Today, two high school teams compete for the Academic Championship of our viewing area.

This is Tennessee Scholar's Bowl game.

Thank you for watching Tennessee Scholar's Bowl.

I'm Frank Murphy.

This is the high school academic tournament in its 42nd season.

And today we are in the round of the educated eight.

The winner of today's game will advance to our semifinals.

Or as we call them, the philosophical four.

Will it be J. Frank White Academy Knights or will it be the Yellowjackets of Roane County High School in Kingston?

We'll say hi first to senior Trinity Boger.

Hey, Trinity, tell us about yourself.

Hi.

As you know, I really like dentistry and my favorite restaurant here in Knoxville is North of Mediterranean Grill.

Okay.

What do you order there?

I've only been there once, and it was a long time ago, but I'm excited to go there again today.

So.

Okay, so that's the plan is after the show, you go in there.

That sounds like fun.

11th grader Eva Grumbly returns.

Hey, Eva tell us about you.

Yeah.

So as you probably know, I really like dentistry.

You didn't just pick a random discipline out of a hat?

No.

Decide that's the one we're going to mess with Frank and say we all like.

We all like dentistry.

You really do.

And my favorite restaurant Naf Naf Mediterranean.

Do they teach about the sultans when you go there?

Yes they do.

As we learned in the last episode.

Lovely.

Team captain is your brother, Eren Grumbly.

And Eren, you're going to answer bonuses or defer by name to a teammate.

Tell us about you.

Well, as you probably know, I was, like, probably enamored or even enameled with dentistry.

Okay, hang on a second.

I got to get, I got to give a gold star to the enameled joke.

And my favorite Mediterranean eatery is Naf Naf Mediterranean Grill.

There's more than that one, you know?

Knoxville has more than one.

You should.

You're missing out.

I'm just saying you should try all of them.

Let's say hi to Jonathan Edwards, who's a 10th grader.

What about yourself?

You could probably take a guess.

I also like dentistry.

You should have given me a chance to guess.

I would have guessed dentistry.

You're right, I probably should.

We'll do a, guess the next one.

Oh, I'm guessing that you've got a favorite Mediterranean restaurant, but I think you're going to zig when they zag.

I think you're going to go with your Yasin's Falafel House.

Nope, it's Naf Naf.

I I missed it by that much.

All right, let's say hi to the alternate and coach for J. Frank white.

We've got Jacob Wilson and coach Anthony Hensley, who teaches biology and math to the Knights of J. Frank White.

Taking on the Yellowjackets of Roane County High School in Kingston.

And we begin with sophomore John Davis.

Welcome back.

John, tell us about yourself.

Well, I really like barbecue.

I heard you were a certified barbecue judge out in Kansas City.

You mind telling me a good local spot?

Well, I am a fan of M&M Catering, which is a little hole in the wall at Middlebrook Pike.

But, I'd love to go to a Kansas City Barbecue Society Sanctioned Event.

Which is where you would judge the barbecue.

And I can describe in great length how to judge the perfect rib, but we don't have time for that right now.

Let's say hi to Emerson Walsham, who's a senior.

Hey, Emerson, tell us about yourself.

I play tennis.

Oh, really?

And do a double, singles?

Both.

For the school team or just for leisure?

The school team.

Oh, good.

I hope you do well with that.

Let's say hi to Lucas Hines, who is a senior.

Tell us about yourself, Lucas.

Your team captains.

You're going to ask for bonuses or defer.

What else?

Well, I recently got a 36 on my ACT.

The last one I took, Which is the highest.

Yes.

Okay.

All right.

That's excellent.

Well, congratulations on that.

Anything else going on with you as you get ready for higher education?

I'm actually a finalist for the college match scholarship through that.

Wow.

And then say hi to Maddox Scarborough, who is also a senior.

Tell us about yourself, Maddox.

Well, I play trumpet in the band and I am the first sergeant.

Oh, okay.

Does the first sergeant have to play trumpet?

Is it like the, concertmaster of a symphony?

No, no, it's the like that leadership position.

Good, good.

And what was your winning campaign slogan to be like the sergeant?

Vote me, please.

All right, let's say hi to the alternates and coach for Roane County.

We've got Zander Dick, Hannah Garland, Thomas Osborne, and Marley Watkins, and Yumi Testa, and coach Ellen Warman, who teaches Spanish and senior transition to Roane County.

All right, everybody.

You had to win your way multiple times to get here.

You know how it works.

Tossups worth 10, bonuses worth 20.

Get your fingers on the buzzer for this educated eight round game of Tennessee Scholar's Bowl 2026.

