ANTM Recap: The British Are Coming (and Winning)

44 Comments

1. 1
   carol
   Posted May 31, 2012 at 10:05 pm

   I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure who was actually going to win until Laura had the panic attack. Her goose was cooked as soon as Jay called for the medic. The real modeling world is a lot more stressful than ANTM. Also, what was wrong with her upper lip this episode? Or have I never noticed that it doesn’t really move, it’s like she is holding her nose down so it limits the movement of the area between her lip and nose.

   It looks like the pink in Sophie’s hair was just pink gel/spray, that is why it was always varying levels of pink-ness. And since her hair was bleached, it retained some of the pink, sort of like a glow.

   Next season with a all new judges and the viewers getting a vote does not sound good. If the ‘fashion show’ this episode was any indication of what next season is like, why don’t they just rename the show Stroking Tyra’s Ego.

2. 2
   featherhead
   Posted June 1, 2012 at 4:47 am

   I was getting sooooooo annoyed at Tyra and Company when she was blasting Sophie about her commerical and how the extra footage that was used was not as good as Laura’s. Hello, assholes, she did not pick what extra footage was used!! You did!! I hate when they do that crap. Glad that Sophie won, she’s adorable.

   I don’t understand how the British girls did so horribly all season when most of them had already been on British Top Model, I would think they would have some experience on taking photos and such.

3. 3
   S-Natch
   Posted June 1, 2012 at 5:37 am

   Nothing like signing off with kitteh porn!! Of course, your pussy just showed up all of the girls on this season of ANTM AND Miz Ego – I mean Tyra. I vote for kitteh for the win (oh, wait, that’s next season). Great job all cycle, SP!

4. 4
   Jaime Sommers
   Posted June 1, 2012 at 7:07 am

   I’m glad Sophie won–she’s gorgeous. Laura was good too, and I’m sure she’ll have a good career. But enough about that.

   I WANT THAT STUFFED LION (eh, eh, eh, makes grabby pinchy toddler fingers)

   Also, I agree with S-Natch; Kitteh for the win!

5. 5
   SexyPanda
   Posted June 1, 2012 at 7:13 am

   That’s my littlest baby boy (AKA The Littlest Jerk) the day after we brought him home, about a year ago. He was/is just the sweetest and sleeps cuter than any cat I know. At night, he tucks in near my shoulder and makes sure to brace a front paw or two against me, to make sure I know he’s there. I love it so much.

6. 6
   Jo
   Posted June 1, 2012 at 10:22 am

   Glad that Sophie won but again Kitteh is Top Cat in my book! Thanks for the great recaps too.

7. 7
   Jessi
   Posted June 1, 2012 at 11:43 am

   I thought the same thing as you when Tyra was all “If I were 21, I’d want to be your friend.” In my head, I finished “But I’m closer to 35, so FU.” Oh Tyra. Never change. Congrats to Sophie, but I would have been happy either way. Jay was right when he mentioned how weird it is to have two girls that you actually like in the finale!

8. 8
   AmyOops
   Posted June 1, 2012 at 4:22 pm

   Oh, hell. I thought I didn’t care who won, but I was apparently deluding myself…LAURA GOT ROBBED!

   Whew. That’s better. I adore Sophie, but I just think Laura’s the stronger all-around model. Her vogue shoot was way better (guess we know who REALLY holds the cards – it damn sure ain’t Vogue), and I actually liked her Covergirl photo better. Shit, I even liked her performance at the runway show better!

   Oh, and I have to (sheepishly) admit…I loved the “holographic” show. Tyra limited herself to only the beginning, and the rest of it was just visually arresting, well, to ME. Perhaps I’m too easily impressed but oh well!

   Thanks for the season SP!!! I mean CYCLE! FucknA!

9. 9
   cattyfan
   Posted June 1, 2012 at 7:14 pm

   Love the cat My cat doubles as an alarm, but sadly has no snooze button. today he woke me at 5:00 just to tell me the birdies were singing…and then ask for attention.

   Glad Sophie won, but I think Laura will do fine as well. Interesting Mr. Jay felt constrained to comment this is one of the only seasons wherein the finalists were both nice!

10. 10
    Robinez
    Posted June 1, 2012 at 7:44 pm

    I betcha Tyra has “Hair must be windblown” in every contract.

    One of these days I expect a floor fan to appear in front of her at judging.

11. 11
    MrsMiaWallace
    Posted June 1, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    Was it totally necessary to spoil the winner in the recap title?

