Monday, January 5th NBC aired the latest rendition of “Average Joe”. Set amongst picturesque Hawaii, “Average Joe 2” once again takes us on an adventure to find out if personality plus mediagenic deficiency can compete with quintessential athletically bound hunks. Can a beauty queen fall in love with an average looking guy? Can an average guy lacking in the “six-pack” and magazine cover looks convince a Miss America contestant that she should choose them based purely on their personality? If the first series is anything to go by, probably not.
Larissa Meek, a 24yr old artist and Miss Missouri 2001, who came in fourth at the Miss America Pageant of the same year is the victim, or fortunate recipient, depending on your point of view. She appears sincere as well as intelligent. As the show starts rolling the presenter promises us “Trouble in Paradise”. For most people watching who have already seen the first series, we know the plot. Take one particularly attractive woman, place in an idealistic surrounding. Tell her she will have the opportunity to meet and date a bunch of guys. Suggest that true love will follow. Oh, and remiss on the point that the suitors will not display the physical characteristics that she would typically drool over – Intriguing, and wickedly compulsive viewing.
Cut to the arrival of our guys. On seeing the first contender, David, a 24yr old mailroom assistant who tells us he used to be a nerd at school – David, you still are! – and as one contestant observes later, looks like a big cue-tip. We begin to suddenly start feeling sorry for Larissa. And that’s after only seeing one average Joe! The remaining players enter. A mixed bunch of normal (and not so normal) guys. Isn’t it painfully obvious that the average person can appear to be downright stupid, arrogant, boring, and irritating when placed in front of a camera without any script to follow? It makes us appreciate good actors and scriptwriters!
As each contestant enters we are already trying to figure out who is in the running to be the winner. Oh, hang on, there will be an assemblage of young-studs appearing in the coming weeks, and we all know what that means. But, with this seasons group of hopelessly optimistic suitors, will we discover what everyone knows to be true is not? How many beauty queens do you know who are dating your fellow beer-drinking, burger-eating, overweight, skinny, nerdy average buddy? I wonder how many people can truthfully and unequivocally say that physical attraction is not important!
The average Joe’s could get by on personality alone, perhaps. Providing they have a personality. Take a look at Brian a 31yr old US Department of Homeland Security Auditor, who assures us he is no “James Bond” – although I distinctly detect an effort to mimic Sean Connery’s Scottish accent. Brian, phew! Thank you for clarifying you are not a secret agent, we wouldn’t want to witness attempts to annihilate you during the show or be disappointed if you suddenly were to jet off to save the world!
We have Thomas an hotel maintenance guy, who, as we shortly find out is true, tells us, “I didn’t grow up.” His display of dancing skills during the obligatory get to know each other night, proves his point. During this opportunity to examine the competition, to sort out the “cool guys” from the “nerds”, David the 24yr old mailroom “Dude” points out that the Hot Tub has no controls to turn on the thermostat. No matter. Several of the group enter the Hot Tub. It is plainly obvious that the water is cold, as evident by the chattering lips of the ‘50s fanatic Chris. Well guess what, you are sitting in a FOUNTAIN! Even when it’s pointed out to them, these chagrined males continue to enjoy their dip. Things are not looking good for our beauty queen.
Talking of optimism. Matt is a 24yr old virgin who apparently has been transformed from a nerd to a, “…pretty cool guy.” Matt warns everyone that, “Once the girls see me in action, they’ll be all over me.” There’s inordinate confidence for you.
Others include an environmental scientist, two civil engineers, and Robert. Robert who has been told he looks like Adam Sandler, and unfortunately has perfected Adam Sandler’s character from “The Waterboy”. You know, the guy who has trouble with speech, and you have to really listen to, to understand. Well Robert seems to have difficulty in pointing out that he often “blows it” with dates, telling us “…that’s how the crookie cumbles[sic].” Robert drops his head in embarrassment.
We are introduced to a dental technician, a graphic designer who practices his designs with his own facial growth. We have a painter, accountant, and stock trader amongst others. The group is definitely a mixed-batch of personalities, looks, characters, and backgrounds. Some are smarter than others. Some outwardly “geekier”, and a few who should perhaps go home right now! As Brian the 33yr old stock trader anxiously remarks, “…I’m kind of worried that I might be on Nerd Island.”
After the men enter their chosen rooms, we quickly find out how irritating David (the mailroom assistant) can be. His is seen jumping up and down on the home owners sofa (“because he can” is his argument) exclaiming, “Dude, it’s like bouncy and stuff!” Someone take this kid and lock him in his room until he agrees to behave himself like a child should! I was then dumbfounded when David ran outside to the swimming pool grasping a melon, which he proceeds to throw into the pool with great delight and a sense of achievement. Oh, and this is after he knocks over and shatters some glass and at the same time blatantly ignores it! Maybe I’m missing something? Is this a typically exasperating display of what it is to be a “Dude” that I avoided when growing up? Someone please tie him down! Mike, the compulsive cleaning junkie who we see later at the poolside netting a “few bugs” from the pool, tells us that David has the potential to annoy him. Well, David was bugging the heck out of me after only seeing him for what amounted to five minutes worth of air-time.
So eventually we get back to Larissa posing for several (audition style) calendar shots. If anything, at least she should receive a multitude of offers for modeling assignments after her appearance on the show . Finding love? At this point, I’m not so sure. Larissa tells us that the location (Hawaii) is the perfect place to find a soul-mate, and that she is so excited to find out who her suitors are. She even confesses, “I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced love at first sight.” Aren’t you starting to feel a tad sorry for this poor lass? Her expectations are about to be nullified.
