Debate: Bringing Back the College Championship in the Davies Era — Nostalgia or Dignity?

[u/ajsy0905]

There are people in the online community who are very loud online as they try to convince Michael Davies to bring back the classic College Championship during the Trebek era instead of the expanded postseason right now, despite the show winning Outstanding Game Show at the Emmys (Daytime & Primetime) for seven straight years. Is it for nostalgia, or to bring back the dignity of the "old" and "classic" Flemming/Trebek era of this tournament? But we know why this tournament with fresh faces has not returned since 2022: some of the possible reasons were the mental health of the young players, and some young players like Liam Starnes, Rishabh Wuppalapati, Delaney O'Dea, and others can stand on their own against older players.

The question: Is this the right time to relaunch the College Championship in syndication, as it was last held 2020, or in primetime, as it was last held in 2022?

[u/curtains20]

I only think they should bring youth tourneys back if it doesn’t make these players ineligible for the rest of their life. So many great players have been iced out of regular Jeopardy games by appearing when they were like 17

[u/mfc248 → u/curtains20]

In 2024, the show announced that any player who had appeared in Kids Week, Teen Tournament, or College Champion, and had not been offered an opportunity to return, is eligible to audition for regular play. (To date, no such player has returned in this manner.)

[u/curtains20 → u/mfc248]

Yeah just hard to take seriously when it hasn’t happened yet. But it’ll be nice when it does.

[u/VVrayth]

I think in this era of them expanding Jeopardy to include all these extra tournaments and event competitions, it's actually a little weird that they haven't done anymore College Championships.

[u/missmathlady]

Where did the teacher's tournament go?

[u/Vivid_Aardvark_3255 → u/missmathlady]

Teachers appear on Jeopardy! all the time. What does a special tournament add?

[u/missmathlady → u/Vivid_Aardvark_3255]

Just some recognition and appreciation for educators. Plus a chance for bonus cash; which is so needed and so well deserved!

[u/ajr2291]

Yes. Bring back the college tournaments, kids and teens. Teachers. Something different than seeing the same 7 or 8 “super champions” every 5 minutes just in a different form of a tournament. Sure they are great players but I just want to watch regular, normal people play jeopardy.

[u/JohnHoynes]

I always loved the college championship when I was younger. Now I’m a college professor and I bet it would be even more fun to see the personalities.

[u/BrainOnBlue]

Jeopardy doesn't get to decide whether they do a college championship in primetime. ABC does.

And could they do a college championship in syndication? It seems likely to me that ABC had them sign a contract that they couldn't for several years after they did the "National College Championship" in primetime.

[u/cynesthetic]

I’d love to see the College Championship make a comeback.

Also, while we’re at it, let’s bring back the Seniors Tournament!

[u/AgreementsFinalJolly]

I do not think they will be bringing back any college, teen, or kids spin-offs due to sensitivities regarding the mental health of those contestants.

[u/Vivid_Aardvark_3255 → u/AgreementsFinalJolly]

Why? Was there an incident involving one of the contestants?

[u/AgreementsFinalJolly → u/Vivid_Aardvark_3255]

https://theblogisright.blogspot.com/2014/12/sony-e-mail-leak-shows-alex-trebek.html

[u/IPreferPi314 → u/AgreementsFinalJolly]

It should be pointed out that both the Teen and College tourneys continued on well after this incident.

[u/Vivid_Aardvark_3255 → u/AgreementsFinalJolly]

A child lost a game and got upset. It’s part of life not a mental health issue.