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

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

Welcome to "It's Academic," the world's longest running quiz show, now in its 65th season, 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.

♪♪ -Hello, everyone.

You know, this is going to be a great game.

It is our second playoff game of the season.

I know it's gonna be very fast.

And speaking of which, as you know, we begin with the Fast Start.

Questions are worth ten points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Teams -- Tweet, tweet.

I hope you like birds because that's what this Fast Start is all about.

This bird names Baltimore's American League baseball -- McLean.

-Orioles.

-Orioles.

-Orioles it is.

Yep, Blair.

-Hummingbird -Hummingbird's right.

TJ.

-Stork.

Yes.

This yellow songbird shares its name with islands in the Atlantic -- Blair.

-Canary.

-Canary is right.

This tall, pink-colored wading bird-- McLean.

-Flamingo.

-Flamingo it is.

This cartoon bird's adversary is Wile E.

-- Yup, TJ.

-Roadrunner.

Roadrunner.

-Yeah, roadrunner.

This small bird shares its name with the English architect who designed -- TJ.

-Wren.

-Right.

Yup, McLean.

-Crane.

-Crane, it is.

-Blair.

-Cardinal.

-Cardinal.

-Cardinal it is.

-TJ.

-Sparrow.

-Sparrow is right.

And that does it for the Fast Start.

Let's recap these scores.

Montgomery Blair 130 points.

McLean 130 points.

Thomas Jefferson 140 points.

[ Applause ] Alright, you've met 'em, you love 'em.

We're going to say hello to them again, all of the teams, and we begin with Montgomery Blair from Montgomery County.

Hey, Justin, what should we know about you?

-Hi.

I'm Justin, I'm a senior at the STEM magnet program at Montgomery Blair High School.

-And what do you like?

-Well, I really like playing "It's Academic" and playing quiz bowl, overall.

It's been a great -- it's been a ton of fun over the last four years.

-That's wonderful.

It's been great having you.

And, hello, Sophia.

-Hi, I'm Sophia, I'm also a senior at Blair, although I'm in the communication arts program.

And of course, I also love doing "It's Academic."

And apart from that, I'm playing in my school pep band right now.

-Awesome.

And, Gugan, hi.

-Hi.

I'm Gugan, I'm a senior at Blair and I also like doing quiz bowl along with "Its Academic" and participating in quiz bowl competitions.

-Well, we're really happy to see you.

And in fact, in this game, everybody is a senior and we will so miss all of you extraordinary students.

But I'm speaking early.

Let's get into the game, huh?

And here is your Mix & Match round.

Questions are worth 20 points, nothing off for a wrong answer.

Here we go.

While Echoes Sound.

Before these echoes fade, find within this phrase the name of what small, blood-sucking, worm-like creature once commonly used by doctors.

-Leech.

-Leech.

-Yeah.

Which of these words refers specifically to a person who lives in a cave?

-Troglodyte?

-Troglodyte, yeah.

-Troglodyte.

-You're right.

To complete this question from Harry Truman, name what biblical man who led the exodus from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments?

-Moses.

-Mm-hm.

-Moses.

-Yeah.

You can clean up with 20 points if you rearrange the letters in this phrase to name what shelf that lies off the coast of the United States to a depth of 100 fathoms?

-Continental.

-Continental.

Yeah.

Continental.

-Continental is right.

Combine the symbols for these elements and you can spell the name of what major agricultural crop?

-Corn.

Corn.

-Yeah.

This was the message Oliver Hazard Perry sent in 1813 after he defeated the British in a naval battle on which of the Great Lakes?

-Yeah.

-Lake Erie.

-Yes.

That's right.

And that does it for our Mix & Match round.

Nicely done, Montgomery Blair.

250 points.

[ Applause ] And now to McLean High School from Fairfax County, Virginia, home of the Highlanders.

Hi, Edward.

-Hi.

My name is Edward.

I'm a senior at McLean High School and I really love to be here at "It's Academic."

-And we're so happy to have you.

And tell us about your little friend there.