During the now expected arrival of the limousine as Larissa is anticipating “Love at first sight”, we see her eyes light up in excitement as (model) Jim exits the vehicle and approaches her with all the suaveness of a Hollywood fabricated entrance. Jim proceeds to tell her he is not one of the men she will be playing host to. As expected she is disappointed. The viewers I imagine are not. How deliciously titillating it will be to see a beauty queen brought to her high-expectation knees at the sight of real men!
This show is about building up, knocking down, and then exploiting a persons expectations to the fullest. As we observe a metamorphosis in Larissa’s face as each contestant approaches her after exiting the parked bus, we realize a thespian couldn’t have performed it better. From initial smiles, to disbelieve, eyebrows raised in shock and bewilderment, to eye-popping horror. Larissa finally realizes she is, quote, “… the butt of the joke.”
Upstairs in her room, we witness the first flaw in Larissa’s character. She defends that any girl would be “pissed”. A hidden camera captures her, “What the **** did I get myself into.” Larissa, sweet girl with the stunning looks, shows that perhaps she should take a crash course in humility and personality adjustment. We watch film of her discussions with the shows producers, expressing her dislike for the way things are going. She expected to be in control – Larissa you are in control – asking if the guys were primped to look dorky! – Doesn’t she know they quite possibly were looking their best when she met them?
She goes on to say, “How am I going to be able to you know, go on dates with these guys if I’m not attracted to them physically.” Excuse me people. Wasn’t there somewhere, something about looks don’t count; isn’t it personality which is the driving factor? Isn’t one of the reasons that Larissa was chosen for the show is because of her conviction of that specific idea? Yet again, we apparently see that words are cheap. Reality shows us that unless you are rich or famous, the average guy will not attract the attention of any of these self-manufactured super models. I’m beginning to dislike Larissa, in spite of her beauty. How true the phrase that “beauty is only skin deep.” Even when Larissa tries to compensate, probably realizing that she is showing her true colors, with, “I’m trying to adjust and get normal.” My dear girl, are you telling us you don’t usually live in the normal world? She certainly has the making of a superstar!
Finally, she admits that she has to learn to stop judging people. That you can’t “judge a book by its cover” is her attempt to be normal. She is slowly regaining points.
During the evening of formal drinks, introductions and photo-booth snapshots by the pool. Larissa starts to relax and even admits that she is beginning to enjoy herself. Amazing! You mean you can actually have fun with a normal guy? In her defense, I guess it was quite an initial shock.. I think the jury is out though. We will have to see what transpires over the coming weeks, to see if Larissa is really anything more than an egotistical beauty.
As before, we end the show with the elimination (rejection) of four men. First to go is CJ (27yr old Chris, the civil engineer). We didn’t get to learn anything about Chris, apart from the cold-sore he has obtrusively displayed on his lower lip. (Couldn’t the make-up crew have helped? Just a little?) Chris admits his shyness, which probably explains his departure. Next is Robert, the Adam Sandler look-alike. Larissa states she had difficulty understanding him. I actually thought he would go through to the next round. He seemed a little more stylish and handsome compared to many of the others who remain – Larissa surprised me there! Next to depart is Chris the ‘50s fanatic, who blew it because of his attachment to that bygone era. Chris! lose the greased hair, and having your shirt-tail hanging out the back of your suit is not “hip” anymore! Finally to depart was the self declared gift to women Matt, the 24yr old virgin. Actually, I felt sorry for him. He was obviously fighting back the tears as Larissa gave him a final hug. Happily he declared afterwards, that this was not going to stop him in his search for true love. Best of luck to you Matt, I hope you do find it.
So what will next week bring? Will we start to see the leader board widen? Will Larissa actually start to have feelings for any of these guys; will her initial lack of sincerity resurface? Who will you be rooting for?
As the second season of “Average Joe” develops, we should realize the obvious. It doesn’t matter how beautiful or handsome you are. Personality and the inner you define the character. It is this character which another person truly falls in love with. However, to quote a cliché, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and physical attributes of either sex does draw or revoke our attentions. Why is this?
So often we are filled with images of that which we think is not real. Hollywood, media, TV, film. We are shown representations of what we imagine to be an ideal mate. Not a trophy, but a mate! You may not realize this but as human beings our basic instinct is to look for a mate who through their beauty and physical perfection signifies to us the required health and well-being and thus ability to bring forth healthy offspring to continue our genealogical existence. This is the basis of all interaction between the male and female species. As members of the human race, our first encounter with the opposite sex is without doubt inspired by a physical attraction. Without that attraction, there will always be something missing. However relying on beauty alone (beauty as in each individuals eye) is the biggest and most iniquitous crime of the human spirit.
Therefore the attraction of “Average Joe” is evident. Each of us, are hoping to witness evidence of beauty both internally and externally. The Average Joe’s themselves are without doubt handsome or beautiful to someone. For everyone, there really is someone. The question is will we discover who that someone might be for Larissa, before she does! Stay tuned!
Email webmaster
Write An Article!
![ETV Store](<IMG SRC="images/store.gif" WIDTH="129" HEIGHT="17" BORDER="0" ALT="ETV Store">){kind=link}