Brigitte/Eric/Heather/Bob/Shelly - July 31

Another five people will be judged to see who is worthy of $25,000 on another episode of "Without Prejudice?". But this promises to be anything but easy as the factors that divide us - and the jury - are put to the test. Another important thing to remember is that it is not about who needs the money the most. In fact, the one question that is taboo is "What are you going to use the money for?"

Round 1: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Tonight's players...

Brigitte Bunyapenasaran; 21; Riverside, CA
Eric Beebe; 40; Uxbridge, MA
Heather Lewis; 22; Orange County, CA
Bob "Bobby" Mason; 33; Los Angeles
Shelly Senyow; 42; Aloha, OR

The panel judging them: Raven Williams, Kristina Hughes, Douglas Fox, Laura Nichols, Sean Tierney.

Raven thinks that Heather has money, Eric is white trash, Brigitte is pretty and honest, and Shelly is a mother. Kristina thinks that the guys have a cloud over them. Douglas thinks Eric is mean. Laura disagrees. Raven thinks that Heather doesn't qualify because she MAY come from money. Douglas thinks that's kinda stupid.

The first vote...

Sean: ERIC
Kristina: ERIC
Douglas: BRIGITTE
Laura: ERIC
Raven: HEATHER

So based on first impressions, Eric is the first person to be eliminated, 3-1-1. "Maybe... my hair?" Some of the panel had issue with his appearance. Eric would've paid bills.

Round 2: BACKGROUND & EDUCATION

Brigitte was born in Fontana, CA. Her parents are from Thailand, where she lived when she was a baby. She went to a private school when she had to wake up at 5 in the morning. Her chauffeur came round at 7. She feels like a mom to her two siblings. She went to college for 2 years, but never finished. She'll finish... sooner or later.

Bob lived in Gary, IN until he was 3. His brother is his best friend. He decided to go to Amherst College, where he played baseball. He decided to go to law school from there.

Shelly was born in La Mesa, CA. Father was a paralegal. Mother was a teacher. She hated high school because of her issue with the black people there. She was kicked out of high school because a "black guy" wanted to slap her and she wasn't having it. Boyfriend slapped that guy. She ended up graduating adult school.

Heather was born in Orange, CA. Mom was a house mom. Dad was a paint contractor. Three sisters. She was a softballer until she was diagnosed with bone cancer in her leg. She ended up choosing to have her leg removed. She got her AA in generals so she can study business. She was on the national amputee soccer team.

Sean asks Raven if she feels like a complete piece of crap for ripping her into pieces. Raven said she never did. Kristina agrees... with Sean. Raven defends herself by saying that for every hard-luck story, there's 10 people worse off than you. She can't stand people going on about Heather's disability. Douglas says she has to be really cold not to be moved.

Round 3: WORK & PERSONAL LIVES

Brigitte is a network marketer, making about $15,000 a year. Her goal is to become a regional VP of her company. She wants to move her business into Thailand.

Heather is currently "promised to" Michael, a sailor in the Navy. She answers phones for a 24hour phone exchange, making $10,000 a year. She wants to go to a real estate school, be married by 26, and have a child by 27.

Bob went to law school, and now at a firm in Century City doing litigation. He works for the little guy, making $50,000. Currently, he lives with his dad coaching baseball.

Shelly met her boyfriend when she was 15... and a half, him having gotten out of prison for killing three people. That didn't last long. She has two daughters with her ex-husband. Her brother-in-law was in prison for a time. She started writing him and eventually dating him. She works at a surgery doing operational and clerical. Income: $33,000.

Making notes on Shelly, eh? She's a very interesting character, although Sean has a problem with her being disloyal ("All the things you don't do, she did."). Raven: "You can't help who she loves." Raven can relate to Bobby, being "the brother in need." Douglas: "You're quick to formulate opinions, and you're a little biased." Brigitte, on the other hand, started a business. She'll go far.

And Raven... still angry.

Sean: SHELLY
Kristina: SHELLY
Douglas: BOB
Laura: SHELLY
Raven: SHELLY

And of course, Raven being Raven, she couldn't help but put a word in edgewise for Bob. Sean calls her on it, saying that she and Bob probably have nothing else in common other than they're both black.

Back to Shelly, though. Not surprised, though. She figured that leaving her husband for her brother in law was a pretty poor judgment call. She wanted to put money away for college for her daughter.

Round 4: BELIEFS. All three are quizzed on three subjects.

Douglas has no issue with gays living together, but what about adoption? He has no problem with single parents either. He believes that every child should have a father. Sean likes immigration control. The gay adoption... Heather never gave an answer. Raven has a problem with Brigitte's gay adoption stance.

Round 5: BEHAVIOR. This round is aided and abetted by secret footage filmed with actors they thought were other contestants. The players this week meet with our midget actor and a guy who asks about him.

Brigitte wouldn't date a midget. Even if he looked like Brad Pitt.

Heather likes midgets. Oh yeah, and she has a killer drop kick.

Bob is asked if he would spoil a midget girlfriend... "Depends on how cool she was."

Everyone approves of how they handled the situation re: short jokes. Raven wished Brigitte would've "pimped his ass". She likes Heather, but she's still pulling for Bobby. She can relate to his life. Laura likes Bob, but she doesn't relate to him. Douglas feels a bright guy in Bob. Sean, on the other hand, is so irate at Raven that he swears he's not going to give the cash to Bob simply because he's black.

Time for another vote.

Sean: BOB
Kristina: BOB
Douglas: BRIGITTE
Laura: BRIGITTE
Raven: BRIGITTE

So Brigitte is the third person denied the cash. She has no idea why she was voted off... as a backhanded compliment. She's young and ambitious, and she'll make it without the money. She would've invested it into his business.

Final Round: THE INTERVIEW. Again, any question is fair game save for the question of what the money is going toward.

Bob is first. Nothing springs to mind about past experiences that he's not proud of. If he wasn't put on the straight and narrow, ... well, we don't know. He's fortunate that he was put on the line, and that is why he coaches.

Heather is next. Michael called her before the show. She swears that she's a goody-good... but she stole a cup from a restaurant and she's regretful. She has used her disability to get something from her family (even thought it wouldn't work). All she gets out of the rest of the world is a parking space (Hi, Tim).

Sean was fair about the questioning, as he admits that he likes Bob... and now he's sitting in agony thinking about who to give the money to.

Now the final decision. Remember, the panel is now voting for a winner. The verdict...

Sean: HEATHER
Kristina: HEATHER
Douglas: HEATHER
Laura: HEATHER
Raven: BOB

By a 4-1 vote, Heather wins $25,000... But first, let's bring Bob back. Bob's not angry at Heather; she's a great girl. He wanted to have that cushion to get back into coaching. Also a trip to Vegas would've been in order.

Heather is told that she's got the money. She goes and tearily hugs the panel... even Raven. Heh. She is pretty torn up about it. She never revealed what she planned to do with the money.

So in the end, it was Heather Lewis, a 22-year-old call center operator from Orange County, CA, who got the cash. That was "Without Prejudice." Next time, five more people compete for $25,000 just for being themselves.