History Series / WhereintheWorldisCarmenSandiego

* [[GameOverMan Game Over Woman]]: A failure on the map is indicated by a newspaper graphic with Carmen on the front page and the headline "Carmen Escapes Again!"

** And then they changed it from seven to eight markers necessary to win. The reason was apparently that PBS, being PBS, really couldn't afford to pay for many grand prizes.

'''''Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?''''' is an [[EdutainmentShow Educational]] GameShow based on the ''Franchise/CarmenSandiego'' computer games by Brøderbund, which ran for five seasons (295 episodes) on Creator/{{PBS}} from September 30, 1991 to December 22, 1995 (although reruns continued until October 4, 1996). Three children answered multiple-choice geography questions while pursuing a member of Carmen's gang, who had stolen a famous landmark.

** RummageSaleRejects: Vic the Slick.
** PutOnABus: (The) Contessa. [[TheBusCameBack She came back, though.]]
** DumbMuscle: Eartha Brute.
** BlondesAreEvil: Patty Larceny.
** NonIdenticalTwins: Double Trouble (Trouble!).
** AmusingAlien: Kneemoi. [[ShoutOut Learned]] [[LeonardNimoy Kneemoi]]. [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Talk about a]] ParentalBonus!
*** From the planet [[GeneRoddenberry Roddenberry]]
** CanonImmigrant / IdolSinger: Sarah Nade.
** ThePigPen: The appropriately named Top Grunge.
** RoboSpeak: Robocrook.

*** From the planet[[GeneRoddenberry Roddenberry]]

* AcmeProducts: Sort of. The sleuths worked for the Acme Detective Agency. Played straight during the clue segments, especially when they involved guest stars. Scott Weinger was said to have come from "Acme Voice of Aladdin Net", James Avery came from "Acme Shredder Net", and Katie Couric from "Acme 'Don't Call Me Perky' Net".

* NoHonorAmongThieves:
** The MookFaceTurn phone call that preceded the BonusRound.
** (The) Contessa even references this trope by name. "Honor among thieves? Surely you jest! If I'm going to prison, I'm taking Carmen with me!"

** "He's / she's / I'm okay!" (Generally followed some sort of [[AmusingInjuries amusing injury]].

** "He's / she's / I'm okay!"

-->'''Gus Lee:''' Listen, son, I've been meaning to talk to. Are you aware that this, uh, [[MyNameIsNotDurwood "Carmine Santiago"]] lady you've been chasing around is...she's a cartoon, son. She's not a real person. You're aware of that.\\

'''Rockapella:''' ''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?''

-->'''Chief:''' All these people want to know...where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?\\

* EvolvingMusic: Czechoslovakia's 1992 split into Slovakia and the Czech Republic necessitated a change to the theme song.

* WhyWereBummedCommunismFell: The run of this show on PBS coincided with a period of extremely-short map shelf life, which made the Asia and Europe maps in the final round particularly difficult ("Turkmenistan! Tajikistan!") and forced the Chief to end the show with a disclaimer that "All geographical information was correct as of the date this program was recorded!" (along with the ''recording date'', very rare for a game show to air on purpose) in case some other [[BalkanizeMe former Yugoslav republic]] declared independence while the episode was on the cutting-room floor.\\\

The second round (the part with the ''Concentration'' game) of "The Spot Lifter" took place in Leningrad, U.S.S.R. By the time the episode aired, the city had been renamed St. Petersburg for three months. In fairness, the U.S.S.R. itself did still exist when the episode aired... but just barely -- the episode aired on a Monday, while the U.S.S.R. ceased to exist three days later.

[[EdutainmentShow Educational]] GameShow based on the ''Franchise/CarmenSandiego'' computer games by Brøderbund which ran for five seasons (295 episodes) on Creator/{{PBS}} from September 30, 1991 to December 22, 1995 (although reruns continued until October 4, 1996). Three children answered multiple-choice geography questions while pursuing a member of Carmen's gang, who had stolen a famous landmark.

!!This show provides examples of:

* CanonImmigrant: The Chief was created for the game show, but she proved to be so popular that she eventually made it into newer editions of the computer games. As a result, it also meant the games and game show were no longer separate entities; [[WhereOnEarthIsCarmenSandiego the cartoon]], on the other hand...

