Milquetoast Update

After a week of stellar performance followed by almost total disappearance a week later, Seattle's reality-TV contestants are back flying under the radar.

On The Apprentice, Seattle's Alex was a pleasant presence in the background--think wallpaper--as his Magna Corp "book-smart" team absorbed two "street-smart" players and pulled out a win. The teams had to convince mid-level musical celebrities to donate prize packages to an AIDS charity auction. Imagine uncomfortable scenario after uncomfortable scenario--Moby being the squirmiest, Fat Joe muttering something about needing Cristal, Gene Simmons skeeving everyone out--and the new street-smart members of Alex's crew roped Moby and Jadakiss into the promise of a "week-long celebrity experience" for the highest bidder. We didn't get to hear the breakdown, but the Moby/Jadakiss weeks went for almost $20k, and we'd insert snarky comment here except that it was all for a good cause.

Meanwhile, back in Palau, Bellevue lawyer Willard faded into the palm fronds, or whatever the Palau-ian equivalent of wallpaper would be. The editors seem to have remembered that he's on the island, and allowed him to astutely note some of the power-struggles going on within his tribe. One hopes that the editors' interest in getting lots of interviews with Willard is because he'll be important soon--not because it's our only chance to see him at all.

Willard's tribe, Koror, won the reward challenge (a kick-a*s shelter) in one of the most shameless corporate plugs yet (a huge floating Home Depot barge delivered tools to each tribe). The only redeeming thing? The competition was to see which tribe could build the best sh*tter.

Immunity challenge was another insanely macho combat-based stunt--this time sumo-style wrestling on a platform over the water. (Has anyone else noticed that they seem to want people to come to blows this season?) Koror wisely sat Willard out. Koror won, mostly due to the heroics of usual suspect Tom and awesome surprise bulldog Coby, so Willard lives another week. Look for a tribe shakeup soon.

Willard popularity watch: still loved more than hated but definitely less visibly loved.