12. 12
    tv
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 9:23 am

    agree with MrsMiaWallace. dick move putting spoilers in the recap title.

13. 13
    SexyPanda
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 11:24 am

    Can’t undrop the bomb, can only say sorry. So, “sorry.”

14. 14
    Andrea
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 11:53 am

    Ugh, Laura skyping with her parents and telling them she loved them only to turn around and once again bitch about how hard it was growing up with alcoholic parents made me want to hurl something at my TV.

    If you loved your parents you wouldn’t be airing their dirty laundry every episode on international TV I’m sure.

    So happy that Sophie won, although my favourite has always been Annaliese.

15. 15
    snowshoecat
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    SexyP, lots of us didn’t even notice that the S-bomb had been dropped, or somebody would have mentioned it earlier yesterday. I certainly didn’t until today, and then I just figured it was such a foregone conclusion that you were only reaffirming what we already knew.

    We all saw it coming. I do think “dick move” was a tad harsh. S/he who is without goof, write the first recap.

16. 16
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    Featherhead — The girls on Britain’s Next Top Model (at least the cycle I’ve seen) get very, very, VERY little constructive criticism. At panel, the judges say, “Your photo this week was great!” Or, “Next time you better bring it, because you didn’t bring it this time.” They don’t offer any of the advice that Tyra and co. provide during panel. (Watching BNTM Cycle 4 really makes me appreciate the American panel, which is scary.) Their “creative director” Gerry is a pompous ass douchebag who didn’t do anything other than say, “Be fierce today, girls.” During one panel, Lisa (the host) was all, All these photos suck, why didn’t you do something? And then after that, he was only a judge and not the creative director. So, the girls don’t get a lot of help, really. Maybe Cycle 5 is better — that one had Annaliese, Sophie, and Ashley.

    Also, I don’t get the big deal about “the spoiler” in the title (and it certainly doesn’t warrant “dick move” in my opinion). This recap was up the day after it aired (damn, SexyPanda — you’re fast!). Why not watch the episode first and then come to the site for the recap? That’s what I always do. If this recap were up immediately after the show, that’d be one thing; but it’s up a day after and any news source would have had a headline about Sophie winning anyway. Fair game, if you ask me. If I don’t want to know the outcome/episode synopsis, I just don’t visit the site.

    Y’all know I can’t stand Laura (CAN’T. STAND. LAURA.), but I feel like the judges were super-harsh about her panic attack. No one asked if she was okay (she was in the g.d. hospital), but they didn’t hesitate to tell her to suck it up and deal with it. I’ve had panic attacks before (albeit not at all on the scale with Laura’s) and they come out of nowhere with no warning signs. So Tyra and Nigel and Kelly should drink a big glass of shut the hell up and give Laura at least a little bit of slack.

    But Sophie deserved to win. I didn’t think she would, though, because a.) she’s a Brit and I figured Tyra just wanted a Brit/American showdown with a Yank ultimately winning and b.) my favorite never wins. Ever. With the exception of Yoanna, perhaps.

    I remembered another ANTM favorite: Nik Pace (Cycle 5). Nicole was an idiot who lucked into her good photos, but Nik was GORGEOUS and classy. Love her. I wish I knew what happened to her . . .

17. 17
    featherhead
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    @hyponotoad – thanks for answering, I really couldn’t understand why the Brits were not snapping out pose after pose, especially after learning they were already in compition before and had made it pretty far up the ranks. With your insight it totally makes sense now. Are the winners prizefighter package similar to ANTM’s?

18. 18
    featherhead
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    LOL, I typed prize package and the typos funny as hell and appropriate in this case.

19. 19
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    Haha. Prizefighters! Love it. Yeah, the prizes are comparable (again, cycle 4 is the only BNTM cycle I’ve seen, except snippets of cycle 1 when Tyra had an episode devoted to the first cycle, for some reason. I forget the purpose of it.): Contract with Models 1, a Revlon cosmetics campaign, and a 6 page spread in Company (basically the U.K. equivalent of Seventeen). This was in 2008, so the prizes have probably changed to be equal with the latest ANTM “high-fashion” prizes.

    The episodes are all on youtube, if you’re interested. It’s kind of boring until episode 5, then things get kind of interesting. But their photos and photoshoots still aren’t up to par with ANTM, which may be a budget thing. And like I said, the lack of criticism and advice is almost infuriating. And if you watch it, you will learn to hate Rachael. Hate. Rachael. So. Much. Flames. On the side of my face. And there are way too many girls who have names that begin with an “L” and I could never remember who was who. (Whom? Who was whom? Whom was whom? Whatever, I’m not writing a dissertation.)

