Selection shows aren't usually the most thrilling to watch because you get such little information on each person, and it's hard to read anybody's personality with such little bits to go on. Plus, some producers feel like a reality show where people end up living together is not complete without the opening arrival to the airport montage. The show is being shot in Los Angeles, and I always to point out landmarks I recognize, but "Check out the Southwest baggage claim" just doesn't have the same appeal as, say, "That's where I bumped into Jason Statham on the street". People know that these girls come from all over the country, largely because they are going to say where they are from when they introduce themselves to the judges. Unless you have two hours to start your season, you can't waste time with things like that. Isn't that right Phil Keogan?

The girls make it to their hotel, the Century Plaza located just a few minutes from Beverly Hills, and meet Ms. J Alexander and Mr. Jay Manuel. For those of you new to the game, they are in charge of runway and art direction. They are also not the stars of the show. Our host is Tyra Banks, and she walks in, the girls scream, and she gets to business about telling them what she is looking for. Models have to beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside, but mostly on the outside, she say. It's a little known fact that Tyra actually wanted to create a show called America's Next Top Philanthropist, but nobody from the Red Cross would sponsor the idea, so we got a show about models instead.

We got to some of the first interviews with our selection panel (Tyra and the two Jays), and you can tell this is going to be an interesting cast. Last season was famous early on because one girl got tossed after getting in a fight, and making the phrase "bitch threw a beer on my weave" one of the most effective, if not counter-productive, comebacks of all-time. That girl, Tiffany, was back and out to prove that she changed her life. She has a new boyfriend, she has help with her baby, and she is just a happy person. She won't be throwing tantrums if people throw a beer in her hair, even if it is imported (the beer, not the hair).

Another contestant that jumped right out at us was Brittany. When she walked out, it at first seemed like she was trying to be one of these girls that just had to be "on" all the time, which often means they are the most fake of the bunch. I think Brittany was keeping it pretty real though, because nobody heading into a model competition rehearses the lines "I must have been a drag queen in a previous life" or "I may have a sex change, just so I can get dressed in drag".