WGBH brings young, exciting, and smart back to the world of TV game shows with High School Quiz Show, an award-winning single-elimination academic team competition for high school students in Massachusetts. High School Quiz Show is hosted by radio and television personality Billy Costa.
Dhaya Lakshiminarayanan is the first host of "High School Quiz Show™". The first episode aired on March 22, 2010 and featured a close match between Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and University Park Campus School (Worcester). The 1st season was a collaboration with WGBY’s "As School Match Wits".
The final match of Season 1 introduced the East vs. West championship, placing The Bromfield School vs. Longmeadow High School. The match aired on June 16 with Longmeadow becoming the first "High School Quiz Show" champions.
On the set of the hit sitcom "The Office", Steve Carrell records the first celebrity question for "High School Quiz Show". The episode featuring his question airs June 16, 2010.
On October 17th, 2010, "High School Quiz Show" hosts the first Super Sunday Qualifying event. Over 70 schools come to WGBH headquarters to take the qualifying quiz to be on Season 2.
Season 1 of "High School Quiz Show" wins the New England Emmy for Outstanding Education/Schools Program on November 17, 2010.
Season 2 marked the premiere of the logo that has become most familiar to "High School Quiz Show" fans. Season premiered on February 13,2011
The first episode of "High School Quiz Show" featuring Billy Costa, as host premiered on February 13, 2011. Not only does Costa have a rich history of radio and television hosting, but he's also a Cambridge Rindge and Latin School graduate.
The grand finale of season 2 featured a match between the "High School Quiz Show" champions, Hamilton-Wenham, and the winners of WGBY’s "As Schools Match Wits", Mount Greylock, in a match to determine the State Champions. Hosted by Billy Costa, Hamilton-Wenham claimed the trophy.
The final episode of Season 3 was a special celebrity episode of "High School Quiz Show". Team Plato, featuring Susan Wornick, Mish Michaels, Jeff Kinney, Wesley Morris, took on Team Socrates, with Matt Siegel, Joanne Chang, Keith Lockhart, Jimmy Tingle. Team Socrates won.
In Season 4, "High School Quiz Show" went viral when all the members of the Brookline team showed their love and appreciation for Nicolas Cage.