Paulina Porizkova, our favorite judge and sound bite machine on America’s Next Top Model, revealed on last night’s Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson that she was fired from the CW reality show — over the phone on her birthday. Watch the clip below. The good stuff starts around 3:05, when Craig refers to Tyra Banks as a barrel of laughs to work with and Paulina says, "I’m sure she can be." (That’s our girl!)
"The reason I was told I was fired was because it seemed that America’s [Next] Top Model had gotten too fat, and they needed to cut some fat and the fat was me," she said, adding later, "It could have been either that or my gigantic huge ego. Which I wasn’t aware of before I was told by the producers that I had an ego problem."That sounds pretty bitter to us, but when Craig suggested that there was a rivalry between Paulina and Tyra Banks, she insisted that there wasn’t. "I really believe that they just felt like they didn’t need me, which of course, they don’t. So that’s okay."
Can the show survive without Paulina? Yes. But it won’t be as enjoyable. Miss J will need to start speaking at panel (and not in a bird voice). Tyra will have to find time in her busy schedule to do more teaches. Nigel Barker will have to pretend that those two are funny all by himself.What would you like to see Paulina do next? (Bravo, don’t you have something for her?) And who are you rooting for on tonight’s Top Model season finale? (The least inspiring final three ever?)
Comments (1-25) of 25 Add your comment
Could not care less who wins this round – so I won’t be watching. I didn’t realize that I was rooting for Celia until they let her go last week. Already removed ANTM from my dvr line-up.
Honestly, I stopped watching ANTM a long time ago. The show became too much about Ms. Banks’ lame antics than any real talent. She used to be so inspiring to young women, and now I think all of her fame and success has gone to her head and overinflated her ego. If there’s any “fat” (i.e. ego) to cut, it should be Tyra’s… Whenever I did catch the odd episode recently, it was Paulina who was providing value to the blossoming aspirations of the wanna-be models. All Tyra does lately is speak in weird accents and put out dreadfully cringe-worthy skits with some hapless underling (Mr. Jay, I’m looking at you, kid…)
The least inspiring three ever that is correct. I can’t believe they eliminated Celia – the surefire winner.
Aw, man! Paulina’s the best: cattier than Twiggy, but less scary than Janice. Panel will be so much more annoying without her. (And as for the final 3, I’m rooting for Allison, but it’s been totally obvious for weeks that Teyona’s going to win.)
I don’t watch it…don’t have cable…but I don’t like Tyra period. She’s a fake with that fake accent…and Paulina was probably in direct competition with Tyra. Nobody outshines Tyra.
Isn’t that show on life support?
I hate that Paulina is leaving. I think the ego problem is Tyra. She can’t have anyone coming on her show and offer intelligent, honest, constructive criticism. Everyone has to allow Tyra to be the center of attention at all times. Ugh – it’s past time for me to give up this show. I don’t even care who wins anymore. I like Allison, but I think Teyonne has always been the one winning this season.
Eff you Top Model! First Twiggy and now Paulina. I’ll keep watching, but I wish Paulina was staying. The only thing that would make this remotely okay is if Twiggy comes back, which I don’t see happening. As for the final three, I want Allison to win. I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if Teyona won, but how Aminat even made it to Brazil, let alone to the final three, is beyond me.
Don’t get rid of Paulina! Get rid of Miss J! He’s so annoying. As for this season, I guess I’m rooting for Allison. She’s a big nerd. I find that endearing. Aminat annoys me and her photos have been pretty blah. They just kept her around because of her model body. And I can’t root for Teyona. She’s been Tyra’s favorite from the beginning. She’s this year’s Salesha.
Very disappointed. Love Paulina on the show- sweeter and smarter than janice and twiggy. She simply made the panel easier and friendlier and MORE REAL.
Why would they do something like this? If Tyra cannot let anyone stand in her way- why trained all those girls out and make her look fat, fake and old? Gosh- who wants to watch the next cycle now?!
I thought Paulina was, BY FAR, the best thing about panel.
I agree with Meghan in that Paulina was great in that she was not as tart as Janice Dickinson, but not as hopelessly bland as Twiggy. I love her directness, which COULD be mistaken for bitchiness. However, when she’s say something like “you’re boring” I always took it to mean in the context of this competition, not as, you know, a human being.
