New contest show lets teen-agers flex their mind and muscle

“All brains and no brawn” can elicit the same yawn as “All brawn and no brains,” but a combination of the two is a mighty attractive package at any age.

Brains and Brawn is a new NBC kids show replacing “NBA Inside Stuff,” as that show goes on hiatus during the off-season.

“Brains and Brawn” pits groups of teens against one another in fast-paced rounds of academic and physical challenges. Participants compete for points with celebrity teammates in rounds of questions, video games and, finally, athletic competitions.

“You have to be a Jack-of-all-trades to do well, says creator Gary Considine, senior vice president of NBC production and executive in charge of production. “We have questions on academic issues and pop culture, and then there are physical activities on an individual and team basis.

Considine notes that kids will like the half-hour show because, “I think that it very closely mirrors what they go through on a daily basis. It reflects what dominates most of their time.”

Teen idol Mark-Paul Gosselaar of “Saved by the Bell” and the upcoming “Saved by the Bell: The College Years” is the show’s host and creative consultant.

“Brains and Brawn” premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. on KNSD and at 11:30 a.m. on KNBC. For ages 8 and up.

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