(Episode 3) Before I begin my review, I must apologize for the delay. It’s been a very hard couple of days in the lab. It seems being a scientist by day and a writer by night is harder than I had initially thought. I’m also going to change how this review is written by focusing on plot points first and then on the science.

What we learned:

We’re seeing some positive developments in Dr. Bishop and his son’s relationship, which is nice. They’re enjoying a pleasant meal together in the opening scenes of the episode. This is not to say that they’ve made their peace, Dr. Bishop continues to be critical of Peter, which implies that he still thinks that Peter needs his help. Peter doesn’t really heed his dad’s advice because Dr. Bishop’s been an absentee father and Peter’s sorting through his issues with that. It’s okay, I’ve got hope that the Bishops will patch things up.

Speaking of parental relationships, it seems that Agent Broyles is preparing Agent Dunham for something bigger; he’s being very protective. Olivia does seem to be doing her investigating with some aplomb which has garnered her attention from Massive Dynamic, but I see her sticking with the FBI. Olivia does need to get over her relationship with John. She’s visibly shaken at his funeral, which is understandable, but she lets Grant Davidson take a crucial piece of evidence from the dead Agent Mendoza because she thinks that they had a romantic relationship. What may look like grieving can always be a double agent extracting information from a dead body, I guess.

A few tidbits that were scattered throughout the episode are worth mentioning. Dr. Bishop is medicating himself, that’s fantastic! He also sings about his time in the mental institution. Who was the man in the restaurant that Peter confronted? On a related note, Dr. Bishop noticed the altercation and I think he knows more than he lets on about his son. Drug cartels know about “The Pattern”? That’s intriguing. The final point I want to mention is that Roy McComb, the supposed psychic, has the time to make pretty intricate dioramas and models of his visions. Who has the time to make dioramas?

The Science:

There were two scientific principles that were introduced in this episode: suspended animation and using the brain as a receiver. I’ll deal with this supposed suspended animation first. Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes without termination. What happened in the bus, isn’t exactly that. The passengers are exposed to a gas that hardens to a solid when exposed to the nitrogen in the air. So this is more akin in embedding. It’s definitely possible to embed entire organisms and tissues in plastic, the method I’m most familiar with, uses methyl methacrylate. Methyl methacrylate is an organic compound that forms the basis for Plexiglas. When embedding tissues in methyl methacrylate you can go from a liquid to a solid, but I’ve never heard of embedding that uses a substance that goes from a gas phase to a solid phase. Transitioning from a gas phase to a solid phase is called deposition. Researchers have had success in using chemical vapor deposition at atmospheric pressure to form thin films¹. To accomplish this type of transition from a gas to a bulk solid would require a gaseous material that undergoes rapid nitrogen-catalyzed living polymerization under atmospheric conditions. Overall it would be a pretty horrendous way to go, you would be solidified from the inside out.

Now for the good stuff. We’re introduced to Roy McComb, a man who’s been receiving psychic images for the past nine months. Fringe wouldn’t be much of a show if they didn’t try to explain this phenomenon rationally. The entire explanation hinges on iridium in Roy’s bloodstream acting like an antenna tuned to the “Ghost Network,” a communications array used by those behind “The Pattern.” The idea doesn’t seem that out there, right? The iridium picks up the signals and then the brain decodes the information into discernible images; that’s just wrong and I’ll explain why. Iridium is a non-reactive metal that’s known for it’s biocompatibility, so it’s not like the metal’s going to kill Roy. My main concern with this theory is that if a metal passes the blood brain barrier, will it interact with the neurons in the brain in a meaningful way? Without interaction the received signals can’t get interpreted. Scientists have used iridium-based microelectrodes as a diagnostic tool after brain trauma². To make this theory work the information received, via the iridium, would have to be treated as a type of visual sensory input for the brain. This sensory input would then be processed by the parts of the cerebral cortex involved in vision. Metal in the brain can not account for this type of interface between received signals and neurons. I also take issue with the transcranial magnetic stimulator that Dr. Bishop uses on the show, these devices are now hand-held and look far less garish than that in his lab. The stimulation that Dr. Bishop uses to illicit speech that relates to what Roy sees is not possible, generally such stimulation results is very general descriptions that are no where near the level of detail depicted on Fringe³.

