Bridalplasty is a short-lived Reality Show made by E! that aired between November 28, 2010, to January 30, 2011. This show featured 12 unsuspecting brides entering a mansion, to have the perfect wedding. And the one thing that's going to hold them to have that wedding? Plastic Surgery, that is!
Throughout the series, the 12 women have to participate in challenges based on weddings, such as picking the right gown or taste-testing foods and drinks served in receptions. The most successful woman becomes the "Top Bride" in which they are awarded plastic surgery from their wish list, while the worst-performing women become the "Bottom Brides" where they might risk elimination for good. If the bride survives all other contestants, they'll be given all of the plastic surgery on their list and a celebrity-styled wedding for free.
Believe it or not, many found it unbelievable, and criticism for Bridalplasty was inevitably high when the show was announced. This got one organization to state that it was "pushing the limits of medical ethics" - even questioning if free plastic surgery as a prize for a contest was worth it.
While viewership neared a million in its first episode, it predictably decreased and the show was not renewed for a second season.
This show provides examples of:
- Becoming the Boast: Alexandra boasts about her appearance on The Biggest Loser a couple of times on this show, much to the annoyance of Jenessa. It becomes the main reason why Jenessa doesn’t RSVP to keep Alexandra on her elimination episode, quipping that the show wouldn’t fix personalities like her.
- Born Unlucky: Somewhat diverted. Allyson explains that her appearance on the show was because of her bad luck - she had lost her job (along with her spouse) to the point she had to call off the wedding twice to save money!
- Confession Cam: A staple in Reality TV and this show is no different.
- Constructive Criticism: Somewhat inverted. In one episode, one contestant has to deal with harsh criticism about their preparations on how they’ll look with their wedding gown. This went to Alexandra, where the criticism lingered on the gown to the crown she had.
- Cosmetic Award: The Top Bride earns free plastic surgery on their wish list immediately after the challenge.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: Unlike other episodes, the first episode requires all contestants (except for the Bottom Brides) to raise their hand to save a bride from leaving the house. The bottom brides also had an opportunity to give a few words to explain why they should be saved. The subsequent episodes handle eliminations via the RSVP ceremony, and the safe brides do their statements before choosing the bride they want to sit with/save.
- Elimination Catchphrase: "Your wedding will still go on, it just may not be perfect."
- Elimination Statement: All brides in this show exiting get to explain their experience in the house once they are eliminated.
- Grid Puzzle: The first challenge required brides to place puzzle pieces on top of their normal bodies to showcase what they’ll be like if they win the game.
- Lie Detector: One episode brought the bride’s husbands to participate in a lie detector test that determines how truthful they are to one another.
- Manipulative Bastard: Jenessa is this, full stop. She always manages to get her way in voting, even quipping how naive the other brides were into following her advice. Luckily, she didn’t win after all.
- Nice Girl: Most of the brides, but it’s mainly Kristen who happens to have this role. She only loses it when she tries to get in front of Jenessa.
- Sell What You Love: On a technical side. Due to not having enough money to buy out the mortgage of their car, Ashley was forced to sell her wedding ring to do just that. It causes her to be the first eliminated after many of the brides distrusted her for being unloyal to her spouse.
- The Host: Shanna Moakler, more known for being 1st runner up on Miss USA in 1995.
- While technically not hosting the show, Doctor Terry Dubrow always appears on an episode to deal with the Top Bride's surgery.
- Themed Wedding: The winning bride would be given a celebrity-styled wedding.
- The Promise: One challenge required brides to say their vows to their husbands, who tried to match what their husband had vowed to their bride.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Anyone who voted for Allyson in the finale had variations of this when explaining how Jenessa manipulated and distrusted the brides, with one calling Jenessa a snake and another calling her that “she had never found anyone like her”. Even Allyson had to give one when Jenessa tried to compare how she was acting as the victim. In one case, Jenessa called her out for not taking it seriously while eating hot pockets.
