Summer TV: World Series of Pop Culture

Brought to you by the producers of another summertime hit (albeit one of a few years ago), VH1's World Series of Pop Culture is a gameshow based on Entertainment Weekly's Pop Culture Quiz, and it's brought to you by the zany folks behind Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Sixteen three-person teams compete in tournament-style gameplay, answering questions in categories covering everything from The Brady Bunch to Buncha Crunch. The show is the first to have an online entrance exam rather than an audition--one of the teams is made up of pop culture gurus who took an internet test and scored well, but didn't even meet until competition began.

VH1's got one up on MTV--ok, they don't play music videos either, but the commercials are fewer, the shows are funnier, and the conciousness is less teenybopper than that of the channel that brought you such fine fare as "My Super Sweet 16". VH1, which used to be a haven for easy-listening pop of the Sunny 99.1 variety, has repositioned itself as a pop culture arbiter, and they're a lot of fun.

The World Series of Pop Culture is airing often on VH1, including repeats of former episodes. Check your local listings.