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America's Next Top Model
Role: Host
Premieres: Cycle 11- September 3rd, 2008

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The Tyra Banks Show
Role: Host
Airs: Weekdays (Schedule)

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Too Much Tyra?

The following article is from BuddyTV.com. Hmm, what do you guys think about it?

Welcome to Tyraland, where models come in second to the upstaging antics of America’s Next Top Model host Tyra Banks, a former supermodel who oozes excess like she’s some contemporary Hunter S. Thompson.

Only Tyra’s drug of choice is Tyra, and non-addicts are overdosing on her self-love.

This isn’t anything new for someone who I suspect sneaks down to the kitchen every night to open the fridge just so she can stand in the spotlight. But this season seems to be even more Tyra-centric, and that isn’t good news. Right from the start, she set the cheese bar low with a no-budget skit featuring the Jay boys as mad scientists and Tyra emerging as robo-Tyra from a cylinder.

As if that wasn’t enough: Please, let my eyes stop burning from the princess party scene, when an uglified Miss J came as the crone who passes the poisoned apple to the fair maiden — or in this case, Tyra.

Even her fellow judges seem to be getting tired of Tyra’s narcissistic act. And that’s not easy for a bunch of people who probably can’t pass a mirror without taking a moment to bask in their own beauty. Noted fashion photographer Nigel Barker can’t contain his disgust some weeks, and seems to be taking his anger out on some of the poor models who have to put up with Tyra, and even laugh and squeal at her bizarre behavior.

Barker thought pre-op transgender contestant Isis made too much of the fact that she was placed in a tight bathing suit and dunked underwater for Barker’s pool shoot. Barker condemned the aspiring model for “just bobbing in the water … [making] too much of a big deal” about the real fear of man parts popping loose.

You can’t miss Paulina Porizkova’s displeasure at Tyra’s choices for the best models. When she sneered at a photo she said looked like the headless horseman in a pool of blood, Tyra snatched the photo back and declared “Fierce!”

Porizkova showed a face that looked like she’d just sucked a lemon, or watched that apple scene with Tyra again.

Let’s keep in mind this is a television show, not a real search for America’s next top photo fodder.

So the least the contestants deserve is to get their last few moments in front of the judges. Poor Hannah didn’t even get that courtesy. We’re not saying the gawky gal from Alaska didn’t deserve to go. Just that walk down the bowling alley lane was enough to get her expelled. But she should have gotten her shot in front of Her Royal Psycho-ness to hear those golden words, “Two girls stand before me, but I only have one photo in my hand.”

Instead, it was just Mister and Miss J saying they were the spokesmen for Tyra, so just pack your bags and skedaddle back to Alaska.

But you can’t ignore the ratings, which show that women 18-34 don’t mind Tyra’s oddness. In fact, they embrace it. In last week’s head-to-head competition, America’s Next Top Model soundly beat Dancing with the Stars in the Nielsens.

And I know why. It’s for those moments when fashion designer Jeremy Scott threw a justified hissy fit after model Samantha kept hiking up his creation past her lady parts on the runway after he specifically told her not to several times.

“You thought you saw a [stripper] pole down [at the end of] the runway,” an angry Scott told Sam at the judging. “You are representing me and it’s not your show.”

Nope. It’s Tyra’s show. And she apparently knows what her people want.

Posted: October 1, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: America's Next Top Model
344 Comments

A Dose of Reality: America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 11 - Episode 01: Notorious Fierce 14

My question is; What did YOU guys think of the first episode?

The Inauguration has finally arrived. No, not the Presidential Inauguration, but America’s Next Top Model inauguration. Wednesday, September 3 marked the first episode of the Cycle 11 featuring host and top model Tyra Banks. She auditioned aspiring models from across the country and narrowed it down to a manageable number. Thirty-three contestants boarded a bus in Hollywood, California, the exact place where Tyra Banks got her start in her modeling career. The differences were many in this two-hour premiere and the changes were very refreshing and unexpected.

