Are you smarter than this Lafayette fifth-grader?

Alyssa Urish, Daily Camera

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Nine-year-old Nathan Lazarus, a student at Alexander Dawson School in Lafayette, thinks he's pretty smart.

So does Fox Broadcasting, which says Nathan, along with four other students, will make up the "new class of stellar students" on the second season of the game show "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" The season premieres at 7 tonight on Fox31.

The game show highlights how much adults have forgotten since elementary school. Contestants can elicit the help of one of the five fifth-graders in choosing answers.

"I really liked the show last year, so it just feels awesome to be on it," Nathan said. "I can't wait until the premiere."

He said his enthusiasm for the hit game show helped him land a spot. But brains are a must as well, he said.

"I mean, you've got to be smart," Nathan said. "All five of us are smart and really nice people."

He said he's pretty confident he can outsmart the adult contestants, though a few adults seem to know just about everything.

"Some of them are so smart and they know all the answers, and that's just crazy," Nathan said. "But some of them need a little help, and that's fun helping them. Some of them forget what they learned 20, 30 or 40 years ago, so I don't blame them."

Nathan, whose favorite subjects are math and physical education, wants to be an inventor when he grows up.

"I want to help the environment and just people in their everyday lives, like people in poverty," he said.

When he's not studying for school, Nathan plays soccer, baseball and tennis. He also loves watching his favorite team, the New York Yankees.

Nathan credits his parents as well as the Rocky Mountain School, where he went to first through fourth grades, for helping him earn a spot on the show.

"Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" is hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and will spotlight celebrity contestants this season including TV personality Regis Philbin, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk and "American Idol" finalist Clay Aiken.