ANTM: The Cycle Continues

A new crop of wannabe models make their way to reality TV history Sept. 9 when "America's Next Top Model" returns. The show is stale but reliable. You know the formula. You know what to expect, but it's still entertaining at times ... like that relative who doesn't know when to turn down that last drink. It's so expected, you're not at all phased, but you still watch and even get a sick sense of comfort in the familiar.

Tyra tried to mix things up this season by featuring hopefuls who are shorter than the average model. I'll give her props for that. I've often wondered why models are required to be so tall. Most folks aren't model height, and it seems designers should produce for the masses. No?

I doubt whether this "twist" will add anything new to the show, but I'll tune in to find out. I wonder if other "demographic" seasons are in the works. Maybe there could be a full figured season, or big boob season ... the possibilities or endless.

What type of seasons would you like to see? More short girls, too tall girls, big butt girls, or guys?

ANTM: McKey Wins!

McKey won the title of "America's Next Top Model." It wasn't a big shock. Samantha and Analeigh were good competition, but McKey was consistently the better model.

For the last challenge, the final two were forced to walk a steep, curvy, hot pink runway. Do such things really exist, or do the judges just make this stuff up as they go along?

Rumor has it that Mr. and Mrs. Jay may soon be getting their own reality series. What does that mean for "Top Model"? Considering that Tyra is doing her own talk show and working on "Stylista," my guess is that she sees a cancellation coming.

Honestly, the show's been a bit stale the past few seasons, so I would not be surprised. However, I do feel a bit sorry for all the model wannabes out there who were just waiting to come of age. Oh, well.

ANTM: Marjorie's Dismissed

Marjorie's gone. Her failure to book a job from any of the go-sees, was the final nail in the coffin. Marjorie takes a good photos, and once she works on being so nervous in front of people, she'll book plenty of jobs.

The final three girls are Analeigh, Samantha and McKey. I think Marjorie will be the next one eliminated. The final two should be Analeigh and McKey. Both have consistently improved, and both take really nice photos. If it comes down to personality, I think Analeigh will win, but you never know.

I'm expecting there to be some sort of fashion show as the final competition. That's the established formula. Who do you think will win?

ANTM: So Long, Sheena

We saw this one coming a mile away. Sheena finally got the boot on the latest "ANTM." The judges said she hadn't yet figured out how to turn down the sexy without going completely bland.

In the bottom two with Sheena, was Elina. If you ask me, it's time for Elina to go. Week after week the judges give her the same criticism, which means she's not improving much. Tyra said her reserved, controlled nature translates into stiff modeling. However, she's been giving yet another chance to prove she can get it.

I know this is nothing new, but I'm tiring of Tyra's contradictions. She stresses personality so much, but then Joslyn and Sheena get sent home. While rigid, cold Elina sticks around.

So, which is it? Is personality the big must-have, or is it really about the modeling? Pick one, Tyra, but let's not continue going back and forth. Cool?

So, what did you think? Should Sheena have been sent home? Will Elina ever loosen up? What was up with the brothel challenge? Did Miss Jay remove his pants, or was I having a nightmare?

ANTM: The Cover Girl Challenge

This week, the wannabes tackled an "ANTM" challenge staple ... the dreaded Cover Girl commercial. However, this year the ladies were able to read from a prompt and weren't required to memorize lines. As a result, the spots were much, much better.

Analeigh won the challenge. Tyra said her commercial was the best in the history of the show. Joslyn did not fair so well. She was sent home. Although she was violently ill and sucked it up to complete the challenge, Tyra told her she wasn't getting rewarded for that. So, there are no brown-skinned contestants left. However, Sheena is still representin'. LOL.

Elina also won a challenge, but that didn't keep her from ending up in the bottom two. Next week may be her last chance to prove to the judges that she isn't too controlled or reserved to be what they want her to be. Maybe she should have saved the emotion and tears she shed in the house for the judging.

So, what do you think? Is it really Elina and Marjorie vs. the world? Should Joslyn have gone home? Was Analeigh's commercial really that great? Is it just me, or are those twisty twins a little unsettling?

ANTM: Awkward Girl Wins Awkward Challenge

On the latest episode, the ladies were taught about signature poses. It seemed like an awkward concept, since models have to have several different poses in their repertoire. However, Marjorie seemed to grasp the idea better than most, and she won the first challenge. She was also called first at elimination, and her "urinating" picture was one of the best. She makes her awkwardness work for her. Kudos!

Lauren Brie was eliminated. There's not much to say. She wasn't doing a great job, and she was cut. Sheena, who has been added to the Model Portfolio on the CW site, was in the bottom two this week. She's caught somewhere between trying not to look "hoochie" but still letting loose. We know the judges can't stand reserved or controlled (as Elina can attest to). So, will their advise backfire for Sheena? We shall see.

McKey seems to be wow-ing the judges, and they also liked Joslyn's photo this week; although, I think her week one photo was her best, but who asked me?

