-This program brought to you in part by the Erika Lewis Endowment Fund.

-Coming up, it's Team Naylor... [cheers and applause] ...taking on Team Siegel!

[cheers and applause] This is the Silver League Varsity Quiz All-Star Match!

♪♪ Hello there.

Welcome to the 57th season of Varsity Quiz.

We've got the best and the brightest high school students matching wits in this unique competition.

It is always an honor to be your host.

I'm Nathan Tannenbaum.

Something a little bit different for you tonight in the Varsity Quiz.

In this match, we have, well, a salute to all of the young men and women of the Silver League.

This is this year's All-Star Match.

So let's meet our first round players, starting, of course, with Team Naylor.

Again, Lucas, tell us your name, your grade, and what school you're from.

-I'm Lucas.

I'm a junior at West CTA.

-Hi.

I'm Miriam, and I'm a senior from Coronado.

-Hi.

I'm Theo, and I'm a senior at Clark.

-Hi.

I'm Jacob, and I'm a senior at Northwest CTA.

-So that's Team Naylor.

Thank you, guys.

That's awesome.

No, you're good.

[applause] Now let's meet our players from Team Siegel, starting with Eda.

-Hi, I'm Eda.

I'm a freshman at West CTA.

-Hi, I'm Bradach.

I'm a senior at Moapa Valley High School.

-Hello.

I'm Maddie.

I'm a senior at LVA.

-Hi.

I'm Mason, a junior at Foothill.

-Awesome.

And that's Team Siegel.

[applause] Let's play All-Star Varsity Quiz.

Including 2026, how many times have the Olympics been held in Italy?

Team Naylor, Maryiam: three -Incorrect.

Team Siegel, Madi: five -Nope.

The answer was four.

You were so close, but we move on.

This 2023 movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, centers on a Mattel doll portrayed by Margot Robbie.

Team Siegel, Eda: Barbie -Everybody knows Barbie, right?

All right.

Next question.

Who was the first Grammy recipient for Album of the Year for a Spanish language album?

Team Naylor, Theo: Bad Bunny -Yeah!

What country left the European Union in 2020?

Team Naylor, Theo: the United Kingdom -Correct.

Next question.

Oh, this is a tough one.

I don't know.

Maybe you kids don't play this anymore.

What video game franchise features regions such as Kanto and Johto?

Team Naylor, Maryiam: Pokemon -People still play Pokemon, don't they?

-I do.

-That's still a thing?

Okay.

Next question.

What planet has the shortest day in our solar system?

Team Naylor, Lucas: Mercury -Incorrect.

Team Siegel, Eda: Venus -Nope.

It's Jupiter.

Next question.

Name the physicist who developed the uncertainty principle.

Team Naylor, Theo: Heisenberg -Yes, and he was certain about the uncertainty.

Next question.

Tony Stark is portrayed by this actor.

Team Siegel, Madi: Robert Downey, Jr.

-Yeah.

You got to love Tony Stark, right?

Next question.

Who was the British Prime Minister during most of World War II?

Team Naylor, Maryiam: Winston Churchill -Yes.

Okay.

So this director's movies often feature nonlinear storytelling and include titles like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs.

Team Naylor, Lucas: Tarantino -Yeah.

Have you seen all of his movies?

-Some of them.

-He's great.

This HBO series follows the Roy family as they battle for control of the media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo.

Team Naylor, Maryiam: Severance -Nope.

You guys aren't up on your HBO?

Succession.

Ask your grandparents.

Next question.

What organization is abbreviated as NATO?

Team Naylor, Lucas: North Atlantic Treaty Organization -You got it.

Hope you all know NATO.

It's an important organization.

Okay.

Where are the 2028 Summer Olympics going to take place?

Team Naylor, Theo: LA -Yes!

Be sure in your answer, Theo.

Los Angeles!

Okay.

But it's correct.

Pedro Pascal portrays Joel Miller in this HBO adaptation of a video game about a fungal apocalypse.

