Photos
Video
'Make Me a Supermodel' Baa, baa, bad model
Last weeks Make Me a Supermodel placed Stephanie, Ronnie and Frankie on the block. I have to admit, I figured Ronnie would be the one to go, due to his catalog look not being edgy enough for runway couture. Thus, I am surprised when it is the inconsistent, yet still interesting Stephanie who is asked to leave - which causes Holly a good deal of sadness, despite Jackie mocking her for being upset.
After Frankie and Ronnie return to the house, all the models are called together to be told it has been 7 weeks since the start of the show and thus it is time for them to get hair touch ups. Further, this time they want to cut all of Frankie's "Fabio" hair off. He reluctantly agrees and then anxiously awaits the chopping to begin. He's so nervous that when the stylist asks him if he is familiar with Rod Stewart he says no, then yes, but I am not sure he even knows what he's saying at this point. The quote "The first cut is the deepest" goes right over him, anyway. When they are all done he decides he rather likes himself with short hair and Holly quips that they gave him her haircut.
The editing of the show has gotten better over the last 7 weeks, and they are clearly cramming less into each episode now that they've dropped the humiliating weigh-ins and work outs and cut the challenges to only 2 per episode. But it still feels awfully scripted and cheesy at points. Such as how they show all the hopefuls sitting around and talking about their greatest fears, including a story from Casey, who told a story of being in the water when a snake brushed by him and how he's been terrified of snakes ever since. And then, a moment later, we find out their photo shoot challenge will be about extreme conditions and will have them shooting in a water tank. With a giant snake. My, that's convenient!
They show all the models working with the snake, cutting away to reveal Casey sitting by himself and meditating to rid himself of his fear. Perry goes through with his usual over confidence and poor Holly is not only afraid of snakes but also sick. Casey ends up doing fine, while Ben and Shannon both do dreadful. But the images we see from the shoot still look unfinished. Maybe I am too used to the images we see from America's Next Top Model, where everything has been photoshopped to within an inch of it's digital life. Either way, this looks like a Polaroid in comparison.
There is a short montage of the models talking about how there is only 5 weeks left before one of them walks away $100,000 richer and with a modeling contract and they all discuss what they would do with the money. It's all far more down to earth than I expected, with them saying they would move to New York, be glad not to have to work 2 jobs, etc. Not a single new sport car or trip to Hawaii in sight.
The catwalk challenge is where it kind of falls apart for me. No, Jennifer Starr doesn't say something unbelievable again. It's more the entire concept they give us. The hopefuls have to balance giant headdresses while walking. They also have to wrangle an animal. Jackie gets off light with a poodle, but the other models have ducks and goats and sheep and the like. It is nonsensical and I can't imagine any designer doing it. When the models come down the runway, they all seem to be focusing entirely on keeping their heads straight and the animals in-line. Thus, there is no rhythm to their walk, no interesting expressions beyond blank stares and looks of concentration, and everyone walks incredibly slowly. The models that don't fall victim to those traps fail in other spectacular ways. Such as Perry, who ends up on his knees trying to push his goat down the runway or Frankie, who waggles the bow tie his duck it wearing and it just screams Gouda to me. The most telling sign is how at the end of the who mess I cannot recall a single outfit a model was wearing.
Even more bewildering to me, however, is how much praise some of the models get for the improvement in their walks. What did I miss? To me it looked like they were all counting silently to themselves. And it was hard. The biggest criticism goes to Perry, who is told his confidence has crossed over to arrogance, that his picture was not good at all and his walk was terrible. He's told he will have to eat some humble pie and showing a total lack of humility, he replies "I already have the whole damn thing". Way to miss the point completely, Perry! The judges reveal their decision and I get it from the point of view of the photo shoot, but not the catwalk challenge. Ronnie wins the week and Ben, Jackie and Perry are in the bottom.
I think it's pretty clear that we will say good bye to Ben next week. Hell, even Ronnie sold him out by telling the judges he thought he should be eliminated next. Anyone disagree? Who would you rather see eliminated?
It'd be nice to see a guy go home next. If Jackie gets eliminated it'll only leave us with 2 girls!
gus | Feb 21, 2008 10:15:12 PM | #It's bye-bye time for Ben.
He needs to go. He's not that attractive and he doesn't photograph well at all. I love Jackie (even with those Dumbo ears) and think that Perry can make it all the way to the final three.
My money's on Holly, Shannon, Perry and Ronnie to go far, with Casey not far behind.
JVice | Feb 22, 2008 7:11:23 AM | #I'd rather see Perry go. To me he comes off as a big jackhole. He thinks way too much of himself. Which is saying alot with this group.
But it will most likely be Ben that goes home.
SG | Feb 22, 2008 8:20:21 AM | #I think Jackie is toast. The show is on Bravo...all the gay men and women who watch the channel will keep the hot guys alive a lot longer than boring girls.
KJA | Feb 23, 2008 1:20:01 PM | #I would most like to see Perry go, due to his arrogance and abrasive attitude. However, I was annoyed at Ben's comment about how Holly deserved to be in the bottom 3. He says she "didn't work". Huh? She had a better photo shoot than he did, and she was sick! What was his excuse? She never opted out of anything, even though she was sick. I've noticed the guys on this show seem to think they are all better than the girls, both as models and as people. Neither of those things are true!
Becca | Feb 23, 2008 3:29:19 PM | #yes, we gays love bravo and this show is a love story between ben and ron----ben will not be voted out this week.
tim | Feb 24, 2008 8:34:23 AM | #I find it amazing that Ben and Ronnie cannot both do well in one week. The moment I saw Ronnie do well, I knew at that moment Ben would be up for the vote.
Every week it seems the show is more scripted than reality. The point about the snake being used after Casey's comment illustrates this very well. Come on Bravo, you can do better than this.
The Valentine drama with Perry was ridiculous and looked to be scripted (if not he should leave her ASAP). I know they need some drama to make it fun but it's become very un-reality. If you watch closely, the first comments of challenge one will tell you who is up for the vote.
My money is on Holly to win.
Paul | Feb 26, 2008 10:48:35 AM | #I definitely want to see perry go because of his personality. I don't want Ben go yet. Jackie is not ready to go yet.
Yet, I want to see more connection of Ron and Ben in upcoming episodes.
mike mathis | Feb 26, 2008 11:19:49 PM | #I find it hard to believe Ben's comments were his own in today's episode. There is no way anyone would make such stupid comments and endanger themselves in a competition. He may be "small town" but he cannot be that stupid. Ronnie's reaction was weak and unbelievable. Every week it seems it's becoming more and more scripted.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ben's actions were scripted so that he will lose the "gay" vote and is voted out this week.
Paul | Feb 28, 2008 8:48:06 PM | #
Zap2it Twitter Talk
