Beauty and the Geek

Let's face it. Ashton Kutcher was never a genius. But even his wild, immature antics on "Punk'd" can be justified compared to the pure stupidity of the contestants on "Beauty and the Geek." Actually, it's more like "Selfish, Stereotype Hottie and the Pathetic Loser." This reality show is basically a cross between a dating show and a college thesis experiment. It takes a certain number of average, somewhat pathetic, guys, most with freakishly high IQ's, and forces them to live in a mansion with an equal number of extremely hot, shallow girls that they get to drool over. And they aren't exactly Ivy-Leauge material. Each girl is paired up with a guy who, to their dismay, is their roommate. In each episode, both the guy and the girl educate the other to face two different challenges, including how to change a tire and to salsa dance. In the end, two teams face off, and one is eliminated.

The idea itself isn't bad. Changing someone's shallow judgment on national TV through a reality show sounds interesting. But the pure, undeniable stupidity of the female contestants takes away from the power that this show could have. Watching them fail a fifth grade geography test isn't funny, especially when the girls are in front of an audience. And the chemistry between a 'Geek' and a 'Beauty' is crushing to watch knowing that her adorable, lovable partner has a crush on her.

Some good lessons do come out of the show. Very early into the series, almost everyone has learned not to judge a book by its cover, and they are heartbroken at the thought of leaving each other. But it happens too early. The entire theme basically is destroyed, and we're bored again. In the end, it softens up on the Beauties and helps the Geeks with their less-than-adequate people skills. They all are left with some moral and educational lessons. And we're stuck wondering why such nice guys couldn't get dates before, regardless of how they look.

Though it might soften your superficial heart a little, it isn't as entertaining as it is cruel and embarrassing. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is better.

Someone wrote in their comment about not believing that Richard (season 1) could actually be that strange. I promise, he actually is that way in real life, he's not acting on the show! I actually went to school with him (though he graduated in 2005 I believe) and had a Spanish class with him, and he was great! He spoke Spanish perfectly and concisely and he was so entertaining. I wish they'd gotten him to speak Spanish on the show. I never got to know him personally but we have a few friends in common who have nothing but nice things to say. I hope to see more of him in film or television in the future; last I heard he wanted to head in that direction (though I could be wrong).

Seven male geeks pair up with seven female beauties in a luxury mansion in Los Angeles. The objective? The geeks must teach their partners geeky things whilst the models must teach the geeks how to be a bit cooler and socially aware. Will the geeks act typically shy and socially inadequate around their heavily bosomed partners? How will the models react to differential equations? In each episode, the partners are put to the test to see how much they've taken on board, with the worst performing couple booted off, and the ultimate winners splitting $250,000.

Having first watched the UK version of this show I decided to give the US version a try. I enjoyed the UK version despite myself because everyone seemed to be into it, the presentation was relaxed and the humour was gentle and tongue-in-cheek. My first impression watching the original US version was how similar the UK one was to it – the music, the graphics, even how the people stand on the stairs all looked the same. However the one main way that the US version is different is how seriously it takes itself – it is a "proper" game show with a host while also presenting it straight down the line. So yes there is humour to watching the geeks be geeks and the beauties be a bit dippy but there is nothing on the same level as Peep Show's David Mitchell's gently sarcastic narration. Certainly Brian Mcfayden (no, thankfully not that one) is no comparison and he is a very bland host – taking it all too seriously and having nothing about him that is interesting or original.

The geeks are a solid mix of normal people who are a bit smart, dorky people as well as at least one who is basically Woody Allen exposed to radiation to the point where he has become an Uber-geek. The beauties are a fairly bland collection of white women with just one ethnic minority thrown in. In fairness this was the same with the UK show but the British ones had different personalities and backgrounds making most of them actually quite interesting. Sadly in the US they are pretty much all the same and it does take something away from proceedings. The show allows them to be themselves and draws comedy from that but any potential for poking fun at them is lost under the overwhelming gushing about how we're all the same underneath, not judging others etc etc. True the UK one had similar bits but it was not as heavy handed and emotional as it was here.

The tasks are still entertaining enough but the people not being as interesting meant that I didn't really care who was evicted or not. Overall then this is a so-so game show that pales in comparison to the much better UK version. Maybe if I'd seen the US one first I would have liked it more but as it is I just couldn't help but find the UK version funnier, lighter, less serious, not taking itself too seriously and all in all more entertaining. The idea is still solid enough in theory to produce an OK show but if you want to see it in a different light then check out the UK version – it does the same things well but dodges a lot of the "American" weaknesses.

I thought this was one of the best reality shows out there. Instead of bringing out the worst in people it brings out things that are positive and inspiring. I bet all the contestants leave feeling like they can be good people, which I'm sure doesn't happen with a lot of reality shows. Most people should be embarrassed by how they treated people. I hope that they decide to create another season.The only thing that kinda spoiled part of the show would be Cheryl. She had a bad attitude and I didn't like the fact that her and Wes hooked up. Yeah she did make a turn around, but too late everyone already hated her. At least everyone was in unison in that decision. Overall bravo for making a good t.v. show that didn't exploit everyone.

This is one hilarious reality TV show that either tells you "wow I'm smarter than I thought" (beauties) or "wow I'm prettier, handsomer, or luckier than I thought" (geeks). Either way, it's a pretty entertaining show. The only bad part is when the beauties answer spelling or geography (or any) questions. I was quite surprised when my 6-year-old sister started screaming out all the answers the beauties got wrong. That part just screams "pre-recorded". Another bad point is when they introduce some really hot geeks. Out of the 5 million geeks on this planet, only about 100,000 are really hot. Just a coincidence? I think not. Enjoy the laughs, like the Biggest Loser it'll give you more self-confidence.