A Decade of America's Next Top Model

Both the charm and irritation of "America's Next Top Model" is its steadfastness. Cycle 10 is upon us, and not that much seems to have changed since Cycle 1 (especially since the show is being brought back to New York from LA, which makes sense from a fashion point of view, but allegedly is being done because of Tyra Banks' own personal reasons.

So the inaugural episode of the new cycle was very much like all the previous ones.  The audience was introduced to a big group of girls, clearly encouraged by the producers to jump and scream as much as possible, especially when a cast member of the show appeared.  Per usual, they were winnowed down via a few small photo shoots, runway walking and a meeting with the panel.  You could say that this season they put a "spin" on that formula by telling the girls they were attending "Top Model Prep," however, they were put through the same old paces, the schoolgirl uniforms were taken straight from VH1's "Charm School" and we have already seen runway coach extraordinaire J. Alexander in a schoolmarm outfit.  Then, as always, Tyra appeared in an over-the-top reveal that was meant to show us how fun and spontaneous and real she is, and in case we weren't aware of how special she is, we were given ecstatic reactions from the girls, one of whom did say, specifically, that Tyra is "so special."