They pair off in groups of two, compete in various challenges and — if luck is with them — actually learn something from each other. The girls certainly have plenty of room to improve their intellectual skills. The guys are super nerds who have lots of room to improve their social skills.

They keep telling us this is a social experiment, and it is, in a way. One of the geeky boys gets sort of drunk with power after winning the initial challenge in Thursday's premiere and acts like a total jerk. But you can feel sorry for him, because he's completely oblivious to the fact that he's acting like a total jerk.

Yes, the show makes fun of how dumb the beauties are. And of how nerdy the geeks are. But it's actually quite good-natured and warm-hearted.

Now, if only they could stop repeating so much of the show by showing us previews of what's going to happen, then showing us what happens, then repeating what happened, over and over and over again. . . .

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E-mail: pierce@desnews.com