SEABISCUIT AND OTHER LITTLE CHAMPS:
This is a difficult review to write as I am going to say something that may offend some viewers but which has become more and more apparent on this show over 13 seasons. At the end of 13-2, given a choice of dumping Bianca, who has messed up 3 times and Courtney who has messed up once, it is a Tyra no-brainer that Courtney must go, as Courtney is the white girl! Tyra will do a back-flip to try to give every chance to another black model, which is nice, considering that 40 years ago, when I entered the fashion industry there were many companies who would not use black models and as of the early 80’s, a chain of 200+ department stores anchored in the South would still not use any black models as their deep-South born founder thought his customers would not buy anything worn by a black model for fear that they might get the one she had worn! It is, however, often not fair to the white model who has shown better in competition and is being dumped for the ‘potential’ Tyra sees in the other model. I have mentioned the Season 5 winner who could not speak coherently or follow directions.
Now, it the almost bald, opinionated, mouthy Bianca, who has come in Bottom Two both weeks, whines about not liking the way she looks both weeks AND who has been told directly by the President of Wilhelmina, Sean Patterson that she will very likely never work with her look( to whit she disagreed causing the model exec and Nigel to roll their eyes)- THAT IS THREE STRIKES- vs. Courtney, who, when the broken foot heals, is a classic commercial model who would book a lot, but, who became discouraged, feeling like a cripple with the broken foot in its boot at the Horse shoot, after wowing the Willie Pres… With a perfect walk without the boot he knew had to be painful- THAT IS ONE STRIKE- and loses her chance to Tyra’s personal agenda. Here is what happened:
This episode breaks down to three sections: 1. Tyra swooping around like an idiot on ego steroids in her cape teaching the Smeyes trick- smiling with your eyes 2. Personal Interviews with Sean Patterson, who is very nice, but honest, and a sad surprise, Rachel is sent home; Sean does not think she has it. I expect him to pick Bianca, because there is nada chemistry there and he hates her non-hair. He really likes Courtney. 3. At Santa Anita Race Track, after being inspired by the statue of the great diminutive champ Seabiscuit, The models are ‘done’ in outlandish hair, make-up, head-dress and not much else to pose on a horse with a jockey. Erin is the Best and she is joined by Britt, Rae, Nicole, Laura and LuLu, while it is revealed that talented Jennifer has a lazy eye and Ashley, the dancer, is having a problem getting away from ‘too posey.’ When Bianca is about to see her film, she says, I can hardly wait to see this blonde hair, repeating her faux-pas of week one- not liking the way she looks- it is not her job to like it. Courtney admits that her pictures have a slightly angry look because she had – Tyra says given up, but I think ‘gotten discouraged’ by the foot thing was a more accurate description- no one could tell she had a broken foot in her photo, and I think her picture is better of the two- neither girl is doing the Smeyes very well- they both feel half naked and too sexy in their dress to be thinking sweet thoughts with any sincerity- other models have the same problems, but with 3 strikes, including this poor picture for Bianca, and one strike, this poor picture for Courtney, I think Courtney should have stayed, told she could Never show discouragement or give up again, just as Bianca was told it was not up to her to like what she wore in week one, and then did it again in week 2. The other models seemed surprised and annoyed, so you decide for yourself or am I over-reacting?
