Now that we are a little ways through this fourth cycle of America's Next Top Model, the decisions on the girls are starting to get a little tougher. On the whole, I am among those that says that this year's cast was not as great overall as last year's cast, but does that really matter? The more that I look at it, the more that I believe the top four or five from this season could easily stack up again last year's top five. True, this time around we have a few more people that were a little rough around the edges, but it is a learning process, and so we will wait for that true potential to show. Still, while they are learning to let their potential show, we have no problem laughing at them as they try and get there. And we have Tyra Banks to lead us through that journey. AWESOME.
The two girls still hurting from last week are Michelle and Lluvy. Michelle found a doctor who took care of her skin problem. Although she is still crazy, at least her face is beginning to clear up. Soon, her main problem is going to be history. That's not a statement that we can make about Lluvy. The more I look at Lluvy, the more I get used to her unique look. But let's get serious for a moment here. She has such a small margin of error with her pictures, and she is way outside of the standard deviation when it comes to that mug of hers these days.
Our first bit of Tyra Mail this week asked the girls to see how "bankable" they were. Everybody thought it was going to be something about an endorsement, and when they arrived, some random black guy who sort of looked like Eddie Murphy's Nutty Professor walked in and asked them to sign some contracts. He wasn't very intimidating, but he said that anybody who didn't sign would have to wait outside. Therefore, none of the girls really read the contract, and they all walked inside to find...
TYRA! (I bet you were all really fooled.)
Bankable meant Bankable Productions, which is Tyra's company. Modeling is a business, and the girls learned that they would have to treat it as a business. Tyra introduced them to Carolyn London, Tyra's mom, and Don Banks, Tyra's dad. Looking at the two of them, you start to wonder if the looks skip a generation in the family. Either that, or she has some sibling out there that got all of the ugly and fat genes. It's understandable, my sister got all the good looking genes too, but at least I got the brains (Hi Sis!). My mom is tiny, and my dad is pretty tall and thin, so you could understand how at least one of us ended up looking so good. You cannot say the same for Tyra. Then again, however unholy that union was (and I sure hoped they replaced the boxsprings in the honeymoon suite the next day), the ends justify the means.
Anyway, the girls learned that they should read everything before they sign it, like the contracts that they just signed. They found out that they basically signed their entire lives over to Bankable Productions, and as an added bonus, they were required to jump five times whenever somebody said "model", and yes Tyra had them jumpin' jumpin'. It reminds me of the time in college, there was this kid named Neil, and he was supposed to say "Get in my BELLY!" like Fat Bastard every time he walked into the basement. Listen, it sounded a lot funnier when you are drunk and/or stoned. Luckily for the models, the contract also said that all of the terms were null and void, meaning that it wouldn't hold up in court or anywhere else. They were off the hook.
Business lesson over, it's now time to start learning about other parts of the modeling world, like staying up all night partying and drinking so you are too sick to eat the next day and won't gain any weight. Everybody piled in to those big white vans and headed over to the Electric Lotus, a nice Indian place on Franklin in Los Feliz. For some, it was a chance to have some time out of the house and enjoy each other's company. For other's it was a time to get bombed and have some fun. Brittany fell into the latter category.
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Comments (27)
Nice recap, J! I love how you give the insider's view of California as far as where places are located, is it ghetto, how far away a place is, etc. If you ever need the lowdown on suburban Chicago, hey, just let me know!
Poor Lluvy. Confidence and/or personality could have carried her so much farther. I don't think this crop is that great this year either. With last season, there was actually some suspense with who the judges would pick because like four or five of the girls were standouts. In this crew, maybe two or three standouts, and we have had some downright ugmos in the bunch.
Still fun to watch, if for nothing else but the snaps and cracks the judges make on the girls.
1 of 27 | Posted by joslyn | Posted on April 7, 2005 10:18 AM
I wonder if anyone is going to see the negative side of Brittany during this show. She's all happy & wild most of the time until something sets her off.
2 of 27 | Posted by Trina | Posted on April 7, 2005 11:29 AM
I was watching "The Whole Ten Yards" this morning and I saw something. I actaully paused the movie to make sure. In the movie, Lazlo's hideout/home/place where his mama is, is the apartment from ANTM. There are a couple of shots of the outside of the building, which match exactly (the windows have been redone for ANTM). Then the inside shots also match, well there have been some changes, but it has the same layout, brick and wood posts.
3 of 27 | Posted by moonman | Posted on April 7, 2005 11:33 AM
I can't believe Rebecca was in the final two, I hate how they call people "safe" like being traditionally beautiful is a bad thing...
If I am not mistaken the girls were at the Fairmont Miramar, across from the Santa Monica Pier. I think you have a piece of the pier in your still of them running a beach. Not positive though...
If Michelle makes it another week, I am never watching the show again. I thought it was funny when Nigel mentioned her facial ticks.
She is so weird...
4 of 27 | Posted by smithie | Posted on April 7, 2005 1:15 PM
Smithie,
You could be right. At first I thought they were at Shutters because I recognized the room, but decided it was someplace in Malibu because that is where I thought the spa was located..
5 of 27 | Posted by J-Unit | Posted on April 7, 2005 1:46 PM
Rebecca the "good girl" is "safe" and that's bad? So models on this show need to be a little trashy looking, but not enough to cross the boundary of taking pictures that look like a "porn star"? I don't get this. But it is ok to "BA" someone while riding in the van drunk off your ass. How rediculous.
