First off, I love Whitney and all her campyness but to be America's Next Top Model.... oh come on! Her size is an issue but when every other photograph has her with a "sex" face, it's hard to take her seriously. In the finale tonight her runway walk was so over top with her arms swinging crazily. I could tell at the panel that Paulina was against this choice. Ultimately what Tyra wants, Tyra gets.
Tyra, made a calculated decision to pick Whitney. Not because she was going to be the America's Next Top Model (none of them ever had a real chance). Tyra knew a choice like this would generate more press than Anya every would. Tyra at the end of the day doesn't just demand attention she needs people to love and respect her.
Let's not forget this show is called "America's Next Top Model". The reality of the industry is that Whitney on the runway in that lovely Versace Dress would never make the casting for a Versace show. I'm not going to argue if it's fair or not but it's reality and that's where ANTM fails as a show. It's not a reality show about finding the next girl to be the Next Top Model from America. It's stale Jello pudding that's been served up to the audience as Crème brûlée. Oh come on! Not only does it not give us the truth it completely dumbs down what is a complex and huge industry with wishful thinking. It's Cycle 10 and I'm pretty sure us viewers can handle a bit more truth and complexity.
This is just another glaring example of how Tyra Banks and crew is at odds with the fashion industry. It's probably due to Tyra having to balance her ultra nice TV persona with that of the real fashion world. Unfortunately the audience loses. The real fashion world is a nasty competitive place. It's more true in the modeling than any other fashion arena. Tyra is cheating us viewers by not actually seeking out America's Next Top Model and portraying how hard it really it is.
If you want to be really entertained watch Germany's Next Top Model. The first cycle was a near carbon copy of the American version. Fortunately with the efficiency and drive for excellence you'd expect from Germans they quickly changed the format and made it a real competition that not only is accurate but utterly entertaining. Catch English subtitled episodes on youtube. Here's the current season 3 episode 1.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Whitney wins America's Next Top Model, suckage continues
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Heidi Klum don't move Project Runway to LA!!!
Project Runway when it switches networks from Bravo to Lifetime is moving Season 6 to Los Angeles. This is a dumb move. Like America's Next Top Model the move is to accommodate Heidi Klum's schedule. Unlike Tyra, Heidi at least admits it.
ANTM suffered from it's move from NYC to LA (as I wrote about it in this post). LA has a fashion scene but it's in no way comparable to NYC.
The LA fashion scene is definitely edgier but many would sum it up as denim friendly fashions. Come visit the Tru Drama store and you'll see what I mean. Even LA spawned Juicy Couture has moved to New York. LA lacks the gravitas of being a fashion capitol. My biggest fear is that we're going to see a lot of printed t-shirts with bling all over it (sorry Mr. Audigier!!!).
The forthcoming Season 5 with Bravo will still be in NYC, oddly (or smartly) Season 7 with Lifetime will be back in NYC. Let's hope Heidi realizes that LA can't replace NYC. There is only one fashion capital in America and that's NYC.
On a side note, I've been watching Heidi's Germany's Next Topmodel season 3. I don't understand a word of it but it's easily eclipses any of the other Next Top Model franchises. It's that good... more about that in a future post.
