Can't Win 'Em All

This is the first chance I've had to really analyze a couple of shows. "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" and "Gone Country 2" don't really have much in common. They are reality shows on cable networks. Tabitha's show goes to a new salon each week trying to fix it and get it back on track. The CMT show could be called Celebrity something because it focuses on celebrities trying their hand at writing and singing a country song.

"Gone Country 2" is a competition. There's a prize for the winner. "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" doesn't really have a prize but the salon being featured each week gets a makeover. It's partly like "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" with a dash of "Nanny 911." It's not just the look of the place that needs to be fixed, but the relationships.

Usually Tabatha succeeds in making changes in the way the salon runs, not just on how it looks. This past week, she tried her best, but the changes in management style were temporary at best. It was obvious from the outset that the salon owner really didn't want to change the way things ran. She just wanted her salon updated. It's unfortunate, because Tabatha had inspired the stylists. I hope they all had the wisdom to find new employers.

Winning is sometimes a part of "Gone Country 2". This past week they had two challenges. One was to pair up and raise money for the Country Music Hall of Fame. Lorenzo Lamas and Jermaine Jackson won this one. They were probably the most recognizable of the contestants. Chris Kirkpatrick and Mikalah Gordon worked very hard to raise money, and developed a little chemistry. Sean Young and Sebastian Bach made a half-hearted effort at best. The prize for this contest was a massage. Jermaine wasn't interested in getting a massage, but Lorenzo enjoyed his.

The second competition was a demolition derby. Everyone was terrified to have Sean get behind the wheel. They had stratagized to all try to get her out first, but she was bolder than all of them put together. Jermaine ended up being the last man driving, but Sean finished her off. If there was a prize, I'm not sure what it is, but wining gave Sean a big boost of confidence. Will it be enough to get her through the few remaining weeks?