Inconsistencies:

The information Roy initially receives is visual and that’s why he draws pictures. JJ clearly forgets this when Roy starts repeating communications that are occurring over the phone. Unless now Roy is also receiving auditory input from the “Ghost Network.” When we see the metal in Roy’s blood being pulled to the surface during his MRI, I think his recovery was far too fast. Also if there was metal in his brain he would be dead. The creators of the show definitely took some liberties here. This isn’t really inconsistent, but it is funny and deserves a mention, Dr. Bishop at one point mentions that with the proper modulation Roy’s brain could receive satellite TV. Now would this be Dish Network or DirecTV? My final inconsistency to point out is that the tape recovered from the bus would not work after being embedded, the process to recover materials after they’ve been embedded would result in the destruction of the tape.

Well those are my thoughts, happy watching!

Further Reading:

1. L Ressier, et al. Control of micro- and nanopatterns of octadecyltrimethoxysilane monolayers using nanoimprint lithography and atmospheric chemical vapor deposition. J Vac Sci Technol B. 25 (1): 17–20, 2007
2. MD Johnson, et al. Neural Interface Dynamics Following Insertion of Hydrous Iridium Oxide Microelectrode Arrays. Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2006. EMBS ‘06. 28th Annual International Conference of the IEEE. Aug. 30 2006–Sept. 3 2006: 3178–3181
3. K Schweitzer. Fringe’s Brain Science Flirts with Facts in 3rd Episode: Hollywood Fact vs. Fiction. Popular Mechanics. September 24, 2008

(Episode 6) With Kesan out of the house, the boys take some time to enjoy themselves. Did I see T-Jones do a double-reverse backflip into the pool? Sorry, I’ve clearly been watching too much of the Olympic diving competition. We’re treated to a tender moment when Cee is talking to his ex Gina about becoming a changed man and a better father. I’m tearing up Cee, I really am. The Gs soon find out that their next challenge concerns using one’s words instead of violence. They’re introduced to their workshop moderator, Chante Griffin, a former Miss Teen of America and current speaking coach. Now I’m not aware of the Miss Teen of America competition, but it does exist and I can only assume that it’s a bootleg version of the Miss Teen America competition; sorry Ms. Griffin, you’re just not that pretty. Chante leads the men in “The Art of Eloquence,” which includes using proper grammar and diction, expanding your vocabulary, being able to speak on any subject and supporting your opinions. This is all well and good, but Ms. Griffin doesn’t do a very good job in leading the session. She just trolls out concepts, such as my personal favorite G-checking and hater blockers, and expects the Gs to define them in “proper” English. At no point does she teach these men how to effectively communicate.

Mr. Bentley informs the gentleman that they will be attending an art gallery where they’ll be tested on their conversation skills. Unlike previous challenges the Gs will be choosing their own teams. Cee immediately starts putting together his A-Team, which consists of E6, Shotta and T-Jones; sounds like a pretty solid team. That leaves Shaun, D-Boy, Stan and Creepa as the other team. This actually sounds like a better team, Shaun’s a natural speaker. The stakes for this challenge are pretty high, as the winning team gets automatic immunity. Once the gentleman arrive at the art gallery they’re introduced to their judges, former Miss USA, Susie Castillo, author of 101 Things I Don’t Know About Art, Michael Napoliello Jr. and winner of a fake beauty pageant, Chante Griffin. Fonzworth breaks the challenge down into terms that the Gs can understand, this is a conversation battle which is akin to rap battle. Rap battles, as I understand them, occur, on average, every five second in the hood. The battles will encompass the Gs opinions about art.

D-Boy’s team gets off to a strong start and things are looking good for them. T-Jones is too nervous and Cee can’t talk his way out of having a conversation, which is confusing. It all turns around when Cee’s team realizes that Creepa is D-Boy’s team’s weakest link. After two head-to-head battles with Creepa, Cee’s team pulls even. The funniest moment comes when E6 and Creepa have to discuss a painting that depicts two men kissing. This subject is out of both of their comfort zones. The last battle pits D-Boy against T-Jones. D-Boy is supremely confident because he thinks that T-Jones is a “stupid motherfucker.” Oh dear! T-Jones surprises everyone, especially himself, when he pulls out the victory. Good on you, T-Jones! It seems that winning this challenge not only gets Cee’s team immunity, but also a night on the town at Shag courtesy of Mr. Bentley himself.

