Looks like we'll be seeing adults answer (or or flub) elementary questions outside of the auspices of Fox soon.  Twentieth Television is expected to announce that the Fox game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? will be given a syndicated version, aimed at a fall 2009 premiere.  This means than any local station can buy the program and show it within their own schedules, without relying on a network to give it to them.

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? pits adult contestants against a series of questions taken from textbooks used by students from first to fifth grade.  They play along with five fifth graders, one of which is chosen as a “classmate” for two questions.  With a bit of luck, the contestants can win up to $1 million; otherwise, if they answer incorrectly or decide to leave the game, they'll take home the money they've earned but have to admit that they are not smarter than a 5th grader.

A representative for the television distributor declined to comment, but it is reported that they have been working on a syndicated version of the hit game show for several months already.  Also, it's been reported that the show's producers, Mark Burnett Productions—who are also responsible for shows like Survivor and The Apprentice—have also played around with the idea of a syndicated version of the show as early as October last year.

Jeff Foxworthy, who currently hosts the primetime version of the show, is expected to host.  If this pushes through, it means Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? would be the second game show in as many years to jump from primetime to syndication with the same host.  This September, NBC Universal is expected to launch a syndicated version of their hit game show Deal or No Deal, still hosted by Howie Mandel.

Details are still sketchy, so if you're looking out for more of the show, wait a bit longer; they'll definitely make the announcement soon.


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
(Image courtesy of Fox)