6 of 27 | Posted by Bob | Posted on April 7, 2005 3:27 PM
Taking a photo that is not safe does not equal looking like a slut. Being safe in your pictures has nothing to do with your personality, it just happens that Rebecca plays it just as safe off camera as she does on camera. When Tyra was giving Rebecca feedback, she showed the difference between a "safe" pose and one that was much more dramatic. She turned it on and off in half a second.
Traditionally beautiful will get you in Vogue, but not on the cover. You have to have some sort of edge.
7 of 27 | Posted by J-Unit | Posted on April 7, 2005 4:01 PM
first of all...great posting J-Unit. :)
since this is my first comment, here are my thoughts on the models. I think Naima and Kahlen are my favorites. they both have good personality and always look great in pictures. I think Naima is the most unique and has the most "edge" of all girls. Keenya and Rebecca are safe, but safe looking girls don't get very far...they're a dime a dozen. Brittany was funny at first but she's beginning to get on my nerve...she’s not at all classy. I'm not going to start with Michelle. Tatiana rubs me the wrong way for some reason...she's too blah and I don't think she stood out in any of her pictures. Christina doesn't seem appealing to me at all. Tiffany has too many tattoos in very revealing places on her body. my bet is that Naima and Kahlen will make it to the top 3.
8 of 27 | Posted by Leeya | Posted on April 7, 2005 4:44 PM
I want to know who pisses off Tyra next week. We should start a pool. I bet its Brittney.
9 of 27 | Posted by yourmom | Posted on April 8, 2005 12:02 AM
Yes, I think it's Brittany as well. I can't wait to see Tyra blow up: "BE QUIET!!!!"
10 of 27 | Posted by jaded | Posted on April 8, 2005 12:28 AM
Personally, I hope Tyra screams at Michelle- she'd probably have a mental breakdown right on the spot. And THAT would be good tv.
11 of 27 | Posted by Catie | Posted on April 8, 2005 7:38 AM
I love Michelle. Sorry, can't help it.
12 of 27 | Posted by Jez | Posted on April 8, 2005 7:43 AM
Here's my theory on the blowup with Tyra...remember when they showed going to acting class, well I think someone is lousy in the exercise and Tyra is demonstrating how to turn it off and on...
13 of 27 | Posted by bonggargler | Posted on April 8, 2005 9:28 AM
I don't know...that looked like pure rage. I can't wait to find out who sets it off...
14 of 27 | Posted by Leeya | Posted on April 8, 2005 10:10 AM
It looked kinda fake to me though
15 of 27 | Posted by Jez | Posted on April 8, 2005 10:56 AM
Bong- That is a good theory, I didn't even think about that. But remember she even said; and next week someone pushes me over the edge. But, your theory makes more sense because I just can't see one of the girls behaving so badly at judging. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
16 of 27 | Posted by yourmom | Posted on April 8, 2005 11:16 AM
"I hope we don't have to push no damn cars!"
And I hope they keep Tiffany around until the last episode.
17 of 27 | Posted by Ogre | Posted on April 8, 2005 8:03 PM
Can anyone explain to me why this show is considered to be hosted by Tyra? Seriously, Mr. J does more work that she does. Anyone else agree with me?
Z
18 of 27 | Posted by RavinBoi | Posted on April 10, 2005 6:59 PM
hey, does anyone know how i can speak with tyra?
19 of 27 | Posted by alissa | Posted on April 10, 2005 11:48 PM
Ya hang on I got her number right here...
20 of 27 | Posted by yourmom | Posted on April 11, 2005 11:12 AM
if you want to speak to tyra, have a bitch throw beer at your weave....she just eats that up, that ol' sentimental sap that she is!!!
21 of 27 | Posted by chris | Posted on April 11, 2005 11:20 AM
Interesting thoughts about who tyra is yelling at. I was surprised..doesn't seem like tyra.
who would be that mad as to talk back to tyra. I hate to say it but this girl has to be stupid or uncontrollable. My guesses? Michelle breaking down, Brittany screwing up, or Tiffany letting her old self out. What do ya'll think?
22 of 27 | Posted by ms. t | Posted on April 11, 2005 6:38 PM
Hey J-Unit, why do you have to pick on your sister? She ain't that cute anyway. AND she has a big ass. AND I heard your dad WAS thin at one point. :-)
23 of 27 | Posted by LyrikalJuse | Posted on April 12, 2005 3:27 PM
Brittney is so pretty, but getting out of control. Michelle looks like a monster.
24 of 27 | Posted by couchpotato | Posted on April 13, 2005 2:50 PM
I think that Tyra is probably yelling at Tiffany...I don't know I guess that Tiffany cannot take the critiqing very much. G H E T T O
25 of 27 | Posted by SBunny | Posted on April 13, 2005 7:07 PM
I think that kahlen brittenay and niehma are going to make it to the top 3 they have the most potencial and are my favorites i just hope that kahlen doesnt go home cuz of the problem that it shows for the next episode i would cry!!
26 of 27 | Posted by meg | Posted on April 13, 2005 9:34 PM
whoa meg, does your mom know that you visit this web site?
27 of 27 | Posted by jen | Posted on April 14, 2005 3:34 AM