(Source: abc.go.com)Episode Two of ABC's "The Scholar" aired last night. This time, the college-bound hopefuls had to drum up school spirit by enticing USC students to attend a men's volleyball match. The team that whipped the crowd into the biggest frenzy would win.



What that has to do with college admissions is anyone's guess. In fact, the episode's winner was the home-schooled kid who had never attended a pep rally or waved a pom-pom. He did, though, demonstrate his zeal by painting his face and arms red. That show of support earned him a spot in the $50,000 face-off; the subject du jour was biology, again with easy questions (e.g., The heart has how many chambers?).

I still don't get it. If these students are so bright, why can't they figure out that scholarships, grants and loans will enable them to go to college? Why do they make it seem like this competition is the key to their dreams? They must be following the script to heighten the drama. But I don't buy it, and it's certainly misleading the uninformed public. At least USC is getting a good deal of exposure, as is Wal-Mart.

How many more weeks of this?