America Says Season 1 Episode 21 Meditators vs. camp counselors
- July 16, 2018
America Says is a game show where two teams compete against each other to answer different questions. The catch is, the answers must come in the form of fill-in-the-blank phrases that are based on surveys taken across the United States. Season 1 episode 21 pits the Meditators against the Camp Counselors in a battle of wits as they attempt to guess the correct replies based on survey data.
The Meditators are the first team to be introduced. This group of calm, collected individuals include Maryanne, a yoga instructor; Tim, a Reiki practitioner; Tracy, a meditation trainer; and Carlos, a mindfulness coach. They describe themselves as 'the most chill team on the planet', and each seems confident about their ability to find the right answers based on their knowledge of relaxation techniques and self-awareness.
Their opponents are the Camp Counselors, a group of high-energy individuals who spend their summers working at a children's camp. This team brings enthusiasm and a competitive spirit to the show, including Ella, who is also a physical education teacher; Jose, who considers himself an outdoor activity enthusiast; and Karen, a child psychologist. They seem to have a more boisterous approach to the game, fuelled by their love of the outdoors and working with kids.
Hosted by John Michael Higgins, the show begins with the two teams facing off to guess the top responses from a survey question. As the clock begins to tick down, the participants must scramble to answer the question in the form of a fill-in-the-blank phrase. The team that is the first to guess the top answer wins the points, with the first team to reach 300 points advancing to the Bonus Round.
Throughout the episode, the teams are asked to guess the top answers for a range of questions, from 'people who make you laugh the most' to 'ways to show gratitude'. Both teams seem to have a good grasp of the most popular responses, but there are several times when their guesses fall short.
One particularly challenging question was '___ on the rocks', where the contestants had to fill in the blank to complete the phrase that had been surveyed. The Meditators were the first to buzz in, but their answer of 'ice' turned out to be the fourth most popular response. The Camp Counselors were then given a chance to steal the points, but their answer of 'whiskey' only ranked fifth. The top three responses were 'scotch', 'gin', and 'vodka', none of which were guessed by either team.
Another interesting round was 'people who give the best advice', where the Meditators were able to steal some points by guessing 'grandparents'. This was an unexpected but solid response, and it was interesting to hear how the audience had perceived the different sources of advice in their lives.
As the game progresses, both teams are able to accumulate points and inch closer to the 300-point goal. The Meditators seemed to initially take a lead, with some of their more abstract guesses like 'sunrises' and 'orchid baths' leading them to victory on several occasions. The Camp Counselors, however, were able to make a comeback thanks to their more grounded and practical responses, such as 'a good night's sleep' and 'breathing exercises'.
What is refreshing about America Says is the way the show brings together different groups of people with unique perspectives and experiences. In this particular episode, the Meditators and the Camp Counselors represent two very different lifestyles, but both seem to have a lot of respect for each other's perspectives. They are able to joke around and engage in some light-hearted banter, even as they are competing against each other.
In the end, however, one team must come out as the winner, and this episode was no exception. Without giving away too much, it is safe to say that there were some unexpected twists and turns in the game, and both teams put up a good fight. As always, John Michael Higgins kept the energy high and the participants engaged, making for a fun and entertaining half-hour of television. Overall, this episode of America Says is a great example of the show's ability to bring together diverse groups of people and tap into the collective wisdom of the American public.