Last weekend CBC’s long-running local high school quiz show Brain Game debuted a new look.  Capcom checked in with WRAL-TV Producer Kevin Shand to get the scoop on the new set:

A brand new set for WRAL-TV’s local high school quiz show “Brain Game” debuted on Saturday, January 9, 2016.

The new Brain Game Set premiered on-air January 9, 2016, at 11:00am. The original set served us for 19 years, having only received minor tweaks since Brain Game debuted in January, 1997. The redesign process started in April 2015 at the end of the Brain Game season. We pulled together the staff members who work on the program in Studio A and essentially let everyone play, “What if?”…”Can we?”…”Why don’t we?” Crew, directors, talent, everyone had input.

WRAL-TV Lead Designer/Print & Online Bill Burch assimilated what he was hearing from everyone during the Studio A meeting. In August, WRAL-TV Creative Director Shelly Leslie pulled all the design people together in Café 550 for the next step. WRAL-TV Director of Local Production Phyllis Parish set the timetable, logistics, and budget specifics. Bill Burch, WRAL-TV Lead Designer Steve Loyd and WRAL-TV Leader Designer – Animation Specialist Shan Zhong created an initial design.

A brand new set for WRAL-TV’s local high school quiz show “Brain Game” debuted on Saturday, January 9, 2016.

Phyllis and Bill worked with 3 different contractors for bids. The design went through a number of revisions and Whitaker Mill Works was hired to execute the final design. Their team came in for a Saturday taping session to see how our show is produced and see how the set is actually used.

Once the new set pieces were in house, WRAL-TV Engineering Manager Fred Kelly updated the electronics necessary to support the new look. The initial taping with the Brain Game set was on December 19, 2015.

As the program’s producer since its inception, after seeing the new look on our huge HD screens in Control Room 2, all I could say was “WOW”…and I said it several times .

Brain Game airs on WRAL-TV on Saturday mornings at 11am.  The 2015-16 regular season began Nov. 28 and runs through Feb. 13, 2016. The winners of all 12 games, along with six wild-card teams, will advance to the Brain Game playoffs.  Find out more and see the full schedule HERE.

Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish for these capcom photos & to WRAL-TV’s Kevin Shand for this capcom scoop.