Episode 1—The Stealing Challenge
The 10 contestants are given $200 to spend on items needed to create a costume for an iconic Vegas character. They are sent one-by-one to a store that is set up with hidden cameras and the saleswoman is part of the show; however, the items they would really like to purchase, are far more expensive than their budget allows, so they are forced to settle and put some items back.
Before they each leave the store, the saleswoman calls them aside and offers to let them steal the items that they had to put back, saying, "I want you to have this. No one has to know." Some of the contestants say "yes" and others say "no." In the end, the decision to steal or not to steal the item, will be used for or against them as needed.
On The Strip, passers-by are given $1 tokens to vote for whom they think represents the essence of Vegas. The two contestants with the least number of votes at the end of the challenge are called to the elimination room. The final decision is made as to whom will leave the show; and in the end of the first competition, JD is eliminated.
The judges justify their decision by showing JD the tape of himself stealing and acting badly. Playing into the superficial, narcasistic theme of the show, JD is heard commenting that he still doesn't get it, because he thought he was the total package.
Episode 2—The Secret
Vegas magicians, Penn and Teller are enlisted to participate in the next challenge. Each of the candidates is taught a simple magic trick which they will practice and then perform for Penn and Teller. They are told that the challenge is how well they perform the magic trick and the reward is, participation in that evening's performance as a magician's assistant. They are also told during the demonstration, that they are NOT to reveal the secret to the magic trick to anyone.
Of course, the real challenge is: Will they reveal the secret?
After they performed their trick for Penn and Teller, they are each interviewed by an actor posing as a reporter from People magazine. He mentions their meeting with Penn and Teller, and presses them to reveal the secret of the magic trick. Some of them spill and some of them don't. In the end, Amy performs the trick even better than it was demonstrated to her, and she is chosen to be magician's assistant. Michael and Regina are the bottom two performers and must go to the elimination room.
Since the judges feel the two contestants are equal in their misdeeds and missteps that would qualify either of them for elimination, a final test is set up. As each is leaving the hotel, they observe a man who appears to have had too much to drink. He is carrying a six-pack of beer and getting into his car to drive away. He is actually an actor and part of the show. The test is: Will either of them try to stop him from driving?
Regina pleads with the valet not to allow him to drive, and so he doesn't. Michael doesn't say anything. In the end, guess who was eliminated:
Episode 3 — Grace Under Fire
The contestants are told they will be interviewing random passers-by on the street in front of the hotel. They are given an envelope with the questions they will be asking, but are told NOT to look at the questions until they get to the street. Each is observed as they ride down in the elevator. ALL of the girls peeked at the questions, and NONE of the guys did (hmmmmm, interesting!).
After the interviews, a focus group is brought in to view the interview tapes and critique each of the contestants, as the players watch and listen from behind one-way glass. Their reaction to unflattering comments made by the focus group are duly noted by the judges.
Taylor and Liz were the contestants who performed at the bottom, as evaluated by the focus group, and were headed for the elimination room. Both of them were grilled by the judges, but in the end were told they would not be eliminated.
One of the other contestants was observed breaking one of the strictest rules of the contest: Using a cell phone.
Regina was called in to plead her defense, but there were way too many negatives on her list and she was eliminated.
No comments:
Post a Comment