Guilty Pleasures

I have to admit that I've become a fan (and from the sound of it, the only fan) of Martha Stewart's Apprentice. There's only one other reality show I even watch all that much, and The Biggest Loser, while probably one of the best and most useful concepts for a show, just isn't as compelling as some others.

But MSA is interesting to watch, and it usually comes on during my time on the treadmill. I even have a favorite; Jim. Jim is the only player who really seems to be playing any strategy. He's also, I think, purposely being a jerk to catch more camera time--and it works. He's invariably in each week's preview, usually with some voice-over that implies that next week he'll go too far. But he won't. He's too good.

See, Jim is very smart. He goofs off and makes his teammates nervous, but he works hard and he does good work. He's usually got a good sense of when his team is falling apart, and he just buries his head and turns out good, solid work so he avoids getting fired. And when his team listens to him they win.

He's also annoying as all get out, but it's hard to tell what is really him and what is just his act to keep people off guard. I don't completely like him, but I'm predicting him to win. Ryan might make it to the final, but he's not assertive enough. Marcela is going to crack eventually. She's a good team player, but if left to herself she will fail. Dawna is good, but she's no standout. Neither is Bethany. I think as long as he doesn't screw up, Jim's got it.

Interestingly enough, tonight he may have screwed up. His team's reward was a dinner with Charles and the CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, in which Jim revealed his strategy and his intention to do whatever it takes to win, even if it's ethically questionable. It might not have been the smartest move. But on the other hand, the CEO will never be involved in the decision-making, and Charles only has a say when eliminating the losers. If Jim never loses a challenge again, it won't matter what Charles thinks of him.

Ultimately, though, Jim is right. It is a game. If it were a straight job interview he'd probably be acting entirely different (and he'd probably lose). But it's not. It's a game with a predictable--and exploitable--format and rules.

At any rate, it should be interesting to see how it all shakes out. And whoever wins will be one of a kind, since they aren't renewing the show. Heaven knows I won't be tuning in to watch The Donald, so I guess I'll go back to The Biggest Loser next.