SR - I think you covered everything, and I must say brilliantly so. I agree with whoever suggested you should be writing somewhere... hopefully you are.

You say:
From my perspective, it helps to remember that B/M never claimed to be organization dedicated to transforming and empowering women - not really.
The fact that I used to forget the true motivation for producing the show is a testament to their talent.
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- This is the crux of it. I think B/M ensured with casting perhaps that an element of truth would always run through their shows. Starting Over definitely lost the truth.

Iyanla would grab the attention of everyone and not let it go. Her diction, her body language, her facial expressions, her wardrobe, her essence -- it was all oozing with drama and fanfare.
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- I never quite made that distinction, but you're right, she was all about that killer stare... and what was that about?

Rhonda's demeanor and approach changed as well. My personal opinion is that she didn't want to play second fiddle to Iyanla. I'm sure she had her own internal struggles in coming to terms with the changes, but on the exterior she changed, and it was for the worse. She became smug, sarcastic, and she frowned alot.
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- Yeah, I noticed too that she came to bare her teeth and curl her lip. She reminded me of Sylvester the cat or some other cartoon character.

Suddenly publicity hounds were getting cast on the show. Many viewers could not relate to "dreams of stardom" or delusions of grandeur.
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- That was a significant change. They alienated their core audience, and I doubt they attracted a sensational viewership. What did they think they were doing?

The coaching also became more and more metaphysical, less practical. The lessons begin and end in selfishness, which is now described in less offensive terms -- now it's "being authentic".
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- Oh... that's a great debate point. Where does authentic end and selfishness begin? Perhaps lessons in selfLESSness would've been healing for all. "Being authentic" sounded mildly cult-like. If only authentic women had been cast in the first place.

The show committed suicide. There are a lot of people to blame, but in the end, there wasn't one person who could stand up and shout over the noise and confusion of this carnival, "Stop the insanity"!
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- This was exactly my feeling. No one stood up... and many acted stupidly... stupidly because I think there was a viewership to be had. What were they all thinking? Why didn't anyone stand up? SO was the only reason I turned the tv on in the afternoon. Now I won't be turning it on at all. Megan Mulally's squeely voice ain't gonna do it for me.