Is '5th Grade Politics' Even a Category? Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Gets Political
Friday September 5, 2008
You know, I realize there's an election coming up and that things tend to get heated during such a time, but this strikes me as just a little ridiculous.One of the contestants on tonight's season premiere of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is Georgia State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox (pictured), who happens to be a Republican. According to TodaysMGT, State Rep. Rob Teilhet, a Democrat, objects to Cox's appearance on the show, since Georgia is currently dealing with low school test scores and budget cuts. He's gone so far as to record an ad that will run during the premiere (only in Atlanta, of course) criticizing Cox for her decision to be on the game show.
Maybe I'm missing the point here, but I don't see what one thing has to do with the other. Is Mr. Teilhet upset that Cox stands to win money while the schools are suffering a lack of cash flow? Does he begrudge her the couple of days off that she would have had to take to film the show?
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? kicks off season three tonight with a new fifth grade class. The two-hour premiere will also feature supermodel Kathy Ireland playing the game for charity. It all begins at 8pm Eastern on FOX.
Photo courtesy FOX Broadcasting
Comments
Yay! The first winner! very nice season premiere!
Back in 1999, there was a Millionaire contestant who had to disqualify himself from appearing on the show, mainly because he was running for mayor at that time. He was allowed to return on a future show, after the election had already been held.
FCC regulations prohibit candidates running for political office from appearing on any game show, as opponents will have to demand equal time. As a Republican myself, I congratulate her for being the first million-dollar winner, but she really is ’skating on thin ice’ for her appearance on ‘5th Grader’.
For heaven’s sake, she was donating the money to charity. Her opponents really need to leave this one alone–it’s just silly.
Kudos to her for being the big winner–and unlike the overhyped Deal or No Deal, she really had to apply some knowledge to win the game.
Woodie B. – is Cathy Cox actually RUNNING for an office currently? As far as I know she isn’t … rather she is currently in the position of State Superintendent … so I don’t think the whole ‘can’t appear on a game show while running for office’ thing even applies to this issue. Does it?
I missed it,is there a rerun or site I can view it?
Hi Mike – you should be able to view it here:
http://www.fox.com/fod/play.php?sh=smarter
@ Woodie/Elaine – Kathy Cox isn’t running for anything – she is the current Superintendent of Schools for the state of Georgia. So there’s no reason I can think of that she shouldn’t have appeared on the show.