Yes, my girl Whitney just won Season 10 of America’s Next Top Model! This is the first fuller figured/plus sized model to ever make it that far in the game. Hands down, she was the right pick. She’s curvy, she’s drop dead gorgeous and seriously fierce on the runway. Work it girl!

Here are my favorite pictures of Whitney from ANTM 10…

America’s Next Top Model is finally moving back to New York City for their 10th season so maybe that means there will be some real modeling gigs in the future for the newest crop of stick figures. I’m sick of the crappy shoots in gardens and in deserts with the LA skyline in the background. I mean who thinks of Los Angeles when you think of modeling and fashion? Not my gay ass.

Give me some heroine thin girls looking cracked out in a bathtub next to a line of tourists waiting at the TKTS booth in Times Square. I want to see Miss J in high heels stomping the yard and eating a Papaya dog for christ sake. I want cameras following Tyra Banks as she makes three trips a day to Rice to Riches prior to making that hideous talk show of hers. It’s time for Top Model to get fierce again!

So here’s the scoop on Season 10. It premieres February 20th on The CW and location is not the only difference you’ll notice this season. Out is “Fashion Icon and Living Legend” Twiggy but in her place is the still stunning Paulina Porizkova who will hopefully bring some much needed criticism and sass back to the group.

Here are the girls that are in the running to become America’s Next Top Model (Cycle 10):

The Girl with the Pixie Cut Wins Top Model 9

Saleisha pulled out a win in last night’s Cycle 9 finale of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL. It was the right choice of the Top 2 but that’s where the questions come in. Why on earth was bland cowpoke Chantal in the Top 2 over edgy (though not my ideal choice either) Jenah?

After Heather was given the boot a couple weeks back I’ve lost some interest in who wins. For some reason I decided that the devil should win after H was eliminated and I aligned with Bianca for the win. That didn’t last long, bitch was gone in another week. Oh well.

From that point on I never really knew who I wanted to actually walk away with the title. Jenah was fugly in person but had some really good shoots. Chantal was very CoverGirl looking but dumb as dishwater and so just non-existent that I could never really like her. Saleisha was really interesting to watch progress over the season and I 100% believe that she’s the most commercial of the final 3. So I guess I’m glad she won? I guess…

Even though I’ve not seen last week’s episode of America’s Next Top Model, I sadly found out who got kicked off thanks to a CW press release. Blurg!

Well, here’s some exciting news about the show itself. Cycle 10 (back in NYC) will have a new Judge. Living Legend and Fashion Icon TWIGGY is leaving the show due to “scheduling conflicts” which probably means she’s bored to tears and Supermodel/Actress/Spokesperson PAULINA PORIZKOVA is in!

Paulina is the wife of The Cars Ric Ocasek which is only one of the reasons she kicks ass. She’ll bring some much needed energy and insight into the mix (fingers crossed).

“We are thrilled to have Paulina as a part of this cycle’s judging panel. The show and participants will benefit a great deal from her vast modeling knowledge and expertise,” said Ken Mok, Executive Producer of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL.

Porizkova was chosen twice by People magazine as one of the Fifty Most Beautiful People in the world, in 1990 and 1992. Harper’s Bazaar magazine named her one of its ten most beautiful women in 1992. American Photo magazine in its first issue declared her to be the model of the 1980s. Porizkova has graced the covers of hundreds of magazines worldwide for more than two decades, including appearances on Vogue, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Self, Cosmopolitan and Glamour. She began modeling at the age of 15 and quickly rose to the top of her profession.

In addition, Porizkova has a long list of film credits including “Her Alibi,” opposite Tom Selleck, “Arizona Dreams,” opposite Johnny Depp, “People I Know,” opposite Al Pacino, “Second Best,” with Joe Pantoliano, the independent comedy “Knots,” with John Stamos, and many others. Porizkova was recently seen on “Dancing With The Stars” and wrote a novel entitled “A Model Summer” for Hyperion books. Porizkova is represented by management company One Entertainment and attorney Peter Thall.

The judging panel for cycle 10 will again be led by Tyra Banks and will also include runway expert J. Alexander and renowned fashion photographer Nigel Barker. As always, special guest judges will appear to critique within his or her area of expertise.

I cannot wait! Loved me some Paulina back in the day!

Fashion Wednesday, the phrase I’m giving the double shot of America’s Next Top Model and the return of Project Runway. Fitting I’d say.