The rest of the episode plays out like a muddled mess. Cee ends up kissing a girl at Shag and feels guilty about it. D-Boy is pissed that he lost and drops the N-bomb. Shaun suddenly feels that he doesn’t need the competition and appoints himself martyr of the house. Stan, poor misunderstood Stan, continues his misogynistic ways as he breaks out into a tirade about how women need to be controlled and about how he’s accumulated wealth based solely on his body. The dumbest move of this episode goes to D-Boy, who actually thinks that he can out con Cee, the self-professed con artist. It seems that the Detroit public school system has failed again.

I’m fairly disappointed with the so-called progress of the Gs, most of them haven’t really changed; they are not the gentleman they purport to be. So the ultimate question becomes, is this show’s concept getting fulfilled? Are these Gs learning to better themselves? I would say the answer is both yes and no. The change in some of the contestants is fairly obvious as in the case of Cee, Shotta and T-Jones. However, this leaves most of the Gs unchanged or unwilling to change. I’m hoping that a deserving candidate ends up winning the show.

Notes:

Mr. Bentley does not take too kindly to the N-word, “It’s not funny and it’s not cute.” I for one agree, especially considering that’s what the Brits called us brown folk during colonial times.

Creepa seems to be skating by, perhaps his hater blockers are more effective than one would think.

T-Jones admits that he thought conversate was a real word. It’s okay, we all learn something new everyday.

(Episode 5) This episode is about three things: chivalry, how not to objectify and gallantry. But that’s only on the surface, we’re treated to more G-checking, partial dude nudity and a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moment. All right so lets dive into the episode. Frederick informs the Gs that todays challenge concerns how to treat a lady. Their first stop is obviously a strip club. So the Gs are going from the Gentleman’s Club to the gentleman’s club, how deliciously funny. Will these gentleman-in-training be able to maintain their chivalrous behavior in front of the scrippas?

Before I go into the Gs adventures in chivalry, I have to praise Mr. Bentley on his sartorial choices. He’s probably the sharpest looking dude ever to grace Skin. The men act like dudes just released from prison when the first two ladies step out and start doing their thing. I can’t really blame them, they haven’t had any contact with the fairer sex since the beginning of the series. The third lady to grace the stage is none other than Candace Mckenzie, author of Be a Dating Dahling. Candace tries to play stripper, but it’s not very convincing and I’m glad she’s sticking to her day job as a dating coach.

Candace begins her lesson by asking the Gs to define chivalry. I think Creepa has the best response, “Being a Captain Kirk, in other words, right?” Candace does question his response, however his definition gets my full support. Captain Kirk is the most chivalrous man on the planet and in the cosmos, how many people can make that claim? Anyway, Ms. Mckenzie continues her lesson by defining the Acts of Chivalry in a handy-dandy poster, which include not objectifying either a lady or yourself, respect, conversation and gallantry. I like that the Gs are actually taking notes during the lesson, it shows that they’re serious. Candace then calls for some volunteers to engage in some role-playing, no not that kind of role-playing. Shaun, the self-professed pretty boy, steps up to the plate to demonstrate his understanding of personal space. Of course he accomplishes his task with aplomb. T-Jones and Kesan then participate in a mock date with one of the dancers, Anne Marie. Kesan proves that he’s a smooth dude, but poor T-Jones gets some much-needed help from Candance on how to properly talk with a woman.

When Stan is called on stage things get a little weird. It was revealed a few episodes ago that Stan used to be a male stripper and apparently once you’re a stripper, you’re always a stripper. Stan starts doing his stripper routine on the stage. This is neither the time nor the place for such behavior Stan. Fonzworth says the funniest line of the episode in response to this outburst, “I don’t want to see no salami.” Amen, Mr. Bentley, amen. Stan has trust issues with women because he constantly sees married, or about to be married women coming into the club to pay for sex. Fonzworth lays out the problem pretty eloquently, “Stan needs to learn how to not objectify women, but… he’s also steadily objectifying himself.”

