America's Next Top Model 9: The Fall Of Heather
Commentary by Adrian Bruijns
November 16, 2007
Last night on America's Next Top Model we saw the last elimination before this year's international location. We had a new challenge concept and the fall of Heather.
The episode started with the usual commentary on the events of the previous episode from the remaining girls, but nothing interesting really started until we got to the challenge. I have watched America's Next Top Model for a number of years, but I think this may have been one of my least favourite challenges, but at least it was somewhat different. The girls had to meet with a designer and inspire them to create a dress that reflected them selves. Then they had to model their outfits on the catwalk and explain how they inspired their designers. I don't like the fact that they had to inspire the designers. I have always felt that the model's job is more to take the designers creation and use it to inspire others, so I didn't like how so much of the challenge rested on a designers interpretation of them and their ability to explain the designers opinions. It was pretty much like if you got a designer that didn't connect with you, then you were at a disadvantage in the second portion of the challenge.
As soon as they revealed that the girls would have to talk in front of an audience I knew Heather would have problems. She isn't the best at expressing herself verbally, so I wasn't surprised when her speech, pretty much made no sense. When I was watching her talk I had one of those moments where I really wanted to put the TV on mute because I felt so embarrassed for her, but I didn't. I have been waiting for Heather to finally have a lot of difficulty with a challenge. Nothing against Heather, but I hate it when someone dominates a competition. It makes it seem more boring, and it's more exciting when it's different and Heather's pretty much been awesome at everything so far. In the end, I though Jenah should have one the challenge, or maybe Bianca, but I was very please with a Saleisha victory. I think she is the most gorgeous of the remaining girls, but I though she looked better with her old hair.
Then came the drama. As the girls entered the house you could barely hear Heather say that she called the shower. After reading their Tyra mail some of the girls ran to the shower and got in, upsetting Heather. As far as I'm concerned, if you are talking quietly enough that on TV they need to use subtitles for what you said, then you can't expect everyone to hear you. Heather reaction to the girls butting ahead of her was exaggerated. The whole thing shouldn't have been a big deal and was blown out of proportion. Heather needs to lighten up. She needs to be able to recognise that even if you have a bad day, you can'' take it out on everybody else; you have to take criticism with a grain of salt. I think Heather's lack of ability to take criticism will be her eventual downfall.
Next came the photo shoot. The girls were driven out to the desert and dropped off. After a while they could see someone coming towards them in the distance. I was really surprised with their reactions. I though they would all run to see who it was, or at least walk towards them, but the all just waited until Mr. Jay got close enough. Then he explained that the shoot would be a model stranded in the desert with a burning car. I love the photo shoots with a set that has a purpose, that adds to the story or message that the photo is trying to portrait As far as I'm concerned, if I think of a model stuck in the desert, I would never think of a burning car being their. It would have been more realistic of they had a burning cactus or something. The whole car on fire thing just didn't seen to fit in with the set.
As the photo shoots began I already had an idea of who was going home based on who was highlighted in the episode. They always show more of the girl that is leaving then of some others, so I expected to see poor performances from Ebony, Lisa, and Heather. As the photo shoot progressed, all of the other girls seemed to excel accept these three. That spells elimination if you ask me.
At the judging panel, as Tyra was introducing the judges, I noticed a mask behind the panel. Immediately I thought China, they are going to China. It seems like China is popular in reality TV now a days so when the full out Chinese dragons came out I wasn't that surprised. Back to the judging itself. The girls were called up one by one as usual. I was surprised at some of the judge's opinions on some photos. I though that Chantal and Heather had brutal photographs, along with Ambreal and Lisa, and that Ebony, Saleisha and Jenah had amazing photos. For the most part the judges agreed, accept for that they though Heather and Chantal's picture were superb as well. In the end they sent Ambreal home. I wasn't at all surprised by their decision. She was on a much lower level then the other girls and it was her time to go.
In the previews for next week it showed Heather and Lisa having trouble remembering lines in a CoverGirl shoot, which I think will mark the end of Lisa's existence in the competition. I think Heather will follow soon after as it seems like she will be having two bad weeks in a row. My pick to win is currently Saleisha with Jenah in second.
As the show came to a close, I though about the weeks to come and how the competition would be different in China, specifically with Go-Sees. They haven't had any yet this season and one is bound to come up sooner or later, and I wonder how the girls will far trying to communicate in Mandarin. It should be interesting
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