Team Siegel, Madi: The Last of Us -Yeah.

I haven't seen that.

Is it good?

-Mm-hmm.

-Okay.

It sounds kind of spooky.

Okay.

Next question.

This singer-songwriter released the 2023 album GUTS, featuring the song "Vampire."

Team Naylor, Maryiam: Olivia Rodrigo -Everybody's got Olivia Rodrigo on their Spotify, right?

-A couple of songs, yeah.

-Yeah?

No?

Yes?

No?

Okay.

I don't even have Spotify, so... Next question.

What particle mediates the electromagnetic force?

Team Naylor, Lucas: photon -Yes.

We had an actual question.

Next question.

Name the 2022 Netflix series starring Jenna Ortega that centers on a daughter of the Addams Family attending Nevermore Academy.

Team Siegel, Eda: Wednesday -No, I'm not asking you what day you're going to tell me.

[laughter] No, that's correct.

Next question.

In The Great Gatsby, what's the name of Daisy Buchanan's husband?

Team Naylor, Theo: Tom Buchanan -That's right.

Okay.

So this 1919 treaty formally ended World War I. Team Naylor, Maryiam: the Treaty of Versailles -That's right.

That's the end of our first round.

Before we move on, we do want to explain these All-Star team names.

So Team Naylor is named after Howard Naylor, the longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas.

Howard's done it all.

He's been a VQ judge, a scorekeeper, and pretty much a cheerleader for 16 years.

Howard also generously sponsors the annual Howard Naylor Scholarship for one well-deserving VQ graduating senior.

So that's Team Naylor.

Team Siegel honors Brian Siegel, a now-retired producer and beloved member of the Vegas PBS family.

He spent 20 years creating meaningful content for our community.

He's worked on a wide range of shows, documentaries, educational campaigns, always bringing passion and professionalism to every project.

For the past four seasons, he proudly produced Varsity Quiz.

So that is Team Siegel.

Now it's time for Round 2.

All right.

The score going into Round 2: Team Naylor has 60 points.

Team Siegel has 20.

These are just fun questions.

Let's meet our players in this round, starting with Team Naylor.

Tell us your name, your grade, and your school.

-Hello.

I'm Keval.

I'm a junior at Bishop Gorman.

-Thank you.

-I'm Leo.

I'm a junior at Northwest.

-I'm Matthew.

I'm a sophomore at Liberty.

-I'm Aedan.

I'm a junior at Moapa.

-And that's Team Naylor for Round 2.

Thank you, guys.

[applause] And our players for Round 2 on Team Siegel.

Jackson, take it away.

-I'm Jackson, and I'm a senior at Arbor View High School.

-I'm Rowan.

I'm a senior at Canyon Springs High School.

-I'm Svaya.

I'm a junior at Clark High School.

-I'm Elizabeth.

I'm a sophomore at Veterans Tribute.

-That's Team Siegel for Round 2.

Thanks, you guys.

[applause] Who was the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

That's Team Naylor, Keval: Margaret Thatcher -That's right.

Let's move on to Zendaya, winning two Emmy Awards for portraying Rue Bennet in this HBO drama series.

Team Siegel, Rowan: Euphoria -Yes.

You almost forgot.

Have you been watching that show?

-No.

-I've never seen it.

All right.

Next question.

Oh, what's the capital of South Korea?

Team Naylor, Matthew: Seoul -You've got it.

You've got Seoul.

-Oh, yeah.

-Next question.

What artificial intelligence company developed ChatGPT?

Team Naylor, Leo: OpenAI -Yeah.

But you didn't use artificial intelligence to get that answer, did you?

-No.

-Okay.

-Never did, never will.

-Next question.

What artist released the 2024 country-influenced album Cowboy Carter?

Team Siegel, Elizabeth: Beyonce -Yeah.

Did you listen to that one?

-I did not.

-There's some good tracks on there.

