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CNN Live Event/Special
Concluding Round of National Geographic Geography Bee
Aired May 22, 2002 - 11:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And speaking of landmarks, we've got word of a couple of young men who are quite familiar with landmasses. We're talking about the National Geographic Geography Bee. That's what they pay me for.
It is underway. They've got two finalists right now. You see there the man in the white suit, that is, of course, Alex Trebek. He is the moderator here. They're now in their final round.
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ALEX TREBEK, GAME SHOW HOST: ... radio. The correct response for the pattern is radio. Calvin is in the lead one point to none.
Here's your second question: Just a few days ago on May 20, East Timor officially gained independence after claiming sovereignty from Indonesia since 1975. Name the capital of this new country.
Put your cards up. The capital is Dili. Each of you is correct. Calvin leads 2 to 1.
Third question: Name the two remaining constituent republics of Yugoslavia after the cessation of four others in the early '90s. Name the two remaining constituent republics of Yugoslavia.
Once again, you have both written down exactly the same thing. And once again you are both correct, Serbia and Montenegro.
Here is question number four: Pakistan's largest province has the country's smallest provincial population. Name this province. Calvin McCarter of Michigan has a 3 to 2 point lead at the moment. And that means that if he is correct on this next question he will be the champion, because Matthew will be unable to catch him.
Let's put the cards up. The correct response is Baluchistan. By a score of 4 to 3, Calvin McCarter, the youngest competitor this year, is our new National Geographic Bee champion. Congratulations. Way to go.
HARRIS: Oh, my goodness.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: That is precious.
HARRIS: Now wait a second. Look at Calvin. How old is Calvin? COSTELLO: Calvin's in shock. Calvin, jump up and down. You won -- for God's sakes.
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TREBEK: Oh, no, he got Baluchi. Oh, Bad Alex. Bad, bad, Alex -- sorry.
COSTELLO: Oh, no wonder he wasn't...
HARRIS: He had it, but he didn't put the "stan" on the end of it. He had "Baluchi," but not "stan."
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TREBEK: Oh well, hang on.
COSTELLO: I think Alex Trebek should be disqualified.
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TREBEK: I saw them -- I see them writing their responses.
HARRIS: But the French judge is on this one.
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TREBEK: And I said, "They've both got it right." It's tied -- yes, OK. Wait a minute. You'll put your cards up again. We'll pick it up there. God, I am so sorry. Too old for this stuff, I guess.
HARRIS: How about that?
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TREBEK: There's my young replacement right there.
COSTELLO: Poor Calvin.
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TREBEK: And a lot better looking too.
HARRIS: I think we snatched away from him, but a simple error there.
COSTELLO: I think they should declare a tie.
HARRIS: But he was on his way to the correct answer. I don't know if he just ran out of time, or if he didn't -- if he intentionally left off the final -- if he didn't have the final "stan" at the end, he'd have Baluchi. As you see there, the province that Alex was referring to that was in Pakistan is the province of Baluchistan.
COSTELLO: So I guess this National Geography Bee will go on. HARRIS: They only had a couple more questions to go, so let's listen in.
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TREBEK: All right, gentlemen, put your cards up. The correct response is Baluchistan. Matthew has got it right. That gives him three points. Calvin is missing quite a few letters, and that's a mistake for him. And so we have a tie at three all.
Put your cards away. Here is the question that will decide this year's championship. Lopnur (ph), a marshy depression at the east end of the Tarim Basin is a nuclear test site for which country?
Put your cards up. One of you is correct. Lopnur (ph), at the east end of the Tarim Basin is in China. And that means that Calvin McCarter is our 2002 National Geographic Bee champion. Congratulations, gentlemen.
COSTELLO: Oh, you know, poor Matthew. But I'm kind of glad Calvin won because it would have been pain for him not to.
HARRIS: Well, we just sat here and witnessed Calvin McCarter winning twice. Calvin McCarter is now the winner of the National Geographic Geography Bee, and that's incredible. Some of the questions we just heard this 10-year-old couldn't be answered by many of the people in this newsroom. And we cover the world on a regular basis. Absolutely amazing. Nice going.
COSTELLO: Well, congratulations, Calvin.
HARRIS: Congratulations.
COSTELLO: We'll deal with Alex Trebek later.
HARRIS: It may sink in for Calvin a little bit later, because it seems like he is still in a bit of a fog. All right. Congratulations to both of those gentlemen, Matt Russell and Calvin McCarter. Calvin McCarter being the winner.
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