Phase 1 – Meet the Models and Judge for Yourself

To a destination unknown, they stood up, danced, and, of course, protected their countless opinions as the conversations ranged from halfway subsantial topics to trite and trivial talk. In fact, one of the girls even commented, “You have a great advantage ‘cause you‘re the only Oriental girl here.” Can one still say that? Missy, I believe the word is Asian. They finally arrived at the converted Top Model Institute of Technology in San Fernando Valley. Armed with green lightening and green laser beams, the models found themselves in the future. Jay Manuel, Photo Shoot Creative Director; and J. Alexander, Runway Trainer; subsequently granted them access into the building. The models changed their clothes into a futuristic black jumpsuit and proceeded to their respective body scans and digitally enhanced runway walks. Tyra Banks finally joined them and Jay and J. were decked out in futuristic make-up, dress and hairstyles. It was almost a big pep rally once Tyra took the floor and definitely got their blood pumping. While the nerves were on edge and the dream turned into reality, they ended up changing back into their street clothes, introduced themselves to Tyra and performed their signature walk.

Britteny B. was not able to name five top fashion designers even though she had the gall to have a pair of red America’s Next Top Model underwear in hand. Her confidence got in the way of her sincerity with respect to her looks and about being America’s Next Top Model. Lauren Brie is a self-proclaimed exotic hottie with her beautiful doe-eyes. Analeigh, the Denise Richards look-a-like and previous figure skater, was approached by a supposed modeling agency but turned into a Saudi Arabian scam where she was almost tricked into travelling to Saudi Arabia to wed a prince.

When Clark, (with no ‘e’), was asked by Tyra who she thought the prettiest girl in the competition was, she did not hesitate when she state her answer as herself. Now she looked like a young blonde, albeit harsh, version of Raquel Welch or Sophia Loren. She had an overbite and flared nostrils that contributed to a certain beauty. Kacey indicated people used to call her “white girl” because she used to hang around white girls until they found out that she could not swim and she did not want to get her hair wet so that put an end to that friendship. Wow! Can we say shallow?

At approximately eight years-old, Marjorie arrived in the United States from Marseille, France. She is adorable with her platinum blond, short, spiked hair, although she was admittedly nervous and high-strung. That might have something to do with her being home-schooled upon arrival to the States. However, her sincere manner and admirable humility surrounded her. Joslyn, who considered herself older at 23 years of age, indicated that some of the girls there seemed to be a bit immature, but other than that, (and yes, she opened her eyes and exclaimed “They a’right, right now!” She had a squeaky voice combined with a wild personality. Her looks reminded me of Ellen Cleghorne, from Saturday Night Live and, yes, I loved Ellen Cleghorne. Oh, did I mention she auditioned for all the previous cycles at least two times? Welcome, Joslyn!

It must hold true for many that the more your controlling your parents are, the more rebellious he or she will be. At age 16, Veronique began having sex with her long-term boyfriend even though she grew up in a very strict Mormon household. After three and a half years her parents found out and she had to enter a lockdown facility for three months. Nice parents, huh?

Isis, 22, is admittedly a pre-op transgender female. While emotions ran in all directions, I just have to know–what was up with those huge earrings? Sheena thought it was very commendable for a woman (man) to display her confidence and to go after exactly what she wants. And once the rest of the girls discovered the “secret,” which was no secret at all, it became an episode of The View. Yak, yak, yak, yak.

Sheena, (Queen of the) Harlem and a Kimora look-a-like, is half Japanese and half Korean, but she states she has so much flavor that she has no idea from where it derives. Twenty-three year-old Lindsey is a plus sized model. Not much to say about Lindsey. Brittany R.’s mother is African-American and her father is Native American. Looks-wise she was by far my favorite, not to mention her beautiful caramel-colored skin. Hannah hails from Fairbanks, Alaska. She grew up without heat or water and perhaps too much exaggeration when she said it was 50 below. Hannah indicated that it was a defining moment in her childhood. Renee, from Inglewood, Tennessee wants the nearby city of Nashville to be a fashion-Mecca.

Elina, self-professed vegan and animal liberation activist wears pants and the color black because she is gender neutral. She is not a lesbian, just very sexual. A crush on Clark (with no ‘e’) caused her attention to be elsewhere other than the competition, but that did not hurt her pictures. More yak, yak, yak echoed from the “green room” tables. Kacey simply called her weird. Nikeysha lifted up her shirt not only in her audition tape, but also directly in front of the panel of judges. Of course, she was wearing falsies. Also, her hair looked just like the hair of Saliesha’s who was the winner of America’s Next Top Model cycle 9.

