Or maybe this episode should be titled "Higher Ground: Tape 57 - Tapes 3/2/05, Airs 3/20/05," because that's the bizarre text that was in the middle of the screen for a full 30-40 seconds at the start of the show. Not sure what the hell that was all about

Tonight, it was the Battle of the Tulip Sellers, and it proved that there's a thin line between selling flowers on the street and straight up prostitution.

When Jim gets back to the loft after the boardroom elimination, the guys all hug him like they're all drunk at a bachelor party or something. Really weird scene. He brags about taking control in the boardroom (some comparison to chopping down trees or something).

Sarah calls Jim "unstable" and "ruthless." Which is a pretty good quick profile.

Julia calls and tells everyone to meet in front of their video screens (which we call a "television" in my house). This week's challenge: open a retail flower business. Team with the most revenue wins.

Chuck takes the lead for Matchstick. Their plan is to focus on just tulips, so they order 2000 direct from Holland. Jim wants to sell to hotels and starts arguing with Chuck via cellphone. Bethenny grabs the phone from Jim and they argue and then she argues with Chuck too. It's all very headache-inducing (for them and for viewers).

Shawn says there is something seriously wrong with the team, and that's an understatement.

Back at the loft, Bethenny wants kids to sell the flowers, but Shawn wants girls in Dutch girl outfits.

There's such chaos and arguing and just overall confusion that Chuck slumps against the wall and says he doesn't know where to begin. He announces to the team that he's turning over the leadership to someone else...and quitting the game! Everyone says no, no, no! Jim calls Chuck "my Everest," even though he really wants to keep Chuck around because he sees him as a weak link.

Primarius (aka TSN, the "Team with the Stupid Name") gets flower designer Rene Hofstede, who meets with the team (he lives right around the corner - don't tell me this isn't weirdly convenient), and he says that he'll need references if he's to work with them. Um, Rene, how about MARTHA STEWART? Or maybe DONALD TRUMP? Or maybe all the NBC CAMERAS, which are filming you right now? So contrived it's sad.

They tell him that it's a good opportunity to get exposure. Yeah, right. I know nothing about flowers (other than they sure do smell good!) and even I've heard of Rene Hofstede. He agrees to help out anyway.

Matchstick, 9pm: three of the women dress up in hot outfits like the kind you might see on Sex and the City and they go out on the street to get guys to come back to their place with them. No, to sell them flowers, silly! But it's so ridiculous. One of the women even mentions that she feels like a hooker. And, um, that's exactly what it seems like. It fails, of course.

Back at the retail space, Jim needs Brasso! But when Dawn gets back from walking the street she tells Jim she doesn't want to waste money (about $6) on Brasso. Jim tells her to leave, and for some reason she does. Chuck calls the project a "disaster."

Meanwhile, TSA is set up on Bleecker St. They're selling their various arrangements for between $45 to $150. People are coming in but not buying anything (neither would you if you were just spontaneously dragged off the street and asked to spend over $50). They persuade Rene to drop the prices, and the cash starts to flow in.

Matchstick has their three Dutch girls on the street corners, trying to get people to come into the store, or something. It's ridiculous.

In the boardroom, the final score is revealed: TSA sold $1886 worth of flowers, Matchstick sold $969. TSA wins again.

Their reward? They get to help out a housing development in Chelsea fix up their park. Um, this is a reward? Hey, I think it's a really nice gesture and certainly worth doing, but it seems like more like work or another challenge than a reward, you know?

Back in the boardroom, Jim and Dawn go at each other, and Chuck picks them to go into the boardroom elimination with him. Before they leave, one of the team member's actually asks Martha for help. She says she can't help them get along or be a cohesive team. She also mentions "Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia" approximately 47 times, in case anyone missed it (side note: Martha looks horrible in this segment, like her makeup didn't arrive in time or a light went out).

After, Jim calls Dawn a "virus" and they have to get rid of her. He also tells Chuck that he's "brilliant" and "I love you I love you I love you." Which is kinda creepy.

The three go back into the boardroom (Martha looks much better), and Jim and Dawn continue to go at each other. But Chuck takes "complete responsibility" for the team's failure, and Jim accuses him of trying to quit (sort of a sleazy "I'm with you but I'm against you" stategy, or something).

Martha says she needs a leader, and Chuck is not that leader. So she eliminates Chuck...but with no catch phrase! Unless you count "goodbye" and a handshake as a catch phrase. But that's certainly better than "you just don't fit in." I wonder if they originally filmed it like this or re-edited it after the catch phrase got such bad press? He leaves down the elevator and Martha writes her letter to him.

And then the coming attractions roll, and we see Donald Trump is on next week's show. Oh God.