This is the space where I’d normally complain about the lack of a “Top Model” TV Watch, but this season has been so uninspiring, that I sometimes don’t bother to write my own until Friday morning.
For the record, I’m rooting for Allison, because Teyona would feel too obviouus and Aminat annoys me every time she opens her mouth to speak. (I know she’s the most model-esque, but UGH!). I’m not holding my breath for Allison though – have you SEEN her walk?! The final runway show could be a disaster if she makes it that far.
Tyra needs to suck it up and BRING BACK JANICE DICKINSON!!!
Oh Mandi, that has to be the funniest headline I’ve read in EW yet! EW’s gives good snark; I’m still laughing about Julia Ormond crying into her craft service Doritos!
The only model left that I am rooting for is Allison but she can’t do runway. Aminat can do runway but looks fug in person and pictures. Teyona reminds me of Voldemort with slits for eyes but she seems to be the odds on favorite. Hope next season has models with more personality and less blah….
How much do you suck if you fire someone on their birthday with a phone call? So weak. I really liked Paulina but I gave up on ANTM two seasons ago when I looked at the final three and went ‘wow, I don’t give a crap’. Haven’t seen it since. And Tyra shouldn’t talk about ego or trimming fat- the woman who feels the need to make a photo of herself doing every judging challenge ‘better’ then the contestants? And didn’t she do something evil during the writer’s strike to the writers for ANTM or her talk show? It might have been interesting to see who the new model judge is. If I could muster the effort to watch the boring thing anymore.
Paulina ROCKED! But you could definitely see tension between her and Nigel at times and she seemed exasperated and/or bemused by Tyra and Miss J’s antics
Wait – so looney, full-of-herself Tyra is getting rid of Paulina, the only useful and entertaining one on the show, but keeping those two USELESS Jays?? And dull Nigel?? Good grief.
Can we keep Paulina and get rid of Tyra?
If they bring back Janice, I will DIE–she’s HORRIBLE! Unless they plan to bring in Christy Brinkley, Elle McPherson, or Cindy Crawford, they should keep Paulina around!! We need another model on the panel, not a weirdo runway coach–if Benny Ninja can do posing in one ep, they can do runway in one ep, too!
Didn’t they try getting rid of the ’sassy’, fun top model before? Only to have to find a replacement a year later? Tyra and Miss J can be VERY tiresome. They need someone completely outside of Tyra’s clique to bounch off ideas/fun. Paulina was great. Mouthy, but not mean like Janice. I love Twiggy, but she was too sweet for the show. Tyra had a good thing. Now that they’ve decided Paulina was a problem (as was Janice, as was Twiggy)–we have to suffer. I really think I’m done with this show.
Yes, Tyra. It’s Paulina with the ego problem. Paulina with her own talk show where she likes to talk about herself. Paulina who gives pictures of herself to Disney stars for birthday presents. Oh wait. I think I got that reversed.
I thought Paulina was ok sometimes and unnecessarily nasty others. And her advise was just as non-sensical as Tyra’s. I dunno. I’m kind of glad she’s going but I fear what the alternative will be. More Miss Jay? Please no.
Also, I disagree. The worst final three was: Saleisha/Chantal/some other chick who left no impression.
Vanessa -
I agree with you that the final three with Tootie and Chantal in China was the most uninspiring to-date.
How could you forget Bianca “Nikki Blonsky and her dad attacked my family” Golden?
JANICE! JANICE! JANICE!
This season I believe they had chosen the winner at the beginning and they eliminated some better girls in the interim. I don’t think the timing of girls eliminated was fair either. The eliminated anyone who was better than Teyona, and we all knew Allison was gonna be in the finals and lose. Paulina-Schmalina who cares who Tyra picks or kicks off, ITS HER SHOW!
Let’s face it, Paulina got fired because people would rather see her than Tyra. I am so tired of Tyra talking about herself and putting her pictures everywhere. Ugh!! She is such an egomaniac! The show is already going downhill and I think this season has finally enabled me to let this show go and I will never have to see Tyra Banks again!