Would Brittany S. please come on down? This Brittany is a tom-boy and performs mixed-martial arts and cage-fights as her boyfriend’s corner person. I chuckled when she stated she stated she could hit him, but he could not hit her in her “money-maker.” I wonder why she literally talks out of the corner of her mouth? Although Susan majored in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard, she could not figure out a single heroine from English lit or a single animal to emulate. I sure hope her instructors from Harvard were not watching!

Eighteen year-old Samantha, fumbled with her words in another tom-boy kind of way, however, she could not name five top models. Very bad, Samantha!

Phase 2 – Access Granted or Access Denied

Out of the 33 contestants, only 20 proceeded to Phase 2. They were instructed to place the palms of their hands flat on the scanner and upon the digital screen either Access Granted or Access Denied appeared. After just 20 remained, they filed out of a all white room into another white room for their first photo shoot. They had to adorn blue metallic outfits keeping with the futuristic theme and get their pictures taken with three space balls. (Wasn’t that a movie?) I know, I know, they were regular exercise balls, but why take the fun out of the entire subterfuge?

Most notably was Sheena, the flavorful Asian-American. At the sight of the three balls she slid immediately onto them. Ouch, I bet she wished the balls did not spread out like they did. All she wanted to do was to “turn on the top-modelness.” Yes, those were her exact words. My other favorite was Brittany S. when she attempted to balance on a ball like a circus dog. Jay Manuel reminded her that it was a modeling competition.

The girls undressed from the futuristic garb and when Tyra named the finalists all were silent. Out of the 20 girls, only 14 made it. Upon Tyra announcing the names, they all reminded me of Miss America winners with their hands immediately moving to their respective mouths. The winners were Sheena, Analeigh, Nikeysha, Marjorie, Elina, Brittany R., Brittany S., Britteny B., Hannah, Lauren Brie, Isis, Clark, and Joslyn. (Since there were three Brittanys, Brittany S. is being called McKey and the Britteny B. is now called Sharaun for the remainder of the episodes.)

Phase 3 – Top Model Looks Toward the Future and the Future Looks Fierce

Upon arrival back to Hollywood they enter into the America’s Next Top Model house while certain wanna-be models take issue with Isis, the pre-op transgender. I am not sure how she (or he) was admitted since she did not complete her operation as of yet, but the eligibility requirements clearly state they should all be females. To me, it seemed like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Hannah and Clark sat to the side of the swimming pool and talked about Isis. A little more yak, yak, yak… However, McKey befriended and complimented her on how brave she was and stated she was a “butterfly.”

Jay Manuel and J. Alexander assisted with the brief magic show at the Magic Castle. After a big production the remaining two judges were introduced, Nigel Barker, noted fashion photographer; and Paulina Porizkova, legendary supermodel. Each member of the judges panel stayed in their assigned rooms and one by one, the contestants were interviewed. Upon interviewing Sharaun, she continually introduced herself as America’s Next Top Model. A little arrogant, huh? When Marjorie was asked by Nigel Barker who were favorite photographer is, she froze up, but finally answered with wavering confidence– “Nigel.”

Tyra is gung-ho with respect to voting in the upcoming presidential election. As such, they each are assigned a different aspect of voting issues. Marjorie had to portray the immigrant which Jay gave her major kudos. Brittany had to portray the issues involving military. Clark had to indicate her take on bureaucracy, but was unsure what it was. When she asked McKey what the definition was, she flat out said she was not going to tell her. She finally realized it when she saw the background of the photo shoot with all the red tape.

Isis encapsulated her thoughts on the privacy issue. Fake faced her, a see-thru curtain denied her privacy and three other models were behind the translucent booth hassling her which was completely unnecessary. Very mature, ladies!

Once again, in front of the judges at panel the 14 stood there nervous, arrogant, or nonchalant. This season, the model who is called first gets her picture digitally posted for the week. Well, adorable, French-born Marjorie was called first (and they play French music in the background when calling her name.) And Sharaun, the cocky, over-confident model who thought she was indeed America’s Next Top Model was eliminated. I guess during this cycle confident women do not always get the job and more so humility seems to be the key.