-I will take a listen when I get home.

-Yeah.

And for me to know that, that's pretty amazing.

Next question.

This 2023 movie adaptation of a Broadway musical stars Halle Bailey as Ariel.

Name this live-action remake of a 1989 Disney animated film.

Team Naylor, Keval: The Little Mermaid -Yeah, and you saw both of them, right?

-Of course.

-Exactly.

Next question.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, what's the real name of the Scarlet Witch?

Team Siegel, Rowan: Wanda Maximoff -Yeah!

You're all about the Universe, right?

-I don't like Marvel.

-Okay.

But you know about them.

That's okay.

You're a DC person?

-Yes.

Yes, I am.

-Okay.

But that doesn't matter.

You got the right answer.

Next question.

What Asian country is divided into 47 prefectures?

Team Siegel, Jackson: China -Incorrect.

Team Naylor, Keval: Japan -There you go.

Next question.

The Pulitzer Prize is administered by this university.

Team Siegel, Rowan: Harvard -No.

Team Naylor, Keval: University of Chicago -No.

It's Columbia.

So when you get ready for your Pulitzer, know who's giving it out, okay?

Next question.

What's the only mammal that can fly?

Team Siegel, Rowan: bats -Yes.

You're not a fan of bats?

-I love bats.

-Oh, okay.

You're batty for bats.

Next question.

What Netflix sci-fi series features the Upside Down?

Team Siegel, Jackson: I'm going to give it to Stranger Things.

-Yeah.

Did you watch all 12 seasons, or whatever it is?

-I think there's five, and I only watched, like, a few episodes.

-But you got it.

-I heard the finale was pretty bad, though.

-I haven't seen it.

Next question.

This Amazon Prime series features the corrupt superhero Homelander in the vigilante group led by Billy Butcher.

Team Siegel, Rowan: The Boys -You are our culture queen here.

That's, that's right.

What gas makes up the largest percentage of the Earth's atmosphere?

Team Siegel, Rowan: nitrogen -Is this the only buzzer that's working?

[laughter] So far you got it.

That's exactly right.

Next question.

The Berlin Conference of 1884 and '85 regulated European colonization of which continent?

Team Naylor, Matthew: Africa -That's right.

Okay.

The other buzzers do work.

Next question.

This 2023 movie, starring Cillian Murphy, depicts the development of the atom bomb and features scenes at Los Alamos.

It won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Name this Christopher Nolan film.

Team Naylor, Leo: Oppenheimer -I hope you saw it.

-I actually didn't see it.

-Oh, man.

-I've been meaning to.

It's on my watch list.

-Did you see Barbie that year?

-I did.

I promised myself I'd see it if it made a billion dollars.

-Okay.

Because then-- because people were supposed to do the "Barbenheimer" thing and do both.

Next question.

In this 2024 political event, saw Claudia Sheinbaum elected as the first female president of what country?

Team Siegel, Rowan: Mexico -That's right.

Next question.

What British band released the album Abbey Road?

Team Naylor, Leo: The Beatles -You've all listened, please?

-Yes.

-Okay.

No?

Oh, my goodness.

Put that on your Spotify, Matthew.

-I don't have Spotify.

-Oh, my goodness.

Do you have Apple iTunes?

-No.

-Do you listen to music?

-No.

[laughter] -Moving right along.

This 2023 biographical movie tells the story of Nike's pursuit of Michael Jordan and stars Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro.

Name this movie directed by Ben Affleck.

Team Siegel, Jackson: I believe it's called Air.

-It sure is, but Rowan probably knew that, too.

Okay.

Next question.

This interconnected film franchise began in 2008 with Iron Man and culminated Phase 3 with Avengers: Endgame.

Team Naylor, Leo: The Marvel Cinematic Universe.

-Yes.

And that's the end of Round 2.

We wanted to make sure you know who's coaching for our all-stars.

For Team Naylor, the coach is Matt Aberman.

