ANTM: Who’s Bad? « The Pretty Year

ANTM: Who’s Bad?

By dottie Tuesday October 6, 2009

Sorry I’m late, y’all. A lot of ridiculousness happened to me in the past couple days and I’ve had to manage my feng shui. But now I’m pretty sure things are back under control, and I can address the real pressing issues of today: With Bianca gone, who will become this season’s bitch?

Don’t worry, my tongue’s firmly in my cheek. But the question is legitimate on a couple of levels. First, this show is so formulaic and predictable that each cycle has a designated villain built around unfortunate editing. Sometimes the truth comes out in post-show interviews and the cutting room floor tells a more complicated story. Sometimes the contestant in question really is that bad. But either way, there’s always a girl to root against because she’s not on the show to make friends. I’ve already discussed my dislike of manipulative editing of that sort, so you can pretty much guess how I feel about that. People are multifaceted.

You know, tons of folks hate Santino Rice from the second season of Project Runway. While that season was airing, I was keeping a little stupid photoblog that nobody was reading and would occasionally talk about the shows I was watching, and after the lederhosen lingerie fiasco, I felt compelled to write a piece defending Santino. I basically said that nothing he did warranted the outraged response he got, and that if I were on the show, I would have been received similarly because I enjoy being snarky. And a few weeks later, Santino himself commented on that entry and told me I was “the shit”, I was hilarious, and that he loved me. He must’ve Googled his name or something. The point is, though, that he confirmed what I suspected: bitch is in the eye of the beholder.

The other important part of this is the choice of language: bitch. Everyone talks about “the cycle bitch” every season, being very careful to use that particular and inherently misogynist term. And some people want to take it even further and notice how the cycle bitch is usually black. The only non-black universal villains I can think of are C8 Renee and C7 Melrose. So you have to wonder what Tyra is trying to do, as both a producer and talent scout. I understand that the show itself is a commercial venture and drama means higher ratings, but since she’s always spinning yarns about occupational integrity, where does her allegiance lie? I mean, this is an industry already fielding charges of racism. Why would you perpetuate stereotypes if you could avoid it?

Well, anyway, this is pertinent because… well, let’s just hit the lessons, shall we?

Lesson One: Stankness Has a Sliding Scale

I was really excited when I saw the previews for this week’s episode, where Erin yanks my beloved Sundai out of her way in the challenge race and basically says she has no problem with ruthlessness if it leads to victory. Now, I don’t have any problems with Erin. She takes nice pictures and I’ve heard some folks buzzing that she’s a contender for the win (speculation, not a spoiler!). But I was eager from a sociological perspective and wanted to see if the public would flip on her the way they did Lulu and Ashley.

They did not. In fact, they were defending her eagerness to throw people under the bus as “playing the game”. So the entire point of me writing all of that up there was to vocalize my frustration with how transparent this all is. It’s somehow totally acceptable to put your hands on someone else with the intent of sabotage (well, the attempt anyway, since Sundai ended up winning), but it’s unacceptable to say you think someone’s doing a terrible job in their pictures. And even that’s not true, because Erin’s said snarky things about Brittany. But my departed Lulu and Ashley get the dogpile because people refuse to examine what they bring to the exchange. I’m talking about personal biases. Not just racial ones, but class-related ones, or even lexicological ones. You absolutely have the prerogative to dislike someone on a reality show (and I encourage it!), but it’s more important to take a look at why they press your buttons while you remember that they’re just chicks on tv.

Alright, I’m done being preachy.

Lesson Two: Sexual Harassment Isn’t All That Bad

I am tired of Tyra feeling up Nigel and talking about how “sexified” he is. First, it’s gross! Second, he’s a married father– his wife was even a guest on this episode! And I don’t know what kind of relationship they have outside of the judges’ table, but for Pete’s sake, lady, tone it down! And it’s never reciprocated. You never hear Nigel going on about how sexy Tyra is. You hear him say that about a few of the contestants, mind you, but never Tyra.

God, with every bat of her lashes, I feel a tidal wave of secondhand embarrassment.

Lesson Three: Model Through the Fabric

For this cycle’s beauty shot session, photographer Tyra wanted them to be draped in various colors of sheer fabric, and Brittany had the best picture of the shoot:

Lately, I’ve been sleeping with my sheets over my head to battle the autumn chill, but I had no idea how artistic and avant-garde I was while I slept! Can one smize with closed eyes? Remember to be fierce the next time you get lost in some curtains.

Well, Wednesday’s coming, and that means it’s soon time for another episode. There are nine girls left, not including Jay Manuel! Who do you want to come out on top?