With the lesson over, the men are told that they’re going to be hosting a party for Danity Kane back at the house. Shane takes charge and gets everybody else to do the work. Now that’s what I call a manager. While the Gs may think that this is fan appreciation party, it’s really test of their chivalry. Let the games begin! Once the fans arrive, Kesan immediately tries to set himself apart by finding the oldest lady of the group and acting chivalrous. The lessons learned earlier in the day were not lost on him, but did nobody teach him that people don’t like the brown-noser? Stan and T-Jones both realize that they have something to prove in this challenge, considering their poor performances in the past. It’s their contrasting trajectories that strikes me as funny. T-Jones is not very smooth with women, yet he makes a concerted effort and actually succeeds in being quite chivalrous. Stan, on the other hand, is around women a lot and starts off well, but he falls on his old patterns rather quickly. Before you know it women are taking body shots off of him, chivalry doesn’t seem to be in his repertoire.

While most of the Gs are focused on the fans, E6 pays attention to the non-gentlemanly behaviors of the rest of the contestants. When did E6 make his transition to a tattle tale? The rest of the evening proceeds quite well, with the exception of the drunk fans demanding the appearance of Danity Kane. Once they arrive, all is well, or so we’re led to believe. In walks Mr. Bentley sporting an ascot to inform the Gs that the entire party has been a test, and that the fans and Danity Kane are going to rate them on their chivalry. Stan looks like he’s about to shit a brick. Most of the coments are pretty positive with Cee, T-Jones and Shotta garnering the most glowing reviews. The men are called back in and T-Jones is announced as the winner. What a turn around T-Jones, you can count me impressed. I appreciate his prize, a pocket square, which T-Jones correctly identifies.

The men retire to their quarters after their rather successful party. Everything is relatively peaceful, Creepa leaves a somewhat crass message to the lady that he met at the event and Kesan proceeds to talk to his girlfriend, for about an hour. Now I’ve been an ardent supporter of Kesan, but being on the phone for an hour is discourteous. There’s only one phone in the house and you were having one of the most annoying conversations recorded in recent memory. This is why I’m glad Creepa proceeded to G-check Kesan. Kesan, being the hothead he is, took it the wrong way. So Mr. Hyde reveals himself, Kesan pretty much goes bat-shit crazy. While everyone else is sleeping, Kesan stays up and plots revenge. The next morning he proceeds to creep the rest of the Gs out. Oh Kesan, how the mighty have fallen. The rest of the contestants hold a meeting with Mr. Bentley to express their concerns about Kesan and to get him kicked out of the house. Mr. Bentley holds audience with Kesan to give him an opportunity to explain his actions. It seems that Fonzworth may have a conundrum on his hands, Kesan has made a lot of progress but is his anger a liability? I encourage you to watch the episode to find out the result.

Check Overdrive for the latest episode. For Fonzworth’s opinion on this episode watch his Swagger Assessment.

Notes:

When did they start subtitling Creepa’s segments of the show? I don’t know if it’s necessary.

Shotta is the sleeper contestant, who I think might win the whole competition.

E6 needs notoriety of his own accord, right now he’s simply a hater.

Update: MTV’s Overdrive finally posted the fourth episode, watch here.

(Episode 4) Before I move onto the review I must comment on Fonzworth Bentley’s suit. It’s rare that we see a man suited in glen plaid and Mr. Bentley pulls it off with aplomb.

I have a mixed feelings about this episode. Sure we’re seeing some changes in these contestants, however not all of these changes are really all that positive. It’s like you can take the G out of the hood, but you can’t take the hood out of the G. I think the main problem is that most of the lessons being taught to the Gs are done in the controlled environment of the mansion. Hell, the only time that the Gs have gone out of the house to practice their lessons was in the last episode. Needless to say I’m a bit disheartened with the progress of this program.

Today’s episode is about business savvy, an important skill for any gentleman-in-training. Business savvy should be a skill that the Gs have in their repertoire. Savvy’s just the bougie way of getting your hustle on. Alas, my hopes are dashed, when the Gs are told they have to write their résumés, most of the Gs are out of their depth. T-Jones pretty much gives up and proceeds to eat wings; lazy is as lazy does I suppose.

The Gs show up to the conference room in their finest polos and wife beaters. This is very disappointing to both me and Mr. Bentley. By now the contestants should know that they need to dress to impress for their challenges. Sean Yasbeck, the winner of The Apprentice Season 5, is brought in to teach these men about the business world and to conduct mock interviews with them. The mock interviews are ridiculously hilarious, the Gs really don’t know what their talking about and fail miserably. Cee, for all his self-proclaimed conning ability, falls flat on his face. The only contestant who has success is Kesan, he actually has a résumé prepared and seems to know what he’s talking about. But of course E6 has to hate on Kesan, I really don’t understand their beef.

