Tyra Strikes Again

Tyra Banks: high fashion model, runway diva, Emmy award winning talk show host, executive producer, and philanthropist. Just when you think Tyra has done it all, she does something new. Now Ms. Banks can officially add the title of director to her long list of accomplishments. During last night's episode of America's Next Top Model, Tyra made her directorial debut when she shot a motion editorial featuring the four remaining girls. I was extremely impressed. The reverse hair flipping was hot! It was a little dark for my taste, but overall I thought it worked.

Here it is in case you missed it.

Why Is Bristol Palin Even on DWTS?

The show is called Dancing with the Stars so why is Bristol on it? Is she actually a "star" now? At the beginning of the season she was introduced as a motivational speaker. I wasn't aware that she had a career at all.

I actually felt kind of sorry for Bristol. Her dancing was absolutely terrible! I was hoping for her sake that she could get at least one good dance during the season just to spare herself the humiliation. But she was never anywhere near good enough to be in the finals.

In response to the other dancers, mainly Maks (Brandy's partner), questioning how she was able to remain in the competition given the fact that she can't dance, her response was "The show is all about taking someone who has never performed, never danced and turning them into a dancer. I guarantee that I am the most improved. I really do work my butt off".

Ok first off the show doesn't take people who have never performed. Maybe they've never danced professionally but they have all performed somewhere before. Except for you Bristol, which is why I ask again, why were you on the show?

Second even if the show were about turning someone into a dancer, does she really think that's what happened to her? Anybody can learn choreography but you can't teach rhythm. Sorry dear, you are by no means a dancer.

Third, the person who wins shouldn't get it for being most improved. It should be because they were the best dancer. And she simply was not. Even Florence Henderson was much better than her and she was in her 70s.

And most importantly, this is a dancing show. It's not about transforming people, or giving them a platform to be a voice for unwed teen moms. Either you can dance or you can't. That's all the show should be about. Who you are, or in this case who you know, has nothing to do with your ability to dance. I'm sure Bristol is a nice person, but she is not a dancer and this is a dance competition.

Unfortunately Brandy was robbed. But at least she still has her career. Hopefully we'll be hearing some new music from her soon.

Brandy Eliminated from DWTS

Brandy was sent home from Dancing with the Stars tonight after receiving a perfect score from the judges for her Argentine Tango Monday night. She was definitely deserving of a spot in the final 3 and I am shocked that she was sent home. This is the exact reason why I normally don't watch shows like this. It is not about talent. It's just a popularity contest. Smh.

Tyra Gets It Wrong, Again

This week, aspiring model Kacey Leggett was given the boot from cycle 15 of America's Next Top Model. Did she take amazing pictures? Not really. She was also potrayed as a spoiled, entitled, brat on the show but there's no way we can know how much of that was real or manipulative editing.

I saw a lot of potential in this girl. The level she was on when she left the show was nowhere near what she would need to be for Italian Vogue. I know models like to think they are just born with amazing talent, but sometimes talent can be made with a lot of hard work and fine tuning. With a little more practice and coaching, Kacey could have an amazing career. It's disappointing that Tyra didn't see that.

Here's to hoping we'll see Kacey again in the future!

Summer TV Review: Plain Jane

Photo courtesy of Matt Kennedy and the CW All Rights Reserved

The CW has been advertising their new reality show Plain Jane for months now. I've been so excited to watch this show. When the previews started airing I hated that I would have to wait until the end of summer to watch a single episode. I am a firm believer that confidence in women is key! There are so many bad situations in my life that I could have avoided if I had more self esteem. True beauty does come from within but let's be honest, the outside package counts too.

My biggest problem with the show is that it is premised on the idea of catching a man. These girls are all on the show because they think they need to be "hotter" if they are going to have any chance of landing their dream guy. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be the best you possible and we women are all guilty of spending a few extra minutes in front of the mirror when there is a guy we like. However, I have a serious problem with the idea that these girls somehow need to change themselves to get a guy. If a guy that is your friend didn't notice you without 4 inch heels and a skin tight dress then you may need to find another guy. Creating a fake you to please a man is only going to bring you misery. Trust me I know.

At the end of the show, the newly transformed girl presents herself to the object of her affection and reveals her secret love for him. Waiting for the guy to recover from the shock and embarrassment is nothing short of awkward. And could you imagine if he said not interested. What would happen to that poor girl?

But the show was not all bad. At the end when this week's "plain jane" Cristen revealed her secret crush to her friend of 6 years, he told her that he had a crush on her since college and just never told her. See? He liked her exactly the way she was before all the hair and makeup. That to me was beautiful.

The show ended with pictures of the new couple and they seemed pretty happy together. Suprisingly Cristen looked like herself just with perfectly tweezed eyebrows and a chic new haircut. By the time the show went off I found myself thinking I was perhaps a bit too quick to make a negative judgment. Maybe they didn't try to change this girl but just tried to give her the tools to be a more improved happier version of herself. It definitely seemed to work.

I think I'll keep tuning in...

Plain Jane airs Wednesday nights at 9 EST on the CW.

My Summer TV Review: Downtown Girls

It's summertime and you know what that means....trashy summer TV. I watch way more TV than I probably should. Usually I will watch almost anything at least once only to find myself thinking less about what I'm watching and more about the chunk of my life that I can never get back. But, every once in a while, I find a show that keeps me coming back. Not because it is the best TV has to offer but just simply because I, in my own weird way, find it "entertaining". There are a number of shows that have me hooked this summer but today is all about Downtown Girls.

Downtown Girls is a reality show on MTV that follows 5 friends as they navigate their way through life in NYC. When I first saw the preview for this show I thought "great another crappy knockoff of the Hills--as if one wasn't bad enough". But like I said, no matter how much I think I am going to hate a show, I always find myself watching at least one episode.

The 5 girls are each extremely different. It's amazing to me that they are all friends. There's Shallon, a Carrie-esque contributor for Glamour magazine and the most sane one of the group. Then there's Gurj who doesn't get that much screen time--all I know is she is totally obsessed with her rocker boyfriend to the point that she has violated one of the ultimate girl rules: Never diss your girlfriends for a guy! Nikki is struggling to maintain the boutique she owns in the city, has a little bit of a shopping addiction and is on the hunt for Mr. Right (aren't we all). Klo is the dull one of the bunch. She is engaged to be married and doesn't work so I guess there really isn't much about her to tell. And then there is Victoria, an aspiring lawyer who failed the bar twice but still manages to have time to go out regularly. I don't know what law school she went to and managed to have free time. I'm no career advisor but I'm pretty sure that going on a reality TV show that portrays you as immature and simple-minded isn't the best way to start your career. Anyway I digress...

I know this is just another pointless reality TV show but isn't it ok to watch bad TV sometimes? No I don't learn any lessons watching this show and I won't shed a single tear when it goes off air. To be honest, I find all of the girls to be annoying with the exception of Shallon. I guess I watch because I find pleasure in knowing that I'm not the only girl in my 20s struggling to find her niche in a world she doesn't quite fit into and messing up every step of the way...

Downtown Girls airs Tuesday nights at 11 EST on MTV. You can check out full episodes of the show at mtv.com.