(photo courtesy HollywoodNorthReport.com)
This red-clad, auburn hair thief, famous for her red fedora and stealing everything from the Statue of Liberty to the Declaration of Independence, gained a following among future Buffs while they were in elementary school.
In order to crack this case, this reporter tracked down where Sandiego went: from T.V. shows to computer games.
Many CU students were introduced to Carmen Sandiego through playing one of Broderbund Software’s computer games.
One of the most popular titles was, “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” where players looked for the thief and her V.I.L.E. crew all over the world, ranging from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Japan.
Justin Gurss, a 23-year-old senior political science major, said the game brings back fond memories.
“[The game] was a good learning experience,” Gurss said. “My dad played it with me. I learned so many things including where the Great Wall of China was located.”
Mayumi Chang, a 23-year-old senior Japanese and sociology major, said it’s all about the thrill of the chase.
“I remember liking it because it was a fun way to learn geography and it was fun hunting her down,” Chang said.
In 1991, “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” premiered on PBS. Each episode focused on three contestants (gumshoes) with diverse backgrounds trying to recapture loot stolen from one of Carmen’s numerous agents. They include Robocrook, Patty Larceny, Double Trouble and Eartha Brute.
Using clues from various sketches involving host Greg Lee, The Chief (played by the late Lynne Thigpin) and a capella group Rockapella, the gumshoes would locate and capture the henchmen before heading to a giant map where the contestant would try to catch Carmen Sandiego by picking out eight locations. If they were successful, they would win a trip anywhere in the 48 continental United States.
Katherine Thomas, a 22-year-old senior chemical and biological engineering major, said watching the show was a family affair.
“I would always watch the show with my siblings,” Thomas said. “So I was stuck with it.”
After five years of being chased all over the world by kids, Carmen decided to up her ante by heading to the time-stream.
When “Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?” showed up in October 1996, it premiered with radical changes. One of the main changes viewers noticed dealt with both history and geography.
Despite the main change, the format stayed relatively the same…Time Pilots (contestants) now chased after a live-action Carmen and her new, creepier henchmen including the witchy Mediva, aristocratic Baron Wasteland and mad cyborg Dr. Belljar to reclaim historical artifacts and win a new computer system.
However, without Lee’s hosting and Rockapella’s smooth sounds, the show only lasted two seasons and was the last time Carmen Sandiego would grace America’s television screens.
While “Carmen Sandiego” remains on some computer screens, Thomas said she hopes someone decides to revive this geography-based T.V. show.
“They should reboot Carmen Sandiego,” she said. “It will get kids interested in geography again.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jacob Elyachar at Jacob.elyachar@Colorado.edu.
