America's Next Top Model

My wife and I watched this last night. They set up a bunch of obvious callback-to-previous-cycles drama (combative trans woman insulting everyone around her, two cast members fall in love) and then promptly didn't put the people fueling it into the top 14, which was kind of hilarious. Also hilarious was Tyra showing up to give a "you must be a brand, like ME" pep talk and then ending it with "my brand is so fly now that I don't even have to be here so PEACE" and Rita Ora acting like she is a household name.

They did get Ashley Stewart on the judging panel, which is cool. Also, all 14 of the finalists actually look like models this cycle, which may be the first time in the show's history.

Ashley Graham is so likeable and fun and seems to be able to offer useful, constructive, critiques. Rita Ora is a mix of useless and irritating: her brand seems to be "I am famous because it was decided I should be famous" and her dilletantism is so apparent. She can't even deliver a NotTyraMail without reading it from a cue card.

The highlight of this season so far is Marissa pouring milk down her couture dress in the name of avant-garde fashion. The constant fighting is so boring and predictable, even if the inferred idea that Courtney threw herself down the stairs was hilarious. I will be shocked if Courtney, Cody and Tatiana aren't the final trio.

so the new season has aired a few episodes and it is DEFINITELY a return to form - and by form, I mean, unnecessarily cruel and hilariously so. We've had a girl with alopecia be given a makeover which consisted of binning her wigs. We've had a Trump voter given a terrible dye job - "you voted red, so you get red." We've had a girl quit because she thinks the other girls are sociopaths engaging in deep psychological warfare (her words!) because... they stayed up at night and then wouldn't let her skip the queue for the shower. The photoshoot themes have included one with a prosthetic baby bump where the girls had to fiercely glow.

also in a similar vein I can't recommend "Making A Model With Yolanda Hadid" enough. It's basically ANTM for 13-15 year olds, helmed by Bella and Gigi's mother, and the contestants have their own mothers stay with them too. Highlights so far have included Yolanda actively causing confrontation at every possible moment, a girl crying on a gymnastic set being told "it hurts? well... that's fashion", and a mother asking if anyone would like to be her surrogate at some point.

Omg I'm so happy to be watching this show again

It's just the best isnt it

has anyone been watching the Jays on Instagram spilling secrets from the early seasons?