Mac McGarry calls it a day

[colonial]

The official FB page for WRC-TV's (NBC Washington) "It's Academic" show has announced that Mac McGarry is stepping down as the show's quizmaster after 50 years.

McGarry is now 85.  He joined NBC as a staff announcer back in 1950.

McGarry has reportedly been dealing with health problems that have prevented him from returning to the show this year, although the FB page says he will return to the show later this season to give a final goodbye.

Veteran DC TV and radio reporter Hillary Howard will be the new host for the show.

The announcement (don't have to "like" the page to read it)...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Its-Academic/36248033030

Having lived in the DC area, I can tell you that "IA" is a local institution, and Mr. McGarry was one of the most beloved TV personalities the city has ever seen.  

JD

[weaklink75]

End of an era here..Mac McGarry is a legend in DC/Baltimore TV...

So Matt, you've only got to make it to 2038 to tie, 2039 to beat him...2060 or thereabouts if you count the Baltimore seasons he did concurrently with Washington..

[Matt Ottinger]

So Matt, you've only got to make it to 2038 to tie, 2039 to beat him...

He started when he was 35.  I started when I was 29.  Just sayin'...

/At the rate cutbacks are going, by 2038, WKAR will be operated by one guy who puts this week's episode of Sesame Street on an endless loop.

[Jumpondees]

End of an era here..Mac McGarry is a legend in DC/Baltimore TV...

So Matt, you've only got to make it to 2038 to tie, 2039 to beat him...2060 or thereabouts if you count the Baltimore seasons he did concurrently with Washington..

Didn't Mac also do the Richmond, VA version as well up until a few years ago?  

I remember from watching many a year of this program when I lived in DC that the DC area champs played the Baltimore Champs and the Richmond Champs in what they called the "It's Academic Super Bowl" at the end of each season.

If Mac did host the Richmond version as I suspect he did, we may want to slighty adjust those numbers above.  ;-)

[Fedya]

Alternatively, Matt could just start hosting more versions of Quizbusters.  ;-)

[clemon79]

Alternatively, Matt could just start hosting more versions of Quizbusters.  ;-)

Ooh. Quizbusters: Miami!

"Time now for our speed round...I'll ask you as many questions as I can in sixty seconds, and when you hear this sound..."

<SFX: YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHH>

"...that means the game is over."

[Card Shark]

I interned on It's Academic in 1999. I essentially brought Mac coffee and assisted with keeping the score of the game. The entire production staff was fantastic to me as was Mac. How lucky I was to have worked for him.

[Allstar87]

I love It's Academic; I even went to a few tapings and got to talk to Mac. I wish him nothing but the best.

I remember from watching many a year of this program when I lived in DC that the DC area champs played the Baltimore Champs and the Richmond Champs in what they called the "It's Academic Super Bowl" at the end of each season.

Indeed; the season 50 Super Bowl ended up being his final show.

[mmb5]

/At the rate cutbacks are going, by 2038, WKAR will be operated by one guy who puts this week's episode of Sesame Street on an endless loop.

Don't you mean Dr. Wayne Dyer?

Guess my 50th Anniversary It's Academic shopping bag just became a little more valuable ($1.29 instead of $0.99).

[calliaume]

My wife, Karen, made two appearances on It's Academic!; once in Washington in 1982 as a contestant, and once in 1984 in Baltimore as the prize girl (she was a cashier for Giant Supermarkets at the time).  Sadly, no videotapes of either appearance.

[weaklink75]

The official "baton-passing" is this weekend...here's an interview Mac McGarry did w/ NPR this week:

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/19/145463695/quizmaster-reflects-on-50-years-of-its-academic