Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
on Fox
By Ally Matteodo
Nobel Prize-winner George
Fitzgerald Smoot III graced Fox’s Are You Smarter Than a 5th
Grader? with his presence this past week, and his intellect and generosity
contributed to making this program Best TV Show of the Week.
Airing on Friday, September 18th, at 8:00 p.m. ET, in this episode
George matched wits against the quiz show whose questions concern knowledge
learned in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth grades. Teamed with a
“class” of fifth graders, this season consisting of Jonathan, Jenna, Bryce,
Olivia, and Francesca, if George answered all of his questions correctly, he had
a chance at the million dollar question.
George Smooth III won the Nobel
Prize for his work providing proof for the Big Bang Theory. He’s obviously
extremely knowledgeable, yet there is not an air of arrogance or
self-satisfaction about the man. His banter with host Jeff Foxworthy was
charming and comical. Near the end of the game, George selected the category
“first grade music,” and chose the fifth grader Francesca to play with him. The
question was, “What two-word phrase from Italian means to sing without
accompaniment?” George told Jeff he believed it was “a capella,” but
instead of locking his answer in, he deferred to Francesca, choosing to go with
her answer without knowing what it was. This sweet confidence in the
intelligence of Francesca displays George’s own humility and good humor, as well
as his faith in others. Even better, he was right to trust Francesca, as she
answered correctly. In addition, George admitted to Jeff that he donated all of
his Nobel Prize winnings to charity for scholarships and fellowships. A man who
prizes intelligence so much he generously chooses to help others in their quest
for enlightenment is a true treasure. In the end, George answered the
million-dollar question correctly and won the prize…and it couldn’t have
happened to a better man.
Best TV Show
of the Week
The Parents
Television Council -
www.parentstv.org
