Make the Grade
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| MAKE THE GRADE | |
The Make the Grade opening title. | |
|---|---|
| Airdates: | Nickelodeon October 1989 - December 1991 |
| Host: | Lew Schneider (1989-1990), Robb Edward Morris (1990) |
| Announcer: | Maria Milito |
| Producers: | Geoffrey Darby, Kristi Martin, Andy Bamberger |
Contents |
Gameplay
Front Game
Three middle-schoolers, each in the same grade level, competed. They faced a board with seven grade levels (elementary and 7-12) and seven subjects, six academic and one "elective". The player in control selected a category and a grade level, and a question was asked. The player who buzzed in first with the correct answer claimed that square, and earned credit for both that grade level and the subject. Hidden in the board were various squares that altered play: some required the player to give up a previously claimed square, while others allowed the player to usurp a square from his/her opponent. Most notable on the board were "Fire Drill" squares, which resulted in a stunt being offered to all three players. The first player to complete a fire drill won the right to sit at any of the three desks, thus claiming any squares previously earned by its previous resident. The second place player chose from the two remaining desks, and the third place player was relegated to the last desk.
Play continued until either time ran out or one player managed to claim a square in every grade level and each subject; doing so won $500 and the right to play in the Honors Round.
End Game ("Honors Round")
The winning player chose from three categories and had 45 seconds to correctly answer one question in each of seven subjects pertaining to that category. In the first season, each subject had one question; when the show moved to Orlando there were two questions per subject, but a passed question would not be repeated. Each correct answer was worth $100, answering all seven won the grand prize, which was $1000 in the first season; $600 and a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando during the Orlando run.
In the early part of the second season, a player who won the front game in a quick manner was given the chance to play an extra bonus round called the "University Round". Using unasked questions from previous games, the player was asked a total of five questions, worth $50, $100, $200, $500, and $1000. A player could stop at any time after hearing the category to the next question; answering a question incorrectly lost any money built up.
Notes
- The first season was taped in New York City, and in 1990 the show moved to Universal Studios in Orlando. After this move, Robb Edward Morris replaced Lew Schneider as host.
- If the game ended early, the host would often go into the studio audience and ask questions to the kids in attendance for a Make the Grade T-shirt. On at least one occasion, a game finished so fast that an entirely new game with three new contestants was started.
