Oh no, you're not alone. I sometimes daydream about what job searching would be like if it were conducted as ANTM is...
Can you imagine?
"Two talented candidates stand before me, but I only have one tt contract in my hands.
Candidate 1, your research wowed the judges, but your teaching demo lacked enthusiasm. Candidate 2, the judges believe you would be a wonderful colleague and student mentor. But they question whether or not you have what it takes to pull in external funding.
Only one of you will continue on with hopes of becoming America's next tenure track assistant professor..."
OMG, I thought I was the only one who would imagine that!!!
Everytime I watch Runway Project or Top Chep (yeah, very intellectual), I think how cool would be a competiotion among grad students...
That would be real drama.