"(Gender) Bent, But
Not Broken
(Or: 'For Whom the Judging Tolls - It Tolls For Thee')"
- October 26
So in the past 2 episodes, we move from 20 to 12.
We'll be cutting some more again, as we drop from 12 to
10...er....9. Kevin P., the mole, is still there, and
the producers are promising a stunt that will go past
their thresholds.
We start with the models, as they get mail, a la
Survivor -
We've booked an audition, you're
going in cold,
You'll go in one at a time and do what you're told.
You'll be given a product; you must make it your
own.
So practice being a spokesman; you get just one
chance to go. |
Sorry, no guest
appearance by Jeff Probst.
Paulo feels comfortable with speaking in front of
everyone, while Rob thinks he could be a disaster if the
product is nothing that he uses. Hunter thinks he will
be a disaster, regardless, and he starts practicing on
trying to sell the lock on the door.
The catch isn't the product - it's the language, as
everything is going to be ...in Japanese. Masako D.
Pedersen is the producer for the shoot, which will
actually be a contest. The best person that can respond
will win. Rob gets to go first - and the product is a
seaweed-type drink. Some people handle this much better
than others, as Paulo is mistaking 'healthy' for
'money'. The phrase is 'Drink Masuko to get healthy'
though they may not mind 'Drink Masuko to get money' as
well. As for drinking it? Well, let's just say that they
may want to down some American brew to get the drink out
of their digestive systems. Jason - "Guess it's an
acquired taste - and I haven't acquired it yet."
Maurice suspects that the whole Japanese crew knew
perfect English, and they are trying to test them. He's
right, but it's Paulo with his mangling (but looking
good while doing it, according to the producers) who
wins the prize - which is an hour-long massage. He gets
it - in Maurice's room, which forces him to try to sleep
on a sofa - which he doesn't do that well.
After the massage, the men are met by Patrick Huey, the
manager of the Amadeus Salon. He tells everyone that
they are all going in to get a pedicure and nail work
done. Some of the guys whine a little, but Kevin O.
tells them all that they are models, so they need to
stop whining and get in touch with their feminine side.
If only he knew...
That attitude changes when they work on Kevin's eyebrows
- and wax them. Ouch. He also gets a painful facial -
and hence the montage of the men in pain. Kevin P. tells
them that they will be paid on their look, so they best
keep the look intact. Paulo talks to Rob about his feet
pedicure, and adds that he wanted something else between
his legs. No innuendo there, eh? Noooooo.
The 12 men in robes toast to the last supper, adding
that Tate sort of looks like Jesus. Kevin O. is
concerned about Hunter, who shows the beauticians how to
pluck his own eyebrows and he shows up to the dinner
late because of it. Kevin leads the prayer, which
impressed Seth and told him that it's a well-spoken
prayer. Could we get some bonding?
The guys get the next mail, telling them that this shoot
will tell them why they got all prettied up, and that
they have to get ready to get twisted. The twisting
starts when Paulo, convinced that the stunt will be some
sort of contortion act, doesn't eat, as he wants to be
prepared. The twisting continues when John Stapleton,
the judge for the MAC Make-Up Artist, calls them ladies
and tells them to see how flexible they are willing to
go. Maurice wants to know if its going to be Manhunt or
Womanhunt, and he and Paulo are getting the idea...
Tiffany Johnson, another MAC Make-up Artist, says that
versatility is an asset - and that Tate also has a lot
of it. While he is working himself back up the ladder,
Maurice is very nervous about looking at a mirror. Also
concerned is Matthew, who is worried both about that and
posing nude. You would think that ultra-conservative
would think that as well, but he actually seems pleased.
Kevin P. gets a Mohawk, while Jon, who is getting a Boy
George look and says he will not mess with any women
while in L.A., is saying the right things to Tiffany,
who is impressed. Jason gets the Paris Hilton look and
he just rolls with it, while adding that he got his lip
imprints by a male artist. Wha?
Rob says to let the make-up people go wild with him, as
he wants to win the competition and he would do anything
- including wear women's clothing, adding that he is
secure with his masculinity. Ron was less than thrilled
to see his hair changed, as he says he is the only one
who can do it. We see a last shot of him, and he has the
droopy face of a dog getting shampooed. Also not happy -
Paulo, who tries to get more input (like with what he
did at the first judge' s ceremony - and Tiffany says
that he needs to be less controlling and stiff. That
could be trouble...
...but a lot of other people are enjoying it as they go
avant-garde punk. Jon says that his girlfriend would
love to see him looking like that, while Matthew will
deal with latex restrictive clothing he likes to call 'Nuthuggers'.
As we see the other people get dressed up, Jason is less
than pleased with his 'easy-access' front opening undies,
while Hunter, who thought he'd get armor, gets... a
kilt. He is less than happy and smacks the wall in
frustration. He gripes, but then says that if he gets
hired for this, he'll do it - with reassurance that this
is one of the more masculine outfits. Hunter adds that
no one would even recognize him in the outfit, so he's
ok with it. Well, no one would recognize it unless that
see your name attached to it...well, what do you know,
look at this show.
