The ANTM ladies are getting less, which means we actually have an opportunity to tell who’s who. Oh and seriously please tell me when they come back next season they won’t keep up the everyone reads the ticker Tyra Mail, it’s painful, but maybe less painful as the girls are fewer, I hope. So what’s been going on?

First Miss Jay took the girls on a firehouse quick change runway tutorial. This was of course just a warm up for the real challenge a Tulah fashion show. Not only did the gals have to walk but they had to change to perfection in three minutes or the show would go on, without them. Lauren continued to be our least modely walking candidate this year, while Whitney flashed a boob, and Fatima misbuttoned her top. Katarzyna won the runway challenge and invited Marvita and Amis to join her on her Seventeen advertorial with Jaslene.

Then the girls hit the meat packing district for a meat shoot. Literally wearing pieces of meat, along with other items. And some girls were able to redeem themselves a bit, a little too perky pretty Stacy Ann was judged as having the best shot. Fatima was only able to come up with a single expression. Pretty isn’t always model pretty. But it was our random gal Amis who was so distracted and unengaged that she was let go.

Then our next challenge was with Tyra, she taught the ladies to focus on a little walk and then the three second pose at the end of the runway. Then after passing along a secret trick, pose as if you are in pain, they did a pose off. Albino Anya won, and won a one-on-one shoot with Nigel. This week’s shoot the girls were to embody a genre of music and some of the girls nailed it, Whitney had the best shot. Claire was unable to break the couture poses to match her country persona, but Aimee, the slightly prudish former Mormon, couldn’t bring forth the R&B vibe and was sent home.

The next challenge was a round of go-sees, which I always love because it’s so real. This time they did this early so they broke the group into two teams. And none of the gals were 100%, Lauren’s walk is still laughable and poor Whitney had issues with the fact that not everyone would book a plus size model (she’s a 10 and runway is mostly 2s, Fatima was too small for one gal as a 0). The team with Dominique, Whitney, Claire and Stacy Ann won with Stacy Ann booking the most.

Then on to a crazy no makeup, no hair product shoot where the girls were basically shot from underneath dropping onto a clear mylar sheet swishing with water. Katarzyna had an additional hair cut and after a few tears she said she embraced it. Fatima was called first for photos and Lauren and Claire were left in the bottom two. Though Lauren is still frankenstein-like in person it was Claire’s one note poses that sent her packing.

And who’s annoying me the most: Fatima is so holier than though, and I still can’t get past the Hawaiian albino girl’s weird accent. And yeah Whitney’s got attitude, but seriously Dominique calling a white girl racist because she doesn’t like you… I have to say that these people who think that people argue with them because they’re strong in the contest and not because they’re annoying, yes I mean you Dominique. So far I think she’s fought with everyone but she was happy to see Claire booted from the Claire, Lauren, Whitney hate club.

America’s Next Top Model is back and cranking through the episodes, are you ready for tonight’s? Well here’s where we’re at.

We started with thirty at the premiere and threw a top fourteen into the house. Apparently Tyra just couldn’t decide amongst such talented gals. I have to admit that other than a few amusing moments in the initial episode I sort of tuned out until the final gals were picked. And then I tuned out a little more.

Then with fourteen gals to choose from, one might think that the first elimination would be difficult. But easing that concern was our dumb blond Kimberly who like totally likes to model but so totally doesn’t believe in the fashion industry and really expensive clothes, which of course she shared with the panel. And when Tyra asked her if she wanted to leave, she did. Now there is nothing that pisses off the panel more than some loser who steals away a spot from some girl who ‘really wanted it’.

But the eliminations didn’t stop there… They were able to judge performances in the Badgley Mischa Time’s Square fashion show. Then a photo shoot where they were bringing light to homeless women’s issues (you know in the way a model does) by posing looking homeless, as a few homeless gals dressed more couture. Could they stand out? Awkward Amis was saved and they let go Atalya who just couldn’t put it together.

And then when the makeover episode came, always good for some tears,  but there were no real freak outs this year. The gals did their own makeup for a challenge and low key, fresh makeup Claire won. And then on to a lingerie shoot with Elle McPherson’s new line, and Elle herself. The gals didn’t all bring it, but who should go? The girl with the most experience, Allison (who seemed stiff and over posed), or Dominique? With a quote like ‘I kicked ass at my photo shoot, I’m not going home,’ one would think Allison would be too obvious as the eliminated, but no, we said goodbye.

So far I still don’t really have any favorites. I will keep my eye on weird Amis, or Claire, or totally awkward Lauren, or this year’s plus size gal Whitney. And as always, they may not be modelicious right off the bat but they sure can be annoying. As for rulings on Paulina, the new judge on the panel, so far she’s better than boring Twiggy, but she’s no Janice. But then again who is?

(click on the photos to see larger)

…America’s… Next… Top… Model?

Well we were down to four and I of course was wrong, but only about the first cut. They kept Jenah as her modeling abilities outshone the stiff yet eager Bianca. It was a close call but Jenah did win the challenge afterall, making a traditional Chinese outfit her own, and won not only a traditional outfit of her own but model walk tips with Miss Jay.

