Bastards!
First, let me quote a few choice passages from a first-draft reality show pitch created August 9, 2003, by me and a couple friends.
Basic Premise:
The show will force a certain number of geeks and girls to consistently interact in a social setting....
In addition, we would have the cast members participate in periodic challenges or tasks in which they need to meet certain goals in order to gain a reward (perhaps spending money). These tasks would necessitate a crossover in cultures between the two groups, which is why casting is again a vital part of the show.
...
The show could be initially presented to potential cast members as a run-of-the-mill reality TV show with a romantic twist, which would make for some good first reaction shots when they meet their fellow cast members.
...
Challenges/Tasks:
The cast members will need to complete certain challenges/tasks in order to gain a reward (possibly spending money). These tasks will occur periodically, potentially once per week, and will alternate in type. There will be two types of tasks, explained below:...
II: Girl task:
A possible example for this would be the girls teaching the ?geeks? to dance at a club. All the ?geeks? would need to participate, and at the end of the week they would be obliged to dance at a club, perhaps in a competition of some kind.
This document was forwarded to a friend soon after, who pitched the idea to a suit at Fox. Nothing really came of it, and we figured it for a bust. We thought it'd be a laugh to see the show on the air, but hey, life goes on, right?
Now, let me quote a few choice passages from the website marketing blurb for the hot new WB reality show, "Beauty and the Geek."
It all starts with seven women who are academically impaired. Next, add seven men who are brilliant but socially challenged.
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Each mismatched pair competes in various activities designed to test intellect, fashion savvy and even dance moves. There's a spelling bee for the girls, massage lessons for the guys, and an introduction to actual rocket science when the girls compete to see who can build a working rocket.
...
During these competitions, the geek must try to pass his brains onto the beauty, while the beauty tries to pull the game out of the geek. They're so far apart on the social spectrum that they're practically different species, but if they make it to the end, they could both walk away gifted and gorgeous.
"BUT YENEMY T3H SHOW IZ MADE BY WB NOT FOX U ST00P1D FACE," you might be thinking. Let me refer you to a quote from this web site.
The news [of the show's creation] coincides with Katalyst's recent signing of a two-year overall development and production deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for 20th's spin-off Fox 21 to work with the company to produce several low-cost scripted and reality series, including [Beauty and the Geek].
Let the mini-conspiracy theories abound!
I watched the series premiere tonight. Bastards. It was pretty funny, even though it seemed very scripted and geared to the producer's preferences (that girl with the budding romance got stacked with easy questions at the end).