Nothing feels better than eating dinner at 6pm and being able to watch The Score’s Drafted online at 7:30 because it was posted right away. Love it. Thanks, guys.
We start back at the conference table of praise and mockery (the mockery possibly only comes from my corner) where last week’s winner Nasr is congratulated and spouts off a package of word vomit that sounds like the gushings of a guest on Live with Kelly and NotSethMeyers.
This week’s challenge has the guys separated into pairs and they will have to create and co-host a segment that will be sponsored by the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Styler. While in the pairing, they will have to select a team or a player and give us five gamechangers which means five things that person or team has to work on heading into next season to be better. How many of us think at least one team will sneak in corporate sponsor Gillette by saying an athlete needs to trim his beard? Almost as if I’ve wished it, Nate is on camera explaining how the challenge is talking about a person and what they can change about themselves to evolve or grow “just like a person can with Gillette by using their products.”
Since Nasr won last week’s challenge (grumble grumble) he gets to choose his partner first. FINALLY, this show is morphing into The Bachelor with Nasr saying how hard a choice it is ‘cuz everyone offers something different. Alas, you only have one rose to give Nasr. Choose wisely. Nasr tells the camera that he’s choosing between Chris and Matty D and just as I’m about to shriek “NOT CHRIS,” he chooses Matty. And the spotlight goes immediately to Chris who calls the choice natural and decides to go back to his ranch in Iowa and continue to look for love. Or something.
Andrew chooses next and goes with Chris which leaves Ray and Nate to partner up. And off to work the boys go.
Side Note: Drafted producers, please don’t show the outside of the hotel these guys are staying in if you’re not going to show any hotel hallway dramatics like American Idol: The Good Years. When I see the hotel, I get excited that what will follow are contestants in their socked feet, throwing music sheets around, and screeching “I’M DONE WITH THIS.” If you can’t promise me this, keep those shots to yourselves.
Andrew and Chris talk some blah about the NBA and I swear when I close my eyes, Andrew’s voice is totally Crispin Glover’s voice. Try it. Spooky.
Nate and Ray are also going with NBA. This will prove complicating for your recapper but hopefully everyone will speak slowly. The best part about this is that Ray literally does all the talking and tells the camera that he lead the discussion, then Nate comes on and declares it a joint effort. I love TV. Nasr and Matty choose to break the mold and talk about the NFL. They decided on a plan of attack that talks about the Steelers and the Chargers and even mention wearing the opposing jerseys. Finally, someone is talking wardrobe here.
For this challenge Gillette has their own judge, Rob Chambers, sitting in the control room with Greg, Cam and Renee to do his own…well…judging. And the challenge starts. Big ups to favourite producer Andrea(!) who counts us in.
It turns out that this challenge is going to take place at a desk with microphones instead of standing reading off a prompter. Team Naye (Nate & Ray) start us off with this:
“Hey Score Nation welcome to game changers, I’m Nate Jergens…”
“WHICH YOUR BOY Ray Lontoc.” Strike one Team Naye, strike one.
The two are talking about the best centers in the NBA: Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard. The game changers they choose are: Attitude (where Nate drops the word ‘diva’ and my heart skips a beat), Lack of Offensive, Know Your Role, Great Expectations, Big Shoes to Fill.
Judges: The delivery is weird. Nate talks too much to the camera and not enough to Ray and seems a little nervous. Ray appears to be comfortable. It doesn’t feel like a show. I totally understand what they’re saying because there’s no discussion whatsoever, but both guys seem equally comfortable. Good effort Team Naye! In possibly the best moment of the night (I’m calling it) Greg totally calls out Ray for developing an accent. It’s called swag, Greg. Recognize.
At this point I’ve forgotten the whole ‘add in Gillette’ until the guys end their segment with “Be the master of your own style” said in union. Team Naye out!
Chris and Andrew go second (Team Chrandy) and they’re talking about the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets. And right away you can tell Andrew is a ball of nerves. He does that awkward pause thing in between every other word like he’s struggling to remember his lines. The game changers they discuss are specific players who need to make changes, coached through cancer treatments, or have a huge back tattoo that may have magic powers at revitalizing a career.
Judges: Andrew needs to relax a little, he’s too formal. Interesting references. Chris always starts off nervous but gets good once he’s in it. Andrew definitely has the knowledge. Great extro.
(Andrea: “Are we ready for the next guys? Are you ready? I can’t hear you. Well, I’m ready. Let’s go guys”)
Matty and Nasr are last (Team Nartty). Already Greg predicts that this team will do the best and truth be told Nasr delivers a seriously solid intro. Which sucks for me because there’s nothing to be snarky about. Look less into the camera and into my soul, I guess? As mentioned, Team Nartty is talking about the Chargers and the Steelers and are also choosing specific players and their game changers. Matty gives a shout out to Antonio Garay and his glorious hair and Vaughan Martin from London, Ontario. (Andrea: “Malvern, woot woot!”) Plus, they end on a funny note with a reference to Gillette and a stroke of their hairless facing asking men to ‘Keep it clean’.
Judges: No one is talking to each other. They know their stuff. They just keep launching into game changers; not sure where they’re going to go with it. They weren’t really interacting with each other, but were instead playing a part.
During the judges deliberation, Gillette dude mentions that a quick outline of what the guys were going to discuss would have made a huge difference in how easily they were to follow. Ray mentions that this is something he would have liked to known before the challenge. So please, judges, next time sit Ray down and carefully tell him everything he has to do to impress you. We wouldn’t want creativity to creep in here.
The judges want to bring out contestants individually ranked from best to worst. Which means I have no need for my super awesome team names (RIP Teams Naye, Chrandy and Nartty). First out: Matty D. They remark that his energy was great, pacing was good and he brought fun bits of info to the discussion. Second is Nasr. The feedback about his performance was good as was the opinions on his blue windbreaker. Confusing. Third is Ray and the judges let him know that his connection to the material was good and he was in his comfort zone. Cam stole Greg’s joke about his acquired accent but it’s okay because at least someone said it to his face. Fourth is Chris and it’s all about his nerves at the beginning but his strong finish. Fifth is Andrew and although they appreciate his sports knowledge they want him to be less of a human encyclopedia. Which means that Nate is again in sixth. Renee comments that she wanted more opinions from him and Cam needs him to get a little more fired up. Agreed. Nate feels a little A.I. sometimes.
Back in the bullpen Nate does the obvious guy thing where he shrugs it off all “Whatever, I thought I did good.” What I wouldn’t give to see any kind of actual emotion… from anyone! One tear, that’s all I want. Happy, sad…don’t care.
Next week the guys interview NHLer Paul Bissonnette and his unfortunate mustache. Yea. I went there. The clips show major drama with a few of the guys asking crazy questions. Hopefully about that abysmal facial hair.
Jackie? Where’d you go?
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Bianca Teixeira writes about bunches of things. Follow her on Twitter at @BeeLauraTee.
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