And some of the teams were just too captivating to turn away.

While the other pre-teens were sent home, 8-year-old John Mark, caught the staff’s fancy. He’d come with his 65-year-old grandfather and 33-year-old dad, a Dallas heart surgeon. The staff went into a huddle. How could they send home such a darn cute kid – and his earnest grandpa … and easy-going doctor dad. Could an exception be made?

CLICK on the next slide to see what they decided.