Tossup for all players in foreign language.

What is the Spanish word for “church”?

Eren.

Escuela.

Not it, chance to steal, Roane County.

That's “iglesia.” Tossup now in economics.

Which company currently makes Jolly Ranchers, Good and Funny- Erin.

Hershey.

-And Kit-Kat?

Economics is your bonus.

Which Fashion doll was launched at the New York Toy Fair on March 9th, 1959?

Barbie.

And what company manufactures Barbie?

Mattel.

That's right for 20.

Tossup in astronomy.

Which planet in our solar system is known for its great dark spot?

Eren.

Saturn.

No, chance to steal, Roane.

John.

Jupiter.

That's Neptune.

No points there.

Tossup in algebra.

What is the equation for the axis of symmetry for y equals x squared minus 6.

Lucas.

X equals zero.

Yes.

That's right.

And an algebra bonus.

Simplify the square root of 243.

Answer.

Nine root three.

Yeah, just in time, you got that.

Just 20 points.

Tossup in art.

What is the term for artwork that is applied directly to a wall- Eren.

Mural.

-Or ceiling using techniques including painting, fresco, mosaic and graffiti art?

Bonus now.

Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh, and Mondrian are all from which country?

France.

They're all from the Netherlands.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in English.

What word completes the expression that means something is extremely common and cheap?

‘To cost a dime a blank” Eren.

Dollar Not it, you can steal, Roane.

John.

Dozen.

Yeah, dime a dozen.

English bonus.

What is the past simple for the verb “freeze”?

Froze.

And what is the past participle for the verb “freeze”?

Frozen.

Those are both right.

Tossup now in history.

Also called Emancipation Day, which holiday commemorates the date in- Maddox.

Juneteenth.

Yeah.

In 1865 that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free?

And now your visual bonus in history.

Take a look at the screens, Roane County.

Charles Darwin was the naturalist on which ship shown here that sailed on a five year voyage around the world?

The Beagle.

And Darwin spent two thirds of his time on land, including two months on which archipelago in the eastern Pacific, near the equator?

Galapagos.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in biology, which breed of dog is the fastest capable of speeds- Eren.

Greyhound -Up to 45mph?

Biology is your bonus.

Which type of animal has breeds called Hereford and Texas Longhorn?

Cattle.

And which type of animal has breeds called Abyssinian and American Shorthair?

Cat.

Are both right, 20.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What six letter word beginning with E means a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand?

Eren Enamorus.

Not it, chance to steal, Roane.

Lucas.

Exotic.

Enigma.

Tossup in sports.

Which sport awards the Davis Cup?

Eren.

Tennis, and a sports bonus.

Name two of the three weapons used in Olympic fencing competitions?

Saber and foil.

With FAA being the other.

That's 20 points.

Tossup in literature.

Which character who debuted in the Case of The Missing Marcus by Nancy Springer- Eren.

Homer.

Homer.

-Has been portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown in three Netflix movies?

Not it, chance to Steal, Roane County?

Lucas.

Sherlock Holmes.

Well, it's his sister, Enola, so no points on that.

Tossup in government.

Which U.S.

holiday honors service members who died while serving- John.

Memorial Day.

-In the military.

And a government bonus.

Name the case considered by many legal scholars to be one of the worst ever rendered by the Supreme Court that ruled slaves were not citizens, and that Congress lacked the power to ban slavery in the U.S.

territories?

Dred Scott.

Correct for 20 points.

Tossup in chemistry.

What is the chemical formula for calcium carbonate?

The main- Eren.

H3CO3.

-The main ingredient, some chewable antacids.

Chance to steal, Roane.

You can't look at each other's papers during tossups, unfortunately I can't.

Wait, who looked at whose paper?

Emerson was looking over your shoulder.

CACO3 would have been the formula.

Tossup now in geometry.

What is the name for a regular pyramid with four equilateral triangular sides?

Eren.

Regular.

No, chance to steal, Roane.

Lucas.

Tetrahedron.

Yes, and a geometry bonus.

A triangle has angle measures of 2x, 3x, and 115.

What are the measures of the two missing angles?

26 and 39 degrees.

Those are both correct for 20 points.

Tossup for all players in music.

In the Christmas song popularized by Gene Autry, which of Santa's reindeer is the subject of the lyric- Eren.

Rudolph.

-”You'll go down in history.” And a visual bonus for J. Frank White in the category of music.

Take a look at the screens, please.

Who is the trumpet player shown here who was one of the most influential figures in jazz, and for whom the New Orleans International Airport is named?

Louis Armstrong.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in arts.

