Gerry Dee plays private school teacher Mr. Duncan on CBC’s freshman series Mr. D, so it’s fitting that the star – a former teacher in real life – will headline the search for intellectual beasts in the national broadcaster’s upcoming special.
Debuting March 18, Canada’s Smartest Person will feature four Canadians from diverse backgrounds as they’re challenged in various subjects, reads a CBC press release.
To recruit its participants, the producers borrowed from the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, which says intelligence is based on several different modalities – including logical-mathematical, spatial, linguistic, musical and interpersonal – rather than one general ability.
In 2011, Canadians nominated themselves or someone they know for participation on the show. Producers used interviews and tests to pluck out four participants with well-rounded intelligence profiles.
Vying for serious bragging rights are Hamilton Tiger Cats offensive linesman Peter Dyskowski, high school science teacher Dr. Marshall Carroll, 23-year-old student and gamer Laura Suen, and spoken-word poet Greg Frankson.
Special guests include Arlene Dickinson (Dragons’ Den) as well as comedians Naomi Sniekus, Matt Baram and Sean Cullen.
During the two-hour special, participants will engage in challenges that test six areas of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. The person with the most versatile smarts will earn the title of Canada's Smartest Person.
Viewers at home need not feel left out of the action, though. You can play along online in real time at cbc.ca/smartestperson or via an Apple iOS app created for the show, available in early March.
Canada’s Smartest Person will debut Sunday, March 18, at 8 p.m. ET. Mr. D airs Mondays, 8 p.m. ET, on CBC.
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