Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 11+
Fun college-themed quiz show promotes its sponsor.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that College Bowl is a reboot of a classic quiz show that features college students facing off for scholarship money. There's no language or content to be worried about here, but in keeping with the franchise's tradition, the show's sponsor (in this case, Capital One) is referred to in the title and promoted throughout the show. The universities from which the students hail are also briefly profiled.
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Products & Purchases
a lot
Capital One is a major sponsor. The logo is visible, the company consistently mentioned. Their commercials air in between show segments. Each university is briefly profiled, highlighting its academic reputation, athletic teams, some famous alums. Trivia questions sometimes refer to popular singers, actors, etc.
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Violence & Scariness
none
References to rivalries, but nothing violent.
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Positive Messages
some
It's a quiz show featuring students playing for money, but the questions and answers are largely academic in scope. It highlights the intelligence of the students, as well as their aspirations for the future.
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Positive Role Models
some
Participating students are from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Universities featured are from across the country.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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
Did we miss something on diversity?
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College Bowl
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