Posted on: Wednesday, June 8, 2005

TV REVIEW
'Beauty and the Geek' will charm viewers

Knight Ridder News Service

Zany, excitable Richard looks like a cross between Jerry Seinfeld and Don Knotts. "The white Urkel," a woman dubs him. The nerdy perfectionist quickly grates on competitors.

So what? Richard is a bona fide reality star, one in the same league with Rob and Amber of "Survivor." Richard helps define the sweetly goofy charm of the WB's "Beauty and the Geek."

The series, debuting tonight at 5 and 7 p.m., could easily have turned nasty.

Consider the setup: Seven not-so-brainy babes pair off with seven socially inept fellows. The men educate the women on history, geography and spelling. The women help the men learn to unbend and mingle. The most-improved team earns $250,000.

Think "My Fair Lady" as a reality game rather than a musical.

"This is not a dating show," says host Brian McFayden. "It's a social experiment."

McFayden can get away with such a high-falutin' statement. Most crucially, he avoids condescending to the players. That's not easy because the social experiment repeatedly puts the 14 players in embarrassing situations. The women have trouble answering simple questions. What state is east of West Virginia? (No, it isn't Massachusetts.)

The men have more success pulling off new dance moves, but they also must share personal details that affirm their wallflower credentials.

They could be the butt of easy jokes. Yet, through the force of their personalities, the men emerge as real-life Barney Fifes deserving of audience support.