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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman | 1/5 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetch!_with_Ruff_Ruffman | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T07:45:34.319880+00:00 | kb-cron |
Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman (sometimes shortened as Fetch!) is an American live-action/animated television series that aired on PBS Kids Go! and is largely targeted toward children ages 6–10. It is a reality competition hosted by Ruff Ruffman, an animated anthropomorphic dog who dispenses challenges to the show's real-life contestants. The series aired from May 29, 2006, to November 4, 2010, on PBS across five seasons and 100 episodes, and featured 30 contestants. Although a sixth season was planned, with auditions taking place in January 2010, WGBH announced on June 14, 2010, that the series would end due to lack of funding. In June 2008, the series received its first Emmy for Best Original Song for its theme.
== Premise ==
Fetch! is a reality-based game show where young contestants (ages 10–14) face various challenges to gain points. During these challenges, they must complete various tasks assigned to them ahead of time and on the fly by Ruff and surrogates, depending on the situation. There is also an educational component, as contestants often must learn something, such as astronomy, puzzles, carpentry, engineering, food science, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, to complete the task. Unlike most reality competition shows, there were no eliminations except for the season finale, and the standings for the show were determined by a points system that awarded points based on challenge performance in each episode. In the season finale, a final points tally was tabulated and a series of elimination challenges in the studio occurred to determine the winner for the season. Not all contestants leave the studio each episode to complete tasks. According to Ruff, "As determined by the Fetch 3000", the contestants in the studio participate in the "Half-Time Quiz Show", in which he asks them up to ten questions, with limited time based on the activities of the contestants out on challenges. While participating in challenges, contestants will have the potential to earn up to 100 points. The contestants in the studio can earn a maximum of 50 points in the "Half-Time Quiz Show". The show has a Fetch Fairness Guarantee; that every contestant will "compete for the same number of points" across thirteen challenges and six "Half-time Quiz Shows" before the final episode. Additionally, Ruff assigns "Bone-us" points, usually 5 or 10, but sometimes 15 or 20, to stand-out contestants. On rare occasions, there is the possibility to earn more than 100 points outside of bonuses. The record for most points earned in one episode was 125, by Brian, Noah, and Khalil in episode 5, season 1, "Ye Olde Colonial Episode". In Season 4, contestants can have 1/2 points, such as 5151⁄2 points. At the end of the season, the final points tally is tabulated and a series of elimination challenges occur in the studio to determine the winner of the season. The winner won the "Grand Prize" (which varied in each season) and got a poster on the Fetch Wall of Fame. Prizes are not always desirable, and sometimes the prize holder winds up with a "booby prize"; for example, in "Good Dancing and Bad Breath", Anna and Brian had to dance a waltz in the studio. During the first season, the contestant had the choice of either keeping the prize or giving it to a fellow contestant. During the remaining four seasons, there are two unknown prizes which the winner chooses between. The chosen prize may be "mailed" to the mailbox in Studio G, although occasionally large prizes are hidden elsewhere on the set. In season 2, episode 7, "I'm OK, You're Okra", Rosario gave his prize to Nina. In season 4, episode 15, "Ruff Needs His Herring Checked", Sterling returned his prize to the mailbox.
=== Cultural references and guest stars ===