'Bridalplasty': More Shallow Than Expected

I didn't have high hopes for Bridalplasty, the new reality competition hosted by Shanna Moakler which debuted Sunday on the E! channel (Sundays at 9 p.m. ET). It's one of those shows whose very premise can turn your stomach: Twelve brides-to-be vie against each other in various wedding-related challenges for a grand prize -- all the free plastic surgery they want.

Most people would agree that in some cases, plastic surgery can be a godsend (for those who can afford it). A good surgeon can conceal scar tissue; or help a dangerously obese patient get back on track to a healthy weight. Just one outpatient procedure can restore confidence to a woman born with, say, a markedly pronounced nose, or a man whose outward-sticking ears are all anyone notices. But when a pretty woman just wants to look prettier, or an insecure woman hopes that a physical transformation will allow her to live a happier life, well, then the whole concept starts to seem tawdry.

So the question is: Based on last night's premiere, is Bridalplasty about brides with a genuine need to go under the knife? Or is it about pretty women yearning (and now fighting) for perfection?

Sadly, but not surprisingly, the contestants are predominantly attractive women who are shallow. Yes, some of them could stand to lose weight. Why haven't they shed it the old-fashioned, diet-and-exercise way? That's not addressed, but the reason is clear: A quick liposuction fix is easier and faster. And hey! Why not go on a TV show and get famous while you lose those extra pounds? (One contestant, Alexandra, did lose 91 lbs. on The Biggest Loser, but she still wants a tummy tuck, an arm tuck and an eye tuck.)

Then there are the beautiful girls whose good looks aren't good enough for them. "I'm used to getting what I want, and if I don't, I just cry until I get what I want," says Cheyenne, a gorgeous, perfect 10 who wants to smooth the teeny bump on her nose. Kristen, who is literally a beauty pageant contestant, still finds the need to get lipo. And then there's Netty, who'd like more junk in her trunk in order to flaunt it. "I absolutely know that I intimidate other women," she tells the camera. "But just wait until I have Jessica Biel's butt! Whew!"

By the end of the first episode, one girl had to go home with her -- sob! -- imperfect body. The rest got to have their faces injected with $600 worth of "filler." Scary.

"Having these 15 surgeries, or more, it's a lot," says a teary contestant named Lisa Marie. "But to have complete confidence, that's probably the best gift you could give a girl." Will 15 surgeries give her the complete confidence she lacks? I suppose we can all watch this horrendous excuse for a TV show, and find out. Or not.

What did you think of Bridalplasty? Chime in below!

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