Are You Smarter than a 5^th Grader? on Fox

By Caroline Schulenburg

Once again, Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader? has earned the privilege of being our Best of the Week. The episode that aired on November 1^st treated audiences to a special opportunity to see American Idol star and singing sensation Clay Aiken perform to raise awareness (and, with luck, win some money) for his charity, the Bubel Aiken Foundation.

Ever since he nearly won on American Idol several years ago, Clay Aiken has made a name for himself for not taking the easy path to fame. Aiken has refused to allow himself to be associated with anything that could be considered kid-unfriendly. Instead, he has cultivated a loyal following by being honest about his commitment to letting his music be accessible to everyone. He has defined himself as an ambassador for UNICEF, a spokesman for the Toys for Tots campaign, and most notably, the Bubel Aiken Foundation, which helps children with special needs be included in activities such as summer camps.

Aiken, a former special education teacher, answered all of the quiz program’s questions easily, although he did not entirely deprive the audience of some dramatic agonizing. Clay also joked about his inability to win contests on the Fox network. After giving host Jeff Foxworthy a bit of a giggle by confessing that his fifth grade class was actually comprised of only ten people, Clay was reunited with his own fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Armstrong. Clay went on to win $300,000 for his foundation.

For its wholesome content alone, Are You Smarter than a 5^th Grader is always deserving of Best of the Week recognition; but a special treat like watching Clay Aiken raise awareness and win money for a worthy organization was a rare opportunity. With luck, viewers will be able to see more episodes like this in the future.

Best TV Show of the Week

The Parents Television Council - www.parentstv.org