As TOP MODEL started I completely forgot that this was going to be the episode where Aspergers Heather was going to go apeshit in the shower with some other naked toothpicks. These girls have been taunting and tormenting the beauty for weeks and she continues to kick their asses in the competition but last night it finally got to her. After a hideous public speaking snafu, Heather was bummed, add that to her already awkward social disease and it was catastrophic.

There was no big drama, just a brief freak out, but one she couldn’t recover from. The elimination challenge was an amazing post-apocolyptic photo shoot in the desert but sadly my girl couldn’t pull it together enough to rock it. Sure her picture was still incredible but it lacked the ferocity she normally delivers.

With so much Heather talk over the last couple week’s I was sure this was the end of the road but luckily the judges still love her! Sadly, they’re loving that seeyounexttuesday Bianca as well. That girl’s heinous and I want her gone asap. Heather made the cut which left Ambreal and Lisa as the bottom two. Ambreal who had extended her stay by a couple weeks went home. Duh. Next week the girls are off to China and I can only imagine the outfits Miss J will be sporting. Love me some ANTM.

PROJECT RUNWAY 4 started and can I just say Thank God and It’s About Frakkin’ Time? I absolove Project Runway and it’s been way too long since I’ve had my Heidi, Tim, Michael Korhs, and that fabulous bitch Nina Garcia in my life.

The new crop of designers is a very accomplished crew but that doesn’t mean there’s not a crackpot or two in the bunch.

Rami is one hot piece of designing ass and his design was stellar, though a little too Carrie Bradshaw inspired… regardless, he blew the rest of the designers out of the water. I’m really digging Carmen and if someone can tell me where I know her from, please do. She’s fun. Christian is the biggest gay of the bunch and he’s a mix of Marco from Degrassi and my friend Nick rolled into a pink glitter factory and styled by a cockatiel with that bad bad hair. Jillian looks like the biggest douche the show’s had in years and Elisa wins the award for the flightiest designer in PR history.

The rest of the contestants will grow on me I’m sure. It was just so wonderful and comfortable to have Tim Gunn back in my life and telling everyone to MAKE IT WORK! Tim, I heart you.

Ah, I’m a big gay on a big gay Wednesday night.

It’s Friday morning and I thought I’d assess where I’m at with my missed viewings. It’s been a busy week for the Duckster and that means I’ve missed a small amount of telelvision.

Let’s go all the way back to Monday shall we. Monday evening I helped out with the Boston Jewish Film Festival so I missed all of my shows. I took Tuesday late afternoon as the opportunity to catch HIMYM and Big Bang Theory which I loved. Then at like midnight I watched Heroes. CHUCK is still sitting on my DVR. I will catch up before this coming Monday… promise.

I’ve yet to see this week’s BONES episode and according to MEL, it was once again a stellar episode. Bones is a hard one (that’s what she said) because I’ve only ever seen 3 episodes and I’ve loved them all. I want to watch it from the beginning but figured why not just start where we are now. The strike will leave me plenty of time to catch up.

I think I watched everything I wanted to see on Wednesday. I saw Heather’s eyes roll into the back of her head and some vampire action on Top Model and Gossip Girl left me wanting less and more at the same time.

So that brings us to Thursday. Last night I only watched SUPERNATURAL (recap coming soon). I missed 30 Rock and The Office because I was watching Rosemary’s Baby. I’ll catch up soon and post.

How has everyone else held up this week?

Ducky and GMMR are neck deep in Fall TV but we finally had some time to do another TV Podcast.

In TV Podcast #15, we discuss the fall television season and all of its overwhelming glory. We go day by day and talk about the shows that are on, what we’re watching, what we’ve already dropped, and what we hope to catch in reruns (networks willing).

New Shows We Talk About:
Pushing Daisies, Chuck, Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, Journeyman, Big Bang Theory, Aliens In America, Reaper, Private Practice, Bionic Woman, Moonlight

Returning Faves We Talk About:
How I Met Your Mother, Heroes, Prison Break, House, Bones, Top Model, Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Supernatural, Friday Night Lights, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters

Subscribe and Listen via iTunes

Listen Online: Podcast #15

Interested in catching up on our past podcasts? Head on over to the podcast page where you can listen to all of our previous episodes.

Have a question for Ducky and GMMR? There are a couple ways to contact us:

Free Voice Mail (Comments/Questions):
This is Dan and Kathie’s favorite method of contact because it allows us to hear from you and we use these messages live on our podcast to answer your burning television questions. It’s FREE and you don’t have to do anything but click RECORD BY PHONE on the box below and it will walk you through how to contact us!

