It appears that "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" premiered just a few weeks after I started school. I don't know whether I saw it right when it was first on or not (my memory of that point in my life is obviously vague), but if not, I must have first seen it shortly afterwards. I remember watching the show regularly for a while, and it has left me with many memories. I also remember two albums very fondly, which were "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" and "Carmen Sandiego: Out of This World", featuring songs from Rockapella and various other artists!
Hosted by Greg Lee, each episode of this 1990s kids' game show began with three young contestants, who played a game where they were detectives hired by The Acme Crime Detective Agency. After receiving information from The Chief on a criminal, who was always one of Carmen Sandiego's henchmen and had just stolen a major landmark, the three contestants started the first round of the game, where they were given clues to the whereabouts of the criminal, and would have to try to give the right answers. At the end of this round, the contestant with the lowest score would be eliminated, and the other two would move on to the second round. Here, they would play a game on a large board on the wall where they would attempt to find the criminal. Finally, after that round, only one contestant would remain in the game. In the third and final round, this contestant would play a game on a large map and attempt to capture Carmen Sandiego!
For its viewers, "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" could entertain with its humour, suspense, etc., and educate with its geography lessons! The a cappella band, Rockapella also added some good vocal music to the show, including the closing theme, which was an excellent song! It's sad to know that Lynne Thigpen, who played The Chief, passed away in 2003, before her time. R.I.P. This show ran for five years, and it has now been a while since its cancellation, but for those who were kids in the 1990s and had the pleasure of watching it, the memories are likely permanent (I know they are for me)! I'm sure that those who were contestants on the show will never forget that experience, either!