What do you think? Should Lauren Brie or Sheena have been sent home? Will Sheena be able to tone down the sexy? Will Marjorie's awkwardness take her to the top? What was up with Little Black Riding Hood?

ANTM: It's Not So Hard to Say Good-bye

Season after season the formula has pretty much been the same. When it's a contestant's time to go, the episode focuses on that girl who will ultimately be in the bottom two at the end. So, I naturally thought either Joslyn or Marjorie would be on the chopping block.

Low and behold! I think the producers have decided not to make it so easy for us.

Despite Marjorie's continued awkwardness and Joslyn's alleged decline, Clark was the girl that got sent home. Personally, Marjorie's whining was so annoying, I was hoping she'd get the axe. She does take a nice picture, though.

I definitely agreed with the judges that Clark seemed much more interested in showing off her legs than she did with taking a decent photo. All in all, she won't be missed.

I also agreed that Samantha's tidal wave photo was the best, and I love her haircut.

So, what did you think? Is Joslyn's performance slipping? Is Marjorie really insecure, or is it a ploy for sympathy? Should Clark have been eliminated? Why isn't Sheena's picture in the Model Portfolio on the CW site?

http://cwtv.com/thecw/gen-gallery-antm11-models/1/1

ANTM: Isis Bites the Dust

I guess it was only a matter of time. As a matter of fact, I called it last week. Isis is gone. Our transgendered friend has been eliminated. I didn't think she'd win the grand prize, but I did think she'd last a few weeks longer.

The judges said she was trying too hard to fit in and faded into the crowd. I think those hormones she takes make her feel bad. As soon as she injected herself, a few episodes back, her performance has been lackluster. Maybe she needs a new prescription.

So, the elimination trend continues. Another woman of color has been booted off! What's going on?! I hear there are rumors of an all-Black season of ANTM. I doubt it, but at least the elimination of the sistahs wouldn't be so obvious!

ANTM: Makeover Episode!

The makeover episodes of "America's Next Top Model" are usually the most entertaining by far. It promises lots of tears and overreactions and usually more than a little bit of attitude. However, Tyra has found that if she doesn't tell the ladies what type of makeover they're getting, the transition is easier. So, we only had a few tears this time around, and Elina was the main culprit. She sees herself and really dark and serious. So, the Carrot Top makeover she received was funny indeed. The judges rewarded her by calling her name first during the eliminations.

It was Brittany who was sent home for being too pretty. Go figure. They say she wasn't model material, and from the way they talk, Isis might be next. Is it me, or do the minority chicks have targets on their backs?

I would have preferred for Tyra and the Jays to go home after their little Cinderella skit. I know the show is repetitive, but "Star Trek" and Disney themes aren't going to increase interest. It only leaves viewers perplexed and annoyed. Stop it.

Did you watch? What did you think? Should Brittany have gone home? Should Isis be next? Whose makeover was the worst, besides Elina's? LOL.

ANTM: The Curse of the Curves

Nikeysha was eliminated on the latest episode of "America's Next Top Model." I think that was a good call. She seemed to be struggling quite a bit. The judges said they'd have to airbrush her to make her look heavier. A lot of women in America would kill for that privilege.

Sheena hasn't been in the bottom two yet, but I can feel it coming. She's the model the judges complain is too sexy. I've never really understood this criticism. Is it that she takes attention away from the clothes? I remember back in Cycle 1 when a girl was ultimately eliminated for the same reason. Go figure. Sheena's relatively curvy, and most people would think it normal if not attractive.

What was apparently abnormal is her chest. I didn't notice, but the judges guessed that her boobs were fake. At first she denied it, but after giving it some thought, she admitted to the judges, her fellow contestants and the viewing public that her breasts are artificial. That takes a lot of guts. The judges rewarded her by keeping her on the show. Will her fake friends be her undoing in the end? Fake boobs don't exactly subtle the sexy.

What do you think? Shouldn't models be sexy? Should women be penalized for being curvy ... even when they're borderline malnourished? Is Tyra a hypocrite for telling women to tone it down!

ANTM: Turn It Off, Scotty

There was little new about the two-hour "America's Next Top Model" premiere. The hyper wannabes could hardly contain themselves as they entered the presence of Mr. and Miss Jay and Tyra. They screamed, shrieked and burst a few microphones in the process; I'm sure.

However, the producers did try to do something a little different for this season opener, but it was a classic example of trying too hard. What was up with all that futuristic, Sci-Fi crap? Tyra was trying to do the robot. Judges were disappearing a la special effects, and the models looked about as confused as any aliens would be to see Tyra dressed in tin foil.

I'm not sure what the purpose was, but I found it distracting. Maybe Sharaun found it distracting, too. Despite her repeatedly telling her peers and judges, "I am the Next Top Model," she got the boot. Don't we all know by now that Tyra appreciates modesty.

I was glad the alien thing didn't extend into episode two, or I was going to blast my TV into space to join Tyra's panel. What did you think? Was that cute, or just weird? Did you think Sharaun should have been eliminated? How long 'til the girls confront Isis about her "difference"?