While I've been somewhat annoyed with the producers of Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious for some of the more obviously-manipulated elements of the show, I will concede they have a tough job as the show nears its conclusion.

Unlike a show where only one winner emerges, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious will have three. So the thing that helps generate drama – tension between the girls – is also the thing that could hinder the audience's excitement at the group finally coming together at the end. Ultimately, we do want the girls to be a team together, and so while they need the friction now, they also need it to be hurriedly resolved by the end. And they need the girls to not become so unlikable through the conflict that we stop caring about whether or not they get there.

Once again, my picks for Most Girlicious are also my picks for the three I think will ultimately make the group.

While each girl didn't act their best (Tiffanie can be a bully, Nichole was a bit of a tattle-tale, and Natalie was contributing to the division in the house), they still managed to rise above the pettiness and pull together for the group. They also all presented themselves very well, with Tiffanie being very diplomatic on the radio, and Natalie won the Extra challenge. Tiffanie and Nichole have been consistently strong performers, and while Natalie has sometimes faltered onstage, she's got the magnetic stage presence to make up for it.

Tiffanie also gets some special kudos from me because it's seemed she's taken a leadership role to put aside the kind of selfish pettiness you can usually see on shows like this. Tiffanie helped Jenna when she was having trouble with dancing, and this episode, it appeared she tried to pull the group together to work together despite their differences. In interviews, it was clear that she was doing this for her own benefit, but who cares? That's what being a professional is, being able to see the goal and work towards it, even it means setting aside your ego.


On the other hand, Charlye seemed unable to do this. She said to Nichole that she didn't think it was realistic that the girls could be thrown together and get along. She said, “If you click you click, if you don't you don't.” No, that's how it works in your personal life. As a professional, you have to learn to work together no matter how well you click. She's really talented, but the judges saw she's not into the group concept.

And Chrystina did better at rising above, but honestly, her poutiness every time adversity is thrown her way is working my nerves. If she can't handle the negative opinion of some girls in the house, how will she handle a bad review? And once again she struggled with memorizing her vocals. I think she's very cute and has a lot of potential, but as she said herself towards the end of the episode, of all the girls, she might be the most “not ready.”

While both have been giving one more chance to prove themselves to Robin, can either of them do it?  We'll find out on next week's finale of Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious.

- Leslie Seaton, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of CW)