Premise: Project Runway and Models of the Runway’s Grandmother
We guess that TiVo did not read our blog that said we were going to pass on America’s Next Top Model last night and decided to tape the show anyways. The reason we were planning to skip last night’s episode was that we were tired of more of the same with America’s Next Top Model. The series continues to promise us that it is elevating the competition, however; it continues to give us the same things we have seen cycle after cycle. It’s getting old and we’re getting bored.
Just in case any of you have any doubts that this season is not just like any of the rest of them we’ve decided to do a little comparing between cycles.
The Girl Who is Too Skinny:
This season’s winner of that award was Annamaria. Tyra and the panel were concerned about Annamaria’s weight and decided to let her go. They didn’t even bother to ask if she was healthy. All of the girls on this cycle seem too skinny for us this season but that is just a personal opinion. Annamaria’s weight sent her home and it reminded us of another cycle where the judges had issues with a girl’s weight and there were accusations of a eating disorder.
Where we’ve seen it before:
Cycle 1: Elyse
Elyse was told at the very first judging panel on the first season of America’s Next Top Model that she was way too skinny to model and the judges expressed concern over her weight. Eating disorder rumors continued with Elyse all season. The judges were not as harsh on Elyse and let her stay into the competition. Too bad they were not as lenient on Annamaria. We guess this week was the cracking down season.
The Sister Plot:
Oh wow, two girls from the same family competing against one another while cheering their sibling on. How original! This season featured sisters Chris and Terra. We were really excited to see too sisters compete until we remembered that we’ve seen this act before.
Where we’ve seen it Before:
Cycle 7: Amanda and Michelle
Yup… we’ve seen this sibling rivalry play out before. Two sisters who want to make it to the end together but who both want the modeling contract and title to themselves. The twins of cycle seven were just as supportive of one another and just as competitive as Chris and Terra. The only difference, Amanda and Michelle made it to the final four together and Terra got kicked out right after she failed to live up to her makeover. Next cycle we are expecting to see triplets or half sisters who learn they are related during casting week in a Parent Trap-esque moment.
Underwater Shoot:
This week the models were shot underwater. Luckily for the girls they did not have to completely go under, they were rolled under a box of water and photographer Matthew Rolston shot them as if they were submerged without having them actually submerge themselves.
Where We’ve Seen it Before:
Cycle 2:
Remember Yoanna’s adult baby in the womb moment… no…here’s a clip to jog your memory:
Raising the Stake/High Fashion Plot:
This year is all about raising the stakes. The judges are looking not just for a commercial model but a high fashion model. This the cycle that takes America’s Next Top Model to the next level and evaluates the competition. It’s all about high fashion…
Where’ve Seen the Before:
Cycle 5: Nicole
When Lisa from cycle 5 accused Tyra of choosing Nicole because she was white over Nicole and Nik, the two African American models in the top 3 of cycle 5, on a 2005 episode of The Tyra Show, Tyra vehemently disagreed. Tyra rebutted by saying that the judges of cycle 5 were looking for a high fashion model who could take the industry by storm and Nicole fit the build. Tyra emphasized on her show and in interviews that she was looking for a model who could gain the respect of the industry. Tyra referred to cycle 5 as the high fashion cycle. That is why we
are confused why Tyra and the gang are pretending that this season is the first high fashion cycle. They are acting as if this is the first time they set this goal for the series. The difference between cycle 5 and cycle 15, and we admit it is a big difference, is that this time America’s Next Top Model has André Leon Talley and there is a spread in Vogue Italia for the winner. These factors alone make the show’s promise of a high fashion cycle a little bit more legit. That being said we cannot give into this charade and pretend like cycle 5 never happened. Who do they think they are fooling. We haven’t forgotten Nicole and neither should they.
We have no issue continuing to watch America’s Next Top Model. The show continues to be entertaining despite recycling the same plots over and over. We just wish they would stop trying to convince us this season is bringing something new to the table. From where we are sitting it’s the same stuff with slightly different models.