SOURCE: The-Trades.com

Posted: September 5, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: America's Next Top Model
6 Comments

Chickipedia’s Top 100 Most Wanted Women

Tyra was on “Chickipedia.com’s Top 100 Most Wanted Women”, coming in at #68! Congratulations Tyra! (Even though she should definitely be up higher on the list..)

The following are the most searched for women on Chickipedia in the month of August:

1. Megan Fox
2. Jessica Alba
3. Pamela Anderson
4. Kim Kardashian
5. Jenna Jameson
6. Angelina Jolie
7. Scarlett Johansson
8. Jessica Biel
9. Paris Hilton
10. Carmen Electra
11. Keeley Hazell
12. Jennifer Love Hewitt
13. Britney Spears
14. Rihanna
15. Hayden Panettiere
16. Lindsay Lohan
17. Jessica Simpson
18. Emma Watson
19. Eva Mendes
20. Adriana Lima
21. Alicia Sacramone
22. Vida Guerra
23. Olivia Munn
24. Jennifer Aniston
25. Lucy Pinder
26. Vanessa Hudgens
27. Denise Milani
28. Keira Knightley
29. Beyonce
30. Monica Bellucci
31. Christina Aguilera
32. Marisa Miller
33. Kate Beckinsale
34. Salma Hayek
35. Jennifer Lopez
36. Mila Kunis
37. Amanda Beard
38. Elisha Cuthbert
39. Leryn Franco
40. Nastia Liukin
41. Natalie Portman
42. Mariah Carey
43. Katy Perry
44. Avril Lavigne
45. Rachel Bilson
46. Hilary Duff
47. Cameron Diaz
48. Amanda Bynes
49. Halle Berry
50. Penelope Cruz
51. Heidi Klum
52. Eva Longoria Parker
53. Shakira
54. Tila Tequila
55. Gemma Atkinson
56. Ashley Tisdale
57. Nicole Scherzinger
58. Charlize Theron
59. Kristen Bell
60. Allison Stokke
61. Madonna
62. Anna Faris
63. Anne Hathaway
64. Alyssa Milano
65. Misty May-Treanor
66. Blake Lively
67. Katie Price
68. Tyra Banks
69. Anna Kournikova
70. Fergie
71. Maria Sharapova
72. Audrina Patridge
73. Lacey Chabert
74. Alessandra Ambrosio
75. Kendra Wilkinson
76. Gisele Bundchen
77. Brooke Hogan
78. Miranda Kerr
79. Denise Richards
80. Sarah Michelle Gellar
81. Holly Madison
82. Lauren Conrad
83. Stacy Keibler
84. Amber Heard
85. Sophia Bush
86. Sarah Chalke
87. Tara Reid
88. Morgan Webb
89. Kelly Brook
90. Katherine Heigl
91. Jennifer Connelly
92. Sienna Miller
93. Catherine Bell
94. Brooke Burke
95. Elisabetta Canalis
96. Evangeline Lilly
97. Heather Graham
98. Victoria Beckham
99. Taylor Swift
100. Emmanuelle Chriqui

Posted: September 4, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: Tyra
0 Comments

TV’s 20 Top Earning Women

Supermodels Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum both have one or two things in common with each other, apart from being catwalk beauties. They also top Forbes’ primetime TV’s top-earning women list.

The two reality series hosts and Victoria’s Secret angels, one former and the other one current, are numbers 1 and 2 at the new list compiled by the magazine. Banks, who earned $23 million from June 1, 2007 to June 1, 2008, is ahead of her runway pal by $9 million.

Also, the women of “Desperate Housewives” all made it to the list, with Eva Longoria Parker coming a little bit higher than the rest with $9 million.

The list is ranked according to estimated earnings, not just from their TV jobs, but also from production, movie, endorsement, and fashion ventures in a span of one year. For the women who are lucky enough to have made it on the list, their earnings aren’t just limited to their per episode salary.

