Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?

It appears that "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" premiered just a few weeks after I started school. I don't know whether I saw it right when it was first on or not (my memory of that point in my life is obviously vague), but if not, I must have first seen it shortly afterwards. I remember watching the show regularly for a while, and it has left me with many memories. I also remember two albums very fondly, which were "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" and "Carmen Sandiego: Out of This World", featuring songs from Rockapella and various other artists!

Hosted by Greg Lee, each episode of this 1990s kids' game show began with three young contestants, who played a game where they were detectives hired by The Acme Crime Detective Agency. After receiving information from The Chief on a criminal, who was always one of Carmen Sandiego's henchmen and had just stolen a major landmark, the three contestants started the first round of the game, where they were given clues to the whereabouts of the criminal, and would have to try to give the right answers. At the end of this round, the contestant with the lowest score would be eliminated, and the other two would move on to the second round. Here, they would play a game on a large board on the wall where they would attempt to find the criminal. Finally, after that round, only one contestant would remain in the game. In the third and final round, this contestant would play a game on a large map and attempt to capture Carmen Sandiego!

For its viewers, "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" could entertain with its humour, suspense, etc., and educate with its geography lessons! The a cappella band, Rockapella also added some good vocal music to the show, including the closing theme, which was an excellent song! It's sad to know that Lynne Thigpen, who played The Chief, passed away in 2003, before her time. R.I.P. This show ran for five years, and it has now been a while since its cancellation, but for those who were kids in the 1990s and had the pleasure of watching it, the memories are likely permanent (I know they are for me)! I'm sure that those who were contestants on the show will never forget that experience, either!

The Greatest children's educational game show since the "Geography Bee" with Alex Trebek. The show was a hit because of many things what made it a hit with me was several things: The sets,chief office, Gumshoe office, informant Alleyway, The Station (Capture loot, warrant and crook) and Large map with Police light markers. There were humorous characters like the neighbor lady in the window (played in drag by the bass in Rockapella) who would always shut down her window after done speaking. There were great clue songs by rockapella where they would sing a song that had clues of where the crook was. But the big thing I liked was the Changes in later seasons. They would add special effects. Audience participation tournaments at ends of some shows for time fillers. Change police light to state flag and contestant would have to pick the right state flag to put on the right state, (Harder but more educational) and the chase a lighting round with rockapella doing weird things at the camera as they run past the camera. Rockapella would do Crook songs with the name of the crook , crooks included (Robo Crook, contessa, double trouble (siamese twins with different skin color(actually inverted color) and more) they were animated and superimposed on the screen. There was humor between Gregg lee and the Chief that was plain silly. Was taken off and put in its place was its spin-off dealing with time periods and events, which was of poorer quality than this excellent game show for kids. Rockapella has a new cd out as well.

This game show was one of the greatest of all time. It certainly blows "Who wants to be a millionaire?" out of the water. It had a great host, great questions, and it actually had some sort of plot. I watched this when I was younger and it really taught me a lot about geography while being a really cool show. It also had great music done by Rockapella. I guarantee the theme song will be stuck in your head for weeks. If you ever get a chance to see re-runs, I highly recommend that you do!

I have to say I was sorry to learn this show isn't around anymore. Educational programming is hard to find anymore and this was a great one, encouraging kids to learn geography but also to hone their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It was a great opportunity for kids to learn something and put it to fun use, and a great chance for kids who study hard and do well in school to be rewarded and celebrated. The show was well-done and entertaining; you can't ask for more than that. I have an interesting perspective because I was a contestant on the show in 1993 and actually won the grand prize. I was 13 and had been bookish and "nerdy" in school, but suddenly I had my picture in the local paper - I felt like such a star. Thanks, PBS and Carmen, for great educational entertainment.

This was the first national televised game show for PBS. Aimed at kids "Were in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" is a geography trivia game. Before the game three Gumshoes (Contestants) are given a briefing by the Chief Lynn Thigpen about an important landmark that has been stolen by one of Carmen's henchmen/women. After all their is a crime element to this game. With the information the game can began

Round 1: In this round their given clues to the crook's whereabouts in the would though short skits, songs, celebrity appearances etc. The Gumshoes are then shown three possible choices. They must pick the right answer using the cardboards in front of them. Other elements in the round including the Lighting Round in which the Gumshoes are asked toss up question about a certain place in world, and The Chase (beginning with season 2) in which rapid fire toss up question are asked about certain places on a continent of the world.

Round 2: The top scoring Gumshoes go into the field (well to a train station on the set) the last place the crook went to, and place a memory game of sorts. The Gumshoes face a board of important places and landmarks of a city somewhere in the world. The object is to find the Loot (what was stolen), the Warrant, and Crook in that respected order behind the landmarks to win the game.

Endgame: The winning Gumshoe gets the chance to capture crime boss Carmen Sandiego by playing on a big map that resemble some part of the world (North America, South America, Europe, or Asia). The object is place a marker (with a Red Light on top and a wheel on the bottom) on an area of the map that corresponds with the clue given. If correct the marker lights up, and the Gumshoe is given two chances per clue. If they get 7 right within 45 seconds they win a trip anywhere in the lower 48 states (expanded to include North America in season 2).

One of things that made this show popular was the A cappella group called Rockappella. The theme song was done by the group, and they also and did a short song for each of Carman's crooks. Expected for the first season they were no musical instruments used. Rockappella is still working doing commercials for Folgers, and Almond Joy/Mounds. Hopefully someone will do a revival for this show although it would have been nice to have Lynn Thigpen to play the chief. Sadly she passed away recently and she brought something to show as the chief/announcer/antagonist. You really respect her and loved her in the role she played. She was tough, but had a heart of gold

Lynn Thigpen may you rest in peace.