Law and Order. Top Gear. The Simpsons. ER. Survivor. And Miss Tyra. Not many shows have made it to 15 seasons or beyond, and tomorrow marks the premiere of the 15th season of America's Next Top Model. Many people mock it, especially for the complete lack of actual supermodels it has produced. Some consider it a sad commentary on our society and how we objectify women. Other people believe these women are all fame whores who just want to scream and cry and pull hair on tv. All of that may be true. But detractors leave out one simple truth: This shit is fun to watch!
Everyone has a guilty pleasure. Some people stay up late at night watching Antique Roadshow plotting about stealing priceless works from Grandma's attic. Some people watch any show having anything to do with vampires. Some people record 3 hours of soap operas a day just so they can watch all their "stories" on a Friday night. Some people watch Cash Cab and memorize the license plate number in the hopes that someday the cab will drive by, pick her up and she will win a tv game show!! Ok, that last one was me. But of all the junk I watch (and yes, there is more junk), ANTM is my favorite and most embarrassing.
I have seen every episode of every cycle (which is what Miss Tyra calls a season, because she can). I can name, off the top of my head, every winner (including the 10 above, plus the 4 most recent), and probably most of the runners up. Makeover day is my favorite, because it has it all: Tears, joys, fights, and girls learning whether they can really model, or if they just make good tv. I read People magazine and recognize some of the models who were going to "make it" now modeling for JCPenney (which is not "making it"). What I can't explain is why I love it. I mean, I worship my Tivo, yet there have been days when I have watched it
live. Seriously. The funny part of all this is while I have no good reason for loving it, I have no intention of giving it up. Because while I used to think I was alone in my love of bad weaves, go-sees that end in tears, the token plus size model and the craziest woman on television, I have learned I am not alone. Smart people I respect watch this show. Men who would swear they watch the show for hot babes have gotten into arguments with me over who should be the next Cover Girl. Beautiful, empowered women who know they should hate everything this show represents watch it religiously. Maybe we all like a train wreck. Or maybe, just maybe, we all want to be just a little more Fierce.
No comments:
Post a Comment