Take in for example Paula Abdul, who lands in at number 9 with $5 million. Although her judging stint at “American Idol” is lucrative enough, in order to earn millions in a year, she also had to sell a line of jewelry for QVC and smile for the camera her reality show “Hey Paula!”

Here’s the complete list of Forbes’ 20 Top-Earning Women in Primetime TV:

1.) Tyra Banks - $23 million
2.) Heidi Klum - $14 million
3.) Katherine Heigl - $13 million
4.) Eva Longoria Parker - $9 million
5.) Maura Tierney - $7.5 million
6.) Mariska Hargitay - $6.5 million
7.) Marg Helgenberger - $6 million
8.) Jennifer Love Hewitt - $5 million
9.) Paula Abdul - $5 million
10.) Tina Fey - $4.6 million
11.) Vanessa Williams - $4.5 million
12.) Calista Flockhart - $4 million
13.) Kathryn Morris - $3.9 million
14.) Teri Hatcher - $3.8 million
15.) Marcia Cross - $3.7 million
16.) Linda Cardellini - $3.5 million
17.) Melina Kanakaredes - $3.5 million
18.) Patricia Arquette - $3.4 million
19.) Ellen Pompeo - $3.4 million
20.) Felicity Huffman - $3.4 million

Congratulations Tyra! You definitely deserve every penny of it. Hopefully, 2008-2009 proves to be an even better year!

Posted: September 4, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: Uncategorized
3 Comments

America’s Next Top Model’s Top 10 Hardest Challenges

No matter how predictable America’s Next Top Model can be each season — can Tyra Banks please quit breathlessly whispering everything at elimination? — producers and Banks still know how to inject some unexpected life into the show. For instance, during the upcoming 11th season, er, cycle, we’ll see our first transgender contestant, Isis Tsunami.

But the bulk of the surprise often comes in the form of crazy, unenviable challenges that will make you so grateful that you’re sitting on your couch eating popcorn — as a spectator. So in anticipation of the new installation of ANTM, which premieres Wednesday (8 p.m.) on The CW, here are our picks for the Top 10 most difficult challenges to date:

10. Sweaty, Smelly, Stunning?
If there are two times when people don’t look their best, it’s when they’ve been camping or after a strenuous workout. To our knowledge, Tyra doesn’t do camping … but she did have models race up 14 flights of stairs in season three, and then immediately participate in an impromptu photo shoot. Sadly, none of them had enough energy left to kick Tyra’s ass.

9. Stilt-walk
In a challenge that seemed better suited for exotic dancers, models in season six had to practice their balance by strutting around in 10-inch platform heels. I remember covering my eyes and drawing in a sharp breath as a few models’ ankles bent into 90-degree ankles before my eyes. Not surprisingly, injuries ensued.

8. Freak Show
I know how awesome I always feel when I have a blemish or a bad hair day. So being charged with looking attractive as a circus freak (think Bearded Lady, Elephant Woman, Cannibal) was a seemingly impossible task. Truly, some looked less ugly than others, but the results were hard to look at.

7. Laser Precision
In a cycle eight Mission: Impossible-like challenge, the girls had to maneuver through a maze of laser beams, striking lovely poses amongst their attempts at graceful contortion. It required flexibility and a real awareness of one’s body, both of which are more easily achieved after a few glasses of wine – which, of course, the girls did not get.

6. Ice Bath
In season seven, models posed as nymphs while immersed in ice-cold water. And unlike the average person, they hadn’t a shred of body fat for insulation. And I don’t care how cute you are, it’s hard to look gorgeous when your teeth are chattering.

5. Death Becomes Her
In one of ANTM’s eeriest challenges, models in cycle four had to pose as one of the seven deadly sins. In a casket. Which was lowered into a six-foot hole with a crane. Shudder.

4. Creepy Crawlies
Models put on a brave face in cycle three when they were forced to pose for photographs holding a cute, furry, live … tarantula. This thing was trotting all over the models’ faces and heads. To quote Whitney Houston: Hell. To. The. No.

3. Creepy Crawlies, Roach Clip Edition
If you think tarantulas are icky, at least they don’t make noise. In season six, models walked the runway while holding and/or wearing enormous Madagascar hissing cockroaches, which had been bedazzled with rhinestones and turned into living brooches. I actually felt sorry for the models and the roaches.

