Another shaken caged rats show?

Good Day Readers:

Caught the debut Monday evening of Redemption Inc. CBC's new reality series starring Kevin "Television Tough Man" O'Leary and 10 former convicts. Patterned somewhat after Donald Trump's The Apprentice we were expecting another "shaken caged rats show" where diverse individuals are forced to worked together and viewers wait for the sparks to fly. While it had many of these qualities we were pleasantly surprised.

Loved the scene where Brian (armed robbery - 9th from left) scrapped a sleek, black $100,000 Mercedes 55SL backing it out of the garage of the high-end suto spa/detailing business the group had taken over to run for the day. Then there was Alia (former crack dealer - 5th from left) who at one point leaned into the camera to say, "Kevin is a lot like me a bit of a dick but a softie. He can't bulls..t us."

Here's were the show had a really nice touch. Nicole (third from left) was deemed the weakest link. However, she was offered a package she should accept or turn down to stay in the competition but if she did and was eventually eliminated it would not be re-offered. It included:

An electric bicycle for transportation = $1,000

A course in entrepreneurship (Centennial Collage) = $2,500

Money for a new business wardrobe = $1,500

One year mentorship program (Carla Wood - executive/entrepreneurial strategist coach) = value unknown

Total estimated value = approximately $10,000

The next episode is Monday, January 16, 2012 at 9:00 p.m.

Our rating: 4 1/2 stars out of a possible 5. The 1/2 was lost for trying to create the impression he has a corporate jet after frequently telling Amanda Lang on The Lang & O'Leary Exchange he flies commercial. Just like he attempted to con her on a recent show that there's an "Earthquake Foundation" while debating fracking. She responded she didn't fracking believe him.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
  

You can watch the entire first episode at www.cbc.ca/redemption.