    Have any of you guys been voting for the next cycle? I’ve refused. I think it’s pointless to vote ahead of time since we’ll know who has already won when the season (DAMMIT, CYCLE!) airs. I LOVE saying, “I think So-and-So should win, but I bet she won’t, because she obviously has more talent, and the talented girl never wins over the girl who had to overcome obstacles but hasn’t mastered proper grammar.” (God, Jaslene is pretty, but holy shit, she’s a mumble-mouth.) Instead, I’ll have to say, “I really want So-and-So to win, but she won’t, because . . . Well, because I know who wins.” Wah-wah-wah-waaaaaaaaaaah. Pointless. I just want to watch the cycle like I always do. Leave it to Tyra to take something that could have been interesting (voting on contestants) and making it complicated and sucky. Sucky-tooch, Tyra. Sucky-tooch.

20. 20
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    But it IS refreshing to watch BNTM because absolutely none of the girls have a sob story about “surviving.” They don’t talk about their “difficult childhoods” and it’s not mentioned ad nauseam in the edits. One girl has epilepsy, but it doesn’t even come up until an episode where she hasn’t yet taken her medication and has to do a photoshoot. And that’s all that happens — she mentions it, does the photoshoot, and that’s it. Freaking Isabella in cycle 12 was the first to be eliminated (she shouldn’t have been, in my opinion) and in her two episodes, we heard about her epilepsy every time she was onscreen. The Brits don’t play the sympathy card (except Rachael. Repeatedly. For no g.d. reason.) and I like that.

21. 21
    MrsMiaWallace
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    @snowshoecat

    I noticed the day the recap was posted and was annoyed. I actually deferred my comment til I watched the actual episode to make sure it was a real spoiler. So yeah, it was noticed.

    I love SexyPanda recaps and generally find this to be a positive and encouraging community. The downside of that is I find criticism and mistakes are not as welcome in comments as praise and carte blanche favoritism.

    It was totally a dick move and I’m sure SexyPanda didn’t intend to or even realize it at the time. Spoiling a season finale in a title is a mistake. Pure and simple.

22. 22
    MrsMiaWallace
    Posted June 2, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    @Hypnotoad- a day after airing is fast. Especially for those not in the US or getting their episodes online. That is not SP’s problem however and it is completely acceptable and also commendable to have a full recap up with results the day after (truly impressive SP). She does a great job and I have enjoyed the recaps all season.
    However, when the results of a season-long competition are in the title at the top of the page you can’t visit the entire site at all without seeing it. That sort of nullifies the enjoyment you got from following the season and tuning into the recap. That is the point.

23. 23
    carol
    Posted June 3, 2012 at 1:07 am

    Having a show’s spoiler in the title of a tvgasm post is pretty minimal compared to channels’ websites. It is easy to stop reading a tvgasm post title after you see what show it is for. Whereas a lot of channels’ sites think that as soon as the show has aired on the east coast, it is fine to already link to the after show and show the winner/eliminated contestant on the site. Almost all channels’ sites are guilty of this, some more than others. MTV.com is one of the worst, so is CBS during Big Brother season. And it is unavoidable because it is usually a large picture on the main page, and then again on the video page or show page.

24. 24
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 3, 2012 at 2:14 am

    Agreed, Carol.

    I would have assumed that since Laura’s parents were such raging alcoholics that she couldn’t go five minutes without talking about it, she wouldn’t be on great speaking terms with them. But that was not the case. I’m just so over her sob story. Not to demean living with alcoholic parents at all. I’ve seen “28 Days” and I know that your drunk mom forcing you to sled in the middle of the night can really f**k you up when you’re in your early 30s. But still . . . I feel that Laura, like a lot of American ANTM contestants (and Americans in general) had to cultivate some sort of “obstacle” to “overcome” to garner the pity vote. And even though I think that the judges were completely too harsh on her for her panic attack, at the same time I’m glad they didn’t pander to her. Same thing with Eboni. Wow, you slept on an AIR MATTRESS? IN AN ATTIC?! I hope you kept a diary, because that is so much more powerful than Anne Frank’s story.

    Tyra’s just as much to blame, though, with her forcing the girls to talk about their “obstacles” and probably using editing to remind us of said “obstacles” every five minutes. She’s attempting to make the contestants seem like they deserve to win because they’ve “overcome” so much, but she’s actually making me think they’re nothing but whiny a-holes. This is really evident if, like me, you watch about 3 or 4 episodes in a row. Drama is good — even great — for some filler, but I don’t really want it in a winner.