-This is Scotty, our Highland cow.

-Beautiful.

Hi, Angelika.

-Hi.

My name is Angelika.

I'm also a senior at McLean and I'm glad to be here again.

-Well, it's really nice to have you as well.

And, Sam.

-Hello.

I'm Samuel A. Cohen, but you can call me Sam.

And I am also a senior at McLean.

-Wonderful.

-And also happy to be here.

-[Laughs] That's great.

The right answer, of course.

Here you guys go.

Apricot territory.

You'll enjoy apricots more if you find hidden in this phrase The name of what sleek aquatic mammal?

-Otter.

-Otter.

-Otter.

-Otter is right.

Which of these words would best describe something that's inequitable?

-Unfair.

-Unfair.

-Yeah, unfair.

To complete this observation by English poet Byron, Lord Byron, add what crime listed in article III of the Constitution?

-Treason.

-Treason, yeah.

-Treason.

-Treason's right.

The letters in this phrase can be rearranged to name what scientific device that's used to measure earthquakes?

-Seismograph -- seismograph?

-Seismograph.

Seismograph?

-You've got it.

Combine the chemical symbols for these two elements, and you'll name what type of insect of interest to a lepidopterist?

-Moth.

-Yeah.

These were the words of what 18th century Prussian king known as "The Great."

That's Prussian with a P.

-Frederick.

-Frederick.

-Frederick the Great.

-Yes.

And that does it.

Nice job, McLean, 250 points.

[ Applause ] And now to Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology in Fairfax County.

Hello, Anthony.

-Hello.

-Tell us something about yourself.

-My name's Anthony.

I'm a senior at Thomas Jefferson and I just won my fantasy football league.

So thanks, Christian McCaffrey.

-Whoo!

[Laughs] Great.

Hello, and, uh, I'm so sorry, hello, Aarushi.

-Hi.

-Hi.

What should we know about you?

-Uh, I'm a senior at Thomas Jefferson, and I love to stargaze in my free time.

-Oh, lovely.

Do you know the constellations well?

-Yeah.

-Oh, that's cool.

I'd like to know them better.

Hiya, Matthew.

-Hi.

-So, what should we know?

-My name is Matthew.

I'm a senior at TJ, and for the last four years, I've been a violinist in our school's orchestra.

-Wonderful.

Well, guys, I've got questions for you.

Jump in now.

You can jump in and win 20 points if you find in this phrase what mathematical constant that equals 3.14159.

-Pi.

-Yes.

You would most appropriately expect a man who is capricious to do which of these?

-Three.

-Three.

-Yep.

Change his mind.

To complete this quote from Mark Twain, place in the blank what type of rocky planetoid whose orbits lie chiefly between Mars and Jupiter?

-Asteroid.

-Yeah, asteroid.

You won't falter if you can rearrange these letters to name what warm ocean current that flows northeasterly across the Atlantic?

-Gulf Stream.

-Yes.

Combine the symbols for these elements, and you'll name what colonial captain whose life was allegedly saved by Pocahontas?

-Smith.

-Yeah.

What woman who wrote these words in 1880 wasn't referring to a person, but to what highest Japanese mountain?

-Fuji.

-Fuji.

-Fuji.

-You've got it.

Nice.

Thomas Jefferson, 260 points.

[ Applause ] That's our Mix & Match.

We have Picture Perfect next.

Stick around.

♪♪ 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."

♪♪ All right.

It is time for the Picture Perfect round.

And you all know very well questions are worth 20 points, up or down.

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

Artist Paul Signac titled this 19th century painting for what day of the week named for a yellow dwarf star?

TJ.

-Sunday.

-Sunday.

-Sunday, yes.

The T-shirt this little girl is wearing refers to the landscape of Cappadocia, a major tourist attraction in what Eurasian -- Blair.

-Turkey.

-Turkey.

-Turkey.

-Turkey's right.

Composer Arcangelo Corelli wrote most of his music for what group of musical instruments linked to Stradivari?

McLean.

