(S13E11) I love how Tyra Banks creates revisionist history onAmerica's Next Top Model. Not only does she denounce Adrianne Curry's name, she now is ignoring the fact that Eva, who was 5' 6.5" won Cycle Three against "normal" sized models. That's an accomplishment.
This cycle's finale episode was less hectic than previous cycles because there were only two contestants, so the commercial, photoshoots, and model walks felt better paced. I like the concept, we should have final twos for the remaining seasons.
For the first time in a long time, I didn't mind if either Nicole or Laura won. Both took stunning photos.
(S13E10) America's Next Top Model continues to chug along with its petite models. At this point, the girls are pigeon holed into their story lines: Nicole - the awkward one, Laura - the southern belle, Erin - the prissy high schooler, and Jen - the sweet girl with an eye problem. They basically repeat something that fits their storyline.
Though I haven't mentioned this until now, what is up with Jen having these overly loud, sugary interviews? Screaming "Why Me?" followed by her squealing excitement for Laura picking her. It's almost as if she knows that she was stunt-cast and decided to have a fun time before she got eliminated.
(S13E09) We're down to the final five on America's Next Top Model and one thing that Top Model is doing better this season than Project Runway is capitalizing on their location. Sure, Laura may look like a tomato during interviews, but at least Hawaii is being represented through their beaches and sugarcane plantations.
This week's challenges were basically recycled from previous seasons. A falling challenge (similar to Season Six's Falling Fairytale photoshoot) and an underwater challenge (which was done in a pool in Season Two for Quench Water). Both proved to be more interesting because of the beautiful location.
(S13E08) I don't know how America's Next Top Model's photoshoots continue to grow more and more insane. This week, Tyra decided to turn the model hopefuls bi-racial. Surprisingly, the photos didn't turn out bad, just not model-like.
You know it's never good when a boring character gets a character. The mathematician Brittany caught the bitch bug and complained about how immature Erin was for the rest of the episode. Guess what happened at the end of the episode? I would rather have gotten the "fading away" edit that Tyra loves so much.
(S13E07) I love watching episodes of America's Next Top Model where contestants think they are amazing and crash and burn by the end of the show. This week, the challenge for the would-be models was the dreaded CoverGirl commercial.
The past few episodes have really become "Let's root for dorky Nicole, dyslexic Laura, and droopy-eyed Jennifer." They don't get bitch edits and even Rae finally realized how cool Nicole's dork-chic can actually be. Sundai and Erin complain about everything, while Brittany and Rae are forgettable. Since all three are favorites, I doubt that Tyra will pick them to win.
(S13E06) This season of America's Next Top Model continues the petite challenge by turning the girls into Anime/Video Game ninjas. Who suggests these photoshoots? I'm convinced that Tyra pulls things out of a hat.
The girls start the show with a whole ton of hating on two contestants. On America's Next Top Model: The Musical, Laura is portrayed as a backwards hick. On Survivor: Top Model, Nicole has been voted off for her monotone personality. This basically sets up the rest of the episode: the negative girls Sundai and Kara bitch, while the good models Nicole and Laura shrug it off and do well.
(S13E05) Benny Ninja invaded America's Next Top Model this week trying to teach the girls how to emote with their bodies. As long as he doesn't try creating stupid words like "Smize" or "H2T," he's good in my book. All the girls felt really bland this episode, probably because Bianca is gone and she's not ruffling any feathers.
Mr. Ninja needed some help and called on Lil Mama and the JabbaWokeeZ. Lil Mama? That's like trying to get Kim Kardashian to judge models. Wait, she is? I knew Tyra Banks was insane, but all the guests this year take the cake.
(S13E01/S13E02) America's Next Top Model's casting special has always been a little ironic because all the contestants have been revealed on the official CW website. Nonetheless, the girls arrived at a hotel to be sorted. Instantly, we're given a snarky gay man who takes the girls' names. He never shows up after that scene.
Tyra wants to make sure that short models get a chance this year as she looks for the next petite model. None of the girls are taller than 5'7", but to give all of the girls a shot, none of the short girls are plus-sized.
For the thirteenth season ofAmerica's Next Top Model nothing really has changed. The girls stand even less of a chance of being a successful model this season because of their well-advertised height deficit. Fans of the show will find the same exact program since ANTM has been part of the CW lineup. I guess after twelve cycles, it's inevitable that we'd see a lot of the same.
