LAST EDITED ON 07-27-10 AT 09:20 AM (EST)

Laura's behavior in this episode bothered me more than that of the contestants. 'I want you to keep her cut off.' Right. Throw her out on the street with just the very expensive clothes on her back and she'll be fine. Anyone can find a job within hours in this current economy, especially with that wealth of shoe warehouse experience. When the host is being less realistic than the participants on this show, we've got Major Problems. Sure, they all needed help -- but was the person supposedly providing it acting out of jealousy at the end?

The take-back conditions needed a little more standardization. Some took it on the chin (again, one month to find a job in the current climate?), some got off way too easy, Erica, and it felt like too many had the chance to just move back into their old ways as if nothing had ever happened: shake head hard, erase memories, resume spending. And looking at the closing updates, that's just what happened for at least one.

(One Erica note: forget about apples not falling far from the tree -- I don't think that particular rose ever got clipped from the bush.)

I have vague hopes of the lessons sticking for one or two. Some of them got something out of this: the real question is whether they'll keep it. But for others...

...here comes Season #2. Possibly featuring Retreads #1-5.

Not the worst concept for a reality show. Even with all the fighting and frequent lack of impact, it wasn't even the worst cast. But the execution still needs a lot of work --

-- and we might just need a new host.

Who's Chrissy?