Charm School (VH1)

Apparently, many people can't get enough of the cringe-worthy antics of the female contestants on shows like Flavor of Love and Rock of Love. Hence, CHARM SCHOOL, which takes an interesting -- if hypocritical -- tack with the wild women who once vied for Flavor Flav and Bret Michaels' affections. Declaring that the female contestants' outrageous behavior on the original show was an embarrassing display of rude, tacky tendencies, Charm School purports to teach them how to behave better. During the course of the series, they attend etiquette classes and compete in challenges that are designed to strengthen their character and add a little class to their act.

Despite moving speeches about self-respect, other elements of the show point to continued objectification of the women for the sake of "entertainment." For example, when they prepared for their first elimination round in the show's first season, the contestants were given outfits that included short schoolgirl skirts, which many of them proceeded to sex up as much as possible by hiking them up even shorter or pairing them with an unbuttoned shirt with rosary beads nestled in cleavage. And Charm School delivers plenty of confusing messages both to the women and the audience. For example, the women are told that teaming up for a rigorous obstacle course challenge is an exercise in collaboration and sisterhood, but the team captain who chooses teammates based on friendship rather than their ability to win is punished.

In some ways, Charm School is an interesting study in class and race, though this aspect of the show isn't highlighted. For instance, when a white male judge tells an African-American female contestant that she should focus on the skills she's learning instead of the cash prize, she scoffs, saying later in an interview that for her, the money could significantly change her life. Viewers who recognize how some of these women are being taken advantage of by the show and its producers might feel a little icky enjoying the strangely compelling car crash that is Charm School.