Which actress and comedian who got her start at Chicago's ‘The Second City, became the first female head writer of Saturday Night Live before creating- Eren.

Emily Blunt.

-Before creating the sitcom 30 Rock and the film Mean Girls?

Chance to steal, Roane County.

Lucas, Jane.

It's Tina Fey.

No points.

Tossup in geography.

Which Central American country was formerly known as British Honduras?

Erin.

Belize.

And a geography bonus.

What is the largest country in Africa by area?

Algeria.

And what is the largest country in North America by area?

Canada.

Those are both right, 20.

Tossup in health.

Sugars, starches, and fiber are which type of macro- Eren.

Carbohydrates.

-Nutrient?

And health bonus.

Which part of the human body is a sack that stores and concentrates bile?

Gall bladder.

And which part of the human body is a flap of cartilage that closes the upper end of glottis trachea within when swallowing?

Epiglottis.

Is right, 20 points.

Tossup now in spelling.

To be experiencing worry, unease or nervousness is to be- Erin.

A-N-X-I-O-U-S.

You're making us all anxious, I think.

And a spelling bonus now.

In North America, the term for a store that sells men's clothing and accessories is a haberdashery.

Spell haberdashery.

H-A-B-E-R-D-A-S-H-E-R-Y.

Is right, 20.

Tossup in religion.

According to the Bible, in which city did Jesus live during much- Eren.

Jerusalem.

-During much of his childhood and young adulthood?

Chance to steal, Roane.

John.

Nazareth.

Yeah.

Jesus of Nazareth, and a religion bonus.

Convinced that the British Museum's 1988 carbon dating of the Shroud of Turin was flawed, a filmmaker offered the museum $1 million if they could replicate the shroud, which many Christians believed to be what?

Defer to Johnny.

The burial cloth of Jesus.

Is correct.

20 points.

Tossup now in English.

What is the function of the word “part” in the following sentence?

“The Hobbit is not part of the Lord of the rings trilogy.” Eren.

Adjective.

Not it, you can steal, Roane.

Lucas.

Object.

In this case, it's a predicate noun.

No points there.

Tossup in history.

The success of the surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur in 1904 was Japanese Admiral Yamamoto's inspiration for the attack on which U.S.- Lucas.

Pearl Harbor.

-Naval facility?

History bonus.

In 1925, Dayton, Tennessee, high school teacher, John Scopes, was arrested and charged with violating a newly enacted law that criminalized the teaching of what?

Evolution.

Right for ten.

In which county is Dayton, Tennessee?

Ray County.

Also right, 20.

Tossup now in science.

What does a barometer measure?

Eren.

Wind speed.

No, chance to steal, Maddox.

Air pressure.

Yeah.

Atmospheric pressure or air pressure is right.

Science is your bonus.

What type of clouds are described as puffy, heaped up clouds?

Cumulus.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in precalculus.

In a right triangle, if the sine ratio of an angle is three over five, what is the value of its secant ratio?

Lucas.

Five over four.

Right.

Pre-Calc bonus.

In calculus, what is the process of combining infinitesimal data to describe displacement, area, volume, and other concepts?

Integral?

Integration or integral, yes, 20.

Tossup in technology.

Which term is used to describe individuals with a presence on social media who use their- Eren.

Influencer.

-Platform to affect group opinions and behavior?

Technology bonus for J. Frank White.

What three word phrase represented by the acronym ‘URL describes a standardized format for defining a web address?

Ultra Real Linkage.

I like that answer, but the actual answer is the Uniform Resource Locator.

This is going to be a barn busters.

We move on to the second half.

One of these teams advances the philosophical four.

Is it going to be J. Frank White or Roane County?

Find out after the break on Tennessee Scholar's Bowl 2026.

The 42nd season of Tennessee Scholar's Bowl is a single elimination tournament featuring 50 high school academic teams.

The championship team in this year's Scholar's Bowl receives the Frank Miller Memorial Trophy.

The scorekeeper, timekeeper, and judges for this year's Scholar's Bowl are Chandler Benson, Ernie Roberts, Jerry Doherty, Stephen Hensley, Rebecca Longmire, James Dean, and Kathy Waddell.

East Tennessee PBS would also like to thank its staff and the many volunteers who helped make this educational program possible.

To enter your high school in next year's Tennessee Scholar's Bowl, please write to the address shown on your screen.

You're watching Tennessee Scholar's Bowl on Frank Murphy.

Back from halftime in a very exciting game between the Yellowjackets of Roane County High School in Kingston and the Knights of J. Frank White Academy in Harrogate, Tennessee.

