Americans do enjoy their trivia. One of the great expressions of that love of trivia and general knowledge expertise is the game show. The game show is that great American equalizer where anyone, regardless of their previous station in life, can obtain untold riches for exhibiting what they know.
An annual event salutes the American game show and in 2011, it will bring people together in a two-for-one event that that will bring together the American love of game shows with the American love of trivia.
The History of the Game Show Congress
The Game Show Congress has been held since 2002. It was first held in conjunction with the University of Colorado Trivia Bowl in Boulder. Since then, the annual event has met every year and has honored game show contestants and the talent behind the show, as well as offering the participants some spirited competition.
Boulder resident, Paul Bailey has been one of the chief organizers of the event, and has a long standing relationship with trivia, going back to the Trivia Bowl. In a 2004 interview with the Denver publication, Westworld News, Bailey said that trivia and quizzing events, including game shows, try to tap into what people are thinking about at the time, in order to be relevant: . "Game shows are a great pulse on the times. The types of questions being asked are a reflection of the news of the day and mimic how people are thinking." In other words, the content of the questions has to keep up with the times in order to keep its finger on the pulse of what people are thinking.
Bailey is involved with a number of America, and worldwide trivia and quizzing events. The 2011 Game Show Congress will be paired with another event, in much the same way that they first one was connected to the Trivia Bowl.
The Trivia Championships of North America
Bailey is also involved with quizzing and trivia on an international level. He works with the International Quizzing Association. This organization administers a worldwide test called the World Quizzing Championships, which is usually held in June.
There are also some regional events around the world that crown regional champions.
The inaugural Trivia Championships of North America will be holding various quizzing events to crown its champions. It will be held July 8-10, at an as yet to be determined venue,
As it is being held in conjunction with the Game Show Congress, it will also hold some timely events, such as a panel featuring the Jeopardy! contestants bested by the Watson quiz-playing computer and one its designers.
As long as people enjoy game shows, quizzing, and trivia, events like this will have an audience.
Sources:
- Kankiewicz, K. (October 14. 2004). Westworld News
- Trivia Championships of North America, (n.a.) Official website.
Jon Pike - Pike is a Ph.D. in communication and writes about activism and popular culture topics for Suite101.
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