It’s super easy and free to leave us a message:

Step 1: Click on “Record by Phone”

Step 2: Dial the number shown and enter the four digit code when prompted

Step 3: Leave a message

Step 4: Listen to our next podcast to see if we answered your question

 

iTunes Comments:
This is a great way to spread the word about our podcast and it really helps new listeners determine if they want to subscribe to us or not based on YOUR COMMENTS. Subscribing to the joint podcast between duckyxdale.com and givememyremote.com is the best way to listen to us.Please comment on duckyxdale and givememyremote’s TV Podcast at iTunes.

Wednesday night’s are fraktastic these days. There are so many amazing shows on Wednesday that a girl could get herself into a tizzy.

Pushing Daisies is on at 8pm, America’s Next Top Model finally has their makeover episode also at 8pm (The CW).

9pm gets juicy with the just picked up for a full season GOSSIP GIRL. 10pm get’s even dirtier with DIRTY SEXY MONEY on ABC. It’s tranny time, and who’s not loving it? At 10pm on Bravo, TOP CHEF has it’s reunion episode and I can only pray someone stabs Hung.

Then there are the shows I won’t be watching… Private Practice (9pm - ABC) and Bionic Woman (9pm - NBC).

That’s a hell of a lot of television for a weeknight.

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL took a stand last night and it’s one I’m 100% behind. The main photo shoot showcased the two sides to smoking. The glamorous starlette aspect which when reflected in the mirror showed the hideous side effects. The photos were great and the message was visually powerful but Ms. Tyra took it a step further.

Tyra Banks declared that Cycle 9 would be smoke free. That’s like saying Model’s can’t eat, er wait… same thing. Yup, Tyra said that too many young girls look up to real models and the girls of ANTM and she doesn’t want to send the message that smoking is cool or that smoking is anything but deadly. You go girl!

Is it controversial? I don’t know. I’ve heard a couple people grumble that Top Model isn’t giving the girls a choice and that they don’t seem to be offering up any assistance. Either they did off camera or they are wanting to see the withdrawl play out on screen to make it more clear for young kids just how addictive smoking can be. Either way, I’m still all about it.

After last night’s photo shoot, I have to revise my top choices very slightly. I still 100% stand by Heather and Victoria being my top choices. I had Jenah in my top 3 but I’ve now decided that she so homely and busted that I can’t look at her any longer. I’m moving Lisa into the Top 3 for the time being.

I’m still loving Saleisha and now I’m digging Sarah. So if you go back to last week’s recap, I’m really not that far off from my initial picks. I had Heather, Victoria, Jenah, Lisa and Saleisha as my Top 5.

Last night did nothing if not showcase how hideous the human race can be at times. Bianca is one nasty ass bitch. She’s mean, she’s hamming for the camera, and in my opinion she’s bunk. She was a total twat to Lisa and walks around like she’s the Queen B. Has she never watched the show? Eventually that backfires and if Tyra catches wind of it, there’s gonna be hell to pay.

The other low-lifes are douches that were ripping Heather apart. Yes the girl’s quiet, she’s reserved, and she’s a loner. It’s because she has asperger’s disease and is socially awkward from it. She’s nice, she’s done nothing wrong to anyone yet they couldn’t stop ripping into her. What about that dumbass horseface Kimberly who said she doesn’t even like to look her in the eye when she’s talking to her because she doesn’t need Heather being all clingy. Bitch noone wants to be your friend so save it. Same with pinface hag-like Janet who claims to be 22 when I’m certain she’s pushing 40. Hideous.

How can we get Chris Crocker on Heather’s side? “LEAVE HEATHER ALONE!”

Oh crap, I almost forgot to tell you who got kicked off. The first girl to leave Top Model 9 is Boston based MILA. Doesn’t bother me.

Tonight is when your television wants to explode. It’s too much, Wednesday’s are just simply too much. Let me pose a question to all of you out there. How do you watch 3 shows at once? How do you possibly try to watch your returning faves and the newbies and have a life and a relationship and whatever when there’s so much quality television on these days.

The shows that in a perfect world could be watched are as follows: AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, GOSSIP GIRL, PRIVATE PRACTICE, BIONIC WOMAN, DIRTY SEXY MONEY and TOP CHEF. Next week it only gets worse when ABC adds my favorite PUSHING DAISIES but Top Chef drops after next week’s finale so there’s a free hour.

I’m dropping one or two shows from my schedule, have to… no way around it. This is when reality kicks in and says, “STOP WATCHING TELEVISION.” I’ll iTunes something to watch on the subway to and from work but I haven’t decided which 9pm show that will be. Bionic Woman will drop off iTunes in December (if its even added by NBC) so that could cause issues but I feel that is the one to go. When will the other networks jump on the ON DEMAND bandwagon like CBS has? That makes life easier as well. Come on now!

