Nicole is looking at wisdom cards with positive affirmations on them. She got them from Coral's room. There's a really easy joke in there, kids - so easy, that I'm gonna leave that one up to you. Anywho, she's looking at the cards, talking about how she wants to "do more positive," because she wants more positive things in her life. That makes sense. No it really does. Totally not being sarcastic here. She also says that she wants to be seen as a hard worker.

Cut to, of all things, work. Adam and Devin are announcing their latest project. "We are going to split you up in to two teams because that's what Adam and I like to do," says Devin. I'm not even kidding, he ACTUALLY said it that way. So each team has the same mission, only slightly different. They will be window dressing or more specifically, creating a window display. Team A consists of Rachel, Mike, Nicole and Malik. They have to do a Dido display. Team B is Kevin, Coral and Lori. They have to create an Outkast display. Right about this time I'm wondering when Real World suddenly went all Road Rules, but whatever.

Next we see Mike lurking, or is that Mike walking like he has crap in his pants? No, it's Mike's alter ego a "wrestling star" named The Miz (I think that's the name anyway but really, does it matter?) Anyway, The Miz is mocking Coral while she's on the phone and she's all swatting him away as if he were a fly hovering around her picnic lunch. Surprisingly she doesn't go all ballistic on him. She just sort of rolls her eyes and continues her conversation. I guess they all have learned to deal with Mike's little quirks in their own ways by now.

The Real Worlder's are introduced to Gretchen and Leonard. Gretchen and Len work for BMG and actually build window displays full time. I am so sure they are absolutely THRILLED at the prospect of being teamed up with the spoiled little workers, but if they want to keep their jobs, they have to pretend to be interested.

Coral says she is excited because Leonard can help her team. Almost immediately after she starts telling Leonard what she wants to do. So much for Len guiding the way. Nicole meanwhile, is making Coral's demands look like child's play. The Dido team decides since Dido's album is entitled, No Angel, that they want a similar heaven vs. hell theme. Nicole immediately starts shooting her group members down and only talking to Gretchen since she is the expert. Poor Gretchen just looks scared and is probably wishing she were making a Whitney Houston window display somewhere. Rachel says, "Does she have to be the biggest boss in the entire world? Shoot me now."

The Dido group hits the streets in search of props for their display. They go in to what looks like a costume store and early on evidence of their brilliant game plan is apparent when somebody says, "We need white, yeah." For an angel display? Nah? Ya think? I mean really kids, is that a detail you HAVE to say out loud? I figured that was pretty much a given and something you can think, but for the love of God, think to yourself!

At the same store Mike buys a wrestling belt. God help us all. Not to offend anyone who is in to wrestling (but then again, WHY IN THE HELL ARE YOU??!!) but Mike totally fits in to that frat boy obsessed with wrestling mentality. Anyway, we hear Mike all pep talking himself about his wrestling mantra while watching shots of him working out at the gym. Somewhere in the distance, the Rocky theme plays.

It's time to get down to the down and dirty of window dressing. The boys take some stuff over to save some time. Nicole and Rachel come out with props in hand, all baffled at where they can be. Well, Rachel seems baffled, Nicole just seems pissed. Wait, did I use the word seems? Anyway, the boys return and Nicole, naturally, goes off. They said it was no big deal; they had to know where they went. Hell, even Gretchen interjected at one point. Nicole didn't want to hear it, even from Gretchen. Apparently her expertise is not needed in this arena. Nicole tells the boys that's not the point and how they should have told them they were leaving out of courtesy etc.

Before you know it, Mike and Nicole are having an all out brawl about the stupid five minute trip. I'm surprised to see Mike fighting back. I don't know if this is all due to his Miz alter ego, or just the fact that's he's scared of Coral, but not Nicole. So they carry on while standing in the street, and out comes Nicole's finger, and you KNOW it ain't ever pretty once that thing surfaces. The rest of the group meanwhile giggles nervously.

In the meantime, on team Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!, Kevin is talking about how great things are going, "Coral is limiting her attitude which is nice cause we need that." Going back to the disgruntled Didoer's however, we see that Nicole is on to a new gripe. This time the debate is over whether or not a picture of Dido should be part of the display. Hitler, I mean Nicole, is adamant that it shouldn't be. The rest of the crew, including Gretchen, thinks it should. Well duh, isn't this a display to promote the ARTIST!? Malik tries to interject and Nicole assures him that he is not being talked to. Oh, and did I happen to mention they are actually IN the window when all of this happens? Cause yeah, they are.

The crew tries to explain that it would be one thing if the group was divided, but that Nicole is the only one who sees things the way she does. Nicole says dramatics like, "You can kill me before you do that," or my personal favorite, "If you're gonna put that up, get a knife." Finally she begrudgingly (emphasis on begrudgingly) "lets" the group have their picture up, but not without having the last word. "I think it's tacky and I hope we lose but..." Got it. You don't agree. Moving on...

We meet Jeff, Mike and Jerry who are being touted as the Arista judges. Personally, I think they are three civilians they offered a hot meal and some airtime in exchange for their services. I doubt people of importance would venture out to support this silly little Real World project. At any rate, they all go to the Outkast display where the theme is "So Fresh and So Clean," just like Mr. Outkast's BRILLIANT song. This group decided to have a bathtub as the major part of their display. The judges seem to dig it.

Moving on to the team of terror. The girls are flipping out because Mike is still in the window making last minute adjustments. At first I thought Nicole had locked him in there as punishment for disobeying her. When the judges arrive one of them says, "Will this display make me want to buy the Dido CD?" Well, from the way you put it, obviously the answer you're looking for is no. As well it should be. Would a good display make anyone out there buy a CD? Or would it say, be because of THE ACTUAL MUSIC ITSELF? Let's see a show of hands.

Shocker of all shockers, "So Fresh and So Clean" wins. Nicole congratulates everyone on that team a bunch of times just to rub it in with her team members. It works. I am still unclear on exactly what they won, if anything. And if it really is nothing, then what the hell man? Who even cares? At least on Road Rules they get prizes.

Back to Mike's wrestle mania. In an AMAZING turn of events, Coral has decided, "If you can't beat em, join em" and even says, "How can you not laugh at The Miz?" So Coral joins forces with Mike and his crazy antics. Dubbing herself Coco Loco and Lori Teriyaki Terror, the girls karate chop their way through a night of fun. The only thing refreshing about this ending was that they all actually seemed to be enjoying each other's company. That said, that stuff's all fine and good in the privacy of your own home but it's not exactly stellar footage all of America needs to see. Then again, most of Real World isn't so I don't know what I'm saying.

Turn it down a notch to Nicole who is in introspective mode. "The negative voices are really loud." Only when she's alone does she realize how badly she carries on and confesses a bit to Coral who apparently, is now working over time as everyone's best friend.

Nicole calls a house meeting and everyone secretly wonders and worries what she is gonna gripe about now. Kevin even thinks she might be announcing that she's leaving the house since she is so miserable.

At the meeting, Nicole apologizes for her negative energy and says she wants to be a better roommate. She starts to cry, the group is shocked yet happy. Malik gets up with a big grin and sits down next to Nicole while Rachel looks relieved she won't have to relive another tough love scenario from a bad after school special. Nicole's surprised her words made that much of a difference, but she's happy they did. Everyone dissolves in tears, laughter and hugs. And they all lived happily ever after. Or do they?

Janet Branagan is a freelance writer and pop culture lover from New Jersey.

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