Timeless Beauty

Alright Model Citizens - Are you up for another model show?

Wait before you respond, let's take a quick inventory of what 'goodies' we already have: America's Next Top Model (CW), The Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency (OXY) to name a few current favorites.

We also soon have the following 'treats' or 'tricks' depending on your mood: America's Most Smartest Model (Vh1), Make Me Supermodel (Bravo), Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search (NBC), Manhunt: The search for America's Most Gorgeous Male Model (Bravo) - yes, there will be more from me on this show later....and lastly, The Next Great Supermodel (TV Land).

Alas, The Next Great Supermodel

What makes this show (brought to you by Allison Grodner Productions) particularly clever and witty is that fact that it is a competition for women (aspiring models) over the age of 35.

TV Land President Larry Jones said, "We’re so excited to move forward with this project to give much-needed representation on television to the beauty of women in their Power Years.

The 6-part reality competition (formerly had a working title of "35 and Beyond Supermodel Search") will put its own unique spin on the ANTM concept by limiting contestants to the 35 and over crowd.

Jones finished by saying, "Clearly, we are at a point in American culture when being 35 and over in the modeling industry no longer means over the hill, it means big bucks and lots of opportunity."

One Size Does Not Fit All

Thanks to shows like ANTM or if you are at all familiar with the modeling and fashion industry, you know well of the many superficial underbelly 'issues' of the industry (Age, size, gender, race) and you may also know well of the "-1 (and counting)" clothing (aka couture) for adult models the size of infants. Yes, infants.

After all if you think about it, babies and models do already have many things in common (Diva like behavior, plenty of crying, and they are always hungry), so it makes sense to design clothes that are small enough for them both to share (-?).

Fine, some of my good friends are models and I appreciate fashion as a work of art...ON A WALL, not a walking clothes hanger. Okay, I have finished my tangent...

Take Me To T-V- Land
The Next Great Supermodel is another step into the present (Besides last year's I Pity The Fool, a reality show starring Mr. T) for the network best known for Miami Vice, Brady Bunch, and Star Trek syndicated re-runs.

If you are not in the 'Baby Boomer' age which is clearly the TV Land target audience, you may not watch the net with noticeable regularity.

Personally, I love classic Star Trek episodes, but have never viewed them on the network. However, a few years prior I had seen a few episodes of Miami Vice on the channel - growing up my parents would not allow me watch the show. Now as an adult, I have understanding of the reason and comprehend the complexity of the show's storyline, dark subject matter and flawed characters.

It's amazing how everyone appears to become a boomer - right, but you never hear of anyone becoming a Generation X-er or Y-er...

On With The Show

Auditions began here in L.A. just this morning with local news crews out in force. Further, as we speak a search team is combing the country to assemble the aspiring hopefuls.

This weekend, the series’ host and a panel of judges will attend regional auditions across the country including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Chicago to pare down the group to just 20 contenders.

In comparison with other fashion shows like Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model, the format will also include challenges, eliminations, and the winner will receive a modeling contract with Wilhelmina (The greatest agency on the planet).

The chosen few will then be flown to New York, where they will live together (Of course - remember your list of reality show ingredients?). It is uncertain if the living quarters would be a mansion (Mandatory in all reality shows) or a loft (Mandatory in all modeling shows).

The Power Years

Having said, the question becomes, with such imposed "drama ripe" conditions and perilous social competition will the group of advanced years behave on a more mature level? Will the disagreements be logical and thoughtful? Can we expect better? We can only anticipate.

Wilhelmina president Sean Patterson said: “We are looking for women who embody what every model should regardless of age and that is the utmost beauty and confidence.”

Here -Here!