25. 25
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 3, 2012 at 2:21 am

    (Also, I’ve been re-watching Cycle 1 and Elyse’s confessional rants are effing EPIC.)

26. 26
    snowshoecat
    Posted June 3, 2012 at 4:16 am

    Hi MrsW, you are much more observant than I am, and since there were comments that day that had nothing to do with the reveal, I assumed that others hadn’t noticed either. I just hate to be the only obtuse one in the pack. But this wasn’t my first time. To paraphrase Erma Bombeck, Sometimes I couldn’t find an anvil in a closet.

    Yeah, I do know that I tend to overlook the cappers’ slips and I admit it. Writing is hard work, and I just had the feeling of the attitude among a lot of us that the season had dragged —ooops, cylcle— on long enough and we pretty much knew the outcome.

    Dick move, in my opinion, especially the way it is used around here, is an insult, not a euphemism for a mistake, and my back gets up when a capper is slammed, not just being rightfully called on a mistake. I don’t like hearing other commenters being abused either— unless they come in as swinging trolls and ask for it. I prefer to play nice. I agree that the spoiler was wrong, SexP had the grace to apologize, and if not for the insult, I would have left it alone.

27. 27
    tv
    Posted June 3, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    “dick move” is suddenly the worst insult ever?? geez calm down people. the term “dick move” specifically refers to the fact that a transgression has occurred…it’s the action that is being referenced, not the person committing the act. i didn’t “insult” anyone…i called someone out on an action that should not have occurred.

    i would just think someone who had been recapping for years would know better. this site isn’t new, the concept of a spoiler is not new…and this site is for many other shows than antm. i noticed it when looking for american idol recaps (yes i watch tv wayy behind schedule…i’m busy but that’s why pvr exists).

    i would love to know how someone could scan through the recaps on the front page without noticing the titles. must be a special type of reading i was never taught.

28. 28
    (J)ustPeachy
    Posted June 3, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    I could go on and on about MTV. They don’t put their shows On Demand so you have to go online to watch them, and then as soon as you get to the site there is a big sign saying who went home.

    I hate when spoilers are given as well. I don’t watch Celebrity Apprentice because I can’t handle two hours of Trump Torture, but I love, love, love to read Lovely Luscious’ recaps. When it is spoiled early, it ruins the whole thing, but I read anyways. I understand that they are human and I forgive them because they sit through it for me and keep me up to date on what happens. I certainly don’t ask for an apology (or anything more.)

    When I saw this title, I thought that it was a little spoiling, but not completely. It just means that the opinion of the Sexy Panda was that the British were doing better in the challenges, not necessarily that Sophie won the entire season. Yes, I said it, SEASON! But as SP stated in her opening paragraphs, we already knew she was going to win unless Tyra went all renegade and gave Laura the win just because she was an American (or U.S.)

    Now on to next season. I was all ready to boycott this train wreck when I heard that the Jays and Nigel were budget cut from the show. Then I heard this voting thing and was like, “Meh.” Then I went online to check it out and I’m starting to think it might be cool. Tyra and the judges almost always disagree with me on the pictures, so looking at the pictures and judging for myself was awesome. After I watched the accompanying “plea videos,” there were a few girls that I considered giving another chance at giving a good picture. Then I decided which order I would hand out the pictures, with best picture and who was going home. I can’t wait to watch the show and see how differently Tyra will order them, even though I see no way for them not to spoil who goes home, and ultimately wins the whole SEASON. It will still be neat to go back when it airs and watch the shoots and see everything we didn’t see while voting, and to see which models tricked us with their videos.

    Oh, and a dick move is name calling on the internet.

29. 29
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 3, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    Oh my god, (J)ustPeachy — that voting thing sounds like a helluva lot of work . . . Intriguing, but still — a lot of work (for me. I’m lazy.). Maybe it won’t be as bad as I thought? I still don’t like the idea of knowing who already won, though.

    And I hope Jay Manuel goes back to hosting Canada’s Next Top Model. And I hope someone records it. And I hope that someone loads it to youtube.

30. 30
    (J)ustPeachy
    Posted June 3, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    Agreed. I went on there just to snark and next thing I know I’m on MS Paint saving the pictures from best to worst with the name of the photo shoot so I can bring it up when the season airs. I even made a folder on my desktop titled, “Pot Ledom.” Just shoot me now.

