McGarry is retiring as the host of TV’s longest-running quiz show, “It’s Academic.” For the past 50 years, teams of high school students in the Washington area have competed against each other on the Saturday morning show. McGarry has also been an announcer for the NBC news affiliate in Washington, WRC. How has local news changed since you started on WRC 50 years ago?
Well there’s a lot more of it, that’s the key thing. It used to be that news was just on several times a day. The main news was at 11 a.m. and at first it was 5 minutes, then 15 minutes and now finally up to a half hour. It’s increased a hundred times since I started in 1950.
Are they any contestants from Washington’s “It’s Academic,” who went on to fame?
Well, Sandra Bullock was a cheerleader on the show from Washington-Lee High School; Donald Graham from the Washington Post from St. Alban’s High School was a contestant; and Tom Boswell from the Post, who went to St. Stephen’s School.
Is there a question that always stumps contestants?
I don’t really know if there’s a question that stumps them. Some of them are challenging but our contestants usually come up with an answer, and it’s usually correct.
What’s a highlight from your years at the show?
Well, we did some celebrity episodes. We had one where it was Democrats versus Republicans, or one with the press. We also had the Redskins. Really the biggest highlight is our Super Bowl show, where we have the winner of Baltimore and Central Virginia compete.
What are your retirement plans?
I’ll still stay associated with the show; maybe I’ll even write questions for them. Plus I have four children and six grandchildren, so I have plenty to keep me busy.
Will you be quizzing them as well?
Of course, I used to quiz them all the time. I used to ask “Where have you been?”
— Leigh Giangreco