* WhyWereBummedCommunismFell: The run of this show on PBS coincided with a period of extremely-short map shelf life, which made the Asia and Europe maps in the final round particularly difficult ("Turkmenistan! Tajikistan!") and forced the Chief to end the show with a disclaimer that "All geographical information was correct as of the date this program was recorded!" (along with the ''recording date'', very rare for a game show to air on purpose) in case some other [[BalkanizeMe former Yugoslav republic]] declared independence while the episode was on the cutting-room floor.
** Czechoslovakia was actually named in the theme song, and it also ceased to exist during the show's run, necessitating a change from "Chicago to Czechoslovakia and back!" to "Chicago to Czech ''and'' Slovakia and back!" (emphasis ours). And in later seasons, the whole verse was changed to "Botswana to Thailand, Milan via Amsterdam, Mali to Bali, Ohio, and back!" Rockapella used both the outdated verse and the new one in an extended version whenever they performed the song live and on albums.
** The second round (the part with the ''Concentration'' game) of "The Spot Lifter" took place in Leningrad, U.S.S.R. By the time the episode aired, the city had been renamed St. Petersburg for three months. In fairness, the U.S.S.R. itself did still exist when the episode aired...but just barely — the episode aired on a Monday, while the U.S.S.R. ceased to exist three days later.

[[EdutainmentShow Educational]] GameShow based on the ''Franchise/CarmenSandiego'' computer games by Brøderbund which ran for five seasons (295 episodes) on Creator/{{PBS}} from September 30, 1991 to December 22, 1995 (although repeats continued until October 4, 1996). Three children answered multiple-choice geography questions while pursuing a member of Carmen's gang, who had stolen a famous landmark.

* MissingEpisode: "Auld Lang Gone" (Season 1, not [[GrandFinale Season 5]] as you may have expected by the title), which went unaired because the winning gumshoe fell and suffered an arm fracture on the Europe map. Sure, they got the runner-up to take her place (and he won), but it remains an OldShame for WGBH.

** The episode title "Mining Crime Station" refers to ''Series/ShiningTimeStation'', which ran concurrently.

* ShoutOut: One gumshoe did the Arsenio Hall "woof" hand motion when introduced.

** And then ItGotWorse when they changed it from seven to eight markers necessary to win. The reason was apparently that PBS, being PBS, really couldn't afford to pay for many grand prizes.

'''''Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?''''' is an [[EdutainmentShow Educational]] GameShow, based on the ''Franchise/CarmenSandiego'' computer games by Brøderbund, that ran for five seasons and 295 episodes on Creator/{{PBS}} from September 30, 1991 to December 22, 1995 (with repeats continuing on PBS until October 4, 1996). Three children answered multiple-choice geography questions while pursuing a member of Carmen's gang, who had stolen a famous landmark.

In the successor series, ''Series/WhereInTimeIsCarmenSandiego'' (1996-97), the focus shifted from geography to history, and Kevin Shinick succeeded Lee as quizmaster. Lynne Thigpen was the only regular cast member in both ''Carmen Sandiego'' series.

!! ''Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?'' provides examples of the following tropes:

!!!GameShow tropes:

* BonusRound: Here's a map of a country or continent. Place these markers on seven (later eight) locations within 45 seconds (or 60 seconds on the Asia map in the first season) and win a trip.

* GoldenSnitch

!!!Other tropes:
* AcmeProducts: Sort of. The sleuths worked for the Acme Detective Agency. Played straight during the clue segments of the show, especially when they involved guest stars. Scott Weinger was said to have come from "Acme Voice of Aladdin Net", James Avery came from "Acme Shredder Net", and Katie Couric from "Acme 'Don't Call Me Perky' Net".

* BrickJoke: The intro for the "Chase" round often contained an element from another sketch earlier on. Also, during the "Training Exercise," where the contestants had to race to dig a clue card out of a trash can (first to finish got first shot over the question for 10 points), Greg's can often contained either a gag from earlier in the show or a camera (cue cut to the camera in the can).

* CanonImmigrant: The Chief was created for the game show, but she proved to be so popular that she eventually made it into newer editions of the computer games.
* CardboardPrison: Done to such an absurd extent that you wonder why the kids even bothered arresting the criminals. Adding to the frustration is the show's closing CreditsGag.
* CarriedByTheHost: The goofy Greg Lee's chemistry with the straight-faced Chief, along with Rockapella's musical accompaniment. Without them, it would have been just another dull edutainment show.
* CatchPhrase

** "All these people want to know: [[TitleDrop Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?]]"

* DeadpanSnarker: Rockapella will snark in song if Round 2 starts dragging.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Some gems:
** Rockapella wearing modern street clothes rather than 1940's fashions in the 1st pilot.

** Different sound effects, mostly from ''[[Series/DoubleDare1986 Double Dare]]''.

** The second round did not require gumshoes to find the loot, warrant, and crook in that order.

** 60 Seconds for the bonus round instead of 45.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: One of the first taped episodes featured Rockapella singing a song called "Zombie Jamboree" at the end instead of the theme song... complete with the line "I don't give a damn." On a ''PBS kids' show''.
* HesOkay

** Inverted in the unaired episode "Auld Lang Gone", where the winning gumshoe broke her arm on the Europe map.
* HurricaneOfPuns

** The Chief uses quite a few of these, as well.
* IncrediblyLamePun: IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming aside, this show goes nuts with this trope!

