This season, it's women versus men

Can a Playboy bunny and geeky videogame programmer see eye-to-eye? "Beauty and the Geek" returns to ask that question and more.

In the reality show's fifth season premiere, Tuesday, March 11 at 8 p.m. ET, "Beauty and the Geek" introduces nine gorgeous but academically impaired women and nine brilliant but socially challenged men.

In a new twist, the men and women won't be paired this time, but set to compete in two teams. No, not shirt vs. skins (which has tantalizing possibilities) but beauties vs. geeks.

That's right. The women will compete as a group in challenges such as plumbing pipes, while the men will have the chance to be in-studio guests on radio program "Loveline" with Dr. Drew to talk about sexual issues. Both groups will make cameos on "The Young and the Restless." At stake is a $250,000 grand prize.

The twist is a significant one since previous seasons were touted as a "social experiment" since the paired beauty/geeks learned from each other in their efforts to beat the other pairs. The beauties vs. geeks formula may change the household dynamic. Regardless of the change, a season that features a Playboy bunny, a sweater vest enthusiast, a self-proclaimed "Gaysian" and a Hooters hostess promises to be intriguing.

A list of the nine beauties and nine geeks follows:

The Beauties:

Name: Amanda ("Runway Model")
Hometown: West Warwick, Rhode Island (currently Queen Creek, Arizona)
Age: 23
Occupation: Model

Name: Amber ("Hawaiian Tropic Model")
Hometown: Houston, Texas (currently Los Angeles, California)
Age: 25
Occupation: Model

Name: Cara ("Aspiring Soap Star")
Hometown: Leawood, Kansas (currently Temecula, California)
Age: 21
Occupation: Cocktail Waitress

Name: Jillian ("Playboy Bunny")
Hometown: Northfield, New Hampshire (currently Miami, Florida)
Age: 22
Occupation: Model

Name: Kristina ("Daddy's Girl")
Hometown: Wheaton, Illinois
Age: 21
Occupation: Student

Name: Leticia ("Extreme Sports Model")
Hometown: Cave City, Kentucky (currently Orlando, Florida)
Age: 29
Occupation: Action Sports Announcer

Name: Randi ("The Navy Diva")
Hometown: Missouri City, Texas (currently Houston, Texas)
Age: 26
Occupation: Stylist

Name: Tara ("Hooters Hostess")
Hometown: Davie, Florida
Age: 24
Occupation: Model

Name: Tiffany ("One Tough Mama")
Hometown: Mclean, Virginia (currently Nashville, Tennessee)
Age: 21
Occupation: Student

Meet the Geeks:

Name: Chris ("M.I.T. Oceanographer")
Hometown: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Age: 23
Occupation: Student

Name: Greg ("Self-Proclaimed 'Gaysian'")
Hometown: Azusa, California
Age: 23
Occupation: Clothing Designer/Pastry Chef

Name: Jonathan ("Mama's Boy")
Hometown: Colfax, California
Age: 26
Occupation: System Administrator/Technical Consultant

Name: Jim ("Videogame Programmer")
Hometown: Bedford, Massachusetts
Age: 21
Occupation: Computer Programmer/Student

Name: Joe ("Cowboy")
Hometown: Nipomo, California
Age: 24
Occupation: TV Assignment Editor

Name: John E. ("Recovering Microsoft Addict")
Hometown: Tempe, Arizona
Age: 25

Name: Jason ("One Buff Geek")
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Age: 23
Occupation: Internet Marketer

Name: Matt ("The Poet")
Hometown: Little Elm, Texas (currently Dallas, Texas)
Age: 21
Occupation: Student/Writer

Name: Tommy ("Sweater Vest Enthusiast")
Hometown: Somerville, Massachusetts
Age: 24
Occupation: Law Student