Capital One College Bowl

The average pub quiz has tougher questions than this. Originally this was the US equivalent to the excellent University Challenge shown in the UK. This is absolutely awful not made better by the unbelievably annoying Cooper Manning.

Terrible.

I find this show to be intense, especially the two-minute drill, and I love watching the amazing students compete. The contestants are really smart, and the show provides a great opportunity for the college students to win money to help them with their college education. I really enjoy Cooper's silliness and Peyton's responses to his off-the-wall comments. Their bantering lightens the tension and stress the students must feel and helps to put everyone at ease. It is a fast moving and challenging show that is both entertaining and educational. I continue to be amazed at the knowledge the students possess on a variety of subjects. It's a great show.

Now he is on all the commercials, all the TV shows, and hijacked ESPN too. Big Head explains the college bowl by showing highlight films off the top of his gigantic forehead. It never ends.

Those who recall "G. E. College Bowl" many decades ago remember the earnestness of that show, as universities around the country sent their best student competitors to compete for scholarships and prestige. The students took it very seriously and the contests were fun to watch.

This incarnation features a mellower host, Payton Manning, and a sparse collection of schools. Manning's aw-shucks attitude eschews the urgency and gravity of the GE version, but he does okay. Perhaps, if the show does well, they can get more schools to compete next time. Then we might see the intensity of pride and prestige that such a competition can inspire.

For those who appreciate scholarship and knowledge-based competitions, this show does a good job of selecting diverse subjects that offer some challenge, but it could be so much more.

It seems that schools were chosen to participate based on the prestige of their football teams and not their academic standing. Consequently, many of the questions asked are insulting to the viewer. Peyton Manning is OK.

Cooper Manning doesn't add much. Oh, how I miss the original G. E. College Bowl.