Tyra Banks on Thursday announced the departure of several key members of the “America’s Next Top Model” team. “ANTM” long-timers Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel and J. Alexander won’t be returning when the series begins its 19th cycle in the fall.
Daily Archives: April 24, 2012
“Bopper” Minton and Mark Jackson represent ‘An Amazing Race’
There is meaning, myth-busting and metaphor in the challenges and victories of ”Bopper” Minton and Mark Jackson, two best friend contestants on “The Amazing Race”. The pair represents a powerful symbol of American values while viscerally demonstrating how two friends work and play together for a common purpose. Although winning the globe-trekking race is the actual aim of their weekly endeavors, the savvy television viewer and show producers realize all the many buttons these two men push in all of us with each and every episode. It’s like CBS is serving up a hollywood-styled “buddy” action-adventure each Sunday, except the relationship is not professionally scripted and casted. These men are real friends in real life. I’m not suggesting their relationship is unbelievable. Rather, what I am saying is how timeless and universal is the appeal of its humanity. Brotherhood is a beautiful thing. In many cases it is expected and unremarkable. Yet the saga of Bopper and Mark episodically provides a generous degree of hope, healing and well-being during a moment in our history where some feel divided and disillusioned at the pace of change in our socially fragile communities. However things turn out on the show, their ‘amazing race’ is already a winning exhibition that reflects the valiant spirit in those of us who “never give up.”
ABC bases ‘Scandal’ on D.C. insider Judy Smith
Judy Smith, D.C.-based crisis manager extraordinaire, is the inspiration, if not the subject, of the ABC drama series “Scandal.”
She’s played by L.A. babe Kerry Washington. Smith is the show’s co-executive producer. Her first book, “Good Self, Bad Self,” debuts this week, too.
Also: Judy Smith is interviewed on “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart.
California Voters to Decide Whether to Close Death Row
Voters in California, with more prisoners on death row than any other U.S. state, will decide in November whether to repeal use of capital punishment 40 years after it was approved by two-thirds of the electorate.
Advocates of the initiative, which would change the maximum criminal penalty from execution to life in prison without the possibility of parole, gathered enough signatures to place the issue on the ballot, Secretary of State Debra Bowen said yesterday in a statement.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Motown fun: Viagra, Smokey, Jaleel
Motown was the theme of Monday’s Dancing With the Stars. Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and Martha Reeves (spilling out of her top and barely able to sing!) kicked off the show. Berry Gordy, legendary founder of the Motown record label, had a front row seat.
Also: 5 Things You May Not Know About ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Heartthrob William Levy
