Paradise Hotel, July 9: Hell in Paradise

When we last left Paradise, Kavita had checked out, Matt was checking in, and the couples were living together as follows:

Charla and Dave: Yellow Room
Kristin and Zack: Bird Room
Amanda and Beau: Monkey Room
Toni and Scott: Blue Room
Amy and Alex: Butterfly Room

We begin the show with a brief recap of the events which have transpired at Paradise Hotel over the past few weeks. In short, guest Amanda and Beau become a couple, fight, and make up; Zack and Amy become a couple, fight, and make up; Charla and Dave become a couple, fight, and make up... you get the idea. The full recaps are available here on RealityNewsOnline. The one piece of information that's new is that in the end, only one couple will remain at the hotel, and will win the "Ultimate Prize". That's a nice juicy tidbit for new guests to tell the old ones, but what exactly this prize is remains a mystery for now.

In Paradise, the guests discuss the selection of Matt over Bryan. Apparently they didn't like the way Bryan insulted Dave. Indeed, all of the past selections have shown that the candidate who belittles the existing guests the least has been the one selected. That's something for new candidates to consider. In any case, the girls want to know if the guys are OK with their selection. Beau makes fun of the ballad Matt sang to guest Amanda during the selection process. He has his own idea of what a rocker should sound like. Zack is amazed the girls found the guy attractive. He mocks Matt's hair and leather pants. Toni tells him that they thought Bryan was running his mouth too much. She goes off and talks with Kristin, guest Amanda, and Toni, telling them Zack is all pissed at the choice. Later, while talking to Amy and Scott, she talks about the girl holding the "Dave, We (Heart) Your Man-Boobs" sign. Scott thinks Dave has a good sense of humor, but guest Amanda thinks the comments got to him. She's proven right when Dave leans back toward them from his nearby table and tells them to "stop f**king discussing it!" Dave's confessional reveals that Toni keeps sticking her nose into everything, and he'd like her to just leave things alone once in a while. Dave calls it an early night, and says there isn't any need for anybody to go and talk with him. The others note that he's unhappy.

Despite his comments, Charla goes to their room later that night and asks him if he wants to talk. She notes he's been having a lot of down days, and he responds by saying that he’s learned that he never should have come in the first place. He says it sucks, but the most he can do is get himself voted off in four days and go back to his life. He hopes he hasn't damaged his reputation as much as he thinks he has. The sign hurt him, but he blames himself for bringing it up (flashback to the scene were he proudly said, "I have man-boobs!"). Dave goes on to say that the show hit him in his two areas of sensitivity. Matt and Bryan both took pot shots at him during the interview, Matt mocking his physical body and Bryan his ability to relate to women. Charla tells him to say things to show he's tough. Dave confesses that he's not. Charla puts aside her repulsion at feeling his bare skin long enough to give him a few pats on the arm.

Dave, I'm sorry you feel bad about it, but you brought a lot of this on yourself. When you go on reality TV, you expose yourself to lots of situations where you might end up looking like a fool. The audience is going to call you on your moves. The other guests are going to call attention to your moves. Reality TV writers such as myself are going to point out your actions. I have it on good authority that Survivor: The Amazon winner Jenna said I wrote mean things about her. I really don't intend to come across as mean, but I am going to hold the people I write about accountable for their actions. You were the one that got drunk. You were the one who said you wanted to have sex with Alex. You were the one who told everybody to call you "Man-Boobs". You were the one who made the dinner-in-drag bet with Scott over the tennis match (you won, but you'd be moping even more if you lost). However, unlike many reality TV contestants, you're man enough to admit when things were your fault, and I can respect you for that. I think your reputation is in better shape than you think.

The next day, Matt arrives at the hotel in another sleeveless shirt, though he's wearing jeans instead of leather pants. Host Amanda introduces him to the group with the usual reminder that he'll be picking his roommate that evening after he gets to know the guests a little better. Hugs and handshakes are made, and they have drinks and get to know each other. Matt and Zack talk about hair; apparently Matt said every guy there had the same haircut, and Zack ripped on Matt's hair after that. That footage must have been edited out of the show, though it might be available on subscription video. They toast to the new guy, and then toast to Dave not being the new guy anymore. Matt tells them he feels like he knows them already, pointing out that Toni is emotional. He continues by saying that Zack gave him the thumbs down before he even said anything during the competition, and notes that all of them seem to be bodybuilders. He comments about the guys all doing the pushups in episode one, with Zack returning for a few extra. Zack isn't happy about the comment. Well, Zack, your actions can't be hidden for long on this show.

Amanda and Charla give Matt the full tour, with Toni noting she thinks guest Amanda will possibly talk to Matt a little more in order to make Beau shake his knees a little more. Toni thinks that's bull. Charla notes in confessional that all the guys get jealous when a new man arrives become they aren't the center of attention anymore. Later, Matt asks the guys what they think of the women. They tell him Amy is really fun, guest Amanda is really cool, Charla keeps to herself but is the biggest player in the game, and Kristin is really funny once you get to know her. Matt then asks about Dave. Apparently whenever Charla goes back to the room, he hovers after her; they feel that may mean he's in trouble. Cut to Dave telling Charla he's going to be a wreck until roommate selection. As for Matt, he's just going to have fun until the vote-off.