2. Aural Assault
Models in cycle nine had to impress judges by dancing in an Enrique Iglesias video. First, it was a long, grueling day. Second, they were wearing high heels and skimpy outfits. Third, they had to listen an Enrique Iglesias song on a loop all day long. (Honorable mention: In season two, girls were forced to dance in Tyra Banks’ lame music video for “Shake Ya Body.”)

1. Dead Meat
Tyra takes the models to the meatpacking district, where they are forced to pose amongst animal carcasses while wearing halter tops and/or underwear made of meat. First of all, can you imagine how heavy and awkward it is to wear a pair of steak panties? Second, how unsanitary!

SOURCE: BuddyTV.com

Posted: September 4, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: America's Next Top Model
1 Comments

Top Model - TOMORROW!

Are y’all ready for it? It premieres tomorrow night on the CW! Be sure to tune in to watch Tyra ask the competitors the almighty question; “Do you wanna be on top?”.

Posted: September 3, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: America's Next Top Model
3 Comments

TV to See: America’s Next Top Model

“America’s Next Top Model” launched in 2003, a pioneer of the model-themed reality series. It has an impressive following, even if it doesn’t churn out the kinds of models described in its title. The show has grown from its rather fantastical premise into, in many cases, a career-starter with a positive message. A steady stream of promising contestants has meant, as for the long-running shows “Project Runway” and “American Idol,” the strength of the show has not faded over time. Moving to the CW network in 2007 after the WB merged with UPN, “ANTM” became a centerpiece of the teen-targeted station, and along with shows like “Gossip Girl” and mainstays like “One Tree Hill” and “Smallville,” it has helped keep the fledging network afloat.

Since starting the show five years ago, Banks has simultaneously been working on other projects, the biggest of which is her daytime talk show, “The Tyra Banks Show.” The talk show reflects her admiration of Oprah Winfrey; both have production companies with similar programming. It caters to girls and women, and deals with topics like self-esteem, friendship, school, sexual health, family and more. There has been some overlap between Banks’s two shows, with Banks holding informal group discussions with the girls on “ANTM”—particularly when they aren’t getting along. Her talk show has also featured past contestants and judges, and included episodes devoted to the modeling industry and makeovers.
A Slice of “Reality”
Like most reality TV series that force a group of strangers to live together, “ANTM” is full of drama: cattiness, physical fights, jealousy, incendiary commentary and an unwillingness to do the dishes. It’s unclear what part of the show draws the most viewers: the glammed-up photo shoots that let young viewers (and contestants) live vicariously through the supermodel lifestyle, or the off hours, when the girls tour foreign cities, grumpily rise before dawn, fight over lifestyle differences and shower schedules, and hold dramatic discussions in the kitchen of their souped-up makeshift model house. It must be a combination of the two. But unlike a lot of present-day reality shows, there is a viable competition involved in “ANTM” with money and careers at stake. This is an undeniable part of the show’s stickiness.
The Boundaries of Beauty
Sources in this Story

* The CW: America’s Next Top Model—Cycle 11
* The New York Times: Who Is America’s Next Top Model, Really?
* The Tyra Banks Show
* New York Post: A-Plus Model
* ETonline: Paulina Porizkova To Replace Twiggy on ‘ANTM’
* Reality TV World: ‘Top Model’ producer: Transgender model to help “redefine” beauty
* The CW: Video

Whitney Thompson is a plus-size model with bone structure that immediately captivated Tyra Banks and the other Season 10 judges. She pushed the envelope for the show, exuding confidence and proving that the camera loved her with photos that ranged from grungy to classic. Thompson beat out Anya, whom the judges believed to have more of an “in” look—pale, Eastern European features—and suddenly the show had raised the bar. It had included plus-size models in past competitions, but none had ever reached the final. Like other past winners, Whitney was featured on the cover of Seventeen and won a contract with a top agency, Elite Model Management. The New York Post, the first publication to interview Thompson, called the result a “shocker.” Thompson told the Post, “People always say you have to be stick-skinny, emaciated and unhealthy and I’ve kind of stood up for [being full-figured] my whole life.”