Here’s what Ducky’s watching tonight:

8pm - America’s Next Top Model has their Top 13 working a anti-smoking ad campaign which will surely be non-modely but I don’t care because I love the show.

9pm - Gossip Girl’s first non-pilot episode is called “The Wild Brunch” and I can only hope it lives up to the hype.

10pm - Dirty Sexy Money will finally introduce the world to the Darlings! I heart the Darlings!

Also Premiering Tonight:
Criminal Minds (CBS)n
CSI:NY (CBS)
Deal or no Deal (NBC)
*New Show: BIONIC WOMAN (NBC)
*New Show: LIFE (NBC)
*New Show: PRIVATE PRACTICE (ABC)

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL premiered last night and aside from singing the Love Boat theme all night, I couldn’t have been happier. Top Model is now in its 9th season and while they’ve had some ups and downs over the years, I’ve always felt that the show is highly entertaining and the cast of characters they gather are usually worth their waifish weight in gold.

This year they took 33 semi-finalists, put them on a cruise ship and set sail for sandy beaches. Miss J was their lovely cruise director and she had them working the ship’s track as a catwalk. We quickly learned that while a couple of those sticks could strut it on the runway, many of these girls could barely walk a straight line. One’s a hunchback, another pigeon toed, seriously it’s amazing some of these girls can walk down the street.

There’s nothing better than Miss J imitating girls who can’t walk. They must want to kill themselves after that. She’s a trip!

Tyra on the other hand needs to tone it down. Since she decided to “retire” from modeling she’s gone from curvy to fat back to curvy then straight to crazy. She decided that her entrance this year would be a Vegas style showgirls number. It was nauseating. Hell one of the girls threw up (okay so that was a different time and she had sea-sickness but that’s beside the point).

Boston was very present in the semi-finalists (3 girls), as were the egomaniacs ala Jade. But in true Top Model fashion, getting too invested in these girls in the first episode is always a mistake. After Tyra, Miss J and Jay interviewed and tortured these girls at high sea, there was a quick beach front photo shoot with Cycle 8 winner Jaslene in the house (girl still sounds as deaf as Marlee Matlin but who am I to judge).

Then it was time for them to make the first round of cuts. 33 went to 20 in the blink of an eye. I apparently blinked some more because aside from people calling Ebony out as this years most hated girl, I don’t remember much until the finalists were revealed.

On a clear catwalk above the ships pool was where Tyra widdled it down from 20 to the Top 13. Why do I love watching these cocky and sadly average girls get knocked down? There’s nothing better than watching a girl who thought she was the next Naomi Campbell crying her eyes out because she has to go back home to her job at the DQ like the rest of the world. Cry girls, cry because it makes my night to see you sobbing on that screen.

I’m happy to say that all of my favorites made it and move on to compete for the title of America’s Next Top Model.

Who are my Top picks? That’s a hard one because with only that one photo shoot under their belt, its hard to tell what they’ll look like post-makeover — which means I’m basing this on their mousy before photos. That being said, I’m banking on the odd girls this year. Victoria, Heather, and Jenah.

But there are some beauties as well that I’d like to see go further, like Saleisha or Lisa.

In other words, it’s too hard to tell who could win AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL Cycle 9.

*Check out all the ANTM Cycle 9 Contestants at my earlier post revealing the cast.

I know I’ve been a little absent on the premiere front this week but I’ve had a really rough couple days and to be honest, aside from The Hills I’ve not wanted to watch much. While I was pretty sick this evening, lying on my couch I was able to get current on MAD MEN and finally finished THE CLOSER. I’m trying to get the memory on my DVR down as much as I can before the chaos of next week kicks in.

While next week is when it gets crazy busy with new and returning premiere’s, this week has it’s share as well. Tomorrow is the first big night for me as a returning fave catwalks back into my heart and a new girl who loves to gossip wins over my heart.

Ducky’s Must Watch Premieres - Wednesday September 19th:

8pm (The CW) - AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL Cycle 9
Tyra and a new crop of Popsicle Sticks will work it and be fierce for the first time. Ms. J will be there, Twiggy returns, and hopefully so does that lovely bare chest of Nigel’s! Fingers crossed that the move from LA to NYC (it’s original home, thank you very much) puts some much needed zest back into the show. And here’s to hoping that Mr. Jay is sporting something other than that hideous Silver Hair.

