“Buzzer Beaters” is a feature length documentary that uncovers history of the world’s longest running quiz show.
Explore the show’s story from its pioneering creator, Sophie Altman, to the immense impact It’s Academic has had on the greater Washington, DC area and beyond.Witness exclusive interviews with producers and question-writers as they chronicle the show’s creation and evolution over the last 60+ years. Hear from contestants, coaches, and community members as they reflect on the show’s legacy and how it continues to change the lives of local, teen brainiacs.
Learn More Below
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Learn More Below *
It’s Academic is all about community!
Join the Alumni Facebook Group to connect (or reconnect!) with members of the “It’s Ac” community. Share your memories, photos, and excitement about the latest season of the show!
You can also contact the Buzzer Beaters team directly at itsacademic.doc@gmail.com
Rockville High School 1983 team
1961 Ballou High School team
1999 Championship team from Rockville High School
Post-show celebrations (Courtesy of the Bill Wells Collection)
1988 Fairfax High School team with faculty advisor Virginia Grohl (Dave Grohl's mom!)
Host Mac Mcgarry with Floor Manager Howie Sacks
1997 Holton-Arms team
Host Hillary Howard on set (Courtesy of It's Academic)
1970 Walt Whitman team receiving their championship trophy
Contestants chatting with host Hillary Howard right before the taping
Host Mac McGarry in 1961
2003 teams from JFK High School and Holton-Arms
Fans and cheerleaders celebrating at a 1960s taping
The contestants are ready! (Courtesy of the Bill Wells Collection)
Executive Producer Susan Altman
In July of 1961, Sophie Altman got a life-changing call from WRC-NBC: they wanted to know if she could get her teen quiz show idea on the air for the start of the school year.
The show, which she had pitched to the executives two years prior, was meant to give high school brainiacs the same arena for competition and revere as their athletic counterparts. Passionate about her project, Sophie spent the rest of the summer writing all the questions herself and recruiting schools to participate. Six decades and thousands of students later, It’s Academic is a cherished institution in Washington, DC.
In 2003, It’s Academic earned the Guinness World Record for Longest Running Television Quiz show. The show still holds the record today plus numerous other accolades including eight Emmy Awards and an endorsement from the National Association of School Boards. The show has been franchised across the United States over the years and airs under different names including Academic Challenge in Cleveland, Ohio and Hometown High-Q in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Some notable It’s Academic alumni include former Washington Post Chairman Donald Graham, best-selling mystery author Laura Lippman, and Oscar-winning producer Bruce Cohen. Not to mention famed “Muppets” creator Jim Henson created the original graphics featured on the show.
Watch the latest episodes of It’s Academic on YouTube or WETA Video
It’s Academic creator, Sophie Altman
Host Mac McGarry with Anacostia Team (1960s)
Producer Joel Kemelhor on set (1981)
the storytellers
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Liz Bragale
DIRECTOR / PRODUCER
Liz Bragale (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary theatre and filmmaker hailing from Washington, DC and based in Toronto, ON. At a young age, her dad brought her to her first It’s Academic taping to watch the show and hopefully be inspired to focus more on school. Instead, Liz became obsessed with television production and spent every commercial break asking the floor managers questions about the show. Now - many years later - she is honoured to make her feature directoral debut with Buzzer Beaters and share her love of the show with audiences across the country.
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Adrian Crespo
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Adrian Crespo (they/he) is a narrative & documentary Director of Photography with a focus on telling the stories of marginalized communities. They pride themselves on effectively communicating and creating the projects vision. He started his career in 2019 working with MSD and various other corporations, filming promotional and internal content. He has since then moved to Canada, getting a formal education at Toronto Film School. Since graduating he has gone on to work on various short form narrative and documentary projects, working with the Canadian Film Centre & Canadas Walk of Fame among various other clients. He prides himself on his technical know-how with a focus on lighting and framing.
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Kenzia Dalie
PRODUCER
Kenzia Dalie is a film and events producer, production designer, and multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. Producing notable events such as Festival Street’s Slaight Music Stage at the Toronto International Film Festival, National Canadian Film Day, and Living Room Sessions, a Toronto based, monthly film showcase for emerging independent artists. As an associate producer for Gambade Films and MXL Media, Kenzia has worked with clients such as Pinterest, Bank of America, Lee Valley Tools and SkinCeuticals. As a creative, her work explores the impermanence and individualism of the human experience. She hopes that her work inspires reflection of our perspectives on our world and how we choose to act within it.
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Jeff Vespa
PRODUCER
Jeff Vespa has worked in the film industry for over 25 years, directing and producing features, documentaries, and short films. He co-founded the photo agency WireImage, and his photography has appeared in Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and Vogue. In 2020, Vespa directed the documentary Voices of Parkland, and in 2018, his first feature film, Paris Song. His short film Nosebleed screened at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Vespa also produced documentaries like Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist and $ellebrity. He attended the Master's Program for Producing at the American Film Institute.
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Marina di Marzo
CREATIVE PRODUCER
Marina di Marzo (she/her) is a producer and writer based in New York City, working on the midday show “NBC News Daily,” for NBC News Now. She has previously produced segments and interviews for MSNBC, CNN and CNN+. Marina has also created and performed original comedy web- series, live shows and solo performances.
