Despite many people not watching for years, producers at 'Amercia's Next Top Model' have only just realised that the show needs a make-over to get people interested. Unfortunately for them, they've left it so long because they now have competition. Yesterday Oxygen, the show's network, confirmed that they are broadening their horizons in the modelling reality show stakes and are already working on a new franchise. Interestingly, Naomi Campbell has been booked as the main judge on the show.
Anyone that watched 'The Tyra Banks Show' will remember that episode where Tyra Banks confronted Campbell about feeling bullied by her in the earlier years of her career. Oxygen's decision then to put Campbell in the same position in a different show then is far from a coincidence is an undoubtedly aimed at garnering a buzz around the show. According to the release, Campbell is one of the three supermodels judges on the show, titled The Face. The premise of the show is no different to ANTM apart from the fact that the models on the new show will be scouted by the judges respectively and join their teams.
Do I think we need another modeling competition show, well no, but will I tune in - yes. Will you?
When supermodel and ex Victoria's Secret angel Tyra Banks launched her talk show, 'The Tyra Banks Show', five years ago, her main aim was "to give young women the 'girlfriend' they want to hang out with and the role model they need". At the time, it had been created to replace the 'Ricki Lake Show' and was intended to offer a daytime talk show for younger women. The show has gone from strength to strength since its inception, so much so that Ms Banks even bagged another Daytime Emmy Award earlier this year for Outstanding Talk Show - pipping the likes of Dr Phil to the post.
Despite the success of the show, Banks has decided that the time has come to bid farewell in order to focus on other projects. She explained: "This will be the last season of the The Tyra Show...I've been loving having fun coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past five years." Already busy with the America's Next Top Model franchise, Banks has now decided to turn her hand to film production and has recently set up Bankable Studios, her New-York based production company. It would seem that Ms Banks already has a celebrity following in the form of filmmaker Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, who are both said to have supported the move.
She's preached to viewers and guests on her show that they should be happy in their own skin and now Tyra Banks is taking her quest for women to find self love and acceptance that extra step further.
This week the TV host and members of her audience donned flesh-coloured body suits and tossed their weaves in Union Square. Why did she do this you ask? In season 5 of 'The Tyra Banks Show', which is set to air on Spetmber 8th at 4PM ET/PT on the CW, Banks is set to ditch her trademark blonde weave for her natural hair.
When asked about the move she said: “This season on 'The Tyra Show' we’re taking it to the next level and getting more real than ever before by encouraging women everywhere to own and rock what they’ve got and be proud! For the Season 5 premiere, I will be doing just that - no fake hair, I’m rocking my REAL hair. This will all be going down on September 8, 2009, which we’re declaring National Real Hair Day! We welcome everyone to go natural with me!”
Speaking of smiling with your eyes, Tyra Banks is not doing it. The model and TV presenter is expected to take the stand this week in a case against her alleged stalker, Brady Green.
Here's a cute one: Defence lawyer Sydney O'Hagen is partially blaming Banks for Green's unwanted love letters, his belief that satellites were watching him and that pesky murder threat Green made to a Banks employee who wouldn't tell him where the model films her TV show. Unless there's another way to take someone saying, "I'm going to find you and slit your throat."
According to O'Hagen: "[Banks] invites fans that are inspired by her show to reach out to her. Mr. Green was a fan, albeit perhaps an overzealous fan." If convicted, Green could face 90 days in jail.
