TV

It was a nice change. There was competition, but within a context of cooperation. There was elimination of contestants, but with reluctance. There was a limited amount of mean spirited-ness. There was a whole lot of opportunity for redemption. And there was a certain delight in the realization that, “Duh. They’re just like us.” The first two seasons of Beauty and the Geek were a fun and whimsical take on a competitive reality show.

The concept was simple. Take some lovely but not especially sharp women and pair each of them with a sharp but not socially skilled man. Design situations that play on the strengths of each group. Assign the tasks to the other group. Have the partners prepare each other to compete in those tasks.

Each week there were two competitions, one for the beauties, one for the geeks. The winners of the competitions then each named a team that would compete against each other. The winners of the final challenge got to stay and continue to play, the losers went home.

It was an odd concept and oddly, it worked. There was usually some initial discomfort but mostly the team members got to know each other and began to work as teams. There was a charm and sweetness about the show as people made friends with people they’d spent much of their lives ignoring. It was a nice change from the cut throat, back stabbing, trash talking offerings of other shows. It was, until this season.

The 2007 incarnation of Beauty and the Geek had no charm, no sweetness and very little interest. This year viewers were treated to the most shallow, insensitive, cringe worthy group of beauties anywhere. These women were all about themselves. Their partners weren’t partners, they were a means to an end or the human equivalent of a mirror or, sometimes, an inconvenience to be tolerated. In previous years, the pleasure was in watching the realization dawn that the stereotypes were untrue and unfair. It was fun to see the interest in the partner develop, to see the growth of caring. This season’s women didn’t care about anyone but themselves. That left the viewers with little to care about at all.

Among competitive reality shows, Beauty and the Geek was a little different. There actually was some positive growth and change among the contestants and the interactions were usually pleasant and sometimes sweet. This season’s bevy of narcissistic beauties were just annoying. Instead of the hint of innocence many past contestants had, the majority of these women had an arch, knowing air and self righteous sense of entitlement that just didn’t belong. They detracted from the concept of the show.

There is one episode yet to come. It’s a situation of just wanting it over and hoping the producers will choose the cast more wisely next time. And, yes, there will be a next time. Casting has begun for season four. I’ll be back for at least a peek at it, hoping it will have gone back to the gentle charm of the first two seasons. That would be a case where a step backward was a step in the right direction.