Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? (Chinese game show) explained

The Chinese version of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? began in 2007 as the project of at least six television stations: Hunan Economic TV Station, China Central Television, Shenzhen TV, Tianjin Television, China Shaanxi TV Station and Guangdong TV.

5th Grade Rescue Team

Native Name:
Starring:Wang Han / Michael Ma
Country:China
Network:HNETV

5th Grade Rescue Team[1] (Simplified Chinese: 五年级救助队) is produced by Hunan Economic TV Station for 7 consecutive days during the "Golden Week" started from the Labour Day in 2007. The host was Wang Han (汪涵). The tagline of the show is "谁比5年级学生更聪明" (who is smarter than a 5th grader?). The top prize is 100,000 Renminbi (about US$14,600). The three "cheats" are "偷看" (peek), "抄袭" (copy) and "拯救" (save). After the "Golden Week", the show continues but aired only once a week. Since September 2007, the host was Michael Ma (马可) instead of Wang Han.[2]

Around the National Day in the same year, the show changed its format (except for the set and the logo design). The name was Intelligent Family Rescue Team[1] (Simplified Chinese: 智慧家庭救助队) instead, taglined "谁是湖南最智慧的家庭" (which is the most intelligent family in Hunan?). In each episode, there were four families participate in the game. First, they answer a question, the family that gets it right by using the least time will be the contestants for the 100,000 Renminbi prize. Then the contestant family answers 11 question with the same values as 5th Grade Rescue Team (see the table below). The other families also need to answer the questions since the family that get the most questions right will be the next contestants. The contestant family can get help from the other families or change the question by using different "lifelines".

Question Values
11¥100,000
5¥5,00010¥50,000
4¥4,0009¥25,000
3¥3,0008¥20,000
2¥2,0007¥15,000
1¥1,0006¥10,000

On July 12, 2008, HNETV produced the show's summer special, called 智慧家庭HIGH一夏[3] (roughly translated as "intelligent families are excited throughout the summer") and ended on September 27, 2008.

Lucky 52

See main article: Lucky 52. Lucky 52 (Simplified Chinese: 幸运52) is a variety show of CCTV-2, hosted by Li Yong. The format of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? was adapted for the episodes from June 1, 2007 to February 17, 2008. See Lucky Classroom.

Who's Smarter

Native Name:
Runtime:40 minute per episode[4]
Starring:Liu Mingming
Country:China
Network:Shenzhen TV

Who's Smarter (Simplified Chinese: 谁比谁聪明) is produced by Shenzhen TV and hosted by Liu Mingming (刘茗茗). The top prize is 20,000 Renminbi (about US$2,900). The "cheats" are "参考" (peek) and "照搬" (copy). The contestant can also phone a friend for help. After the contestant answers the fifth question correctly, he/she can get a certificate for his/her good performance.

Question Values
5¥4,50010¥20,000
4¥3,0009¥12,000
3¥1,5008¥10,000
2¥1,0007¥8,000
1¥5006¥6,000

Can You Graduate?

Native Name:
Runtime:about 50 minute per episode
Starring:Duan Lei, Jia Ning
Country:China
Network:TJTV

Can You Graduate?[1] (Simplified Chinese: 你能毕业吗?) is produced by Tianjin Television and hosted by Duan Lei (段雷) and Jia Ning (贾宁). The top prize is 10,000 Renminbi (about US$1,460). The contestant can win 5,000 Renminbi if he/she answers all 12 questions correctly, these questions consist of 6 primary school level, 3 junior secondary school level and 3 senior secondary school level questions. An extra 5,000 Renminbi prize will be awarded if he/she get the bonus question right. The contestant can get help from 7 helpers consist of 3 primary school, 2 middle school and 2 high school students by using "cheats": "参考" (peek), "复制" (copy) and "复活" (save).

The rules changed since the new edition premiered on February 3, 2008.[5] Three teams of contestants, each consist of an adult and 4 primary school students, play for 3 rounds. The "fund of love" (爱心基金) accumulates as they are playing. The adult of the winning team of round 3 can play the last round. He/she needs to answer 5 primary school level questions. If he/she answers incorrectly on any question, he/she can continue the game if more than half of the 12 students get it right. The "fund of love" will be doubled if all 5 questions are answered correctly.