9pm (The CW) - GOSSIP GIRL
Gossip Girl is a show that I didn’t want to watch. Not because I thought it would suck, but because I knew that if I watched even one frame of the Pilot episode I would be madly, deeply, insanely hooked. I’m happy to say that I didn’t hold out and I’ve seen the Pilot a couple times, much to my super surprised delight! Gossip Girl is full of super hot boys and girls who neither look nor act like they’re in high school - and that’s exactly what I wanted out of this show. They are bitcy, boozing, bedding, bourgeoisies and they’ve won my adoration already.

Josh Schwartz has created a world that I pray only exists for an elite few. The over stuffed vapidity that you’re expecting is semi-present but at it’s core, Blake Lively really brings a multi-dimensional and realistic portrayal to the show and that’s what people will click with. Sure we love a catty spat between ex-BFF’s but my investment is in watching Serena come home, learn from her mistakes, and grow into something much better than the socialite she once aspired to be. The Humphrey’s also breathe life into this hyper-reality of NYC over-priviledge. They’re the poor family, the alternative family, the un-Hilton’s and you want them to strive to be better than the rest. Aside from Serena, this is the family to invest in. It also doesn’t hurt that I already have a mad geek-boy crush on Penn Badgley who plays the lovable Seth Cohen-esque Dan Humprey.

Learn all about The CW’s GOSSIP GIRL

Also premiering tonight but probably not one’s I’ll watch:

8pm - KID NATION (CBS): Nothing says democracy like child labor!
8pm - BACK TO YOU (Fox): To be honest, I’m not middle aged.
9pm - KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (Fox): This one has potential but if I watch it now that means I’ll have to continue watching it and once the season really kicks in, I don’t have room for it.

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL Cycle 9
Premieres: Wednesday, September 19th on The CW

Looks like real modelling could actually take place this season. The promo shows the new girls, some catwalking, and some fun outfits. If only the show were this exciting then maybe I’d be flipping out more.

If we don’t get some fierce photo shoots, some walking lessons, and some great old school modelling this year, I’m gonna be pissed. No more ugly-ing up the girls, that’s called Episode 1-3 before you give them their makeovers. No more absentee Tyra. No more criticizing the girls for not knowing how to model or walk when you’re not willing to teach them anything. No more boring. Come on Top Model, work it out!

Check out the photos of the ANTM Cycle 9 contestants.

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL Cycle 9 begins September 19th at 8pm. Can you believe that we’re on Cycle 9 already? Seems like yesterday when I was laughing my butt off watching mumble mouth Adrianne Curry catwalk her way through Season 1. In Season 2 I was obsessed with Yoanna House, she was a goddess and probably the best contestant in ANTM history. Eva Pigford brought the fabulous and short hair. Naimi Mora was a bore. Nicole Linkletter was beautiful but kind of dead. Dani was amazing! Cari Dee English was decent enough but annoying at times. Jaslene Gonzalez was drag queen ghetto fabulous!

Who will be AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL? Let’s start judging based on looks alone!

I bring you the girls of Top Model 9!

Preview:

Photos:

Name: Ambreal
Occupation: College Student
Age: 19
Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Name: Bianca
Occupation: College Student
Age: 18
Hometown: Queens, New York
(more…)

BIG BROTHER 8 and America’s Next Top Model have never really crossed before, but tonight… nope nevermind. They’ll still remain shows without a cross-over because there isn’t a chance in hell that Tyra wants Amber’s crazy crying out of shape ass up in her house!

If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, all you need to know is that Amber has the chubbiest splotchy red cry face with the crispiest mall hair this side of 1987 and a body the size of a wrestler - she’s so not model material. The best part though is that she and Jameka think she’s pretty enough and skinny enough to be a model. At one point she said that she has the face, the hair, and the personality to become America’s Next Top Model and there’s Jameka in the background going “um-hum.”

I was rolling! I was on the floor dying with laughter. It’s like saying I’d become a football player or a refrigerator… it’s just not happening! Delusion is so great!

I said it last week, and I’ll say it again. Big Brother struck gold with Amber.

The rest of the episode was semi-uneventful. There was a nude competition (Ducky heads online to find pics) where the girls won a 2 minute shopping spree and the boys lost their dignity once and for all. Dick and Daniele started fighting again because Dani is beyond annoyed with her crazy ass father. Eric continued to mack on Jessica, and I’m pretty sure Zach has lost a good amount of weight. His face looks skinnier.

Jessica nominated Amber and Zach. I almost dread to see who wins POV and if those nominations change. Right now they are perfect.