Then there's Tate, who once again gets into it with the
outfit. He is told to put on a very skimpy pair up
undies, which he does - in front of everyone. After
showing everyone (including the general audience) his
butt, the makeup people are very unhappy with his
tanline, which, shall we say, gets much less noticeably
tan around the nether-regions. They have to give him
browning cream to make the tanline less noticeable, but
they are not happy. That whiteness would probably cause
more blindness than the shiny Wheel of Fortune bonus
spinning thing.
We take the 'Clockwork Orange combined with Mad Max with
a punk attitude' guys as they start to pose. They stick
Matt in a cage as he laments that his dad is going to
disown him. Rob gets into bondage mode while Kevin O. is
against the wall. Kevin seems happy - but the
photographer wasn't. Hmmm...
Tate goes into the cage while Hunter gets the elevator
wall. He gets into the chains around the neck and the
photographer seems to be happy. 'There was nothing there
but the wall - and he rose to the challenge.' Less happy
was Jon, as the photographer liked nothing with his
photos. Also not happy? Ron, who gets a surprise photo
with some unexpected tourists who walk through the
elevator. Maurice, when straddling the bondage room,
felt like a gay cowboy, and the photographer says that
he had to let himself go. Paulo is still complaining
about the shots as Stephen the photographer says he is
trying too hard.
After the shoot (and them all fooling around with the
armor), the guys go out to Hollywood and Bowl for
bowling and dinner. The guys had the option to get rid
of the make-up, but Jon keeps it on, saying that he
thinks it's cool and that it's not all the time that he
can wear that sort of makeup on in public. Well, he is
right about that...
...but will he be right in the shoot? We get more mail -
You've
gone to a salon, then buffed cut and tweezed
Worn rubber and leather, learned Japanese,
Some did well, some did just okay -
We'll find out who - it's Elimination Day. |
Kevin dreamed that he
got cut, while Tate misses his son. Jason's new
roommates are Ron Matt and Seth - and he'd be bummed if
they left. Rob still pledges to show 100%, while Paulo
is getting frustrated about waiting. That gets Kevin P.
ticked, as it's a model's life to do that.
We'll see who gets the tick-off as the guys come back to
the gallery room. Everyone seems knocked out by Kevin
O's picture - even Kevin P. The judges this week are
Bruce, Steve (photographer) and John (Make-up judge),
and here's their critique. Seth - Good dramatic intent
and he stills photographs well, but needs to be more
versatile. Rob - They like his pose, and with his veins
pouring out, he's good for aspirin ads. Heh. Kevin O. -
No feeling in the pic. Tate - Bruce didn't like the cage
pic, but Steve takes responsibility for it, adding that
Tate's personality needs to come out. Matt - the pic
didn't come up well, but he had 110% energy, so Steve
gives him a thumb's up. Jason - Bruce doesn't like the
pic, and Jason says that he's a man's man, and that pic
doesn't do good for him.
Ron - The make-up team gives him the best marks, but
Bruce doesn't like the picture. Jon - Bruce didn't like
the pic, but Jon liked the energy and compliments. If
only he knew that Stephen hated his shoot as well...
Hunter - Bruce doesn't get him in person, but he kicks
ass in the photos. Maurice - He didn't bring creativity
to the table - but he does listen to direction well.
Paulo - He asked Bruce about his weight, and Bruce says
that he doesn't have to - but he's looking great. The
make-up artist gives him a good warning - do not argue
with the make-up or the photographers. Make no mistake
about it, Paolo is playing the game - but is he playing
it too hard?
Kevin comes out with the dope. He likes Rob and Tate -
and he gets accosted immediately by John, wondering if
his relationship affects his judging. He says no, and
talks about Tate pissing in a cup instead of in the
bathroom, adding that he needs to work on the
intelligence. I would say so. He thinks that Paolo
doesn't mesh well with people, which could cost him a
gig. Well, it's not whether or not Paolo meshes well
with others - it's whether or not he meshes well with
the artists - and those reviews have also been mixed. He
also goes up against Ron, but he likes Hunter a lot. He
liked Seth's first pic, but he doesn't see him as viable
- and Jon is too short.
The guys get into a huddle and talk about their chances
of winning as they offer prayer. Here is my opinion on
their chances of winning...
Great - Kevin O., Rob, Jon
Good - Maurice, Hunter, Jason
Eh - Matt, Tate
Trouble - Seth, Ron, Paulo
Mole - Kevin P.
Carmen comes out and reiterates the prizes. Bruce says
that they all have a chance to make it in the business -
but people have to leave. The two people eliminated
are...Ron and Seth.
Ron takes the news by crying in his room. Bruce cut him
because he didn't see him going the distance. That's it?
Seth is upset that there were 4 people who were worse,
and I agree. Bruce says that he cut him because he was
too grungy. Maybe so, but I see that the people who were
against Kevin in the first episode are now all gone -
and his buddies are all still there. They liked Seth -
until Kevin opened his mouth. It looks like some people
are still there because Kevin likes them, and that
leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
What else do Ron and Seth have in common? They were in
Jason's room. As a matter of fact, everyone who roomed
with Jason is now eliminated - except for Matt, who is
thinking about moving. Maurice says that he'd rather
sleep on the floor as we end with them all wondering
about him.
But it's Rob they will all be wondering about next
episode, as he comes out of the closet. Well, there's
some real drama, as we see their reactions next week. |