Thompson added in that interview that she believed Tyra Banks, who has dealt with weight gain during her successful career as a model, related to Thompson and was “pulling for” Thompson “deep down.” The finalist is decided by Banks and other panelists: last season, they included long-time “ANTM” judge and photographer Nigel Barker and supermodel Paulina Porizkova, who replaced British icon Twiggy for Cycle 10.

The new season of “ANTM” has been creating buzz since the early summer, when it was revealed that one of the contestants is transgendered. The show has been welcoming of openly lesbian and bisexual contestants, but this is the first time a transgendered audition made the final cut. Reality TV World, a news source for dozens of reality shows, recaps the news on its site. The show’s executive producer, Ken Mok, told the press that Isis, 22, will help “redefine what beauty is” on the show, just as Whitney did in Cycle 10. Isis was “born physically male,” she explains, but “mentally, everything else, I was going female.”
Tuning into “Top Model”
“America’s Next Top Model” Cycle 11 premiers on the CW at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday, September 3. Video highlights and streaming episodes can be found on the CW’s Video Web site, and the full season and episodes can be purchased on iTunes.

SOURCE: FindingDulcinea.com

Posted: September 2, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: America's Next Top Model
3 Comments

Tyra Names Susan Moultrie Chief Operating Officer of Bankable Enterprises

Tyra Banks announced today that Susan Moultrie has been named Chief Operating Officer of Bankable Enterprises. Bankable Enterprises was formed in 2007 by Banks to anchor her expanding business interests. As COO, Moultrie is responsible for the overall management of the company, including the television and film division Bankable Productions, and will lead its new business development efforts.

Posted: September 1, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: Bankable Productions, Tyra
2 Comments

Tyra Blames Celebs For Stealing Supermodels’ Thunder

With actresses and singers striking lucrative deals with cosmetic giants, Tyra Banks has said that the celebrity models are stealing cosmetic contracts from hard-up supermodels.

The catwalk queen-turned TV talk show host insists that models find it harder to land money-spinning deals with fashion, make-up and fragrance firms, who in turn prefer celebrity models for their adverts.

“I think all supermodels now are losing out to celebrities. It’s celebrities who are getting the cosmetics contracts,” Contactmusic quoted Banks, as saying.

Pop stars and Hollywood’s leading ladies like Jennifer Connelly, Eva Mendes and Beyonce Knowles are being sought to promote cosmetic products, leaving professional models in the lurch.

While Connolly promotes Revlon and Mendes works for Calvin Klein, Knowles is a spokesmodel for L’Oreal.

SOURCE: EntertainmentandShowbiz.com

Posted: September 1, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: Tyra
3 Comments

Janice Dickinson: Tyra Banks Is Not My Favorite Person

Tonight the fourth season of Janice Dickinson’s Modeling Agency premieres on Oxygen. If you’re anything like us, you probably knew that already because you canceled your life for this special evening ages ago. But in all seriousness, perhaps Dickinson’s show is the one worth paying attention to? After all, as she points out to HX, ANTM’s first transgender contestant may be getting all the attention right now, but Janice already had a transgender model on her show. From HX:

The media is currently eating up the fact that there’s a transsexual model on the upcoming cycle of Top Model. Oh, please. I did it on my show first with Claudia. But you know what? There’s not going to be a moment where Tyra’s not going to knock me off, so I’m not bothered by her.Is there really room for a transsexual in the industry?
I think that there’s room for a gorgeous transsexual if he or she has her shit together. Transsexuality is gorgeous. My Claudia was gorgeous, and that bitch had a beat on her walk that could blow anyone away.

Have you ever received a little note or phone call from Tyra to congratulate you on the success of your show?
Are you fucking kidding me? Hell, no. Never. Nothing … Believe it, baby. Nor did I ever get a note or call thanking me for helping to put her show on the map. Whatever. She’s not my favorite person.

SOURCE: NYMag.com

Since when did JANIS put “ANTM” on the map? Hahaha. I guess she’s forgetting who exactly hosts it.. Honestly though, Janis is trying to feed off of Tyra’s fame, once again, to help herself out. What a loser..

Posted: September 1, 2008 by Dale
Filed Under: America's Next Top Model, Tyra
0 Comments