I was very excited to see exactly what was going to happen on the set of Tyra's show. By now, their feud is well known, but what was very interesting about the show is that it was almost entirely non-confrontational. Although Tyra was trying to play this off as a chance to get everything out in the open and get real, it turned out to be not quite as revealing or catty as I had hoped. Tyra is still new at this talk show business, and her interview skills are still, how do you say it? Oh yes, a work in progress. As for Naomi, we know she has anger issues, and it looks like she was trying not to stir things up

In case you couldn't tell Tyra was serious, she told us she was worried about what was going to happen...WITHOUT ANY MAKEUP.

Naomi's grand entrance. Did they pat her down for any weapons beforehand? Like a cell phone or blackberry?

Tyra started the interview by talking about how she has been haunted by the memories of the bad press. Early on in her career, she idolized Naomi, but even before she got to meet her in person, the press had started a competition among the two of them. Sometimes I am convinced that all models are forced to fight each other in some ancient temple to see who is superior, like in the Karate Kid part II. Of course, most of the fighting would probably be over who would get the best kimono, but I think it would be interesting nonetheless. Anyway, Naomi was very nice to Tyra when she first came on the scene, and Tyra remembered Naomi giving her some vitamins when they were on a photo shoot together and Tyra was feeling sick on a boat. HA! Vitamins! While everybody was coming clean, I wish the two of them would have said how many times a photographer made them do coke before taking their picture.

It's a day of healing. From all angles.

The interview continued, and it was basically filled with Tyra asking Naomi about all of the bad things she heard people say about her, and Naomi not really remembering if she said those things at all. Tyra would then say something like "Those things really hurt me" and then Naomi would say things like "What matters is what's going on now." I thought Tyra looked like she was getting annoyed whenever she would accuse Naomi of getting her kicked off of runway shows and Naomi would respond by saying that she had people around her that were giving her bad advice. And really, that's the great thing about having an entourage; whenever something goes bad, you can blame them. How long before Britney Spears blames marrying Kevin Federline on "bad advice from people around her" and not "I didn't know you had to take the pill EVERY day"? I'm putting the over under at 6.5 weeks after she divorces him, which I put at 12.5 weeks.

Tyra: Serious.

Naomi: Carefree.

To tell you the truth, I was thinking about turning off the show, but you know the rules for the Tivo. If the viewing's not complete, you must not delete. Things started to get interesting after Tyra started talking about why she wanted to get out of the high fashion industry. She had told people that she couldn't take the demands of maintaining a model weight, and told her agent to go to Sports Illustrated and Victoria's Secret, places where they wouldn't frown if she had a curve or two. Tyra told Naomi that her eating and weight were not the only reason she left the industry; a big portion was that she couldn't mentally handle the way she was being treated. Finally, she said that one of the reasons why she created TZONE (her foundation promoting independence and self-esteem for girls) and started ANTM was as a response to the way she was treated.

I know this might not be kosher to say, but THANK YOU NAOMI!. If you weren't such a bitch, maybe that 1997 Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover never would have happened, and one of my favorite Tyra pictures. never would have either. Isn't the advent of ANTM worth the minor psychological trauma Tyra endured?

It was about this time where Naomi started to open up a little bit more. She said that what happened in the past is not important, because she has so much more to live for now. She went on to talk about her addiction and recovery, and while this may be the first time I have seen Naomi being interviewed, she had me convinced that she was being sincere when she started talking about how therapy had helped her, and alluded that it helped her remember things from her childhood that had affected her. Naomi didn't say sexual abuse, but Tyra channeled her inner Katie Couric, sniffed it out, and asked her if that was the case. Naomi didn't confirm anything other than to say that she was always outspoken and stuck up for herself even as a little girl.

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Posted by J-Unit on November 21, 2005 1:52 PM