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25. America's Next Top Model (and all other NTM's)



Ranking 25^th on the list is America's Next Top Model.

ANTM is like a poutine with extra gravy and cheese; you know that there is no justifiable reason that you should be eating it, but it's just too damn good to turn down. It's not high quality television, it's not a legitimate modeling competition, and it sure as hell isn't worth s.hit in the fashion world - but placing 10-14 dynamic and/or crazy girls in the same house for an extended period of time makes for damn good television.

ANTM has some of the best casting of all reality TV. Though some of the contestants on this show are boring as f.uck, most are eccentric enough to make the show worth watching (ignoring Cycle 7 of course). It is great for producing bitchy contestants (Robin C1, The entire C3 final 4, Bianca C9), colourful personalities (Elyse C1, Tocarra C3, Danielle C6, Dionne C8) and absolute nutjobs (Lisa C5, Jade C6, Nata C8). Once in a while, they'll even produce a real model (Elyse C1, Ann C3, Lisa C9, Alice AusNTM). The casting never fails to produce excessive amounts of drama and hilarity will almost always ensue.

The judges also make the show worthwhile. You can never take them seriously, but they have this 'What are they gonna do next?" type of appeal. Originally, the judging sessions were actually pretty interesting because they would legitimately critique the girls on their modeling. Now the best part of judging is looking to see what Tyra is going to wear, Nigel is going to say, and how Mrs. Jay can possibly make more of an ass of himself than in the past.

On the negative side, the show suffers from its lack of ability to pick the right winner - the worst example of this can be found in the case of Saleisha C9, but Naima, Nicole, CariDee, and Whitney all had stronger competition as well. The only truly justifiable winners IMO were respectively Danielle, Eva, Yoanna and maybe Jaslene.

Eliminations are also very problematic - the show isn't about real modeling anymore. Contestants are eliminated based on personality, and their `lack of dedication to modeling (both of which are manufactured by the editors). Girls who suck will outlast a better girl simply because they have `shown improvement`. In short, actual modeling capacity means shit all.

Finally, the show changed from America's Next Top Model to 'The Tyra Banks and Crew' show around C4, but now that she has her own talkshow (where she makes a fruitless attempt to be the next Oprah) she isn't that interested anymore.

Why it made it onto the list

- The show has brilliant casting

- Judges may suck at their job, but are great to laugh at

- It has a great internet community (read the fourfour recaps - they are fantastic)

- Though they are hit and miss with their challenges and photo shoots, they do produce some really good ones

- It has spawned tons of other of `Next Top Models` around the world

- Tyra Banks

Why it didn't get placed higher

- I felt it was a stretch to put it on the list in the first place because it isn't really quality, but I decided to acknowledge my guilty pleasure

- When it comes down to it, the judges DO suck at their job

- Modeling has taken the backburner over the last set of seasons

- Tyra Banks