"America's Next Top Model" has stood the test of time now that it's already on its 22nd cycle. However, Tyra Banks' modelling reality series may have transformed into a different show — something that focuses more on the models' interactions instead of how they present themselves in front of the camera.
When The CW series reached the big 2.0, it welcomed male contestants into the competition, perhaps to bring in an "extra" factor that would give the show novelty and possibly attract even more viewers to up its ratings.
The first two cycles with guy and girl models may have actually done just that as week by week, viewers were drawn in to watch a battle of the sexes unfold on the small screen. However, come cycle 22 and viewers have possibly grown tired of the drama that male and female interactions have brought to the show. And this is evident on how fans, who stay to watch the models fight for the prizes, voice out their concern on the show's Facebook page of seeing a reality series instead of a modelling search that's made for TV.
Ahead of this week's "ANTM" Cycle 22 episode 7 entitled "The Guy Who Acts A Fool," the show dropped another teaser that obviously focuses on the tension between Mame and Hadassah and now with the inclusion of Mame's in-house lover Justin.
According to International Business Times, the models will go on a special task this week that would test their capability to act. The acting bit may be there to help the contestants establish chemistry among themselves, but the photoshoot that comes after will certainly ruin some models' showmance.
The photoshoot will require the model hopefuls to embark on a sexy shoot at the beach, so it goes without saying that they will be paired up for this task. Unfortunately, Mame, who has admitted in a sneak peek that she is "definitely seeing myself falling in love with" Justin, will not be partnering with her alleged boyfriend. She will instead try to make the camera believe that she's infatuated by Mikey.
On the other hand, Justin will be paired with (of all people) Hadassah, who as per the previous episode, became Mame's mortal enemy.
The official teaser for the upcoming "ANTM" episode then shows Hadassah devouring kissing Justin as they engage in the sexy and wet beach shoot. The camera than pans to Mame who is not at all pleased with what Hadassah is doing to her man. Buddy TV even noted that "jealousy" will run rampant as "some chemistry falls flat" in the all-new episode.
Could this be the end for Mame and Justin's blossoming romance? The answer may have already been revealed through the sneak peek when Justin says he does not want to get too close to anyone in the show. Poor Mame.
While the in-house drama gets entertaining from time to time, based on the comments fans left on the show's Facebook page, it seems that this season has already crossed the line of focusing on this drama and is deliberately continuing to do so in hopes of getting more attention online.
Fans claim that with this, Tyra Banks' long-running series has transformed into something else instead of what it was supposed to be since day 1.
Facebook user Sharon Floyd wrote, "This is a show more about having an affair on tv than modeling. Great example for young people, just jump in bed with anybody and everybody."
Another fan named Mary Ann Abeyta-Nells even took the time to give her two cents about the modelling competition. She wrote: "My own personal opinion...either do a season with all guys or all girs....this mixing em up is not working.....especially this cycle! It sucks! At least the prior season the hook up drama was not no where horrible as this season."
She then continued: "It doesn't even seem like a competition anymore. Maybe a competition on who can make a bigger a- of themselves! This is just another version of Bad Girls Club, which at this point I find to be more entertaining than this cycle! Sorry, if you are just catching up on this season....You aren't missing much! Normally I'm all for change, but this is not working....."
Meanwhile, Margareth Michelina wrote: "Oh my God, this shows clearly jump the shark ever since cycle 19. Now, the models are worry about how much the score they get. Also, this show right now is about who dates who, who wants hook up with who. I mean WTF? Is this about modelling or Big Brother?"
What do you think of "ANTM" Cycle 22? Do you agree with how viewers are perceiving the current season? Sound off in the comments section below.
