It wasn't
real popularity that saved Kim.
People Magazine doesn't follow the sheep, they tell the sheep where to go.
Some asshole intern tried to Eliza Doolittle this nobody into a contender and failed.
But really, it was Garret's manager/Agent that dropped the ball.
Honestly though, if Berman didn't find out about the magazine poll, and let Garret Go, would Team Wang have been able to parley that magazine spread into a multi picture deal with one of the big houses?
And if he thought he could Shelly Long it, the kid should have had a French exit and snuck Jennifer in the back to resume as if no one had ever said anything harsh.