The Scholar: Episode 2
S-P-I-R-I-T! What’s that spell?
Recap By Matt Eickhoff
June 14, 2005
After last week’s premiere episode, unfortunately its not looking like “The Scholar” is going to break out as one of reality TV’s summer hit shows. The ratings weren’t spectacular, but from the few emails I have received, viewers are enjoying it. But I really enjoy this show and think that more people should tune in. So if you’re reading this as a fan, spread the word! And if you’re reading this recap because you missed it, keep reading!… then tune in next Monday!
As a quick recap, the standouts of last weeks episode were Jeremy, Davis and Melissa who all made their way to the Admissions Showdown. During the questions about 19th and 20th century literature, Jeremy was eliminated first, and then over-confident (or just plain cocky) Davis missed a question about Gone With The Wind (a book that he had joked about earlier). That mistake cost him the showdown, and awarded Melissa the first of five $50,000 scholarships. With the win, it also marks her place in the Final Five to compete for the $250,000.
As episode 2 opens, we find Melissa and Milana talking in their room. They are discussing about how happy they are that they found each other through this show. Milana states that they will be friends forever no matter what the outcome of the show is. Melissa says that no matter how competitive the show gets, they will not let it get in the way of their friendship. Blah blah blah… yada yada yada… friendship schmeindship.
Next up, in interview, Scot breaks down the pairings for us. Melissa and Milana, Davis and Liz, Alyssa and Max… they have all started to hang out together. Scot says he’s “more of a loaner”. He says he’s too focused on the competition.
In conversation, the topic of family earning’s comes up. Scot is flabbergasted to hear that Davis’s family makes around $140,000 a year. I think the viewers are probably just as flabbergasted! I thought these were kids that needed the money for college but didn’t have it! Davis explains that even though his parents make that much, they can’t afford $40,000 a year on college because they still have to pay for all their cars and pay to send his younger brother to private school. OK Davis, that’s enough. You’re just digging yourself into a bigger hole.
This really frustrates Scot, who says his parents don’t even make more in a year than what he can win in the showdown (the $50,000 scholarship). He takes a poll of the other contestants to see if any of the others make less than $50,000 a year. None of them say yes, or want to divulge that information, except for Max, who says that his dad earn’s less that $50,000. Jeremy also speaks up and says that his parents have worked hard all their life to get out of lower-class and into middle-class, and now that they make that much, he gets punished by the government for it, and they won’t give him as much scholarship money. That is very true, as I know a lot of college students these days fall into this same predicament.
Next we see a bio video of Scot back in his hometown of New Freedom, Pennsylvania. Scot’s mom says that he has always been a very independent person, and has never wanted help with anything… he’s always wanted to figure it out himself. She says that is the main reason why they chose to home-school him. He taught himself algebra, and just kept studying and studying to learn as much as he could. They also show him doing Tae Kwan Do, which Scot has done for many years growing up. Scot says that he’s grown up with the mentality that if there is something you want, find a way for yourself to get it without having to rely on others. He says now he’s trying to find a way for himself to go to college.
Back at USC we see the contestants enter the library for this week’s Captain’s Quiz. Host Rob welcomes the students and explains that the top two students in the Captain’s Quiz will get to choose the teams for the next Team Challenge. Rob tells the students that the topic for this quiz is Art History. Rob will show them the name of 10 famous paintings, and then the names of 10 famous artists. The students must match the artist to the painting as quickly as possible.
At first this may seem difficult, but actually some of the answers are quite easy, and probably common knowledge (i.e. “Starry Night” by Van Gogh, or “The Last Supper” by Michelangelo). While they take the test we see many interview clips from the contestants. Gerald says he’s not good at timed tests so he’s pretty much decided he’ll never be a captain. Scot says he’s studied a lot of art history while he was home-schooled. Liz says that she’s never had an art history class, but her parents really love art, so she’s hoping some of it has rubbed off on to her.
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