The Pickup Artist Season 1 on VH-1

Two weeks after watching Season 2, I decided to watch Season 1 of VH-1's The Pick-Up Artist.  I'm glad I watched the seasons in reverse order. 

Comparatively, Season 1 is crap.  If I had seen this first, I might have skipped Season 2.  Season 1's production was sloppy.  Some of the challenges don't make sense (picking up strippers at a strip joint?!).  The three instructors (Mystery, J-Dog and Matador) never had chemistry together.  In fact, J-Dog even attacked Mystery's use and advocacy of opinion openers in a blog entry during the airing of Season 2.  Perhaps that's why J-Dog was replaced by Tara in Season 2. 

To top it all off, the winner (Kosmo) was later discovered not to be a "video game programmer" but a struggling actor. 

Granted, just because someone wants to be an actor (who doesn't?) doesn't mean he's already smooth with the ladies.  People from all walks of life (including struggling actors) can be horrible with women.  Furthermore, the people filmed in the bars and clubs were real.  The show candidly demonstrated how a guy's posture, speech and confidence could generate a certain response from strangers. 

Still, for VH-1 to have listed Kosmo as a "video game programmer" when he never programmed dick shows nobody bothered with background checks.  And not only was Kosmo the winner, he was also the best looking guy in the bunch.  This compromises the belief that virtually any guy, regardless of looks, can learn to be a good "pickup artist".  So much for the show's motto "turning loveable losers into ladies' man".  I'm surprised VH-1 ordered a second season. 

Even though season 2 was much better and with no known scandals surfacing, I've read nothing about Season 3.  I bet they won't be making one because of lack of viewership.  Most watchers of reality programming are women.  From reading various forums, most women (and some men) would frequently get outraged and moralistic at the idea of "picking up women".  If women tune out, any reality show will likely go bye bye. 

Also, why make another season for Mystery to teach the same stuff?  It would get repetitive hearing about "negging" and "DHVing" for a third season in a row. 

Even though I enjoyed the series, I'm glad there won't be Season 3.  If the show becomes popular and the Mystery Method spreads, the method would no longer work.  Although PUAs can always invent another method, I don't feel like learning another language.