And at the photo shoot when they did a group shot it was Bianca who didn’t stand out… each of the judges picking one of the other girls as the one they felt shined. The girls were warriors trying to make it to the other side on the Great Wall of China, Saleisha had the best shoot and the best shot, but Chantalle, no slouch in the shoot herself, stood out the most in the group.

So then it was down to three… I love the finale because it happens so fast, narrowing to two from the Covergirl commercial and photo shoot and then one taking the win by walking in a fashion show. Jaslene (last year’s winner) popped by to give the gals a pep talk as they prepped for their first task.

Saleisha had some issues, forgetting her lines and seeming stiff but ended up with a clean take with ‘a smile in her eyes’ and a great photo. Chantal had a great sense of sincerity in her shoot, and though her technique was imperfect, she ended up with a good commercial take and a good photo. Jenah took a beautiful sweet photo but the judges thought her commercial looked like she was making fun of it.

The three girls had to pick who they thought was the best and worst choice to win, and as Saleisha and Chantal each picked themselves to win they both picked Jenah as the one who shouldn’t because of her attitude. Jenah broke down when trying to explain how she was misunderstood and didn’t think she was better than anyone just because she tried to be strong and had more of a laid back attitude. Though the judges thought her breakdown was a breakthrough, they picked Chantal first, Saleisha second, and then sent Jenah home.

Now for the two girls left the issue was that they both seemed more commercial, but could they be high fashion? So in the fashion show near the hidden city they had to work it. They both looked gorgeous of course and as they strutted down the runway three times with quick changes, who stole the show? Well we all know the answer to that. Chantal had a beautiful body but overall seemed too stiff, and hilariously the long train on her gown tripped one of the extras on stilts, while Saleisha looked like a true top model.

And though I don’t care now that it’s done, I can’t wait until the next cycle, and hope Saleisha can do a better job on the ‘My Life as a Covergirl’ commercials. And here’s hoping Paulina can bring a spark in replacing Twiggy. With the writer’s strike continuing indefinitely we may have more of America’s Next Top Model sooner than we’d expect. There could be worse things.

Well I’ve had a chance to catch up on the girls, and as the selection narrows I find myself, as always, more engaged. First the gals got matched up with some designers at FIDM, to be muses for outfits made from hideous light blue old lady suits. And of course anything that requires interaction with others is fodder for failure. Saleisha apparently cheesed up her walk and one line just enough to win a shoot for Seventeen, and took Lisa and Bianca along with her. Heather predictably stumbled through her lines and started to melt when critiqued on it.

They then headed out to the desert to do a ‘model wasteland’ shoot. Chantal, Saleisha and Jenna sort of rock their shots… And of course they teased the gals with the trip to China before eliminating someone. Ambreal and Lisa were in the bottom two and alas Ambreal just left the panel wanting, no China for her.

Once in China the ladies got a crash course in martial art poses and then had to put them to the test while strung up in the sky. Bianca had to forfeit the challenge when her fear of heights overtook her, but focus driven Heather took the win. She took Chantal with her on a shopping spree (Chantal was the only one who tried to work with the gals when apparently the one double bed wasn’t to be shared and Heather was taunted about having to sleep on the sofa).

And on to the big Covergirl shoot… the lines needed to be learned and after the spot was shot they moved to a photo. Though they panel agreed that everyone basically did terrible, Lisa melted down and Heather couldn’t come up with any inflection even when fed line by line. Chantal was called first and we ended up with Lisa and Heather in the bottom two. So Lisa’s confidence was shot when she stumbled through the entire ad and though Heather did awful, she was able to come up with a sweet photo (which surprised the judges). Lisa was still not getting it all together at the panel and was sent packing.

Then they were on to one of my favorite episodes, the go sees. What makes these so awesome is watching the girls get lost and lose it, I mean they are in China, but truly I think it’s fair because this is legitimately what the girls will need to be able to do. Heather the mess only went to one go see, and couldn’t find her cab and was forty minutes late, trailing Chantal and Jenah, 15 and 20 minutes late. Saleisha and Bianca are the only ones who made it back in time, and the go see-ees picked Bianca to get her photo on a billboard for the 2008 Olympics.

As they totally emphasized how they needed to show personality, they dissed Jenah for being too sarcastic and distant (maybe that’s why I like her). But alas Heather was totally inept, and has been losing it for a while, a great picture is a start but does not a top model make, and she was sent home. Saleisha and Bianca are bringing it, so Chantal and Jenah need to make it happen.

So we’ve only got two episodes left, predictions? Unless we see some surprises, which we often do, I think the gals will go in the order called tonight. Jenah with the great shots and the messy in person and attitude will be next to go. Chantal who they just don’t love will go next. Then with the final two of Bianca and Saleisha I predict Saleisha, who is much more personable and has shown the most growth, to take it. Stay tuned to find out who will be… America’s Next Top Model.