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'Beauty and the Geek' plays a numbers game
I was not at all thrilled going into this season of Beauty and the Geek mainly because of the big change. Last season, the experiment "evolved" by having a male beauty and female geek. Coming into the fifth season, instead of mismatched pairs, it's the team of beauties versus all the geeks.
Spoilers disguised in a fat suit with some acne and a hook nose.
My main resistance to the new formula is the fact that without the beauty/geek pairing, what exactly is the incentive for the two groups to seek each other out and, you know, learn? The geeks weren't too excited with this new prospect either since they of course hoped they'd have their very own beauty to bunk with. The beauties seemed "eh" about it.
The first elimination challenge pitted the two teams against each other to get the most digits at a club, and to "level the playing field," the beauties would get makeunders. Um, excuse me, but the rules of society say that that isn't level. Less attractive men are more acceptable/successful than less attractive women. That's why a whole season of beauties/geeks with genders switched hasn't happened.
From what I could tell, some of the geeks were well and truly geeky. But sweater vest enthusiast Tommy? He's not only kind of cute, but he's way social. I think I heard him say something was a "party foul" and he was definitely well-received at the club. Even the beauties noticed, especially Leticia, who is my favorite so far. She's pretty, but as an extreme sports model, she doesn't put up with the usual girly BS like catfighting. In her eyes, Tom is "surprisingly dateable."
In the end, the beauties actually won, which showed me that my protests about societal inequalities were all for naught. I don't care. It's still true. I do have to wonder though what this "club" was and who these people were. If there were somehow in on it ... does it count? But Mike said they called all the numbers to ascertain that they weren't fake.
How much boo-hooing can we take each time the girls win and have to pick geeks for elimination? God, I hope the geeks wins some challenges. I give a seal of approval to the new elimination room, which is a rapid-fire game show-type thing with buzzers. Get a question right? You're safe.
Of the five on the chopping block, John (former child genius) was the only one I didn't really feel (I'm sure the editing made it so), so I didn't feel bad when he was the slowest on the draw and thus the first to go. But it was weird how hard he took it, pacing, having trouble breathing. I thought he was going to throw up or faint and our host would have to perform CPR.
Thoughts and Highlights:
- As much as I love the word "gaysian," I don't love Greggy. He needs to suck it up. Maybe this show will be good for him.
- Some of the makeunders weren't all that bad, like with Cara who got the fat suit because her face is still pretty. It's like the pretty ones on The Biggest Loser. Also, Jillian may have had acne, but that outfits still showed off her Playboy bunny body.
- Amber's flirtation with Joe and then (in scenes from the upcoming season) with Tommy made me ill. She needs to work with them, not seduce them. This isn't Paradise Hotel. Maybe she wants them discombobulated.
- How great was the fight between the chicken-eating Randi and Amber, who resorted to name-calling: "Oompa Loompa! Fatty!"
- Cowboy Joe must die.
Your thoughts on the new formula? Who are your favorite beauties or geeks? Most hated?
I hate the new formula, and I probably won't continue watching. How is this at all in the spirit of the show?
It would be like moving 'Survivor' to New York and giving each contestant his own penthouse for a month.
Also, I wasn't fully paying attention during the party. Was Greg supposed to be getting numbers from girls or guys?
And if it was guys, isn't he playing by a completely different set of rules than the rest of the geeks?
Completely screwed up.
Steve M | Mar 12, 2008 1:31:03 AM | #
I don't really care for the new format of Beauties vs Geeks but I'm willing to give it a try. Who knows, maybe there will be some twist as the season progresses?
Cowboy Joe has got to go. He seems like he's playing more of a character than himself and I'm waiting for someone, hopefully one of the Beauties, to call him on it.
I liked the interaction between Greg and some of the women when he was feeling down and saying how he didn't feel like he fit in, even among the Geeks. They tried to make him feel better and welcome in the house. THESE are the moments which make the show.
While I got a kick out of the Beauties fight, I thought it brought down the show a few notches. Do we really need to see good-looking women calling each other names? We can see that "Springer" and any other tabloid trash show.
And finally, oh yes, Tommy is VERY cute. But I was a bit dismayed to see in the previews that we have some Beauty/Geek hookups so early in the show. For some reason, it puts me off.
edonline | Mar 12, 2008 8:06:45 AM | #dont like the new format at all. it defeats the purpose of the show.
wednesday | Mar 12, 2008 9:26:52 AM | #From the bits I watched (channel surfing) I'm not a huge fan of the change to B vs. G. What I've always like about the show is the heart behind it and the beauty/geek teams. I thought it was touching to see how torn up the girls were at picking the guys to send home and I like the rationalization behind their choices. They kept the guys they think need the most help so even though it's beauty vs. geek it seems they still want to help these guys. I also like the elimination room change - much more interesting.
lostalias | Mar 12, 2008 10:22:13 AM | #Well, if you liked Leticia, you should check out her phenomenal work in TNA wrestling or her amazing work on the Howard Stern show a few weeks ago...definetly shows off her...ummmm social skills.
Madhador | Mar 12, 2008 11:15:10 AM | #i too very much dislike the new format. The beauties fight was trash. I get VH1 if i want to watch crap like that.
(I do like the cowboy guy tho, he is intense)
goff | Mar 12, 2008 1:08:07 PM | # "Less attractive men are more acceptable/successful than less attractive women"
Your statement may be true in a larger societal and vocational sense but not in the specific arena of the nightclub. Men always outnumber women at bars/clubs and are always on the make. THere are but 2 requirements to get hit on at a bar/club: a vagina and a pulse
didn't like this format
the cat fights were like that horrible show
I love New York or the Tia Tequila crap.