Are You Smarter than a Primary Student?

Native Name:
Starring:Xu Rui
Country:China
Network:SXTVS

Are You Smarter than a Primary Student? (Simplified Chinese: 不考不知道) is produced by China Shaanxi TV Station and hosted by Xu Rui (徐睿). The question values are in experience points, the more points the contestant gets, the more valuable prize he/she wins. The prize for the contestant who gets the maximum 100,000 points is a car manufactured by Chang'an Motors.[6]

There are three "cards" for the contestant to get help from the primary school students: "瞄瞄卡" (peek), "换换卡" (copy) and "救救卡" (save).

Question Values
11100,000
52,0001050,000
41,000930,000
3500820,000
2300710,000
110065,000

New 5th Grader

Native Name:
Runtime:45 minute per episode[7]
Starring:He Haopeng
Country:China
Network:GDTV
First Aired:[8]
Last Aired:[9]
Num Episodes:171

New 5th Grader (Simplified Chinese: 五年级插班生) is produced by Guangdong TV. The host is He Haopeng (何浩鹏). The top prize is 100,000 Renminbi (about US$14,600). The three "cheats" are "出猫" (peek), "开卷" (copy) and "补考" (save).

The show ended on February 28, 2009 and replaced by Power of 10 (also hosted by He Haopeng) on the next day.

Smart Family and Asian Games Genius series

Native Name:
Runtime:about 1 hour per episode
Starring:Song Jiaqi
Country:China
Network:GDTV
Num Episodes:26
Native Name:
Runtime:about 1 hour per episode
Starring:He Haopeng
Country:China
Network:GDTV
Num Episodes:8

The second series of the show, called New 5th Grader: Smart Family[1] (Simplified Chinese: 五年级插班生之智叻家庭), was premiered on October 31, 2009 and the host is Song Jiaqi (宋嘉其). The top prize is 50,000 Renminbi (about US$7,300). Four families participate in the game in each episode. The families answer a question first, the family that gets it right will be the contestants for the 50,000 Renminbi prize. The contestant can use the three "lifelines" during the game:

The third series called New 5th Grader: Asian Games Genius[1] (Simplified Chinese: 五年级插班生之亚运至叻星) started on May 1, 2010 and He Haopeng is back as the host. The three "cheats" are "中场休息" (peek), "技术支援" (copy) and "亲友啦啦队" (Phone a Friend).

Question Values (1st and 3rd series)
11¥100,000
5¥3,00010¥50,000
4¥1,5009¥25,000
3¥1,0008¥15,000
2¥5007¥8,000
1¥2006¥5,000
Question Values (2nd series)
5¥3,00010¥50,000
4¥1,5009¥25,000
3¥1,0008¥15,000
2¥5007¥8,000
1¥2006¥5,000

External links

Notes and References

  1. Literal translation
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 2009-06-25 . https://archive.today/20070527174200/http://www.efaw.cn/html/jyb_xs/2007/91/079123147F71K65I78F545F9306EG.html . 2007-05-27 . dead .
  3. Web site: Archived copy . 2009-06-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111007204316/http://www.hnetv.com/08zhuanti/zhihuijiating/news/hnetv_new1.html . 2011-10-07 .
  4. Web site: 首页 - 五年级插班生 - Powered by ymCMS . 2009-06-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080120225910/http://club.gdtv.cn/blog/?id=3 . 2008-01-20 .
  5. http://tjtv.enorth.com.cn/system/2008/01/31/002758762.shtml 天视少儿《你能毕业吗》08年全新第三季登场-你能毕业吗-北方网-天视频道
  6. Web site: 陕西卫视《不考不知道》节目介绍及参与方式-搜狐娱乐.
  7. http://entzt.tmi.cn/5cb/ 五年级插班生-你会比小学生聪明吗?
  8. http://ent.qq.com/a/20090225/000177.htm 《五年级插班生》停播 观众:别换掉鹏Sir就行_综艺新闻_娱乐_腾讯网
  9. http://qzone.qq.com/blog/732084345-1235833574