Beauty or a Geek?

       It's that time again. Time for the fall lineup of shows and soap-opera-like relatity shows. Forget the cranky doctor or the geek-spy, or the people with super powers for the moment. Now, I am talking about Beauty and the Geek. Yeah, it's back for another season. Everyone who watches the show for a few years understands the concept but for those who don't, I just do a quick recap: two groups composed of supersmart but socially inept "geek" and superbeautiful but sometime clueless "beauties" live together under one roof for several weeks, getting to know the others and themselves. The prize for the winners is a $250,000 check but the real challenge is if the "geeks" and the "beauties" can move out of their social cliches and become something more.

        I admit, it's the usual kind of primetime reality show: one full of gossip, drama, catfights, and the like and usually they're the player that everyone grows to love to hate. But somehow, it's not just about the drama. It is an interesting competition that challenges everything from physically tasks to social skills to just getting more involved with contemporary life. It's about people learning more of who they are and moving out of their comfort zones. It's about learning and progress. It's not quite a talent contest and not quite a melodrama. It's a social experiment, and reality show or not, that is quite a progress to have a show that focuses on bettering your overall life.

        This season, there is a little shake-up. This time, there is a group made up of a female "geek" and a male "beauty". From what I've seen already, the other groups don't know what to do with them. The beauties and the geeks have two people that are like them but are not quite like them at the same time. I for one support this storyline. For one, it's more true to real life, something the other contentests may or may not figure out but will eventually have to. There can be and there are female "geeks" and male "beauties" in real life. But I think for the most part, all of us are a little one or the other.

        What are you? A beauty or a geek? I feel that I belong somewhere in the middle. I'm not a blonde, ditzy "beauty". I'm brunnete, for one. I could not care less for what fashion accessories are in this season, or if I have the latest dress or perfume or clothes or even shoes. That said, I don't go around with a sweatervest with a pocketprotector full of pens. I don't ahve the latest fashion but I do like to dress nice. I know what Star Trek is and know the basics but I never watched it completely, or even know what the show is really about. I care for contemporary issues, I know a fairly good idea of what goes on in life, from the ugly to the nice to the weird. I have my issues I'm particularly interested about, some you might fairly know if you read my blogs.  I generally don't like chick flicks but that doesn't mean I spend my weekends going to a sci-fi convention. I may not be cool or the most popular person in my school but that doesn't mean I'm exactly nerdy. I fell that somehow, I am one of both. Not quite geek and not quite beauty either. And I feel that other people feel the same way, that they don't belong to either one of these groups.

         And that's fine. Most people carry several identities around at a time. Cool but uncool. Popular but at the same time still insecure. No one is a complete "beauty" and neither is anyone a complete "geek". And that's what the show is about. For ratings or not, it's a show that let's these groups move out to the sides and actually see themselves. The "beauties" eventually come to understand they have a lot more to them, besides looks and/or money and the "geeks" come to realize that they have a lot more to their personality than they orginally thought. I have a feeling this season, it will be no different. The new group won't be going anywhere soon, I promise you that. And you'll have to watch and see how the other contentestants react to their presence.

         Whether you're a beauty or a geek, it doesn't matter. You can be both. You are you. And no label of "geek" or "beauty" can define it. Be yourself always. That's the show's overall message, use your full potential. And reality show or not, it's a reality show with a good message. If you want to watch it, you can check it out Tuesdays.