College Bowl
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fun college-themed quiz show promotes its sponsor.
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College Bowl
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What's the Story?
Hosted by former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and his older football-playing brother and sidekick Cooper, COLLEGE BOWL (aka Capital One College Bowl) is a modern adaptation of the classic 1953 quiz show. The revival of the original series hosts a total of 12 rival college teams, each consisting of three students. It begins with two teams facing off to answer a series of questions designed to test them on a wide variety of academic subjects. The group that succeeds in earning the most points moves to the next round of the tournament. The college team that makes it to the end wins $1 million in scholarship money, a giant trophy, and endless bragging rights.
Is It Any Good?
The entertaining game show features a diverse group of college students showing off their academic skills and representing their well-known universities. Host and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning is an awkward and serious straight man as he asks the question; meanwhile, his brother Cooper delivers humorous (but clearly preplanned) one-liners throughout. Thanks to the TV show's history being rooted in football, and the backgrounds of the hosts, there's lots of sports-related comments too. Adding to the fun are prerecorded appearances by some of the featured universities' famous alums, cheering their team on. Overall, College Bowl is a competition that's easy to get caught up in, even if you don't like school.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the universities represented on the show. What makes them each unique? What is the history of the rivalries between them?
Did you know that the original College Bowl first aired as a radio show in 1953, and then ran on television from 1959 to 1973? How was the original adapted to make it work for television? What made it so popular? Is this version of the quiz show just as entertaining?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 22, 2021
- Cast: Peyton Manning , Cooper Manning
- Network: NBC
- Genre: Game Shows
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , History , Science and Nature
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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