For Team Siegel, the coaches are Amber Thacker and Lonnie Robbins.

Round 3 coming up.

And the score going into Round 3 of the Varsity Quiz All-Star Match: Team Naylor has 105 points.

Team Siegel has 65.

Let's meet our players for this round, starting with Drake.

-Hi, I'm Drake.

I'm from Coronado, and I'm a senior.

-I'm Chase, and I'm a junior at Veterans Tribute.

-I'm Devon.

I'm a junior at Liberty.

-I'm Chance.

I'm a junior at Arbor View.

-Thanks, Team Naylor.

Let's meet our players for Team Siegel.

-Hi.

I'm AJ, and I'm a senior at Bishop Gorman.

-I'm Pana, and I'm a sophomore at West Tech.

-I'm John, and I'm a senior at Las Vegas Academy.

-I'm Daniel, and I'm a senior at Palo.

-All right.

Let's go right into our Round 3, starting with this question: What daily New York Times game contains five-letter challenges?

Team Siegel, Pana: Wordle -Yeah.

Do you play?

-Yes.

-Okay.

But you lost it there for just a second.

-Yeah.

I almost forgot.

-You got it.

So here's the thing: At one time I had a wordle, but I had it surgically removed.

Thank you.

Moving on.

What country elected Javier Milei as president in 2023?

Team Naylor, Chance: Argentina -Correct.

Let's keep moving.

What 2023 horror film features animatronic characters based on a popular video game franchise?

Team Naylor, Devon: Five Nights at Freddy's -Yeah.

Did you see that movie?

-I did, actually.

-How was it?

-Pretty good.

-Okay.

Because it just sounds kind of creepy, but that's, I guess that's what it's about, right?

-Let's move on.

What social media platform is known for the "For You Page"?

Team Siegel, Daniel: TikTok.

-Yeah.

I've never heard of Tiktok.

Is that a thing?

[laughter] No, you kids all have the TikTok, don't you?

Oh, I'm shocked.

That's a great thing.

Let's go!

What 2023 movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as a French military leader, directed by Ridley Scott?

Team Siegel, Pana: Napoleon -Yes.

I didn't see that one.

Have you seen it?

-No.

-No?

Okay.

What soccer player joined inter Miami in 2023, boosting MLS attendance?

Team Naylor, Chase: Messi -Yeah.

Are you a soccer guy?

-Not really.

I got a game after this, though.

-Okay.

Well, let's hurry up then.

What 2024 movie sequel features Po returning as the Dragon Warrior?

Team Siegel, Pana: Kung Fu Panda 4 -Yes.

[laughter] Because it could be 5, 6, 7, or 8 at this point, right?

But it was Kung Fu Panda 4.

Next question.

Who is the current Mayor of Las Vegas?

Team Siegel, Pana: Shelly Berkeley -Yes.

I hope you all knew that.

-Yeah, we did.

-Okay.

Next question.

What singer performed at the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show?

Team Siegel, Pana: Kendrick Lamar -No.

Usher, dude.

Groans, yeah.

Next question.

Name the element that has the chemical symbol W. Team Siegel, Daniel: tungsten -Yes.

An actual scientific question.

Who knew?

That's right.

Next question.

What's the capital city of Kenya?

Team Naylor, Chance: Nairobi -Yes.

What mathematical constant is approximately equal to 2.71828?

Team Siegel, Daniel: Euler's number -That's right.

Next question.

What's the name of the longest mountain range in the world?

Team Naylor, Chase: the Himalayas -No.

Team Siegel, Pana: the Rockies -Nope.

It's the Andes.

Next question.

What U.S.

state was the most recent to join the Union?

Team Naylor, Devon: Hawaii -That's right.

Next question.

Name the mountain northwest of Las Vegas, where you can go skiing at Lee Canyon and grab hot chocolate at the lodge.

Team Siegel, Daniel: Mt.

Charleston -Yes.