-Strings.

-Uh, violin specifically.

Is it acceptable?

Okay.

Very good.

What is the determinant of this -- Yes, Blair.

-Two -Two.

-Okay.

-Two.

-Two's right.

This crystal form of lazurite was found in what landlocked Asian country where the -- McLean.

-Afghanistan.

-Afghanistan.

-Afghanistan?

-Yeah.

Asked why he had stopped seeing his psychiatrist, this was the explanation given by what U.S.

author of -- TJ.

Answer?

-Capote?

-No, but if you'd waited, you would have gotten it.

"The Glass Menagerie," Tennessee Williams.

Choice -- which of these is the minimum force needed to lift one end of a meter stick weighing one pound?

Yep, McLean.

-Uh.

Two... -Answer.

-Two pounds.

-Two pounds?

-Nope.

One half pound.

-Wait.

Which end do you lift?

-Shh.

-The Karakoram Mountains, the second highest range in the world, include what second highest -- McLean.

-K2.

-Yeah, that's right.

And now, your guest questioner -- "It's Academic" alum and Maine Senator Angus King.

-The historic First Parish Church in Brunswick, Maine, which is my hometown, has had some notable parishioners, most particularly the author of the famous book "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

-Yup, Blair.

-Harriet Beecher Stowe.

-Harriet Beecher Stowe it is.

And that does it for the round.

Nice job.

Montgomery Blair, 310 points.

McLean, 290 points.

Thomas Jefferson, 260 points.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ You know, one of the pleasures of being the host of "It's Academic" is watching these students, many of them who've been doing this show for four years, grow into themselves as they grow up and get ready to launch to college, which each of them is going to do this season.

Let's meet the coaches who help inspire them and the administrators.

We begin with Montgomery Blair.

Tell us, who's with you, Sophia.

-Supporting us today we have our wonderful principal, Mr.

Monteleone and coach, Miss Parton.

And we'd also like to thank our other coaches, Mr.

Rada, Mr.

Schafer, and Mr.

Hammond, as well as the rest of our club.

-Beautiful.

Good to see you again.

And over to McLean.

Angelika.

-Um, here we have our coach, Mr.

Brocketti, our wonderful principal, Ms.

Jones, and our other coach, Miss Benedict.

In the audience, we have our alternate, Eddie, and McLean alum and former "It's Academic" champion, Noah Chin.

And we'd like to thank our friends and family for being here to support us.

-Big crew.

It's nice.

Good to see you guys.

And over to Thomas Jefferson.

Aarushi, who's behind you?

-Today with us, we have our principal, Mr.

Mukai, and our coach, Miss Fu, and we're really happy to have them here, as well as our family in the audience.

-Beautiful.

It's really wonderful to have all of you.

Thanks so much for all you do.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ All right, it's time for the Packet round, which is always kind of fun, because this team and it happens to be Montgomery Blair, will answer questions first.

And that team, McLean, will choose what packet they answer questions from.

What's it going to be?

-Two?

-Two.

-Two.

-Two, alright.

In Norse mythology, the emblems of the god Thor were a hammer and what item of clothing that in black might suggest he was a karate expert?

-Belt.

-Belt.

-Belt?

-Yeah.

In 1995, amateur astronomers Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp sighted and named a celestial body similar to what body discovered earlier by Halley?

-Comet.

-Comet?

-Comet.

-Yeah, comet.

Lavish entertainment was provided for participants at the 1815 Peace conference in what Austrian capital city?

-Vienna.

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Which of these is a digestive enzyme of pancreatic fluid that changes fats to glycerin and fatty acid?

-Second one.

-Second one?

-Yeah.

-Uh, the second one.

-Second one is right, lipase.

While some crocodiles are over 20 feet long, a variety of dwarf crocodiles inhabits what second longest African river?

-Congo?

-Yeah.

-Is that right?

-I think so.

-Okay.

Congo.

-Congo is right.

Nightflyer is the name of a spooky spaceship carrying a group of scientists in a short novel by what author of "A Game of Thrones?"

