Game Show NewsNet

Episode 2 - June 15

We start with thousands - and we are down to 30. We get the montage of
thrills and tears - and the recap of yesterday's episode. Next stop -Hollywood, where all of the contestants finally meet each other for the first time. Young, the shortest guy there, says that he is just thrilled to be there, while Linda, who is already from LA, and Julielinh are already scoping out the competition. Melissa says that she is an experienced actress while Matt T. and Santino already have forged their first alliance. Jared is more of a Shakesperean actor, and he thinks that this is intimidating.

What could be more intimidating? A visit from their judges. Victoria Burrows and host Tina Malave welcome the contestants and remind them that they will be judged on everything that they do. They are also told that in 48 hours, half of them will be eliminated. They get to party now - but at the end of the party, they will be getting scripts for a scene called "Run and Gun".

Some of them are already running - their mouths. Reggie says that God brought him there while Viviana is scared of LA. Rustene (who had to give up being in a play) and Corinne (who had to give up a title fight to go to the show) strike up conversation. Matt the firefighter says that his job probably won't be waiting for him when he gets back.

What's waiting for them now? The scripts. Everyone is paired up and is told
to work on the script, which is based on a reporter and a cameraman (or woman). Some of the people are taking it seriously, like Reggie and Viviana (though Reggie continues to wonder if Viviana is too busy overanalyzing the script), while others are too busy cuddling.

It's 5am the next morning, and everyone is just waking up. Viviana is still
practicing her lines, while Jared is wondering why they are all up this early.
The answer is revealed when they are greeted by people waving bamboo poles all over the place. Eric Chen, the choreographer who did "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," is a martial arts expert who is there to teach the contestants the moves. Jeanne is screwing up all of the moves, while Matt T. is thinking that this isn't going to help him, and Mark says that martial arts is kicking his butt.

Evaluation time - Eric doesn't like Eileen's posture and tells Viviana that she lacks confidence. He did like Young - as well as a very surprised Matt T. Viviana starts to disagree with Eric and doesn't want her audition to end with Eric criticizing her, but arguing with the instructor is a great way to be
shown out the door.

Eric walks everyone out of the martial arts door - and right into the acting
session of the day at Hollywood National studios. Ernie Benton, one of the
heads of special effects, goes over the choreography of the shooting and the stunts so that no one gets hurt. Jared all of the sudden thinks that it's cool, while Viviana wants to rehearse with Reggie, who doesn't want to over-rehearse it. Tina reminds everyone that this is the really important part of the competition - and that a screw-up here almost guarantees your departure, so maybe Reggie may want to rethink the not over rehearsing part...

The aforementioned Jared and Rustene start it off - and the judges, who liked them before, liked them better now - but they liked Jared more than Rustene. As for Rustene's partner Corinne? The judges liked her too - and they call her the stand-up star - but nothing on her co-host Sean, who thinks that he's a lock.

Eileen is concerned that with a second bad report that she's gone - but she
does a good job - even licking Matt T's finger at the end, which convinces Marki that she's in - but neither of them are too thrilled with Julielinh (though they think she was cute) (C-Note: who doesn't, honestly?) or Dan, and that could spell trouble.

Matt the firefighter and Michelle the Asian are up - and they do well. So do
John and Melisande, who improvs their way past their last lines - and that
impresses the judges. Next up is Reggie and Viviana, who are now squabbling about their roles. Reggie wants Viviana to put on a looser shirt, as her cleavage is... shall I say, having a Janet Jackson-like wardrobe malfunction. Her mind is having a malfunction, as she forgets her lines. She apparently is the first person to do it, as that shocks the rest of the contestants watching her. Viviana continues to screw up her part, which leads an enraged Reggie to say that he's not leaving the house. Viviana is convinced that she's not leaving - but the judges are very split on her existence on the show...

We have the Netzero Hi-Speed rRecap, as the judges recap who they like - and don't.

Jared - all of the judges love him. Melisande - they think she needs to take more of a risk. Young - good personality, can't act. Sean - has the look, but boresville. Corinne - one dimensional. Julielinh - right look - also one-dimensional. Matt S. - possible favorite. Eileen - liked the lick of the finger. Matt T. - great look, didn't feel the acting. Santino - sexy, but maybe too much overacting. Reggie - intelligent, but stuck with Viviana. Viviana - she wants it - maybe too much?

As for the contestants - Sean also didn't like how he acted. Reggie is anxious and hungry to advance while Rustene says that acting is a part of her. The next morning, the actors are licking their wounds off of the stunt scene, as Matt T. is icing his back. Santino and Matt T. hope they both advance, while Dan thinks that no one is safe - as he prays to G-d that he makes it. Ten of those people won't be getting an answer back from him.

They will be getting an answer from Toni, who has the scripts for the next
play. The catch - she only has 20 scripts. Reggie is confident that he will be
getting one of those scripts, while Eileen says that she gave it her own. The
20 people who will be staying are...Mark, Jeanne, John, Corinne, Harold,
Melisande, Matt S., Mae, Todd, Michelle, Jared, Linda, Sean, Somere, Ray, Laura, Young, Krista, Santino and Viviana. The eliminated include Reggie, who is now regretting his not wanting to rehearse, Melissa, Eileen, Matt T., Julielinh, Rustene and Dan.

That ends the first real episode of the show - and I can't really complain
about it. It's not too bad, but they didn't really advertise the show well. It
felt like another Fear Factor - and it's really not that at all. This should be
fun, if they make it a true acting/Next Top Model-like show, and not a Last
Comic Standing I know the producers feel.

Next Week - we'll cut it down to 14 people. Tune in to see who gets in the
big house.