Good sport

Beauty and the Geek
Star World
Monday – Thursday,9 pm
Rating ***1/2
What’s it about? A group of “beauties” — individuals who have relied on their looks and social skills to further their careers — and a group of “geeks” — individuals who have relied on their intellect to further their careers — are brought together and paired on the show. Like in any reality show,they’re stashed away from in picturesque and equipped mansions,far and disconnected from their families and friends. The pairs are then assigned challenges that test the beauties on a primarily academic subject and the geeks compete in social realm. For instance,the beauties may be provided study material for a challenge that involves making a toy rocket and then launching then. The geeks,on the other hand,may have to train in,say bartending or giving massages. The winners of the challenges select a total of two teams to compete against each other in short quiz based on the subject of the challenge. The team with the lowest score is then eliminated.

Who’s in it? The producers manage to bring together young participants who are as different as chalk and cheese or more. The geeks are usually individuals whom you may not even glance at when passing by them on the street. Often shy of the opposite sex,they may even score low of self-confidence. One of them is even a scientist at the NASA. The beauties lack interest in academics and have instead chosen professions like babysitting,bartending or cheerleading.

What’s hot? As the show claims,it is a social experiment. The pairings are naturally absurd,but that is precisely what is fun. Besides,they all leave after having learnt something — and here,the education is more tangible. The fourth season of the show — which is what is being screened in India currently — has introduced a twist to the pairings. The beauties in the previous seasons were all women and the geeks were all men. This time,one geek is a girl and one beauty is a guy. And this one move has indeed added a punch to the show.

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What’s not? There isn’t much that show gives you to complain about. However,some sensitive feminists may feel offended that the beauties are equated with women who aren’t very smart.

Should you be watching it? It can be entertaining if you enjoy studying behavioural patterns. Besides,this is one reality show where catfights take a backseat and competition receives its due importance.