Is Tyra Banks Leaving Top Model? - Today's News: Our Take

Tyra Banks by Eric Liebowitz/The CW Is Tyra Banks leaving America's Next Top Model? A highly speculative story on MSNBC's The Scoop says yes. Their source is an as-yet-unpublished OK! Magazine story about a Banks/Jay Manuel catfight being the straw that broke the supermodel's back. It claims that Banks and Manuel aren't even speaking at the moment, and that as a result Top Model producer-host Banks has started to limit her involvement on the show. Further, a source says that after nabbing interviews with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for her syndicated talkie The Tyra Banks Show, Banks wants to devote her energy there, and is investigating the possibility of finding a new host for Top Model. Gasp! OK, that's a sympathy gasp, because I don't even watch Top Model, but the fans I know seem to indicate that Banks' shenanigans make it a must-watch. Assuming the rumors are true, can anyone else fill her stilettos? Of course not, but let's take a stab at it anyway. I'll go first. Cindy "Cue Cards" Crawford? But she was a little wooden back in the House of Style days, huh? Paulina Porizkova seems to be generating a lot of fan support, but is she just the "Paula" of the ANTM panel? Lauren Hutton? Naomi Campbell? (I know, but wouldn't it be awesome?) Any better ideas? — Mickey O'Connor Leave a Comment
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Posted by TV Guide Staff Mar 26, 2008 12:25 PM Report Abuse

I'll be the first to comment since I blog this show. It is NOTHING without the ridiculousness that is Tyra Banks. The only person who could take over the show and make it watchable without Tyra is Lady Janice and something tells me she ain't coming back any time soon.
Posted by Adam Schubak Mar 26, 2008 12:37 PM Report Abuse

"Lady" Janice! LOL But if she didn't have her show and Tyra was gone ~ Don't you think she would do it?
Posted by ZZZ999 Mar 26, 2008 1:18 PM Report Abuse

This will be interesting. This show especially this version is considered a big joke in the modeling industry. Mr. Jay on the other hand (and even Miss Jay) have expressed frustration at that. On a lot of forums Tyra is perceived as a self-absorbed twit but an amusing self-absorbed twit. The thing is, at this point in time can this show even be made legit and still maintain an audience? There are five more cycles to go. There are also other shows that deal in modeling from a more realistic viewpoint that don't do nearly as well compared to Top Model even with it's lower ratings for this cycle (althought that could be due to the shenanigans of Tootie winning last cycle). Mr. Jay could at least do photoshoots that were realistic instead of the stuff that Tyra comes up with and Janice would at least show the girls how to actually model and would pick girls who actually looked like models unlike Tyra who basically just accepted that the show was a farce and decided she'd only cast for drama (since one of the questions on the application asks about personal traumas/problems suffered by potential contestants).

Posted by danielle

Mar 26, 2008 1:29 PM

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Bring back Janice!!!
Posted by Tootsie2 Mar 26, 2008 2:05 PM Report Abuse

Here's my thing....why would Tyra needs to leave the show? If she has a problem with the Jays then need to leave the show. Its her show. But if she does leave then I would love to see Janice host. As for Naomi, I would like to have seen her as a judge. But they need to make sure they keep all the phones away from her.
Posted by lizzybelle Mar 26, 2008 2:23 PM Report Abuse

Maybe Adrianne Curry could use another gig in between doing things to her Fair Brady?">
Posted by RachelScribbles Mar 26, 2008 2:55 PM Report Abuse

lizzybelle ~ They could have Naomi be the host and whoever has to go home that week gets a phone thrown at them! Verizon could sponsor the whole show.
Posted by ZZZ999 Mar 26, 2008 3:23 PM Report Abuse

This is the best news Ive heard since Ryan Seacrest and Samantha Harris got fired. Oh wait, that didnt happen. Dammit. Well, that makes this the best news EVER! I hope to God its true. I will go on record as saying if you think Tyra Banks makes a show watchable, I sincerely hope you get the professional counseling that you so desperately need. The only person who loves Tyra is Tyra.

I would love to see Petra Nemkova take over, but I dont think she would because she has a soul and respects the fashion industry. But if we could have a mainstream version of her "Model Life," the world would be a better place (to paraphrase Steve Guttenberg).

Posted by avalon

Mar 26, 2008 3:58 PM

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Janice? If Janice, I wouldn't watch America Top Model at all.
Posted by rako Mar 26, 2008 4:02 PM Report Abuse

You have JUST made my day. Tyra's antics are like nails on a chalk board to me. And the way she phrases her speech patterns during elimination? Over it. Would make sense for Paula to take over. I'd love to see a Shalom Harlow or Amber Valetta host. Who would I hate?? Molly Sims. OH GOD PLEASE NO!
Posted by Queenlala182 Mar 26, 2008 4:17 PM Report Abuse

PLEASE GOD NO Janice any host but her I wouldn't able to watch America's Next Top Model if she judged. I thought Tyra and Jay Manuel were best friends, wasn't he her make-up artist or something?
Posted by SupernaturalDiva Mar 26, 2008 5:05 PM Report Abuse

YES! - Tricia Helfer. She did a fab job hosting Canada's Next Top Model but left to concentrate on her acting career. Seems like she might be willing to reconsider for the higher-profile American version?
Posted by ctheslayer Mar 26, 2008 5:19 PM Report Abuse

I have to say that I love Mr. Jay way more than I love Tyra these days. She's really starting to get on my nerves, so no, I really wouldn't miss her if she left. I know the show was her creation, but every time she "acts" or tells a story I fast forward.
Posted by tarheelmel Mar 26, 2008 7:03 PM Report Abuse

what abou Heidi Klum? she is hosting the german version anyway g ..
Posted by Aliasnews Mar 26, 2008 7:04 PM Report Abuse

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