‘Supermodels’ Reality Show Coming to UPN

When you think about it, it was really only a matter of time. With the success of American Idol, the entire Star Search mentality has kicked into overdrive and people decided that anything and everything should be decided via a reality show. We’ve already heard about a show that will choose a presidential candidate in this way, and the return of Star Search itself, plus a country music version in the works as well. Now we have news that model Tyra Banks is executive producing, and judging on, a show that will pick a supermodel in the same way.

UPN has ordered eight episodes of the series called, straightforward enough, Supermodel, as a mid-season replacement. The show will be open to both men and women, and will be narrowed down to eight finalists. These eight will live together and compete for a modeling contract. Sound familiar?

Dawn Ostroff, UPN's president of entertainment, said that “Supermodel offers a twist on the reality genre and is a perfect fit for UPN and our audience.” I admit it – I’m stumped. I have no idea what kind of “twist” this offers, since it sounds pretty much exactly like American Idol with models instead of singers (though, let’s face it, many of the AI contestants could have been models because the judges were weeding them out by looks at least as much as by ability). Well, actually, in looking at the information provided, it’s unclear if the audience will be voting – there will be a panel of judges including Banks, photographers, and others involved in the fashion industry, but there is no specific mention of viewer votes.

Banks, however, says the show will dispel some myths about what models do. Errr. They strut around (or stand around for photo shoots) in nice clothes (or little clothes) and look good. What “myths” exactly surround the job of modeling? Sure, they work hard, but it’s not like their jobs are comparable to going into a coal mine or something.

Presumably, UPN will allow this show to go to completion, unlike the way they treated their previous reality series, Under One Roof. However, if they do not bring in the audience vote, I predict there is no way they will even come close to duplicating the success of American Idol. Frankly, they likely won’t anyway because Banks, although beautiful, does not have the draw of a Simon Cowell. And while I’m sure there will be many good-looking people on the show, there will be few that audience members can really identify with and adopt as their own.

Still, RealityNewsOnline will be here to cover it when the show begins airing. Stay tuned for more information as we get it.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline, and can be reached at rno@pobox.com.

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