Tonight is that magical, magical night when those of us in America crown our Next Top Model, sort of, if by "top" you mean "hey, that was a fairly mediocre Cover Girl commercial you just participated in!" and if by "model" you mean "poor, sweet girl forced to do the bidding of Tyra Banks (pictured) for all eternity." Your finalists — Eugena, the dead-eyed wonder; CariDee, the spunky sparkplug that could go off at any time and burn your house down; and Melrose, who is 47 years old and a bit of a perfectionist — will compete in one last challenge to see who takes home the Seventeen cover shoot, etc.
Despite the fact that I had the honor of writing the TV Watches for this cycle, I can’t say I’ve enjoyed it; something’s gone horribly wrong this fall and now, instead of being about the girls or the judges or the photography or anything even resembling logic, ANTM is now 99.9 percent about the loopy whims of Tyra. She’s kicked off talented girls and kept around losers; she’s acted out (damning Brooke for crying over missing her high school graduation) and acted up (one word: flamenco); she has not worn a flattering outfit, NOT ONCE, in 11 weeks. Maybe her talk show is going to her head, maybe her wig’s on too tight, who knows. But regardless of who wins this evening — my money has been on Melrose since day one, and there it shall stay — Cycle 7 will go down in history as the one where Tyra was crowned America’s Next Top Megalomaniac.
Anyway, go ahead and register your predictions here, PopWatchers, and then check back in the morning for my take on the finale.
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This season really has sucked hardcore. Where was the Jade? Where was the Lisa? It was just boring. I would like CariDee to win, but I think Melrose winning may provide a bit of a spark. Especially if CariDee pukes all over like she said she would if Melrose won.
Amen! I am so sick of Tyra’s over-the-top theatrics and treatment of these girls. The way she handled Brooke’s graduation tears was just heartless. I’m hoping Melrose will win just to see CariDee’s freak out! Plus, seriously, think of the humor of seeing 50-year-old Melrose in Seventeen magazine. She could have kids that age!
Whitney I completely agree with you about this season. I couldn’t figure out how half the girls made it into the finals and most of the half that I thought belonged is now gone.
Even though I think she looks just as old as Melrose, I’m hoping Caridee wins. Eugena’s grown on me a little but she looks even less like a model than the other two.
This season has been crap since the first episode–where did they find these girls? I think there were a grand total of 4 that didn’t suck, and needless to say, they’re all gone. I guess I’m cheering for CariDee?
I agree about this season – it’s sucked donkey balls, for sure. I think Caridee will win, though. They’re all too old to be top models in “real life” so they might as well go with one who at least looks like she’s in her 20’s…
Yeah, this season has been blah. (Of course I’ve still sat through every episode.)
I really liked Brook and Megan (I think?) with the short blonde hair.
I don’t think Eugena will win, even though I think I like her the best; she’s too reminescent of Danielle from last season (excuse me, Dani).
Here’s hoping Cycle 8 will be better. I need more drama!!
How brazen of Tyra to not only insist on naming her show America’s Next Top Model (yeah right!) but to continue to make these girls believe that they have a shot at becoming actual working models.
While she laughs all the way to the bank, she continues to unwittingly crush these model wanna-be’s dreams.
And y’all thought Naomi was the worse black supermodel out there?
The problem is that all the writers for this show were on strike. Reality show writers–soooo necessary! People like Tyra Banks can’t/shouldn’t speak unscripted.
I agree that there were a lot of girls with potential that were kicked to the curb too soon. I don’t blame the girls (Michelle, AJ) who seemed to doubt whether they really wanted to win the competition. This season has been a joke. Melrose should have gone home on day one when she acted like a DIVA on set and her pictures were crap.
This season is terrible. You are dead on Whitney. This time last cycle I was a nervous wreck. This time? I guess I want Melrose to win?
Is it just me or did it feel like they slashed the budget in half this season?
I love me Whitney, she calls it like it is. Not only did this show disintigrate to one of the worsts pieces of crap on Television. It was the season we saw Tyra just go a little crazy and go where all old super models go, deep inside their psyche to show us absolutely nothing but a vast emptyness. Thank God that all the crap shows ended up in one network, it’s easier to just avoid the bad shows, if you can just deprogram one channel from your television.
eliza_doolitle is right– with the writers on strike, this season has really lacked the oomph of previous cycles. the drama has felt too manufactured, and the incessant “flashbacks” to things we saw 10 minutes ago are constant, and drive me up the wall.
my money is on cari, as eugena is too boring and melrose far too old.
This season has been horrible. From the beginning we knew Brooke had potential, that CariDee and Melrose were darn good (but wouldn’t win) and the real fight was between Michelle and AJ. And then instead we get Tyra, Tyra, Tyra, more Tyra, and Tyra kicking people off who are actually good. What?