The Gs are then told to prepare for their next challenge, luckily they heed Mr. Bentley’s earlier warning about not dressing well and proceed to don their finest vestments. They meet up with Fonzworth and up-and-coming artists the Thundercatz at a recording studio. The Gs are quickly split up into three teams and are told they need to put together a marketing promotion for the Thunderkatz that they need to present to Irv Gotti, CEO of The Inc. I think a bit of background should be given on the Thunderkatz, they’ve been signed to Irv Gotti’s label since last April. So one would think that Irv should have some sort of marketing plan for their group already. You know what they say, “If at first you don’t succeed, a reality TV contestant probably has the answer.”

A long night of planning follows and we’re treated to how well the Gs deal with putting together their marketing plans and more importantly how well they’re able to collaborate. Kesan’s previous experience in the music industry comes in handy. T-Jones is up to his antics and ends up drinking the night away. Shaun, on the other hand, ends up focusing on a local, South Beach oriented, marketing strategy. We will soon see how their respective approaches appeal to Irv Gotti.

The next morning the contestants convene in the recording studio to present their marketing campaigns. We start of with Cee’s team, considering how smooth this gentleman from Jersey is, he shouldn’t have a problem talking with a bigwig like Mr. Gotti. Oh, but that assumption is most incorrect, Irv calls Cee out on being a bullshitter and their campaign or lack thereof is a failure. Shaun et al. give their spiel on a Miami-based strategy for the Catz, but Irv, being the big shot that he is, wants the world. Irv Gotti’s kind of a brat, he claims that he’s “Kind of a big deal.” I immediately have to call Irv out on this one, he really has never been that big of a deal, considering that The Inc. is and always has been a second rate label with at best, mediocre talent.

Anyway, Irv is none too pleased with the current state of events. Thankfully Kesan steps up to the plate with a marketing plan that actually makes sense. Everything goes swimmingly until E6 decides to takes this opportunity to drop some of his whack rhymes in front of Irv. Looks like E6’s rap career is a non-starter. Needless to say Kesan’s team ends up winning the challenge. Elimination ends up being an interesting affair, Cee, Stan, Shaun and T-Jones all end up getting black balls. Obviously I don’t want to ruin the ending, but I can say that I don’t agree with Fonzworth’s decision.

I would generally now point you to the link for watching the latest episode online, but MTV hasn’t posted it yet for some reason. I can however point you to Fonzworth’s Swagger Assessment.

Notes:

Cee is starting to become a much deeper and complex character. I like this development, as it makes him easier to relate to.

Stan is the new character to forget. I can barely remember what he did in this episode.

The Thundercatz are one of the worst groups I’ve ever heard and I love how they consider themselves unique and anti-pop music. They sound exactly like Gym Class Heroes or one of the many rap-rock-pop hybrid bands that are out there.

(Episode 3) People do not like Kesan. Even after he apologized at the end of the last episode, the other gentleman-in-training are after him. It certainly does not help that Cee is playing Machiavelli and is painting Kesan in a bad light. So the day ends with ever more antagonism in the house.

Now we get to move on to my favorite contestant to forget, J-Boogie. Everybody wonders if he’s even a G at all, but I think these words from the man himself should put any questions to rest, “Don’t let the tight pants fool you, I’ll snap at you if you come at me the wrong way.” After this morning dose of Haterade, we find the Gs in the chapter room. No one is quite sure what is going on, but E6 puts it best, “I see my name and some preppy shit.” They are informed that today’s challenge centers around sportsmanship. Shotta does bring up a good point, “What kind of game do you play with polo shirts and a sweater vest on?” For those of you who don’t know, it’s the finest remnant of colonialism, cricket. I think it’s good that the Gs and America get to see what cricket is about, but what bothers me is that the expert they hired was an English bloke. As counterintuitive as it may sound, the English aren’t really good at cricket; this is definitely a case where an Indian instructor should have been put to use.