    I love Jay Manuel, keep us posted on that one. I would like to watch as well.

31. 31
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 3, 2012 at 10:27 pm

    Haha! Love it! Whenever I read or hear someone say “pot ledom,” I hear Alison’s voice whispering “top model backwards . . .” And sometimes I whisper it out loud to myself, like I’m that weird kid from “The Middle.”

32. 32
    cattyfan
    Posted June 4, 2012 at 5:52 am

    I hate to be dense, but wouldn’t “pot ledom” translate to “model top” if it was truly “backwards?”

33. 33
    snowshoecat
    Posted June 4, 2012 at 5:58 am

    We’re a bunch of iconoclasts here. Ledom Pot sounds like something we shouldn’t use for cooking, doesn’t it?

    Don’t confuse me. I just love the sound of … Wait a minute. I like both versions. Chacon au son gout!

34. 34
    (J)ustPeachy
    Posted June 4, 2012 at 8:49 am

    LOL @ cattyfan. That’s the same thing my 9 year old daughter said. I guess they didn’t teach that at Harvard.

35. 35
    (J)ustPeachy
    Posted June 4, 2012 at 11:50 am

    Hey everyone. Just want to let you know that the new photos are up for this week. Voting closes tonight. But guess what? Still 12 girls like last week, hmmmm.

    http://www.cwtv.com/thecw/antmvoting#3

36. 36
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 4, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    (J)ustPeachy — Ohhhhhh suh-nap on the Harvard comment! Love it!

    I’m scared to vote! I went there once and saw that one girl dropped out of the competition already and since seeing a girl drop out (especially at panel) is one of my all-time favorite ANTM things (Cassandra, much?) — and this season brought it hardcore — I got afeared and won’t click on the page anymore. I really don’t care about spoilers (I made someone tell me the ending to The Sixth Sense before I saw it, because no one would shut up about “THE SECRET ENDING.”) but I don’t want the *entire* season spoiled . . .

    Maybe I just need someone to tell me it’s okay . . . But I don’t think it is . . .

37. 37
    realhousewivesfan
    Posted June 5, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    i wanted Laura to win!! how LAME the person i want to win never does, and i HATED this season, Laura lucked out with Laura cause she was the only one who brought real potential to the models, this seasons models were DUDS! Am i hearing this correctly, next season we get to vote? how does that work? and if so i’m so voting!! i hateee Tyra’s choices anyhow.

38. 38
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 5, 2012 at 6:18 pm

    AND, I just found out that Sophie and Emma Watson (Hermione f**king Granger) are friends, so my nerdy love for Harry Potter and my obsessive love for ANTM have joined like peanut butter and chocolate.

    http://www.wetpaint.com/americas-next-top-model/articles/antm-cycle-18-winner-sophie-sumner-i-was-100-convinced-it-was-laura—exclusive

    http://watsonuncensored.blogspot.com/2011/02/emma-watson-in-knightsbridge-with.html

    Sorry, realhousewivesfan, but in my humble opinion, Sophie effing deserved that title; if not for her sheer talent and gorgeous-ness, then for the fact that she didn’t whine about her alcoholic parents every five minutes.

    Sophie forever! Laura never!

39. 39
    (J)ustPeachy
    Posted June 5, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    OMG, I’m right there enjoying that peanut butter cup with you Hypnotoad.

    And speaking of deserving a title….

    Can you believe that MTV gave best kiss to Twilight over Ron and Hermione’s kiss we waited 8 years to see? I’m still in denial.

40. 40
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 6, 2012 at 11:14 pm

    I want Nigel Barker to have his beasty British way with me.

    Those Cosmo photos of him in nothing a towel are ever so delicious . . .

41. 41
    (J)ustPeachy
    Posted June 13, 2012 at 11:10 pm

    Hey everyone. Thought you might want to see Dominique’s new “music video,” and yes, that is her in the egg.

42. 42
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 18, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    OHMIGOD OHMIGOD OHMIGOD! Amazon has released Cycles 2 & 3 on DVD! I am having so much metaphorical Top Model boner right now!! I am SO excited to re-live Shandi’s “Honey? HONEY?!” phone conversation. Hands down one of the best reality show moments EVER.

43. 43
    Hypnotoad
    Posted June 18, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    And holy shit — I think Dominique broke multiple auto-tune machines during the “recording” of that song. It doesn’t sound like her. Or look like her. Oy.

44. 44
    Moli
    Posted June 18, 2012 at 7:39 pm

    That video was awful is so many ways.