America’s Next Top Model – Good Times and Windmills

CW

(Season 11, Episode 12)

This is the last episode before the big finale, in which one lucky girl will win the competition and the grand prize of a ticket straight into obscurity. Although, to be fair, we already know that at least two of the top three are getting jobs, but there will be more on that after the jump, so the precious spoilerphobes don’t write me nasty emails.

In any case, I’m super psyched about the judges’ decision about the final three. I’ve watched this show forever, and I think that this may be the first time in which the final three I wanted was the final three that was actually chosen. Finally Tyra Banks has learned to read my mind. It took her long enough; I was beginning to wonder how she became a success at all.

The way the editors and — dare I say it? Yes I will! — writers focused on Marjorie and Samantha this week, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that they will be in the bottom two. Not that it took too much sleuthing to figure that out, since McKey and Analeigh can seem to do no wrong.

Marjorie’s a giant twitchy mess, and Samantha is a goofball who doesn’t actually look like a model, so it’s no surprise that one of them would be sent packing this week. I figured it would be Samantha, just because the judges seem to think that Marjorie is more of a stereotypical model than Samantha is. I agree that Samantha is more commercial, but it still confuses me as to why, in its 11th cycle, the judges still seem to think “commercial” is bad. After all, one of the main prizes is the Cover Girl contract– and it doesn’t get much more commercial than that. Seriously. If you think about it, is there any chance in hell Marjorie could make a convincing Cover Girl? Of course not, which is why I was so baffled by this week’s challenge.

The girls auditioned for a running shoe commercial, and I thought it was hilarious that the prize was not, you know, actually getting to shoot the commercial, but a $10,000 shopping spree at a jeans store. It doesn’t seem as though the company had a lot of confidence in our merry group of contestants. Although, in their defense, I must say that this season’s crop is way more literate and coherent than usual. I could see Analeigh, McKey or Samantha pulling off a commercial, but not Marjorie, the one who actually won the challenge.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing when they announced the winner. Analeigh was adorable and is obviously born to do this kind of thing, whereas Marjorie was awkward and scary. Watching her kiss that model was like watching someone being attacked by a kangaroo. It did not make me want to buy sneakers. In fact, I couldn’t imagine Marjorie making me want to buy anything– except maybe seizure medication.

Here is the order in which the photos were handed out:

Analeigh

McKey

Samantha

I’m really surprised; I thought the judges were going to sacrafice Samantha and hold on to Marjorie until the bitter end. It looks like they made a good decision though, as Samantha and Analeigh are already booking jobs. The pair made a guest appearance on this week’s episode of The Big Bang Theory. Unfortunately though, Analeigh got to do all the talking and Samantha didn’t have any lines.

This guest appearance was interesting to me for a couple of reasons: one, it was the first time I can remember seeing Top Model contestants elsewhere before the show ended, and two, I’m not sure how many people even realized who they were, since I’m not sure how many people besides me watch both Top Model and The Big Bang Theory. Did any of you see the episode and notice Analeigh and Samantha?

Next week’s episode is the finale; here are my predictions:

2nd place: Analeigh

Winner: McKey

I’ll see you next week when we find out who will become America’s Next Top Model… to star on a VH1 Celebreality show.

Clacked by Kona Gallagher
on Nov 13, 2008 @ 10:00 EST5EDT