Episode 4 Recap!

[PlatypusBen]

Want to Be a Hilton, Episode 4: Shady Fashion
by Angela Dalecki -- 07/14/2005



This week, there’s a reshuffling of the teams, the contestants receive makeovers, and they compete in a themed fashion show. But is one team’s theme too “deep” for the audience to understand? It all ends with another double elimination for the losing team. Read on for the details!


In the Park suite of the Madison hotel after the elimination dinner, Brenden and Vanessa are arguing. Brenden tells her that she needs to “chill out a little.” Rashad says in an interview that he feels there’s a “definite power struggle going on between Vanessa and Brenden,” and that it’s negatively affecting the team. In her own interview, Vanessa says that she thinks Brenden is “a very insecure man who always has to steal people’s ideas.” Brenden flat-out states that he can’t stand Vanessa.

Over at Team Madison’s suite, the three remaining members (Latricia, Jackaay, and Jabe) are bemoaning their losses. “There was seven of us, y’all,” Latricia says unhappily. But Jabe points out that the three remaining members are “the most sane,” and probably better off at this point than Team Park. Latricia interviews that she and her remaining teammates are survivors. Jackaay tells her teammates that she hopes the other team will be a little intimidated by Madison’s camaraderie, and that will push Madison to its first win.

Voiceover Guy tells us that the contestants have been invited to meet Kathy at an exclusive restaurant called Chanterelle for lunch. Also attending are supermodel Frederique Van Der Wal, fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, and Marie Claire fashion director Tracy Taylor. Tracy says that she’s brought along “timeless classics” in fashion for the contestants to try on. Niki excitedly interviews that fashion is her life. “I’d rather buy a pair of shoes than eat,” she says.

Kathy tells the contestants that they’re going to have to mix the teams up before they can get started on their next challenge. Team Park will have to vote one person over to the poor, shrunken Team Madison, and then Team Madison will get to choose an additional candidate from Team Park, which will even the teams out at five members each. Kathy begins with the Team Park vote, and asks each member of Team Park to write down the name of one team member they’d like to get rid of. Niki chooses Brenden. Jules chooses Vanessa. Rashad chooses Brenden. JW chooses Vanessa. Hmmm, Team Park doesn’t seem to be loving the power struggle. Brenden chooses Vanessa. Jaret chooses Brenden. The deciding vote is left to Vanessa. I guess that means Brenden will be going to Team Madis… oh no, wait—Vanessa chose herself! Can she do that? Why would she want to do that? Vanessa whines/explains in an interview that since Brenden “steals all of [her] ideas,” she felt that she’d “benefit” the Madison team more than she would by staying on the same team as Brenden. Okay, then.

Brenden excitedly interviews that there’s no way Team Madison is going to put up with Vanessa’s bossiness. “Latricia’s not going to put up with it; Jabe’s not going to put up with it. They have trimmed the fat on their team and they’re ready to win.”

Kathy asks Team Madison who they’d like to pick from Team Madison. They choose Rashad. “We felt that he could be a good asset to help us win,” Jabe says. Rashad interviews that he feels his pick happened for a reason. “We’ve got five strong players that are going to dominate the rest of this game,” he says.

After the new teams are set, Kathy gives them their next challenge. They’re going to put on a fashion show the following night, and each member will model two outfits for a New York audience and a panel of fashion experts. They will be judged on modeling, presentation, attitude, and style. The fashion show will consist of two parts: evening wear, and an “entertaining theme” using their own clothing and items found in the suite. For the evening wear, Kathy is sending them to a vintage clothing store called “Alice Underground.” She instructs them to select something dramatic. She also advises them to be creative and use their imaginations when putting together their themes. Kathy then tells them that there is another double elimination in store for the losing team this week.

Voiceover Guy tells us that the contestants get only 30 minutes at Alice Underground to shop for their evening attire (the time limit is supposed to test their teamwork skills). Jabe struggles into a pair of pants, and interviews that he doesn’t know anything about fashion. Rashad helps him out a bit by picking out shirts for him to try on. Vanessa immediately assumes the role of leader, picking out clothes left and right for Jackaay and Latricia to try on. Neither Latricia or Jackaay is happy about this, and I don’t really blame them. It can be really annoying when you’ve got a certain way of going about things, and then someone like Vanessa comes in and starts throwing their weight around and telling you what to do. But then again, they’ve lost the last three tasks, so maybe they need Vanessa to boss them around a little. Brenden interviews that he’s noticed Vanessa offending Latricia by making some comments about her weight. “[Vanessa] is really bossy,” Latricia states in an interview. “What she says is pretty much what goes, and that bothers me.”

Later that night, Team Madison is in their suite, working hard to put together their theme. Jackaay tries on some tight pants, but Jabe and Latricia tell her to nix it. “I just hope we’re not counted against for body size,” Jackaay says. Latricia tells her, “We shouldn’t be, because I’m working this.” Ha! Vanessa says that if she could design clothes, at this point she’d pull the drapes off of the windows and make something out of them. Oh, and they could be the Von Trapp Madison Team! How cute. Will they sing “Do-Re-Mi” on the model runway, too?

[PlatypusBen]

Vanessa interviews that, for better or worse, she’s a leader. She also feels that Team Madison lacked structure in previous weeks. “I’m not there to be the boss; I’m there to add structure so that we can start winning some events,” she says. Oh, please. Vanessa, you’ve won every task so far. Don’t say “we can start winning” until you’ve actually lost, okay, dear? She’s getting on my nerves awfully quickly.