Some good gals and some really skanky
the gal in the hot tub needs to go to her doc and get her implants adjusted
she didn't get what she paid for and adjust her attitude
show used to have some heart
will give it one more ep
cowboy has to go
I'll reserve judgement on the new format. I can see the possibilities but we'll have to wait and see. This show consistently gives me a TON of laughs and several cringe moments where you jst can't believe you saw what you just saw happen. :>))
TE | Mar 12, 2008 3:16:03 PM | #I actually know people like Cowboy Joe. I don't think he's "playing a character". I'm pretty sure that's what he's really like.
Also, I don't buy the Beauties' explanation of 'keeping the guys that need the most help'. It's more likely they realize it's US vs. THEM this season and they're keeping around the ones who will struggle the most, thereby making it more likely that the Geeks will be sent home more often.
I agree, the new format is a little messed up...I just think that the producers are going to treat it like the New Coke...and we'll be dealt with Beauty and the Geek - Classic next season.
DSI | Mar 13, 2008 1:41:05 PM | #I had heard about the format change before seeing the episode and I thought it might work OK... However, after seeing it, I do not like the new format. It simply makes no sense not to have pairs playing as a team. Instead this has become an adversarial thing and how can these people learn from, improve, and all that with an adversary instead of a teammate? During the party, John shouts out, "Girls suck!" And is rewarded with total silence. And then Joe (with the cowboy hat) shouts, "To the men! We are men! We will dominate and destroy! Tonight we dine in hell!" And is also rewarded with silence. Do these twits really think these words were appropriate? I liked how Amber left the girls meeting and went for a swim. She has that really beautiful kind of skin that absolutely shines. Jim needs a decent haircut and beard trim. And at least use a comb! I know a guy who looks like Jim, almost like a twin brother, but my friend has no excuse as he is simply lazy, a natural born slob. The Amber/Randi catfight thing was amusing. It was nice to hear what some of the women said about the men, caring words which showed a little compassion. John lost, but after his opening comment of "Girls suck!" at the opening party, I'm not all that sad. What was with John's reaction after he lost? Oh well, I guess I'll give it another chance after all even though the non-partner format just seems wrong to me...
xyzzy | Mar 13, 2008 5:53:44 PM | #No recap for last night's show (03/18) yet? Or was everyone as disappointed as I was watching it?
edonline | Mar 19, 2008 8:22:14 AM | #I came here looking for the recap/review, too. I guess I'll provide my own.
Amanda is a stupid slut. Randi hates everyone. Tara and Tiffany think the Geeks are pitiful creatures. Leticia doesn't care about the show, she just wants to have some fun for a while. The rest of the girls withered into the background. The geeks acted like geeks. They put on a (mostly) decent talent show. Then they followed some byzantine system for determining who to send to elimination. Loud-mouthed future backstabber Amanda can't answer any questions (and whines about it) and she is sent home. Next week: Beauties vs Geeks in flag football. I predict bloody noses and a further deterioration of social harmony in the house.
With this week's show, I've decided that I do not like this format one bit. With the old pairing of Beauty/Geek, by this time, we usually cared about some of the teams. I don't care for most of the Beauties, although there a couple that seem like nice people but they are very much in the minority.
I disliked Amber but give her props for trying to get the geeks to see that Leticia was using the Geeks, however she went about it all wrong by acting snotty and mean. I thought it was ironic though that Cowboy Joe called her for using Tommy, when it was Joe who was being used Leticia. Either way, both Amber and Leticia are users and backstabbers.
Another week with Randi thinking that she's better than everyone else in the house, both the other Beauties and the Geeks. She's another who I can't wait to see get eliminated.
I like the Geeks, although I wished Tommy could have seen that Amber was using him. He seems intelligent and I'm surprised that it never crossed his mind that he was being used.
Greg is turning into a favorite because he seems so nice. I'm still undecided about Joe. I want to like him but there's just something that puts me off about him.
Highlights of the episode:
the Beauties bombing at the talent show, the audience booing then chanting "we want geeks! we want geeks!"
Amber's mini meltdown at the elimination, including claiming that her button didn't work and also experiencing chest pains, with Randi saying "I'm ready, let's go"
I don't know remember who the geek was, but at the start of their talent show, one of them ripped off his shirt and he was majorly buffed.
edonline | Mar 19, 2008 2:45:52 PM | #I hate the new format. What hope does the poor gay guy have of sparking any kind of romantic connection during the season. Ok, I know there's a chance that some other geek is gay, but it just seems odd. And Randi! Ai-yi-yi! I honestly can't understand a word she says, but her attitude is inevitably hostile and ugly. And Cowboy Joe's schtick was better as the crazy brother in "Arsenic and Old Lace".
I may watch it one more time, but it is not looking promising. I'm just getting angry at all of them, and find most of them unpleasant.
Help! Missed the Tuesday's episode...Does anyone know if Beauty & the Geek repeat before the next episode?
Loven Life | Mar 27, 2008 12:26:13 PM | #what happened to the recap for this show?
wednesday | Apr 9, 2008 12:33:42 PM | #Honestly, I watch it for Tom, the sweatervest enthusiast, I wasn't going to add it to my TV lineup this season but flipped across it and there he was. Just so sweet and innocent seeming, on top of being the hotguy with a geeky mind . Talk about a dream guy!
Kaytee | Apr 22, 2008 10:36:10 PM | #
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