-George R.R.

Martin.

Martin.

-You've got it.

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as a positive integer.

-80.

-80?

80.

-Very good.

And now a guest questioner, "PBS NewsHour" co-host Amna Nawaz.

-For part of the 17th century, England was ruled not by royalty, but by what lord protector, who was in charge of the Commonwealth.

-Cromwell.

-Cromwell.

25 point bonus, Montgomery Blair.

Well done.

[ Applause ] Okay, McLean.

You're up.

TJ, what's it gonna be -- packet one or three?

-One.

-One.

A forest of 47,000 aspen trees, all connected by a single root system, is located in what state where the Great Salt Lake is also a unique feature?

-Utah.

-Utah?

-Yes.

In 2018, paleontologists discovered the remains of a new species of dinosaur about the size of a school bus in what largest African desert?

-Sahara.

-Sahara.

-Yeah.

The term particle detector can apply to what portable radiation counter that bears the name of the German physicist who invented it in 1928?

-Geiger.

-Geiger's right.

Here's your science question.

As one goes down the list of halogens on the periodic table from fluorine to iodine, their chemical activity does which of these?

-Isn't it decrease?

-Decrease, 'cause fluorine's the most, yeah.

-Decrease?

-Yeah, that's it.

Not until 1968, 43 years after the Scopes trial, was the law against teaching evolution repealed in what state where the Scopes trial had been held?

-Tennessee.

-Tennessee.

-Yeah.

Not only disappointing, but hopelessly slow was Variety's review of what now classic Thornton Wilder play set in Grover's Corners?

-"Our Town."

-"Our Town."

-Yep.

My favorite.

Here's your math question.

Which of these three numbers is evenly divisible by nine?

-423.

-423.

-That's it.

-Good job, Edward.

-And now your guest questioner.

It is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, an "It's Academic" alum.

-Among the ships first built at the Brooklyn Navy Yard during the Civil War, what was the first ironclad vessel designed by John Ericsson?

-Constitution.

-No, it's not the Constitution, is it?

-Go with your guess.

-Uh... -Answer, guys.

-Constitution.

-USS Constitution.

-No, it was the Monitor.

But nicely done, McLean, 430 points.

[ Applause ] And that leaves packet number three for Thomas Jefferson.

A priest in the Middle Ages described as an invention of the devil what navigation device that includes a magnetized needle pointing north?

-Compass.

-Yeah.

A design submitted by a 13 year old boy became the state flag of what U.S.

State, the 49th to join the Union?

-Alaska.

-Alaska.

-You've got it.

Paris policemen sometimes used the short capes they wear as crowd control weapons by lining them with what metal whose symbol is PB?

-Lead.

-Can you imagine being hit by that?

Eek!

Here's your science question.

Which of these substances is a good insulator for electricity?

-Rubber.

-Yes, it is.

On June 26th, 1959, President Eisenhower joined Queen Elizabeth in formally opening what North American seaway shared by the U.S.

and Canada?

-Saint Lawrence.

Saint Lawrence.

-Yep.

The Saint Lawrence Seaway.

Nice.

"Darkness Visible" is a novel by what man who shone a light on the dark side of humanity in his book, "Lord of the Flies"?

-Golding.

-Golding.

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression taking positive roots.

-One.

-One it is.

And now here is your guest questioner, "PBS NewsHour" co-anchor Jeff Bennett.

-The British general Charles Gordon was killed in an 1885 uprising that trapped Gordon's troops in what city, the capital of Sudan?

-Khartoum.

-Khartoum.

-Oh, nicely done.

Thomas Jefferson, 25 point bonus.

[ Applause ] Packet Round is now in the books, but the Grab Bag lies ahead.

Stay with us.

We'll be right back.

"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 D.C.

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.

♪♪ All right.

This is a very close and very exciting game.

So in this Grab Bag, questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

Composer Edvard Grieg titled one of his piano pieces with what four word phrase that begins many fairy tales?

Yep.

TJ.