It's very close and very exciting.

The winner advances to the philosophical four.

Both teams are keeping their starting lineups intact.

We'll get right back to it.

Everybody, fingers on the buzzer for Tennessee Scholars Bowl 2026.

Tossup for all players in literature.

In what year was the first Harry Potter novel- Eren.

1996.

Not it.

You can steal, Roane County.

First Harry Potter novel published?

Lucas 1997.

Is it, and a literature bonus.

Who wrote Slaughterhouse-Five, a novel that follows the experiences of a character named Billy Pilgrim?

Defer to Maddox.

Longfellow.

Thats Kurt Vonnegut.

Which war was the setting for the book?

Hundred Years War.

That was the World War II.

No points on that.

Tossup now in economics.

What type of bank account does the investor agree to keep- Eren.

Certificate of deposit.

-Agree to keep money in an account for a specified length of time without taking a withdrawal, or else pay a penalty fee to the bank?

Economics is your bonus.

Which product, to cover cuts and scrapes, had a jingle in the 1970s with a child singing- Band-aid.

You think you give me a chance to say, “stuck on blank because blank is stuck on me.” 20 points for band aid.

Tossup in astronomy.

Which celestial body is at an average distance of 200- Eren.

The Moon.

-238,845 miles from Earth?

Moon is right.

Take a look at screens for your bonus in astronomy.

The astronauts on the final mission of NASA's Apollo program included Doctor Harrison Schmitt, shown here, who was chosen because of his expertise as a scientist.

In which field of study?

Geology?

Yeah, that's why he's looking at a rock.

Yeah.

20 points.

Tossup in sports.

The Knoxville Smokies are the double A affiliate of- Maddox.

Chicago Cubs.

-Which major league team?

And a sports bonus.

How many players are on a field in a soccer team?

11.

And how long is a regulation half of a soccer game?

45 minutes.

Both of those are correct, 20 points.

Tossup in art.

What is the Norwegian geographical term for the long, narrow inlet with steep cliffs depicted in the background of Edvard Munch's painting The Scream?

Maddox.

Fjord.

Is right, and an art bonus.

In which country was the Venus de Milo, which was originally called Aphrodite's Milieu, sculpted?

Italy.

Well, I guess they change her name to Venus when they moved her to Italy.

But Aphrodite would make her Greek.

Greece was the answer.

Tossup in foreign language.

What is the official language of Brazil, Eren.

Arabic.

Not it, you can steal, Lucas.

Portuguese.

Right, foreign language bonus.

In which two countries is the Urdu language considered an official language?

India and Pakistan.

Are both correct, 20.

Tossup in government.

What is the more common term for a permanent residence card which is- Eren.

Visa.

-Which is an evidence of an immigrant status as a lawful permanent resident?

John.

Green card.

Is right.

Government is your bonus.

What two word phrase that comes from the name of a 1966 Supreme Court decision is used to describe the Fifth and Sixth Amendment protections about which an arrested person must be informed?

Miranda Rights.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in geology.

What is the term for an enclosure or basin located in the course of a canal or river with gates at each end?

Within- Eren.

Lock.

-With a water level made to raise lower boats.

Geology bonus.

NASA plans to mine resources on the moon, including which chemical- Iron.

-Element with the electron configuration argon 4S23D6?

Iron is right for 20.

Tossup in math.

Which base ten number is represented by the base five number 423?

Eva.

13.

Not it, you can steal, Roane.

Lucas.

113.

Is it, and a math bonus.

How many fence posts spaced it every five meters, including the four corners, are needed to enclose a field measuring 100m by 70m?

30.

68, no points on that.

Tossup now in miscellaneous.

What is the smallest country in the world?

Eren.

The Vatican City.

Yeah, and a visual bonus.

Take a look at the screens.

Which food items shown here is the national dish of Scotland?

Glockenspiel.

Its called haggis.

It's a haggis.

And which Scottish poet wrote ‘Adressed to a Haggis in 1780?

Tennyson.

That's Robert Burns.

No points there.

Tossup in literature.

Which American children's book author and illustrator created ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar?

Eren.

Maurice Sendak.

No, chance to steal, Roane.

Seuss.

That was Eric Carle with The Hungry Caterpillar.

Tossup in geography.

How many states border Missouri?

Lucas.

Six.

Not it, you can steal, J. Frank White.

Eren.

Eight.

Eight is right, and now for your bonus.

List four of the eight states that border Missouri?

Alabama, Louisiana.

Arkansas, Texas.

