READY TO PITCH? (#105)

EPISODE PREMIERE: October 14, 2005

After the elimination of the Quad Zipper boys, Landon and Marvin, Quintana and Jessica, and Chris reported to the Lab for the very last time. Host Todd Newton informed them that it was time to fly to HSN headquarters in Tampa, Florida, where they would make their live pitches to America. Immediately upon arrival at HSN, the teams were taken on a dazzling tour of the facilities that teased the grand prize even more: a one-year contract to sell their product on HSN.

The next day, the teams attended Pitching Boot Camp, where pitching expert Kathy Levine downloaded - and overloaded - them with the do's and don'ts of on-air pitching. Kathy then grilled the teams during individual training sessions. First, she criticized Marvin and Landon on their positioning, warning them not to turn their backs to camera. Next, she encouraged Chris to loosen up and bring more charm to his presentation. Finally, she foresaw disaster for Quintana and Jessica and warned them not to make their final pitch together. The reluctant women were heartbroken about being split up, but decided that Quintana should make the pitch.

Once the practice time was through, the teams traveled to a local mall to put their sales skills to the test. At the mall, the teams were greeted by singer and HSN superstar Patti LaBelle, who challenged them to sell a variety of items to mall shoppers over a two-hour period. The teams were competing for more than a consultation this time around; at stake was the right to choose the pitching order in front of the HSN cameras. The girls came up short during the competition, while Marvin and Landon struggled to keep pace with Chris. The contest finished as a tie between the two men's teams, but during sudden death, Chris defied the odds and handily defeated the Gorilla Grippers. Victorious, Chris strategically chose the final pitch order to be Marvin and Landon first, Quintana second, and himself third.

After an anxiety-filled last supper and a night of practicing pitches, the teams awoke the next morning and hit the ground running. In a whirlwind of activity, they traveled to HSN, met their on-air co-hosts, put on make-up, and were finally thrust before the cameras to make their final pitches (visit the Ready To Pitch? video page to watch the complete pitches).

Finally, it was up to America to call in and vote for the one team who would win a one-year contract to sell their product on HSN. In a result revealed exclusively on usanetwork.com, Chris and Sammy, inventors of the Hydromax System, won the coveted grand prize and had their lives changed forever!