MTV Airing Game Show Filmed In Derby

The episodes of the new MTV show The Substitute“ filmed in Derby will start airing this week, a spokesperson for the cable channel confirmed.

The Substitute” is a quiz show featuring high school students. The hook is the kids don’t know they’re on a game show until host/comedian Jon Gabrus reveals it at the start of the show (sort of like Cash Cab“).

A grand prize of $5,000 cash is awarded to each winner at the end of every episode.

The 30-minute series airs weekdays at 4:30 p.m. on MTV.

Repeats of the episodes are in heavy rotation on the channel as well.

The Derby High School episodes will be shown:

Thursday, Sept. 22

Wednesday, Sept. 28

Wednesday, Oct. 5

Wednesday, Oct. 19

Check out the Substitute’s page on MTV.com to find out when episodes will be repeated. The cable channel usually posts its shows on MTV.com as well, sometime after they are shown on television.

The Derby episodes were filmed last May. About 80 Derby students participated in the production, then-principal Fran Thompson said at the time.

Derby High School was chosen because Lauren Waters, a casting director, had made contacts at Derby High School while filming The Greatest Movie Ever Made,” an independent film, at the campus.

The production for The Substitute” was set up about six weeks prior to filming. It involved high school administrators and Derby parents tricking the students into thinking the production crew were shooting a documentary.

Derby High School is buzzing with the airing of The Substitute’ on MTV,” new principal Greg Gaillard said in an e‑mail Wednesday. Many members of the class of 2012 are in contact with the recent graduating class of 2011 talking about being on TV. The MTV experience was great for DHS. Students were able to see all the facets of operating a TV show and the amount of people it takes to put on a production of this nature.”

With the airing of The Substitute’ the whole country will now be able to see what great kids we have here at Derby High School,” the principal said.

Angel Figueroa, a 17-year-old senior, is one of the contestants.

He had no idea the cameras in an unused classroom last May were for a MTV game show. 

When the host showed students a brief case full of cash, Figueroa jumped out of his seat, ran to the front of the class and gave the host a bear hug.

It might have been the coffee I was drinking,” Figueroa said. 

Gabrus, the host, was surprised, astonished and scared, all at the same time,” Figueroa said.

Here more about Figueroa’s experience in the video below. Story continues after the video.

Senior Monika Gierula, 17, said students have been waiting for their episodes to air. The filming was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We felt like superstars. We weren’t, but we were going on a MTV show. How cool is that? We’re just thankful for the opportunity,” Gierula said.

The quiz show is broken into four rounds. Each episode begins with 20 students. The number gets smaller after each round.

TV Guide called the show likeably irreverent.”

According to information sent from MTV, the structure of the show is as follows:

Round is Things You Should Know:” Trivia questions that focus on academics, subjects such as history, math, literature and politics. At the end of this round, there are 10 finalists left.

Round Two: Things You Do Know: Trivia questions that are pop-culture in nature. This round ends with five students moving on to the next round.

Round Three: What You Do:” An interactive challenge that gets students moving – such as solving math equations to open combination locks, a rapid-fire spelling bee, and a blind typing test. The student that wins this round goes on to face the People’s Choice – in another surprise twist, the classroom gets to vote on their peer they want to go up against the student in the lead.

Round Four: Things You Think:” Students are polled in advance and contestants must guess the top answer, for example We polled the student body and they said the best activity for a first date is …”

The Substitute” is hosted by Gabrus, a quick-witted funny man with improv skills honed through years of performances at the Upright Citizens Brigade. He’s made numerous appearances on NBCs 30 Rock,” according to his MTV bio.

The Substitute” is produced by Embassy Row a Sony Pictures Television company, based on original concept by Phear Creative. 

Here is a trailer for the show, which premiered Sept. 12:

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