As Schools Match Wits
| As Schools Match Wits | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Created by | Leonard J. Collamore |
| Directed by | Eric Jones |
| Presented by |
Beth Ward (2008–present) Chris Rohmann (2007–2008) John Baran (1991–2006) Phil Shepardson (1961–1991) |
| Theme music composer | Leroy Anderson |
| Opening theme | Bugler's Holiday |
| Country of origin |
 United States
|
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Liz Preston, Mark St. Jean |
| Producer(s) | Tony Dunne |
| Location(s) |
Westfield, MA (2007–present) Agawam, MA/Chicopee, MA (1961–2006) |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | ~26 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network |
WWLP (1961-2006) WGBY (2007-present) |
| Picture format |
NTSC (480i) Color (1961-2008) HDTV (Shot in 480i Widescreen, Upconverted to HDTV 1080i) (2008-present) |
| Audio format | Stereophonic |
| Original release | 1961 – Present |
| External links | |
| www |
|
As Schools Match Wits is a high school quiz show, hosted by Beth Ward, that airs on PBS member station WGBY in Springfield, Massachusetts, and which is produced in association with Westfield State University. As Schools Match Wits is well known throughout Western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut.
Two teams of four high school students compete in a trivia and academic knowledge competition. At the beginning of the show, there is a coin toss, and the winning team gets to make the first selection of a category and point value from the game board.
There are six categories, Arts & Entertainment, Literature, Math & Science, General Knowledge, Social Studies, and World Events. In each category, there are four questions, worth 30, 25, 20, and 15 points respectively.
After a team chooses a category and point value, it is asked a qualifying question on which the team may confer before offering an answer. If the team answers correctly, it is then asked several more questions, each of which has a point value; the team may again confer on each question before answering. In other words, the qualifying question is worth no points; points are scored by answering the questions that follow it. If a team misses the qualifying question, it is turned over to the opposing team. If the opposing team gives the correct answer, it has "capitalized" on the mistake and is then given a chance to answer the category's questions for the selected points. In general, the parts of the question that earn points are worth 5 or 10 points each, though on occasion, 30-point questions will have parts worth 15 points.
This round continues through several category-and-point-value selections, after which the first Lightning Round is played. The host asks as many questions in a specific category as possible in 90 seconds. Teams buzz in to answer, and may confer briefly. Correct answers are worth 5 points each; wrong answers cost 5 points.
Following the first Lightning Round, more regular game play takes place. Soon the final Lightning Round takes place; this is identical to the first except that each question is worth ±10 points. The final Lightning Round can be worth 200 points or more, depending on the pace of the round, and many games are decided by this final round.
Starting in the 2010-11 season, the game begins with a "Challenge Round," in which teams answer a series of toss-up questions worth 10 points each; this is followed with the first Lightning Round (5 points per question); the second half of the game is called the "Capitalization Round," which is played as above, and is followed by the second Lightning Round, with 5-point questions.
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Wikipedia