Ill give you five points for Arkansas, but the other states that border Missouri are Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Tossup in science.

What unit is commonly used to measure the energy value of a food?

John.

Links.

Not it, you can steal, Eren.

Calorie.

Right, and a science bonus.

Who invented the astronomical telescope?

Isaac Newton.

Thats Galileo.

Who first measured the density of solid objects by submerging them in water?

Archimedes.

Is right.

Ten on the bonus.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What four letter word beginning with C is a country name that can mean either to attach or to cut off?

Eren.

Crow.

Chance to steal, Roane.

You can clip something on or clip something off.

Clip is the answer.

Tossup in music.

Who's the lead singer of the band Aerosmith?

Eren.

Steven Tyler.

Is right.

And your music bonus.

On Dolly Parton's 2023 cover version of ‘Let It Be, the piano and drums were played by which two musicians, who were also on the original 1970 recording of the song?

Paul McCarthy and Harrison.

Well, you know, it's not McCarthy.

Unfortunately, it's McCartney.

No, and it's Ringo Starr.

George.

Yeah.

John and George are both dead, so it's Paul and Ringo.

No points there.

Tossup in foreign language.

Translate the Italian word, “buonasera” into English.

Erin.

Good air.

No chance to steal, Emerson.

Good luck.

No, “good evening” is “buonasera.” No points there.

Tossup in history.

The Civil War Battle of Antietam was fought in which state?

Eren.

Virginia.

No, chance to steal, Roane.

Maddox.

Maryland.

Is right, and the history bonus.

Which U.S.

president's Secret Service codename was ‘Rawhide?

Reagan.

And which U.S.

president's Secret Service codename was ‘Renegade?

Truman.

No, Reagan was right.

And Obama is the one you missed.

Ten on the bonus.

Tossup in physics.

What is the term for the number that compares the anti knock properties of a gasoline with that of a standard- Eren.

Octane.

-To test fuel?

And physics bonus.

How much work is done in the system if a 20 newtons force is utilized to move an object four meters?

80, 80.

80m.

No, 80 joules, is what I needed there because it's a specific thing.

Tossup in geometry.

What is the name of the conditional statement formed by reversing and negating both the- Eren.

Contrapositive.

-Hypothesis and conclusion of the original statement?

Geometry bonus Two angles are complementary.

One is 54 degrees larger than the other angle.

What is the measure of both angles?

Answer.

18 and, 72.

Yeah.

That's right for 20 points.

Tossup in games.

Which popular game on the Price is Right involves dropping a disk- Eren.

Plinko.

-Down a slanted peg.

Board games is your bonus.

In which children's games, players only follow instructions if the leader first says the name of the game.

Simon Says.

Right for 20.

Tossup now in music.

In the F major scale, what is the interval between A and E?

Lucas.

Fifth.

Yeah, that's right.

Here's your bonus in music.

What does the musical term ‘da capo al fine, which is usually notated as ‘DC al fine, mean?

Go to the end.

Let's go to the beginning.

So, no points on that.

Tossup in biology.

The type of pet parakeet known as a budgie is native to which continent?

Eva.

Australia.

Right, and a biology bonus.

With the name that translates literally to ‘triggerfish with a pig snout.

What is the state fish of Hawaii?

Swinis.

That's the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa.

Tossup for all players in spelling.

Spell ‘vengeance as in getting- Lucas.

V-E-N-G-E-A-N-C-E.

Is right.

Ten points right at the buzzer for Roane County, but sadly not enough to advance.

So congratulations to you guys.

And first of all, thank you, Roane County.

You know how much I enjoy you being here with the pins and the whole bit.

And I know you're going to do well as your seniors move on.

So technically I'm saying goodbye forever, but I want to give you a chance to say something.

Lucas?

Well, it was a hard fought game.

It was really stressful, but, you know, it was really close and, you know, of all the teams to lose to, I'm glad we lost to them.

They're a very good team.

And I personally think they're going to win, so.

Oh, really?

Okay.

Congratulations then to the Knights of J. Frank White.

Eren, congratulations.

You obviously memorized a lot of these questions and it's paid off for you.

Yeah.

It was such an amazing game that was like so close.

Like tenths of a second.

I mean I couldn't have asked for a better one.

I mean, congratulations to you guys.

There should have been two winners, but.

All right.

Well, congratulations.

You of course can watch our philosophical four games.

Don't miss an episode.

Check your local listings and your PBS app to find out when it's going to be on.

And you can binge watch past seasons online using the PBS app.

My name is Frank Murphy.

Thank you for watching a very exciting game of Tennessee Scholar's Bowl 2026.