?

Answer.

-The stamen.

-Stamen's correct.

Legislation with a so-called grandfather clause designed to limit the African American vote was first enacted in 1898.

By what southern Pelican State?

Yeah, Blair.

-Louisiana.

-Yeah.

On your screens.

"Too depressing."

With these words, one Broadway producer passed up on the chance to stage what Arthur Miller play about -- Robinson.

-"The Crucible."

-"Crucible."

-Answer.

-"The Crucible"?

-No.

"Death of a Salesman."

Part of the Berlin Wall was sent to Missouri's Westminster College, where Winston Churchill had coined what -- Blair.

-Iron Curtain.

-Iron Curtain?

-Yeah, that's it.

A golfer who had exactly four strokes on every hole of a regulation course would have what?

-Par?

-Landon.

Nope, 72.

On December 12th, 1901, the first radio signal was sent across the Atlantic by what Italian inventor?

Blair.

-Marconi.

-Marconi's right.

On your screens.

This is the flag of Nova Scotia, one of what "M"-initialed -- Landon.

-Maritime.

-You've got it.

It wasn't until 1985 that the first telephone was installed on what remote Pacific island where the mutineers of the H-- yes, Blair.

Answer.

Three, two -- -It's Pitcairn Island.

-Ooh!

Very good.

-Nice.

Both Paul Bunyan's legendary blue ox and baseball's real life -- Blair.

-Babe.

-Babe, it is.

What 1942 North African battle saw British Field Marshal -- -Landon.

Answer.

-El-Alamein.

-You've got it.

On your screens.

This ancient Egyptian artwork depicts what "O"-initialed -- yes, Blair.

-Osiris.

-Yep.

That's it.

Choice -- Grams per liter is a measurement which is used to measure mass, force, or density?

Landon.

-Density.

-Yeah.

Britain's first King George, who spoke no English, was a native of -- Landon.

-Hanover.

-Scotland.

-No, Hanover.

An archaeological museum in Athens has several empty cases symbolizing the Parthenon sculptures -- Blair.

-Elgin marbles.

-Elgin is it.

While fighting in the service of Venice, Marco Polo was captured and imprisoned in what other Italian city-state, the birthplace -- Landon.

[ Buzzer ] -Florence?

-No, it was Genoa.

Nice try, though.

That does it, everybody.

That's the end of the game.

We're going to take a look at these scores, make them official and be back with the news in just a minute.

I'm Hillary Howard, host of "It's Academic," and I've got a question for you.

The answer is WETA+.

That's right.

WETA+ is a free and easy-to-use streaming service created specifically for D.C.

area viewers like you.

With WETA+, you can watch local shows like "It's Academic" or PBS hits like "Masterpiece" wherever and wherever you want on your TV or on the go.

WETA+ is free and available to download on all major streaming devices and smart TVs.

For more information, go to weta.org/wetaplus ♪♪ [ Applause ] The scores are now official.

We begin with Robinson.

Secondary from Fairfax.

Patrick, Noah, Christopher, 270 points.

[ Applause ] From the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, Jack, Noah, Arthur, taking a 25 point bonus.

Way to go, guys!

495 points.

[ Applause ] And owning the buzzer, Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring.

Gugan, Sophia, Justin, 725 points and the 25 point bonus!

Way to go.

[ Applause ] That does it for us here on "It's Academic."

We are so happy that you were able to join us.

Can't wait to see you next time.

And remember everybody, it is "It's Academic."

Bye.

-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 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.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