-Once upon -- -Once -- -Once upon a time.

-Yeah, that's it.

What Arthur Miller play title refers to a view from what structure which in the title of another book stood over -- Blair, answer.

-Brooklyn Bridge.

-No.

Well, we're looking -- the River Kwai, just plain bridge.

Sorry.

The ancient Greek scientist Archimedes didn't live in Greece, but in what Sicilian -- McLean.

-Sicily.

-No, Syracuse.

Neuschwanstein looks like a castle in a fairy tale in what German state, where -- Blair.

-Bavaria.

-Bavaria is right.

If one candy bar costs $0.79, what is the largest integral number of bars you can buy with a $5 bill?

Anybody?

It is six.

Sorry.

In 1900, abolition of all laws discriminating against women was part of the political platform -- McLean.

Answer.

Three -- -No.

-Two, one.

Eugene Debs.

The fictional town of Macondo, where Gabriel García -- yes, TJ?

-"One Hundred Years of Solitude."

-Colombia.

I'm so sorry, but yes, that's the title.

In the center of this sixth century mosaic -- McLean.

-Justinian.

-Justinian's right.

Because he chose Aphrodite as the winner of a mythical beauty contest -- yes, McLean.

-Paris.

-Paris.

-Paris is correct.

In 1933, Prohibition ended with the ratification of what -- McLean?

-21st Amendment.

-You've got it.

Choice -- Which of the following electromagnetic waves has the longest wavelength?

-Yes, TJ.

-Radio.

-Yeah, you've got it.

Nice.

Britain's Parliament building, seen here through the mist, is famous for its clock with what two word -- TJ.

-Big Ben.

-Big Ben it is.

Farmers in colonial Pennsylvania developed a sturdy breed of horse with what same name as a type of wagon used by Western pioneers?

Blair.

-Conestoga.

-Answer.

-Conestoga.

-Conestoga is correct.

Choice -- The first four planets in our solar system together have how many moons?

Four, two, or -- Blair?

-Three.

-Three.

-Answer.

-Three.

-Three is right.

The average price for a gallon of gas was less than 30 cents in what year that saw the presidential election of John F Kennedy?

Yep, McLean.

Answer.

-1960.

-Correct.

This stamp honors President Zachary Taylor -- yes, McLean.

-1840.

-Answer.

-1840?

-Mexican-American War, sorry.

Union General George Thomas was nicknamed the Rock -- -Chickamauga.

-Yes, you've got it, TJ.

Nice.

What is the maximum number of points at which two distinct circles may intersect?

Blair.

-Two.

-Two is right.

of critical importance in World War II was Britain's Bletchley group that deciphered what German -- Yes, Blair.

-Enigma.

-Enigma.

-Enigma is right, Blair.

Several solo piano works were written by what 19th century German philosopher better known for developing his theory of Superman?

Yep, TJ?

-Nietzsche?

-You've got it.

The deepest place in the Atlantic Ocean is a trench -- McLean?

[ Buzzer ] -Challenger Deep.

-No, the Puerto Rican trench.

-That's Pacific, never mind.

-Yeah, in the Atlantic Ocean.

All right guys, that does it.

That is the end of the game.

We're going to have the scores in one second, so stick around.

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

What's a new and easy way to watch all of your favorite PBS and WETA shows?

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 ] Listen, before I give these scores, I just want to underscore once again how formidable each and every one of you is.

It's been an honor having you on "It's Academic."

And now I'll give the scores.

We begin with McLean High School, Fairfax County.

Edward, Angelika, Sam, 430 points.

[ Applause ] Also from Fairfax County, Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology, Anthony, Aarushi, Mathew, 525 points.

And got that bonus.

[ Applause ] And coming back for the championship game, Montgomery Blair, home of the Blazers, Justin, Sophia, Gugan, 575 points, taking that bonus.

[ Applause ] We are so happy that you were with us today.

Can't wait to see you next time.

I'm Hillary Howard.

Remember everybody -- -It's academic!

-Bye-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'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.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