Brain Game (1997 game show) explained

Brain Game is a weekly quiz bowl-type show for high school students that airs on NBC affiliate WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina. The program debuted January 11, 1997, when WRAL-TV was a CBS affiliate.[1] It currently airs at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, and the current host is former WRAL traffic reporter Mark Roberts. Early programs were hosted by WRAL weathercaster Greg Fishel.[2]

Rules

Each Brain Game show is contested by three teams of three players each. Teams may buzz in and attempt to answer at any time while the question is being read. Team members may confer with one another prior to answering. Academic-based questions in the games come from the standard North Carolina curriculum for ninth and tenth graders.

Prior to fall 2008, the teams with the nine best scores advanced to a playoff of three semifinal games, with the winners advancing to a championship game. Teams could advance to the semifinals without winning their regular season games - only the score accumulated during the regular season game determined the playoff teams.

In the fall of 2008, the rules were changed so that the winners of each game would automatically advance to the playoffs. The best non-winning high score qualified a team as a "wild card" in the playoffs.

The format used in Brain Game differs from other quiz bowl formats in some ways:

Starting in 2009, regular-season matches were played with three teams competing. The top 6 teams advance to the playoffs, which have two teams competing. The winners of the three head-to-head matches in the first round advance to the second round, along with the highest scoring losing team, leaving four teams. At this point, a champion is chosen based on single-elimination rules.

Format and Segments

Brain Game shows consist of the following segments:

Participants and Winners

Most teams that participate in Brain Game come from the WRAL-TV viewing area.[3]

Recent Champions

The schedule switched from semesters to school years beginning in 2009-2010 season.[4]

Season Winner Location
Fall 2004 EnloeRaleigh
Spring 2005 Leesville RoadRaleigh
Fall 2005Terry SanfordFayetteville
Spring 2006Terry SanfordFayetteville
Fall 2006GrimsleyGreensboro
Spring 2007 PersonRoxboro
Fall 2007 Raleigh CharterRaleigh
Spring 2008 Raleigh CharterRaleigh
Fall 2008 EnloeRaleigh
Spring 2009 GrimsleyGreensboro
Spring 2010 EnloeRaleigh
Spring 2011 School of Science and MathDurham
Spring 2012 Green Hope High SchoolCary
Spring 2013 North Carolina School of Science and MathSchool of Science and MathDurham
Spring 2014 Millbrook High SchoolRaleigh
Spring 2015 Enloe High SchoolRaleigh

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Man Behind WRAL-TV's Brain Game. Capitol Broadcasting Co., Inc.. 15 November 2015. 2013-04-25.
  2. Book: Bowker's News Media Directory.. 2003. R.R. Bowker. New Providence, N.J.. 0-8352-4601-9. 2004, 54th.
  3. News: Sanford Herald. https://archive.today/20120720231022/http://sanfordherald.com/bookmark/17326741-Lee-Early-College-claims-Quiz-Bowl. dead. 20 July 2012. Lee Early College claims Quiz Bowl. 12 February 2012.
  4. Web site: Brain Game results. 28 February 2008.