DefunctTV: The History of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

Defunctland | January 23, 2026

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In this episode of DefunctTV, Kevin explores the history of the Carmen Sandiego franchise, specifically the hit PBS game show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

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Tagged as abandoned, carmen sandiego game show, carmen sandiego history, carmen sandiego pbs, childrens nickelodeon pbs game show history, defunct, Defunctland, extinct, game show history, game show pbs, geography game shows, History, kevin perjurer, kids game shows, pbs, pbs childrens show, pbs geography game, pbs history, pbs kids go history, pbs kids history, previous, where in the world is carmen sandiego, where in time is carmen sandiego, where on earth is carmen sandiego.

Written by Defunctland

Comments

This post currently has 25 comments.

@stilelits

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

i don't think i ever realized when i was little how insulting it is to give the losing candidates an atlas…
@ScottNapolitan

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

Okay, I’m going to post this comment here instead of the episode I’m referring to because right now the only copy available with the comments enabled is on Nick C’s channel and he doesn’t allow spoilers. In The Amazing Boomerang Effect, Ashley Hibbett is the gumshoe at the end game, and after the buzzer goes of Greg double checks about whether or not she got that last one in time or not, yet it was only the seventh one, not the eighth and final one. (This was a S2 episode, they increased it to 8.) Anyway I guess I don’t fully understand why they couldn’t just credit her for it anyway, considering it didn’t impact whether or not she got the trip, otherwise I’d understand if it was the eighth and final one.
@mathewm6294

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

This show helped me with a geography test in 4th or 5th grade, and it was actually fun to watch. This show is the reason why I know the South American map so well
@spyrofrost9158

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

19:58 Yikes. I hope they kept him away from the kids.
@dmoody4047

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

This has made me question if my geography knowledge would be as good as it is without the Carmen Sandiego franchise
@sassyshawna

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

I loved this show as a kid. Don't make them like this anymore
@farkasmactavish

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

19:21 Cute Star Trek reference.
@CriminalXIntent

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

we need to bring this BACK! geography has changed in the past 30 years and Wanda Sykes would be a PERFECT Chief for the modern age!
@omaryak

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

“In our country, people don’t have maps and like such as” —Miss South Carolina 2007
@Valverde-j3z

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

How is the defunct store working if it like…. Defunct?
@thatradiogeek

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

"Continuous United States"
@GlenFlorey

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

Please make an American Gladiators defunctTV!
@DTVKR

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

Man this was one of my favorite computer games back in the day.
@risenfallacy3197

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

Wahhh, the nostalgia!

This show upset my parents once. The show would end with the announcer lady making funny news alerts. Problem was. I was at the age where tv was easily misleading. The lady stated there was something along the lines of an epidemic of kids finding snakes under their beds and my parents had a hard time putting my screaming butt to bed that night!
@LazarusStr

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

Super talented cast ❤❤❤ I am 44, and still remember this show 😊. I loved it and loved learning about it via your channel. Watching this brought back some memories ❤❤❤❤❤
@ThatsMissMarisoltoyou

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

25:53 look at Baby Jordon Peele flexing them vocal chops 😭
@brohugproductions2005

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

I didn’t know there was a game show of Carmen Sandiego. I only know the cartoon show from 1994
@Failanth

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

Here after this administration just murdered PBS.

When did we start to hate learning so much?
@contagiousid9717

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

Can't say I expected Joe Biden or Mayim Bialik to cameo. Millennials really be living the strangest timeline
@jasonsaenz8959

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

I had a bunch of games
@joschmo1007

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

PBS had the best kids' shows back then. They probably have good ones now, too, and they did when my kids were young, but the good old 3-2-1 Contact, Square 1, the original Reading Rainbow and, of course, Mr. Rogers . . . good times.
@MrSomebodyStrange

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

"1 in 4 americans couldn't find the Pacific Ocean on the map"

And I thought that the stereotypes were just an exaggeration
@Dusty_VH

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

I remember this in the 90’s on those grey Apple computers
@LeeWine-v1y

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

ITS SO CRAZY THAT THE ADULT ACTORS OF THE SHOW WERE SECRETLY HAVING ORGIES IN THEIR OFF TIME.
@V3xena

January 23, 2026 at 1:12 am

I loved this show growing up! How I passed my 5th grade world geography test! Now I teach Geography and Culinary History in schools.