* LuckBasedMission: The concentration game they played as round 2.
* MonumentalTheft: On the low end, Carmen and her crew take things like the ''Titanic'', the Pyramids of Giza, and the Great Wall of China. Watch the show to see the high end {{Monumental Theft}}s.
* MookFaceTurn: Immediately following Round 2, the winning gumshoe gets a phone call from the apprehended crook. This reveals where (i.e., on which map/continent) the winner will be searching for Carmen that day.

* NintendoHard: The SurpriseDifficulty was in the bonus game, where the contestant carried around posts and marked off countries on a giant floor map -- starting from the north side, which made the map appear upside down to the contestant. Even if you knew all the answers, the fact that they needed ''exact'' placement (seriously, the posts didn't work if they weren't perfectly on top of the target), the actual shuttle running and keeping the things from falling over, coupled with a brutal time limit, made it extremely hard to win. Usually, one double-miss meant Carmen could safely escape.\\\
And then it got worse, because they changed it from seven to eight markers necessary to win. The reason was apparently that PBS, being PBS, really couldn't afford to pay for many grand prizes. One episode has gone unaired because a contestant fell and suffered an arm fracture during the bonus round. It's now an OldShame for the stations that produced the show.
* NoHonorAmongThieves
** The MookFaceTurn phone call that preceeded the BonusRound.

-->'''Chief:''' All these people want to know: \\

* OutOfOrder: The two pilot episodes would air much later in the season.

* PaintingTheMedium: On one episode, The Chief shows Greg a camera-switching device. When Greg starts playing with it, he switches to a shot so wide that it exposes the studio surrounding the office set.

* RhymesOnADime: The Chief:

-->'''Gus Lee:''' Listen, son, I've been meaning to talk to. Are you aware that this, uh, [[MyNameIsNotDurwood "Carmine Santiago"]] lady you've been chasing around is... she's a cartoon, son. She's not a real person. You're aware of that.\\

'''Gus Lee:''' As a matter of fact, all the crooks are cartoons! And to put them in jail, you just pull on a chain that's connected to nothing! That is ridiculous!

** RummageSaleRejects: Vic the Slick
** PutOnABus: (The) Contessa. [[TheBusCameBack She comes back, though.]]
** DumbMuscle: Eartha Brute
** BlondesAreEvil: Patty Larceny
** NonIdenticalTwins: Double Trouble (Trouble!)

** CanonImmigrant / IdolSinger: Sarah Nade

** RoboSpeak: Robocrook

* ShoutOut: One gumshoe does the Arsenio Hall "woof" hand motion when introduced.

* StockFootage: Footage of unusual ways of travel were used in seasons 3 and 4 as a transition from ACME HQ to the final round.

* ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish: In "Scrolldies but Goodies", Greg needs a password to unlock a trash can (which is protected by the "Garbage Club"). He doesn't know what the password is, but everyone else does. It actually is "swordfish".

* TimedMission

* TransatlanticEquivalent: A French-Canadian version appears to have debuted right around the time the PBS series left first-run and ran until about 1997 or so. It pretty much copied the PBS series, including a localized version of the main theme done by their own version of Rockapella; just watching the credits will provide the bittersweet proof that PBS couldn't keep a good show down.
* WhyWereBummedCommunismFell: The run of this show on PBS coincided with a period of extremely-short map shelf life, which made the Asia and Europe maps in the final round particularly difficult ("Turkmenistan! Tajikistan!") and forced the Chief to end the show with a disclaimer that "All geographical information was correct as of the date this program was recorded!" (along with the ''recording date'', very rare for a game show to air on purpose) in case some other [[BalkanizeMe former Yugoslav republic]] declared independence while the episode was on the cutting-room floor.\\\
Czechoslovakia was actually named in the theme song, and it also ceased to exist during the show's run, necessitating a change from "Chicago to Czechoslovakia and back!" to "Chicago to Czech ''and'' Slovakia and back!" (emphasis ours). And in later seasons, the whole verse was changed to "Botswana to Thailand, Milan via Amsterdam, Mali to Bali, Ohio, and Back!" Rockapella used both the outdated verse and the new one in an extended version whenever they performed the song live and on albums.\\\
The second round (the part with the ''Concentration'' game) of the episode "The Spot Lifter" took place in Leningrad, U.S.S.R. By the time the episode aired, the city had been renamed St. Petersburg for three months. The U.S.S.R. itself did still exist when the episode aired... barely. The episode aired on a Monday. The U.S.S.R. ceased to exist on the Thursday of that same week.

* WorldOfPun: What, too easy?

[[EdutainmentShow Educational]] GameShow, based on the ''Franchise/CarmenSandiego'' computer games by Brøderbund, that ran for five seasons and 295 episodes on Creator/{{PBS}} from September 30, 1991 to December 22, 1995 (with repeats continuing on PBS until October 4, 1996). Three children answered multiple-choice geography questions while pursuing a member of Carmen's gang, who had stolen a famous landmark.