Beginning and End

Finally got a chance to see all of Wednesday's "America's Next Top Model" season premiere. This is where you get to see the audition process and how they get down to 14 models. In the last couple of cycles, they've had a sort of academy theme with the Js as teachers. This year, they had a futuristic idea where everything was technological. I liked the way they revealed who was going on by having each girl get the data from a computer.

So, in the second hour the final 14 moved into their digs in LA and had their first photo shoot. It had an elections theme as Tyra continues to keep the show relevant. In the past, they've done 'green' and anti-smoking shoots.

It's a little early to have all the contestants sorted, but there are a few types we're seeing again. The girl with the different sexual orientation in the footsteps of Ebony and Kim, and the offbeat girl like Lauren and Jael. There's the bitchy one who talks about everyone behind their backs, similar to Camille and Cassandra, and the athlete, following in Anne and Michelle's footsteps.

They interviewed a smart girl, like Elyse and Victoria, and a plus-size candidate like last year's winner, Whitney and Tocarra, one of the most successful non-winners. I'm not sure if those girls made it into the house though. I'm still trying to figure out who everyone is.

I won't really get a chance to know Sharaun, since she was the first to go home. I think the worst eliminations for the models are being the first one out, or the first one sent home from the foreign location. I hope Sharaun keeps working on modeling. There's a lot of proof now that girls don't need to be winners to have successful modeling careers.

Ending their shorter run last night was "Reality Bites Back". The final show spoof was titled "American Surv-idol-ers Kitchen". I suppose the kitchen part came in when they had to build huts with pitas and hummus. Three reality show veterans served as judges of the hut building and also joined all the eliminated contestants in voting for the person who would win the show. Theo Von was triumphant. Thank goodness the show is done!

The new thing this year is a girl who was born a boy. If you consider transgenderism as an illness or birth defect, then I suppose Isis fits in the 'girl with an illness' category that has included Mercedes and Heather in the past. I am very happy to see there are at least a couple of girls in the house that are supportive of and friendly to Isis.