The Scholar: A Preview

This summer a new reality series hits the campus of the University of Southern California. No it’s not The Real World #87: Summer School or Fear Factor: College Babes. The show is called The Scholar, and it will showcase a competition between high school graduates hoping to land a full, four year scholarship to the college of their choice (an estimated value of up to $240,000).

ABC’s website describes the show as a “one-hour unscripted series” in which “ten qualified high school seniors from economically disadvantaged background… will compete for a full scholarship.” More details will be provided on each of the contestants later this week when I will break down each student’s profile and discuss their chances to win it all.

Contestants on the show range from a country girl from Buhl, Idaho, to a tri-lingual Russian immigrant from the Bronx. These students will compete in a series of events that will highlight their skills in academics, leadership, and community service. No word yet on how the competitions will be presented to the viewing public, but I would be morbidly interested in seeing a Standardized Test-Off in which they only receive one dull number two pencil to work with.

Students must also be prepared for “sudden-death oral exams” given by a Scholarship Committee composed of three Ivy-League professionals – Marquesa Lawrence, a Student Affairs Officer at UC Berkeley, and Peter Johnson and Shawn Abbott, both described as Senior Associate Director of Admissions at two unnamed Ivy League colleges (read, “we’re not disclosing the names of our universities in case this show is a bomb”).

The show will be hosted by Rob Nelson of the short-lived syndicated daytime talk show, The Rob Nelson Show. He also hosted a court-oriented reality show on PAX last fall called Second Verdict. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rob founded the political action group "Lead or Leave" in 1996 with his friend Jon Cowan. An interesting side note – the first (and in some areas, last) episode of his talk show dealt with the issue of reality television and the fleeting fame that accompanies it. On a related note, host Rob Nelson should not be confused with contestant Rob Nelson, who was the fifth player eliminated from The Mole II.

The Scholar is the first foray into reality television by executive producers Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner, who have made their mark on television with such sitcom hits as The Cosby Show, Roseanne, and That ‘70s Show. Carsey-Werner join the production teams of Martin/Stein and long time reality stalwart Bunim-Murray Productions for the show. The show will air on Mondays at 8:00/7:00 Central, starting June 6th.

Wesley is a writer from Tulsa, OK. He can be reached with questions, comments, or snide remarks at Musnud@gmail.com .

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