Top Model will also be emphasizing the word "petite" for the height-challenged girls. There are points of bad overdubbing where the Jays voiced over the word "petite" because they didn't originally use it. If this season does well, it may become the catalyst for "America's Next Top Plus-Sized Model."
This week in reality television was eclectic. Dancing With the Stars was happily un-complicated with the absence of Denise Richards, America's Next Top Model's most home-sick model mysteriously was on top, and no one should have watched Survivor because it was a waste of time.
This is one of those weeks where you realize that the show casts people with little-to-no chance of winning just so that the people they want to win don't mess up. Although American Idol's Michael Sarver is a great example, I'm looking mostly at Celia (right) from Top Model: she's too old. On a positive note, there was a lot of weird, memorable, and funny moments to compensate this week. More analysis after the jump.
America's Next Top Model could learn a few things from LOGO's reality show Rupaul's Drag Race. Although the two shows are different beasts (one is about models that accidentally look drag, the other intentionally looks drag), the competitive qualities of the show remain the same. There is still runway walking, working in different fashion themes, and looking fierce.
RuPaul has said that the two shows aren't interchangeable and it's true: Drag Race is colorful, fun, and intriguing; qualities that Top Model has lost after all these years. Here are several good reasons why Top Model isn't on top anymore.
The CW recently announced that Tyra Banks is looking for a short Top Model. Cycle 13 is casting women between the ages of 18 and 27 and below the height requirement of 5'7. Excuse me? I understand that people like Kate Moss (or even previous winner Eva) were shorter than 5'7, but I've learned from fashion friends and television that clothes just look better on someone taller.
We all know that Tyra just wants some ratings boost to her show. A whole cycle of America's Next Top Model with shorter contestants doesn't make sense. Mixing it up with heights would be interesting, but I guess nothing can compare to blindness, Asperger's, being transgendered, or just being Jade. If I get a whole cycle of Tyra teaching short girls how to lean back a little to accentuate their body, I'm definitely going to flip. There will be criticism telling the girls to "stand tall and proud." I can't take it already.
If Tyra really wants real models, take a tip from other shows: drop the competing age to 16 like American Idol. Tyra herself started modeling at 15, why not give girls with real potential a shot? What do you think should be the next draw for ratings?
(S02E07) What I love about Big Bang Theory, is that every time you're watching it and thinking, "yes, they're geeks. Thanks Chuck Lorre, I get it," they give you a beautiful gift: this week, that gift was Klingon Boggle. Who knew that the Yiddish word for a tasty meat dumpling was so close to the Klingon word for a tasty Klingon dumpling? I think this show is making me smarter.
While I love Klingon Boggle, I'm not so in love with the main plot from this week: the war between Sheldon and Penny. Don't get me wrong; I love the idea of a war between these two. Their interaction is my favorite part of the show. What I don't like is that the premise was flawed. There was nothing that happened in this episode that was even slightly out of character for Sheldon, yet Penny was constantly surprised by his behavior. I mean, come on, Penny. You've known this guy for over a year. Are you really that shocked that he doesn't want you to touch his food?
I love advertisements. Especially since the use of PhotoShop has become so widespread, ads and pictures in magazines have become less and less interested in reality, and more interested in the general idea of what an image is.
For instance, the ad for Cycle 11 of America's Next Top Model featured in the September issue of Vogue doesn't look like a picture of Tyra Banks surrounded by fashionista wannabes, so much as the idea of Tyra Banks surrounded by fashionista wannabes ... as imagined by an unholy union of Pixar artists and caricature-drawing carnies after a 72-hour absinthe and 'shroom binge that featured Jesus Christ Superstar stuck on a loop in the DVD player.
A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.
The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as we get a new list.
This time we have Biggest Loser, America's Next Top Model, Bust a Ritmo, True Life and Foursome.
(S13E09) We're down to the final five on 
(S13E05) 
For the thirteenth season of 
This week in reality television was eclectic. 
I love advertisements. Especially since the use of PhotoShop has become so widespread, ads and pictures in magazines have become less and less interested in reality, and more interested in the general idea of what an image is. 
A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
