Is VH1’s “reality” show The Pick-up Artist for real?
I visited my sister Sydney over the weekend, and she introduced me to the bizarre VH1 show, The Pick-up Artist. (Weren’t they worried that people might confuse it with the wretched Molly Ringwald/Robert Downey, Jr. movie of the same name?) The show is so sexist and staged that it’s hard to believe. A guy named Mystery instructs a cadre of young nerds in the tactics of seduction. Mystery is pierced and sports both eyeliner and black nail polish. He’s not my idea of a dream catch, but apparently he does well enough, since he has his own show and a book, too. Then again, I doubt I’m in their target market.
Each week the nerds are given a different assignment to impress women. The nerds I saw included a cute but antisocial Indian guy, an overweight but attentive guy, a good looking but painfully shy guy, and a fourth whose niche I couldn’t determine, but he seemed similar to “good looking but painfully shy” guy. The internet research I’ve done suggests the show is for real, or at least as “real” as reality-based shows get. Not recommended, unless you’re looking for a car-wreck type viewing experience.