Introducing Fighting Words! Today: Tyra's Insane! vs. Tyra's in on The Joke
If a show is worth watching, it’s probably worth fighting about. We all have issues we’re passionate about on our favorite shows – but sometimes it feel like it’s dangerous to talk about them. If only there were a safe forum where we could share thoughts without mounting a scorched earth campaign.
That’s why we’re starting our new Fighting Words segment. Every Monday, we’ll post a new topic, and we’ll give you our perspective. Then, we want you to tell us what YOU think. Don’t hold back – give us your best argument on the topic of the week, and see if you can convince the rest of the readers!
There are some rules, of course. Our goal is to make this a friendly area to talk through the issues, not a place to mount TV-inspired holy wars. So we ask you do the following:
Keep it clean. No swearing, not personal attacks, no branding people who disagree with you poopy-butts or other such unpleasantness.
Stay on topic. If, for example, we’re debating whether Jason C. looks best in a suit or a t-shirt, it’s not the time to bring up arguments about his interview style or whether he loves Mia, Jackie or Sarah the most (we’ll get to that soon enough).
Try not to YELL, dismiss people out of hand, or use phrases like “A TRUE FAN should think this,” “Obviously that’s wrong,” or “You TOTALLY don’t know the show/have the inside scoop/read the mind of the show’s creator like I do.” This is about opinions, and there are no right or wrong answers, just more or less compelling arguments.
Beyond that, anything goes! Feel free to suggest topics you want to debate in the comments, or e-mail us with suggestions.
We're kicking things off with a Top Model debate. If you listen to the ANTM podcasts, you know Jackie and Mia get a little heated on the topic of Tyra. So here's this week's topic:
vs.
Tyra's a shrewd businesswoman that's completely in on the joke, and she ACTS insane for ratings. She's playing a part, nothing more.
After the jump, Jackie, Mia and I share our thoughts. Post your own in the comments and let the great debate begin!
Jackie: Okay, I think (hope?) it’s the latter here, but lately Tyra has me wondering. Does she realize how she comes off? I liked her so much more in the early cycles of ANTM when she seemed down-to-earth, chill, and didn’t require a round of ear-splitting screams from the models every time she entered the room. She’d actually, you know, offer advice – one of the premises of Top Model was that contestants would get real tips from the former supermodel herself. Now the girls seem terrified of Tyra – after all, she might show up in a kangaroo suit, ask prying questions about their abusive exes (designed to elicit plenty of tears), or force them to model through faux menstrual cramps for a photo op.
Bottom line: I’m not sure how the new Tyra is an improvement over the old one, but I have to believe this is a conscious choice. She can’t be THAT crazy… right? Discuss!
Mia: I’ve seen Tyra act; she was on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air for a while and then got killed in the movie Higher Learning. She’s really not that great of an actress, nor do I think she has a sense of humor about herself. I think when she first started as a model/actress she was humble. She stayed on the straight and narrow, didn’t get into trouble or dabble with drugs and now I think she thinks she’s Oprah. I can understand maybe playing it a little crazy on America’s Next Top Model. Singing, dancing and imitating other languages doesn’t usually hurt anyone, but Tyra seems to make herself feel better by belittling the other contestants. For someone trying to teach these girls how to handle the media and stay true to themselves, she hasn’t set a great example.
Sarah: I wish I could give Tyra the benefit of the doubt, but I just can't -- the woman is batfeces crazy. She's turned ANTM into a cult-of-personality show, where the contestants have to worship at the altar of Tyra and follow every instruction without question. She seems to think people tune in to see her flail around rather than to see the competitors. Evidence: The CLEARLY rigged Saliesha win last cycle, the increasingly inexplicable eliminations of strong competitors like Claire, and her refusal to learn Katarzyna's name. Tyra can no longer see the real world around her insanely bloated ego. Someone needs to give her a reality check -- or at least make sure she takes her meds.
Comments
I think tyras a very power hungry man and cant fight the real fight. why cant she just get a life and return to the rating wallace and not have to be on top of the world at once? fierce? ...yes. Caplin?...absolutely. Egotistical...concisely. dont be rude tyra. just be you u sexy woman beast! i love you!
Posted by: Caverine | October 13, 2008 8:42 PM
i think that u need to be a little overboard when you are in showbizz. to me i love last nights premere it makes tv a little bit more fun to watch. keep doin your thing tyra!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: mone't | September 4, 2008 3:23 PM
i think tyra does do a little too much but i think that if your going to be america's next top model you should be able to do anything and still be sexy at the same time so trya is just being herself and the girls have to know how look sexy during a mistake so stop hating on my girl tyra because she's hot and she showing me something i love her!!!
Posted by: devinair | July 13, 2008 12:07 PM
Tyra likes the attention.
She seems fake to me and one of the reasons i stopped watching ANTM is because i couldn't stand watching her anymore.
im not sure whether shes in on it or not, but either way, she seems like she loves to be the centre of attention all the time.
Posted by: Emma | July 11, 2008 8:07 AM
I haven't watched ANTM since like cycle 5 when I got bored with it. Up until then I thought Tyra was a lot of fun, she didn't get too carried away though, she knew when it was time to be serious. I really liked the "old Tyra" as you refer to her but I can't comment on the new one.
Posted by: Inga | June 25, 2008 2:47 PM
i think that tyra does all of this for attention i used to watch ANTM when it first started but now i cant watch it... its still a good show but Calm your nurves Woman..
Posted by: michie | June 24, 2008 12:33 PM
Tyra has been making mistakes since a long time, for instance letting Adrianne, Yoanna or Naima win, letting Ann or Keenyah go as far as they did... But I think the turning point was Janice's leave. After that Tyra felt she had to be the crazy one on panel and didn't do as well as Janice. On top of that she has been getting more and more involved in her talk show and less and less in the girls. But what bugs me is not her craziness, it's the fact that she keeps on bullying some girls (Kelle C3, Cassandra C5, Ebony and Jenah C9 or Katarzyna C10), that is really, really wrong. Just like the fact that she let Saleisha win just because she is the perfect example of what she wants: a girl she made into a top model (giving her confidence, tips and stuff) but to me she failed miserably on that one as Saleisha still can't be high fashion and her work proves it. That's a real shame since Heather, Jenah, Lisa, Victoria, Ebony, Sarah and even Chantal or Bianca had more potential than her.
Posted by: Boo | June 24, 2008 6:59 AM
I think Tyra is nutty for ratings, but deep down, she's truly crazy.
I was watching the Daytime Emmys and her famous quote, "You can kiss my fat ass!", was used through the whole night and people still laughed.
Posted by: Corinne | June 23, 2008 11:57 PM
I agree with all of you that I liked Tyra and ANTM better in the earlier cycles, but I think I agree with Mia the most. I think that she isn't acting, and if she was well she still shouldn't being teaching girls how to deal with media. On the other hand I still find her singing, and CRAZY things she does and the conversations she has with the judges. I think that she is laughing at herself at that point, and isn't really acting but having fun. She has always done that. What I am noticing lately is the fact that she IS becoming rude to the contestants, and isn't getting to know them like she used too. She also isn't giving them the advice they need, or should get. However, I also believe that Tyra has not gone so crazy as to rig ANTM, I think the winners truly deserved to win. For example, I thought that both Saliesha and Whitney really deserved it. And truthfully I really liked them. I don't think it is all that rigged. So I guess what I am saying is that Tyra has gone a little crazy, but not that bad.
Posted by: Amanda | June 23, 2008 8:34 PM