Do we have skiers?

snowboarders?

No?

You gotta check it out.

Next question.

What's the name of the monster in season one of Stranger Things?

Team Siegel, AJ: the Demogorgon -Yes.

Have you seen that?

-Nope.

-But you know about it.

-Yep, like through osmosis, you know?

-Yes, because everyone else talks about it.

-Yeah, exactly.

-But you don't want to meet a Demogorgon?

-Oh, no.

-Okay.

Next question.

What African country was formerly known as Abyssinia?

Team Siegel, Pana: Ethiopia -Yes.

Are we done with that one?

Where did time go?

That's the end of Round 3.

Let's have a round of applause.

Don't go anywhere, kids.

[applause] We want you to meet the Varsity Quiz Coach of the Year.

So she took the helm of Canyon Springs High School.

And since that happened, oh, man, her Varsity Quiz program, this was back in 2020, leading with vision, determination, and an unwavering belief in her students.

Under her leadership, Canyon Springs rose from competing in the Blue League to earning a spot in the highly competitive Silver League, a testament to the culture of preparation and confidence that she's built.

In fact, this year, that steady growth culminated in making the playoffs, a great milestone for the program.

Our coach elevated that team's competitive success and did so while fostering the spirit, teamwork, and academic excellence and the resilience that defines Canyon Springs Varsity Quiz.

Her dedication to her students and to the integrity of the competition makes her a truly deserving Coach of the Year.

Come on up, Danette McFarland!

[cheers and applause] Congratulations.

-I'm shocked.

-You shouldn't be.

You put in the work.

Ladies and gentlemen, here's our Coach of the Year!

[applause] Congratulations.

-Thank you.

-Round 4 coming up.

Okay.

So the score going into our final round: Team Naylor has 130 points to Team Siegel's 115.

It is time for us to introduce to you the newest inductee into the Varsity Quiz Hall of Fame.

2026 Inductee Brian Siegel.

In fact, that's one of the names of our all-star teams.

Brian worked here at Vegas PBS, a producer, until his retirement in October of 2025.

As part of the Vegas PBS team, he made us look great and always worked positively on every broadcast.

We want to thank Brian for the many years of service that he contributed to the television success of Varsity Quiz.

As the Hall of Fame VQ Inductee for 2026, congratulations, Brian Siegel.

Thank you.

[applause] All right.

Let's meet our players for Round 4, starting with Team Naylor and Maryiam.

-Hi.

I'm still Maryiam.

I'm still a senior, and I'm still at Coronado.

-Awesome.

-Hi.

I'm Devon.

I'm a junior at Liberty.

-Hi.

I'm Aedan, and I'm a junior at Moapa.

-Hi.

I'm Lucas.

I'm a junior at West Tech.

-Thanks, Team Naylor.

And Team Siegel?

-Hello.

I am Jackson, and I am a senior at Arbor View High School.

-Hi.

I'm Bradach.

I'm a senior at Moapa Valley.

-Once again, I am Rowan.

I'm a senior at Canyon Springs High School.

-And I'm Daniel, and I'm a senior at Palo.

-All right.

Let's get this party started.

Who directed the 1993 movie Jurassic Park?

Team Siegel, Jackson: Spielberg -Hope you saw that one.

-Yeah.

-You don't have to ask your grandparents about that one?

You guys saw Jurassic Park?

Okay.

Next question.

What currency is used in Japan?

Team Naylor, Lucas: Yen -Yes.

Who wrote the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451?

Team Naylor, Aedan: Ray Bradbury -Yeah.

I hope you've read that one.

Yeah, that's an awesome book.

Next question.

What K-pop group released the 2023 song "Super Shy"?

Team Naylor, Devon: NewJeans -Yeah.

What organ in the human body produces insulin?

Team Naylor, Maryiam: the pancreas -That is right.

So we get a couple of real questions in here once in a while, but here-- Oh, this is a good one.

