Popularity Contest, Episode 2: Say Cheese!

Popularity Contest - where ten city slickers invade a small town in Texas, in hopes to win the residents over. The entire town of Vega, population 936, is involved in the show, and it’s the residents themselves, who will decide who will be crowned the most popular. The contestants are competing for $100,000, which they will split with a townsperson of their choice. Every three days a town meeting will be held at the County Barn and the losing contestant will be escorted out of town by the Sheriff.

The remaining contestants are:

• Alex - Professional Baseball Scout
• Ali - Cheerleader
• Angela - Fashion Sales Rep
• Jason - Business and Restaurant Owner
• Jose’ - Model
• Mandell - Analyst Manager
• Marthia - Opera Singer
• Rory - Chef - Current Most Popular Contestant
• Tana - Psychic Medium

Leyla, a Fashion Model, was the first contestant escorted from the town.

Rory received the most votes three days ago, and she thinks she is doing pretty well by winning “most popular.” She's knocking on wood, as good things don't always last. At the County Barn, it's after the vote and the folks still have one thing left to do. It's time for the town people to pick a contestant to bring home. Ali is the first pick. One by one each contestant finds a new home with Tana the last person chosen. (I'm actually starting to feel a bit sorry for Tana!)

Rory is thrilled with the Jacksons, her new host family. "They look like they will be a blast!" Father Jackson's first question to her is, "Do you drink?" Vega is a dry community... hmm! Nonetheless, Rory assures him she has a bottle of rum in her bag. Out comes the rum and a toast is shared by all.

Marthia's host family is musically inclined and has a piano! They will be having a concert tomorrow and son Doug has made laminated posters of her. She is going to sing some songs he has written.

It is day four of Vega life for the contestants. Angela has volunteered to waitress at the only full service restaurant in town, the Hickory Inn. She feels wonderful about placing second in the vote. She is sporting an apron, wiping tables and carrying food. The customers really like her! Jose' wanted to wait tables too, but Angela has beaten him to the punch. Instead he opts to eat pancakes. Angela can't believe he is just sitting there and feeding his face. There are dishes to be done!

Meanwhile Tana is receiving advice from his new host family, the Fairchilds. "Be around, be visible, and be seen! Be friendly but not overly friendly. Do not be IN YOUR FACE friendly!"

Patty Fairchild thinks the psychic medium thing will be difficult. "It doesn't fit into our life. It conflicts the town’s Christian beliefs. He will have a hard time making the people of the community understand his talent, his gift." Tana is out to change the town's opinion of him!

Tana first visits with the Vega Sheriff. He reintroduces himself and jokes, "I'm a psychic medium, I used to be a large but now I'm a medium." (Groan!) The Sheriff isn't looking amused. Quincy Taylor, Newspaper Editor, isn't happy either. "That Tana is a weird one! He's very loud and likes to be the center of attention (not in a good way!)" Tana walks over to the rather portly Quincy and asks her if she is on the low carb diet too? (Ouch, heh heh). A resident asks him where he is from, and he answers, "My mother!" (Smooth Tana!)

The contestants got to spend the morning campaigning, so now it's time to meet up with Host Jonathan. Every three days they will have not only a challenge, but also a Community Service Project! They will break up into three teams of three. Their first Service Project will be to go to the school and help decorate for the upcoming Halloween Carnival. Their challenge will be to design a booth for the Carnival. The booth that receives the most tickets will win $1000 to split among them.

As Rory was the winner of the last vote, she will be the first Team Captain. Her team will be called The Longhorns, and she is given a longhorn stuffed animal. She picks Alex and Tana to be on her team. Tana tells the camera, "I'm not popular and Rory is choosing to associate with the underdog in this task. This tells a big statement about her character."