(If you're not familiar with this show, try this primer: http://independentrage.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-reality-show-what-chilli-wants.html)Nutshell synopsis: In a most tension-filled episode, relationship specialist Tionna T. Smalls (I never knew her middle initial before tonight's episode) sets up TLC's Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas on a slew of new dates, with Chilli rejected every single dude. By the end of the episode, things very much come to a head between Tionna and Chilli, culminating with an angry Chilli walking out on Tionna!
Segment 1: Chilli and Tionna are back to the ATL from Vegas. Tionna observes that "Chilli's hurting" after being stood up by Floyd Mayweather in Vegas. Tionna reveals to Chilli that she has lined up a string of new dates for Chilli with various suitors. Tionna's one condition: That Chilli cannot hit these dates with any of her notorious "Chilli's checklist" items while the dates are in progress. First up is a "kickboxing date" with kickboxer Tracy at an ATL gym. Tracy rubs Chilli the wrong way almost from the start, and Chilli wants to walk out when some of Tracy's sweat flies off and hits her on the neck. And Chilli breaks her vow not to grill these dates about the Chilli Checklist, inquiring of Tracy how religious he is. Chilli is turned off to find that he's not a regular churchgoer, as well as with the fact that he tends (in Chilli's view) to use big words unnecessarily. Chilli is attracted to Tracy ("he's so cute"), but ultimately dismisses him as lacking charm and as having a "smart mouth."
Segment 2: Chilli and Tionna head to Sunny's Hair & Wigs in the ATL. Tionna's goal in taking Chilli to this wig shop is to get Chilli to "loosen up" by trying out a new look. Funniest moments of the episode: Tionna puts on a blonde wig in order to become "the black Marilyn Monroe" and struts around the wig shop as such. She even gets Chilli to try on said wig! Ultimately, Chilli allows Tionna to pick out a wig for Chilli to wear (a very full and long dark-haired wig). But Chilli has reservations, commenting that wearing the wig makes her "feel like I'm in some witness protection program."
This segment continues with Chilli's next date (as set up by Tionna) -- a bowling date with T.J., to whom Chilli is immediately attracted and describes as a "pretty boy." Since Chilli immediately sees some potential in T.J., and since she doesn't really care for the wig that Tionna picked out for her, Chilli quickly excuses herself to the ladies room to remove that wig. She then returns to T.J., who gives no indication that he notices any difference (which Chilli seemed to appreciate). The two of them then bowl a game, and Chilli comments that she was having a really good time and that T.J. has a "nice butt." But she doesn't like that he lacks hair on his chest and that he didn't let her win the game. Again, Chilli disregards her earlier pledge and hits T.J. with a bit of the Chilli's Checklist, asking T.J. if he's close with his family (and he gives great answers). Then out of nowhere, Tionna waltzes into the bowling alley in order to check up on things. Tionna (thinking to herself) is not happy that Chilli has removed the wig that Tionna selected for her -- since it exhibits that Chilli is not taking Tionna's advice. Tionna pulls T.J. aside and encourages him to plant a big 'ol smoocheroo on Chilli. Chilli figures this out and quickly ends the date, since Chilli does not kiss on the first date. At the end of the day, I think Chilli really liked T.J., but Chilli still dismisses him out-of-hand as being "too young" for her.
Segment 3: Chilli goes on a string of new dates set up by Tionna. First up is a bona fide MENSA genius (I don't think his name was revealed), whom Chilli finds not to be so smart. Next up is a pro golfer, whom Chilli dismisses as "needing some time on the treadmill" (i.e. packed a few too many extra pounds in her opinion). The next candidate is an Iraq war veteran, but Chilli again is not impressed, commenting that she wants to have another baby and so (in her view) she needs something better than the guys that Tionna is setting up for her. Her final date of the episode is with Bernard, an Olympic athlete who has won gold and silver medals in track. Chilli again breaks her earlier vow not to apply Chilli's Checklist on these dates and quickly ends this date when Bernard says that he likes to have drinks when he goes out (Chilli's Checklist Item #1: No Drinking).
The segment ends with Tionna, calling it "Report Card Day," seriously confronting Chilli about all of these dates on this episode after which Chilli very quickly dismissed the various candidates. Tionna comments (away from Chilli) that "this chick don't like nobody" and that Tionna is "starting to feel like this is a waste of my time." In Chilli's presence, Tionna tells Chilli that Chilli seems to be "confused," not knowing what she really wants in a man.
Final Segment: Tionna's confrontation meeting with Chilli continues. Tionna tells Chilli that she's not finding the "goodness in guys," but instead is just looking for negative traits which Chilli can use as a justification for rejecting them. Chilli retorts that she's a "package deal" with her son Tron, and therefore she does have very high standards. Then Tionna uses the word "bitch," which Chilli really does not like, telling Tionna that "bitch" is a part of Tionna's "New York City lingo." Tionna then gets back to the subject, telling Chilli that "you're not going to find a man" because "you're standards are too high." Chilli storms out of the room in a huff. End of episode.
Preview of upcoming episodes: Tionna convinces Chilli to visit a therapist concerning her relationship woes. Chilli and Tionna go to the female therapist together. Chilli confides, "Something happened; I'm not my strong self anymore; I think I'm going to cry."
My final comments: This was the first episode on which it really started to become clear that Chilli is not simply a woman (1) with a funny and stringent checklist of required male attributes and (2) who tends to have problems finding the right man. Rather, as Tionna is noting in her various comments, there do seem to be some real issues here that are threatening to prevent Chilli from ever realizing her current dream and desire to meet the right man and to have another child. I thought it was a wonderfully insightful observation by Tionna that Chilli is failing to look for any of the good in the men she meets, instead focusing on finding some negative trait that she can use as a reason to reject those men. I think the professional therapy step is an excellent idea, and I'm really rooting for that process to help Chilli work her way through things and find that right man!
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