Over in the Team Park suite, the Park members are trying to come up with ideas for their theme. JW interviews that he feels a definite lull without Vanessa and Rashad. Jaret suggests doing lampshades, and is quickly shot down (and rightly so; that’s a really dumb idea). Jules suggests each member posing as another member of the group, but Niki vetoes that because it’s an overused tactic. Jules interviews that, for the first time, she’s afraid that her team will lose.

Early the next morning, Team Madison’s breakfast arrives as a bleary-eyed Jackaay is putting the finishing touches on her team’s outfits. She finds a note from Kathy and runs into the other room to share it with her teammates. Each team must pick one person to be the announcer for the catwalk. Team Madison unanimously picks Rashad, probably due to his great performance at the auction two weeks ago. Rashad interviews that he feels privileged to be chosen. Over on Team Park, everyone picks Brenden (who’s naturally evolved as the group’s leader now that Vanessa’s gone). Also, the contestants will be treated to makeovers at the Warren Tricomi salon. “Okay, that was worth getting up for,” Vanessa says.

We’re treated to a montage of the contestants getting groomed, buffed, and highlighted. The girls and the guys get pedicures, and the girls get the full makeup and manicure treatment. “I couldn’t ask for more,” Jules says. The girls all seem thrilled, while the guys seem bewildered at best. Some of the contestants need more work than others—Vanessa is told that she’s getting a more “ladylike” hair color, and the stylists are working on Niki to tone down her bleached-blonde hair. Jabe has a very cute moment as he explains that he has very sensitive feet (“I laugh when I take my socks off,” he says) and isn’t used to other people handling them. Then he giggles like a little kid as he receives a foot massage as part of his pedicure.

A team of runway coaches enters the salon, led by Willie Ninja. (“Think of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and you’ve got me.”) He calls Latricia and Jabe over to teach them how to strut their stuff on the runway. We get a quick montage of Willie coaching several of the contestants. Some of them (surprisingly, the guys—Jabe and JW) seem to pick up the walk faster than others (like Jackaay). JW interviews that Team Park should easily win this one because they have female team members who really understand fashion. Jules interviews that she worries about her teammates getting too cocky. Latricia, over on her team, interviews that she feels very confident. “This is going to be the first win for Madison,” she says. The scene ends without showing us the finished makeovers—we’ll see those on the runway.

Later that night, the contestants are getting ready for the fashion show backstage. Brenden says that “JW looks tastier than a box of chocolates.” Niki says that the backstage area was complete chaos.

Out front, Kathy welcomes the audience and introduces the panel of judges: Frederique Van Der Wal, author Bettina Zilkha, Tracy Taylor, and style expert Lloyd Boston. She tells the audience that the teams will be judged on wardrobe, creativity, and overall presentation. The team that gets the average highest score wins.

The show starts, and Brenden walks out to introduce his team in their evening wear. (This is also our first chance to see all the contestants post-makeover.) Jules is introduced first, wearing an Oriental-inspired black dress. She struts down to the end of the catwalk and poses. She looks good, but not much different… her hair’s been lightened a little, and she’s wearing more dramatic makeup, and she looks more tanned than usual (although that could be due to the lighting). She interviews that she was very nervous walking down the runway.

Next comes Jaret, wearing a dark suit with a powder-blue turtleneck. And hoo boy, did he clean up nicely. I’m not crazy about his outfit, but his hair was cut and spiked, and he looks very nice. He interviews that looking better makes him feel better about himself. Next is Niki, in a white dress and sweater. Her hair’s been cut into nice layers and she has very cute bangs now, and her hair color is more of a golden blonde now (much, much better than the bleached-out look she was sporting before).

Then JW comes out in a suit, and wow, I almost didn’t recognize him. His blonde mop of hair has been cut and spiked up, and it totally changes his face. I think I may have actually preferred the old JW to the new one, though. Jules takes over the microphone as Brenden does his turn on the catwalk, wearing a Rick Hilton-inspired suit. His hair looks darker and he looks more tanned, but otherwise he hasn’t changed much. But he has the model pose down. Wow, these boys are sexy!

Backstage, Team Madison is praying together before they go onstage. Kathy introduces Team Madison and Rashad comes out on stage to announce his teammates. He’s wearing a striped shirt and an odd-looking hat, and acts very laid-back as he speaks into the microphone. “We’ve got styles coming at you from casual to classic to classy,” he says. “Give it up for Team Madison, ladies and gentlemen.” Latricia interviews that Rashad didn’t really have the right audience in mind, and that he sounded like he was at a rap concert.

Latricia comes out in a Ralph Lauren dress and sunglasses, with a scarf wrapped around her head. And she actually looks very classy. “When a person wears clothes, they also wear attitude,” she says. Next, Jabe comes out in designer jeans, a button-down shirt, and a long, tan coat. His short hair has been dyed blonde, and, like with JW, I liked him better before. Oh, well. Jackaay clumps down the runway in a layered dress. Her hair looks much better (it’s lighter, layered, and she’s got some long bangs going), but she still walks like she’s not really comfortable in her body. “I’m still always going to be a tomboy at heart,” she says. Vanessa comes out in a sparkly black cocktail dress, and wow. She looks fantastic. Her hair’s been dyed dark red, and she looks a little like Julianne Moore now. She still annoys me, but she’s easily the best-looking person on her team. Rashad walks the runway last, wearing a pinstriped suit. He doesn’t look any different than he did before the makeover.