On to sportmanship, Mr. Bentley describes the concept in the following manner, “A true gentleman doesn’t just play to win, he plays with honor.” I found the scenes where the Gs learn to play cricket quite funny; we’re even treated to an America’s Funniest Home Video-inspired moment when Shotta get’s hit in the family jewels. Unsurprisingly, J-Boogie is excellent at cricket because he grew up playing golf. Really J-Boogie? Is he even a G or is he a wanna-G? All signs point to the latter. Kesan, who’s my favorite to win the competition, gets the gold star because he realizes that “Sports makes people forget their differences.”

It would be too easy if all the Gs had to do was learn about sportsmanship, lucky for us they have to apply their lessons on the basketball court. This shouldn’t be too hard for the likes of J-Boogs, as basketball is apparently what he does when he’s not working in the laboratory. Before they get to flex their muscle on the court, Fonzworth Bentley informs them that they’ll be judged not only on the points they score, but also on how well they follow the rules of sportsmanship during the game. They get one point per basket, but they lose a point if they display unsportsmanlike behavior. Let the hilarity begin. Oh and before I forget, I would like to introduce you to Paul, the etiquette referee.

The basketball games, which features Kesan and D-Boy’s respective teams against a team of street ballers, are horrendous. The Gs aren’t very athletic and they, for the most part, forget all the gentlemanly behavior they’ve learned. However, Kesan, being the shining beacon of hope that he is, realizes that his team has to act better and it’s because of his intervention that his team wins -7 to -8. Oh yes Kesan’s team wins on the etiquette tip. One would think that with this victory, Kesan’s situation is on the up-and-up. He has no such luck, Cee brings up the fact that Kesan spit on D-Boy’s bed and all Hell breaks loose. The Gs split into two camps, there’s more G-checking and posturing. With the heat turned up, Kesan decides it’d better if he leaves the mansion instead of risking violence. Cee is clearly the antagonizer and he seems to really enjoy his role as such. Shaun, on the other hand, wants to make sure he has a chance to talk to Kesan out of leaving. All I can say is that they have a moment, but more significantly Creepa steps into the picture with his hater-blockers off. Woo, this shit is serious. I have to admit though, that Creepa has some good advice, he’s really looking out for Kesan’s best interest.

But lo and behold, after all the drama that he helped start, Cee has a moment of regret. This G apparently has morals and starts to feel bad, this is getting…hold on give a minute…so real, so real. Don’t worry folks, Kesan is talked into not leaving the house by a shockingly un-dapper Fonzworth. Mr. Bentley gives some sage advice during his talk that we all can use, “A real champion knows how to fail and knows how to get back up.” Wait, isn’t that a line from George Foreman’s Guide to Life? One of the best moments of the episode comes when we see Cee talking to his ex, Gina. Before I move on, I have to take a minute to scold MTV. Come one MTV, couldn’t you have found a less stereotypical Italian G than one with a ex-girlfriend named Gina? He might as well have been eating chicken scallopini when he was bearing his soul. All right, back to the review. We’re treated to a side of Cee that almost seems human; he really wants to change but doesn’t seem to possess the means to accomplish this goal. I feel for you Cee, I really do. Elimination isn’t too surprising and once again Mr. Bentley makes the right choice. This gentleman knows what he’s doing.

You can catch the full episode on MTV’s Overdrive, and hear more from Mr. Bentley on his Swagger Assessment.

Notes:

Shaun makes the astute observation that the closest thing to cricket they have in the hood is rocks and two-by-fours. Now if he could only see what the hood is like in India, he’d be eating his own words.

Cee describes lab work as “Squirtin’ rats in the ass with somethin’.” My question is who told him about my research?

(Episode 2) Well we’ve made it to the second episode and it was worth the wait. The goal of this show was to teach these Gs that a gentleman always dresses appropriately for every occasion, or as Zenel puts it, “Be fresh to death and look like a zillion bucks.”

This episode starts off with drama from the get go; frankly I don’t know how a person gets into drama first thing in the morning, but Kesan and D-Boy are already locking horns.

After these morning shenanigans the Gs are introduced to their house publication, The Daily Gent, which contains their itinerary for the day. I think it’s a nice way for them to prepare for the day’s challenges, however I would have chosen someone other than Zenel to read it.

