Popularity Contest, Episode 4: Sing a Happy Song

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

The remaining contestants, in order of popularity as of the last vote, are:

1. Jose – Model
2. Jason - Business/Restaurant Owner (and Beefy Model)
3. Rory – Chef
4. Ali – Cheerleader
5. Alex - Professional Baseball Scout
6. Mandell - Computer Analyst
7. Marthia - Opera Singer

Leyla, Angela and Tana have been escorted from the town.

Jose is surprised he was voted number one! He feels the same as when he was number two! (Idiot!) Alex says that Jose being voted most popular pissed people off. There are many contestants who are genuine. For the most unreal person to get the most votes shocked a lot of folks.

At the County Barn, it's after the vote and the residents still have one thing left to do. It's time for the town people to pick a contestant to bring home. A Vega child is brought to the stage to pick resident names from a cowboy hat. Ali is the first contestant chosen by the Walker family. After the Gronemans pick Mandell, Alex joins the Fairchild clan. Next the Parsley family takes on Jose, as the Harles pick Jason. This leaves Rory and Marthia still homeless. The Jackson name is drawn. Myrna Jackson knows she would never have much in common with Marthia. Myrna is too down to earth whereas Marthia is “too city.” For the second time, the Jacksons choose Rory leaving Marthia the last contestant standing. Marthia will be spending another three days with the music loving Richardson family. It was meant to be and everyone is thrilled! (Maybe they will plan another concert!)

This is Alex's first stay at the Fairchild home and he wants to make a good impression. He gets up extra early for a biscuit and gravy breakfast. Unfortunately, biscuits and gravy are not quite his thing, but he eats anyway letting out a healthy belch in appreciation. (Why is Alex wearing a hat at breakfast? Sheeze, talk about good first impressions... NOT!) Anyhoo, Alex gets introduced to the Fairchild kids who are in various stages of high school. Patty Fairchild blows Alex away by being the first resident to bring up the winning prize money. They'll have four kids in college at the same time and it isn't like they are poor and haven't saved, but college is a huge expense. Alex is glad she brought up the subject. College is certainly a great thing to consider when choosing the winning resident!

Meanwhile, Mandell is settling in with the Groneman family. Their home is in various stages of remodeling and refurbishment. The cat walks on the tables and their poodle gives doggie kisses. Mandell obviously finds this distasteful as he tries to keep himself and his surroundings clean. He bikes down to the McDonald home to discuss the Groneman family's hygiene issues. "But hey, they're nice people!" Oh Mandell, stuff it!

The contestants have a few hours to campaign. Jose is out to prove he is not just another pretty face. He decides to volunteer his time at the local service station and takes on trash collection and garage sweeping. He's going to prove to the residents that he is a hard worker! This will separate him from the other cream puff contestants.

Rory is out and about with her cowboy friends, Klay and Tate. She has not only brought them a sandwich and cupcake lunch, she has also managed to attract a big bunch of flies. Noticing that the fellas always wear long sleeved shirts, she asks if they ever get buck wild and ride shirtless with jeans? Yep, and they liked to ride "nekkid" too! "Bareback?" she jokes.

It's time for the contestants to do their Community Service Project. This is the part of the show where the contestants have to pitch in and do a task to help the town. Host Jonathan says that they will be going to a few of the town's better known residents to help out in any way the residents see fit. Hence, the project is called "Household Help." The guys will go to one home while the gals go to another.

Jonathan also decides to fill the contestants' bellies with a little food for thought. Only six of the contestants will be allowed to compete in the next challenge. As Jose came in first at the last town vote, he will choose the contestant to sit out. Jose will have until tomorrow, at the challenge, to make his decision.

The girls head on over to begin their service project at the home of retired couple, Mr. and Mrs. Russell. They will be giving the house a thorough scrubbing, complete with dusting, polishing, and dish washing. While kitchen cleaning, Rory and Ali get to chat one on one for the first time. Ali was exactly what Rory expected her to be. "She's a cheerleader. She likes being a cheerleader and she's a cheerleader!"

The guys are off to visit Tana's dear friend, Inez Jones. With Tana gone, her vote is up for grabs. Inez hasn't had four men in her home for 27 years! She assigns them basement duty. The guys are snaring cobwebs, as Jose grabs the mop to do the floor. "The wetter you get her the better! The mop! The mop!" They bust their butts for Inez and do an excellent job. Inez wants to know when they'll be back.