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| 'Beg, Borrow & Deal' backseat driver By Dan Shanoff Page 2 columnist | ||
Eight strangers were brought together in New York City, divided into two teams and let loose on a monthlong, cross-country version of a scavenger hunt on steroids. The challenge: Be the first to complete 10 (out of 40) sports-related tasks and get to Alcatraz. And oh by the way, they have nothing but the clothes on their backs and their wits. That's why it's called "Beg, Borrow & Deal." Page 2 will be tracking their progress each week. Episode 4: A Tale of Two Teams
Team Cobi Ranking the teammate performances this week:
Could have done better: So the team spends an entire afternoon with her sorority sisters, and she can't set up her two guy teammates? Lesson, fellas: There's a reason it's not called "wingwoman." Overall: This was her episode to shine, and she came through big. Big question: In her hometown, she was expected to lead; is it back to being Kelli the Follower for the rest of the trip?
Came up big: No question -- after a self-proclaimed dry spell, Juliet enjoyed a little home-court somethin'-somethin' when the team got to her Chicago suburb house. Could have done better: Despite setting the team up at her family's Chicago mansion, she continues to alienate them all with her attitude. Overall: Gotta love that she comes from major money -- her teammates sure did (as did that random guy). But you can't buy love, and she ain't getting any...from her teammates, at least. Big question: We admire her hook-up gusto, but is it just another example of "What-About-My-Needs Juliet"?
Could have done better: His lack of sports knowledge is going to be more and more of a team Achilles' heel. Overall:Continues to provide best lines of anyone, particularly his rambling, hysterical monologue about Juliet's family palace. Big question: He seems just about ready to smush Juliet. Maybe next week?
Could have done better: If nothing else, he could have found himself one of Kelli's sorority sisters, no? Overall: The further away the team gets from the South, the less impact he seems to have. Let's hope for his sake this isn't a trend. Big question: When will he and Juliet have The Showdown? (Or, dare we say it, The Hook-up?) Overall team analysis: Back in control of the game as the women lead the team to scoring, both on and off the official board. Now in Chicago, there's a wealth of possibilities of what to do next to kick off their final five tasks.
Team Contact Ranking the teammate performances this week:
Could have done better: Put a little too much faith in a couple of NASCAR-groupie strippers to help the team out. Overall: The most unlikely thing is that the guy is growing on us. He's resting on the laurels of beating Richard Jefferson in HORSE, though. Big question: Being the go-to guy to do the tasks isn't enough; when will he take a role in trying to put together a task for the team?
Came up big: Didn't. This guy was a shmoe (again). Could have done better: Where to start? He seemed resigned to the fact that they couldn't get anything done at the NASCAR rally. Overall: For now, the guy is neither helpful nor a problem. But he's quickly becoming dead weight, which will only hurt a team with enough chemistry problems to begin with. Big question: Does he just phone it in for the rest of Richmond?
Came up big: Most adept at recognizing how poorly the team is functioning. Could have done better: Does a lot of talking about how task-fixated she is, yet seems paralyzed by how much she hates her teammates. Overall: Another crying jag! If "Produce water-works" were a task, she'd have led the team to victory by now. There's no crying in BBD! Big question: Seems to have a good relationship with Tony; can she come to terms with bossy Katie?
Could have done better: ... which also leads to her being offensively bossy, thus alienating her entire team. Overall: They might as well change the name to "Team Katie," because she's entrenched as In Charge. Katie wants makeup? Team goes to the drug store. Katie wants to celebrate a task? Team wastes an entire afternoon hanging out. If they let Katie continue to lead without challenge, they're doomed to fail. Big question: We'll say it again -- can she please lose that awful 'do-rag? Overall team analysis: Yikes. Well, at least they seem to have had it out as a foursome about their lack of team-ness. Their four-in-a-bag sleeping arrangements could only have brought them closer, as would their scary night in the NASCAR RV park. If they can salvage a task with the minor-league Richmond Braves, that would be huge. Dan Shanoff is a columnist for Page 2. Check back each week for a review of the latest episode of "Beg, Borrow & Deal."
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