That said, I stopped watching a few eps back when it became painfully clear that Tyra’s gone nuts. Jaeda’s ouster was needed, but not because she wasn’t a Fierce Black Woman in the face racism. I decided I’d had enough of the Tyra show.
This is by far the worst of all seasons. First of all the judging sessions are sooo boring! Nigel is seeming more like a jerk but not in a constructive way, twiggy is SO boring and seems to go along with any crazy thing Tyra does (like that singing when monique left), J. Alexander doesn’t really say anything unless its a forced comic one-liner, and Tyra bases all of her criticisms on how she would have done it…it’s ridiculous. Get Janice back or get new judges.
I heard on a spoiler that Melrose wins. I think she should. And if I am not mistaken, isn’t she 23? In what world is that old? (The modeling world, I guess.)
I watched this season – uh I mean cycle – and I thought Tyra was WAY over the top. I would get embarrest by her antics the way I would when Valerie Cherish would put her foot in it.
I don’t think Melrose is going to win, Karadee all the way!
P.S, I know my spelling is way off but who cares.
Whitney’s comment that Tyra should be renamed “America’s Top Megalomaniac” leads me to the conclusion that her next role should be in a James Bond movie.
As the villain.
Dear Tyra,
You are not Oprah. Give it up!!
Yours Truly,
Vicky
america’s next top model is almost done? did i miss it? no. its on TiVo… and i’ve seen all episodes and it didnt suck completely… it just made me question why i wasted energy and oxygen from watching them and sighing when it ended that it left me… empty… like the models gazes in all their pictures.
i think tyra would win… oops, i mean, melrose… because she can bring in the most money for after-show jobs and promos. and CariDee… she’s still gonna be a model anyway. just like the twins, especially the skinny twin, she’s gonna make it high-fashion. who’s eugena?
question for asia: which of the twins was the ’skinny twin’?
This show is just a showcase for Tyra and her diva ways. None of the models, past or present, have been memorable. Did anyone ever hear of the winners from past seasons once they’ve left the show? Nope!
This column hit the nail on the head. The “writers” strike has been validated. Give them what they want! Bring them back. It’s obvious Tyra & Friends handled this season and totally ruined what could have been a good one.
As far as Eugena making it to the final three? With all her awful pictures, she must have something on Tyra. The judging has been a joke too. I miss Janice & the guy with the little dog.
Every day Tyra becomes more and more like Star Jones (no, I will not add Reynolds ’cause that marriage is a bigger sham than ANTM but anyways). Tyra, honey, it is not all about you, despite all those dang pictures hanging in the ANTM house. Seriously, she needs to sell her own brand of Tyra wallpaper at Home Depot.
I still have about two hours before the final, and I agree with everyone about this cycle. This is by far the WORST group of girls ever. I’m bored just thinking about who we have left. Don’t worry about Melrose. She’s first to go tonight. VH1 totally spoiled it when showing ads for tonights show. They showed Cari and Eugs walking down the runway. Makes me frown.
I think the reason CariDee will win is because in the commercials i saw for tonight’s episode they show the FINAL RUNWAY OF DOOM and Melrose’s clip of runway at the end is of the one they had to walk on the dining room table–Yes, Whitney, it was lame. But Fortunately I hope the final 2 are Eugena and CariDee, so that CariDee can sweep the floor with the bodysnatcher.
Michael- now you just totally spoiled it. as bad as vh1
They should bring the old winners back to be judges…and Janice..at least then they would all have jobs…LOL.
So…I guess missing most of this season of Top Model for CBS’s Jericho wasn’t such a bad move after all. The bits of this season I did watch were just painfully bad compared to the other ones; even the turgid cycle 5. Then again, this show has gone downhill since cycle 5 – when Tyra’s talk show debuted – but even 5 and 6 had its moments.
If the writers strike is true, then it’s evident this show hurt pretty bad without them.
I know I keep saying this, but BRING BACK JANICE!! At least she was a funny megalomaniac. And gave actual advice. Is it possible to boot Tyra from her own show? Can we start a campaign?
This season has been beyond lame. I think they should do a “all-star” edition and bring Elyse back from Cycle 1 – she’d kick some serious butt and she’s a hoot and a half! I hope Melrose doesn’t win – she’s just too gross. I can’t believe that AJ was kicked out as early as she was – I thought for sure the final 3 would be AJ, Michelle and Brooke. Michelle should definately be in the top2 – she was amazing. Oh well, it’s not like the winner of the show (or any of the contestants for that matter) go on to become top models. The only one that’s been some-what successful is Eva – unless you consider Adriane landing Peter Brady and the cover of Playboy as being successful (although her Playboy pictorial was really great).