Mathnet

Mathnet which started as a segment of "Square One TV," was a fun & funny adaptation of a familiar police procedural (specifically the 50's cop show, "Dragnet") which employed quality performances and solid writing to teach math concepts. It insulted neither the child nor adult viewer. Many actors who served as regulars and guest stars would pop up giving quality performances in primetime TV and in movies. If I could find DVD's of this series I'd buy them in a heartbeat.

I watched this when I was a kid, and the fact that I'm writing a review for it now that I'm a grown woman is testimony to it's impact and success as a TV show and educational device.

The stories were captivating to a young audience, and cleverly promoted an interest in learning. It's role in the show Square One was brilliant as well, encouraging kids to keep up with every episode and learn even more. At the end of each program, it was like saving the best part for last.

"The stories are fake but the problems are real." I hope there is something equally engaging and educational when I have my own kids.

I came upon Square One TV when I was already out of college, and had a degree in video production. Mathnet was just the kind of show I would have loved to have worked on, with its great production values, great writing, and a fabulously talented cast who could deliver the lines deadpan.

I still remember two episodes in particular. In one, George was planning a vacation in Michigan on an island named Nomanissan, yes, that's Nomanissan Island (say it out loud if you need to). The other episode introduced me to the Fibonacci Sequence (begin with 1, then add it to the previous number (0), then continue to add the last 2 numbers together to get the next): 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13... It's amazing how many times that has come up in the last 30 years, and I only understood it because I watched Mathnet.

SUCH a good program! If they offered the whole series for download, I would buy it.

Lord I miss "Mathnet". I first saw it on PBS as part of "Square One TV". Probably the reason I got into computer science and cop shows. The show was (unlike some of the crap on afternoon TV today) genuinely funny, entertaining, and educational.

Of course I didn't get all the in-jokes until I was much older- the whole play on "Dragnet", the criminal brothers Karamazov, George and Martha, and the CAR-RT SORT company...

I only wish today's kids TV has something like "Mathnet". Alas...

In 6th grade in 1997, on Fridays we would watch Mathnet. It was always fun but plenty educational! As a student math was always the easiest when it was made fun, and that is exactly what this movie did for us. Quite frankly, the Mathnet series actually inspired my class to do our homework, because we weren't allowed to watch it unless the whole class did their homework. It was always a treat when we got to watch these movies. There aren't many good math movies (as I know now because I am studying mathematics)so it is amazing that Mathnet is so interesting. When the teacher who used them retired, he took the tapes with him and now Indiana is Mathnetless which it a pity!