The first stop on the Gs day of fashion is a short-course taught by celebrity stylist Marcellus Reynolds. His opinion on the role of fashion is quite astute; fashion is a form of nonverbal communication. Both Fonzworth and Marcellus have some strong opinions on sagging pants, Mr. Reynolds states, “The only time you should see a man’s underwear is when he’s about to get it on.” Mr. Bentley says it more succinctly, “Pull his ass down or pull his jeans up.” The Gs are then taught how to tie a tie, which as you know is a very important sartorial skill. The funniest moment comes when Fonzworth introduces the concept of the dimple aka the Wall Street cleavage. The Wall Street cleavage? I’m definitely adding that tidbit to the memory banks.

Now onto the challenge, the Gs have to put on a fashion show. They’re divided into three teams, led by Shaun, Cee and D-Boy, and they have to model three looks: one for the golf course, one for a charity function on a yacht, and one for a Dodgers game in a skybox. Let the hilarity ensue. Before I forget, they got Ozwald Boateng as one of the judges. I was pretty shocked, I haven’t heard much from Mr. Boateng but now I know what he’s been up to, celebrity judging. The fashion show is fantastic, sure there are a decent amount of fashion blunders but you have to applaud their effort. The winner of the challenge is Shaun’s team.

I have to say that this episode’s elimination was more interesting than the one from last week. There was beef, G-checking and comeuppance. I have to say that Cee is a diabolical genius, but I should also mention that Mikey P, and his ever-changing hair style, is the least G of the bunch. The man owns a car, a motorcycle and a four bedroom house; he doesn’t need to be on the show. Mr. Bentley’s judgement as to who should leave the house is once again obvious and sound.

You can catch the full episode on MTV’s Overdrive, and hear more from Mr. Bentley on his Swagger Assessment.

Notes:

J-Boogie is under the impression that he has more style than Mr. Bentley.

Fonzworth’s opinion on snitches: “I don’t even like snitches, but I’ll listen to them though.”

Fonzworth’s Cosby-inspired sweater is hilarious and I hope he continues to wear it through out the series.

Note: I just wanted to let everyone know that I’ve also reviewed the second episode, From G to GQ.

(Episode 1) I must admit that I had my doubts concerning this show. I was afraid that it was a reality program cast in the image of VH1 shows, in other words a debacle. But this is MTV, if this network knows anything it’s reality programming. Also how can I deny myself the pleasure of watching a show hosted by Fonzworth Bentley (née Derek Watkins), who is for my money one of the nattiest gentlemen out there.

The episode starts off with a simple question: What is a G? The contestants have their own ideas of what constitutes G-dom, which includes wealth, swagger and attitude, but Mr. Bentley puts it best, “A G is someone who feels that being hard and being tough is a solution to all situations.” He expands on the concept of the show with these words, “It’s easy to be a G, being a gentleman takes a lot more effort.” With that in mind this is ultimately a program about self-improvement, and for the last G-turned-gentleman left standing, $100,000.

The first thing our potential gentleman do is a quick tour of The Gentleman’s Club mansion and then proceed to go to the bar and “pop some bottles.” In this sequence two contestants stand out, The Truth, who is all talk and no walk, and Pretty Ricky, who is pretty much the lush of the group.

The chapter room scene is pretty fantastic, the contestants get to make their introductions to Mr. Bentley, which is hilarious, and subsequently are presented with their club jackets. The most important part of this scene is the introduction of the ebony sphere or the black ball, each week the contestants will have a say as to which contestant goes by placing ebony spheres in their respective box. The contestants with the most votes will then be at the mercy of Fonzworth Bentley. I just found it hilarious that the black ball was introduced as an ebony sphere.

Needless to say there was plenty of drama in the ensuing portions of the episode. There’s already antagonism between The Truth and E6, and appropriately people are already trying to make alliances. It seems the lessons learned from Survivor are not lost on these Gs.

The most telling scenes are the face-to-face conversations that Mr. Bentley has with the contestants. It’s here that we’re introduced to the men behind the G persona that they’ve developed and the reason that they want to become gentlemen.

I won’t spoil the end of the episode, but I can say that the outcome is pretty obvious. So far my favorite Gs are Shotta and Creepa. I also like T-Jones, but his unibrow gives me the heebie-jeebies.

You can catch the full episode on MTV, and if you just want the results and Fonzworth Bentley’s opinion check out Fonzworth’s Swagger Assessment.