What Shakespeare play features the characters Viola and Malvolio?

Team Naylor, Maryiam: Twelfth Night -Yes.

Hope you get up on your Shakespeare.

So this local hotel-casino closed its doors after 25 years in 2020.

It is now planned to reopen in a different location in 2027 shaped as a massive guitar.

Team Siegel, Rowan: Hard Rock Hotel -Yes.

Next question.

Name one of the two Nevada United States Senators.

Team Naylor, Maryiam: Catherine Cortez Masto -Yep.

The other one, Jacky Rosen.

Next question.

What 2023 fantasy RPG by Larian Studios won Game of the Year at The Game Awards?

Team Siegel, Rowan: Baldur's Gate 3 -So you do play that one?

Okay.

You got it.

That's right.

Okay.

Next question.

Name this HBO medical drama whose cast includes a real-life nurse, a ballerina, and a former ER star.

Team Siegel, Rowan: The Pitt -Okay.

There you go.

That's the culture coming through.

This sport, invented in 16th century Scotland, uses a 42-pound stone and a different type of shoe on each foot.

Team Siegel, Rowan: curling -Well, you should own that.

With a record 16 Oscar nominations, this 2025 movie has already won many other awards, including 4 Critics' Choice Awards, 2 Golden Globes, 14 Black Reel Awards.

Team Siegel, Rowan: Sinners -Yes.

Have you seen it?

-I got my parents to watch it.

It was so great.

Everybody, go watch Sinners.

-Yeah.

Have you seen Sinners?

Check it out.

It's crazy.

Next question.

What 24-hour cable channel premiered in 1981 playing short films set to the top music hits of the day?

Team Naylor, Devon: MTV -Yep.

And they just stopped playing music videos, didn't they?

-What is up with that?

-Yeah.

I don't get it.

Come on, MTV.

What was William Shakespeare's son named?

Team Naylor, Maryiam: Hamnets -Yes.

And I haven't seen that movie.

That's supposed to be a great movie.

Next question.

Who is the creator of the famous sculptures The Thinker and The Kiss?

Team Siegel, Rowan: Michelangelo -Nope.

Team Naylor, Maryiam: Auguste Rodin -That's right.

The Thinker, that guy.

Next question.

What shipping company's logo features a hidden arrow?

Team Siegel, Rowan: FedEx -Yeah.

No, that's all right.

Before we announce the winning team, it is time to meet the announcement of who's winning the Howard Naylor Scholarship for 2026.

So after consideration by the judges of the senior in the Varsity Quiz program, well, they've made a decision.

We've got Howard Naylor, who the scholarship is named after; Phil Colosimo from the Kiwanis Club.

Gentlemen, do we have our scholarship winner?

May I have the envelope, please?

So the winner of the Howard Naylor Scholarship for the Varsity Quiz 2026 season is Maryiam Syed.

Come on over here, Maryiam!

Congratulations.

-Thank you.

-On behalf of Howard and Phil and the Kiwanis Club and Varsity Quiz, you are the winner.

I think what's the amount, Howard?

-2,000.

-$2,000 scholarship.

-Don't spend it all in one place.

[applause] -So, Maryiam, real quickly, do you know where you're going to be going to school?

-I am committed to the University of Nevada Las Vegas Honors College.

I plan on majoring in Biology and minoring in Public Health, hoping to pursue a career in dermatology.

Specifically, oncologic dermatology, cancers, essentially.

-Maryiam Syed, you're Howard Naylor Scholarship winner.

Congratulations.

Hope you were keeping score at home.

Let's see if you match what we got.

For the final score: Team Naylor wins with 175 points to Team Siegel's 150.

But how about a round of applause for both teams.

[cheers and applause] We are done with this part of the 57th season of Varsity Quiz, but we're not done.

The season is going to continue next week with middle and junior high school students competing in Junior Varsity Quiz.

You don't want to miss that.

Thanks for watching Varsity Quiz on Vegas PBS.