Editor's Note: This is a weekly guest post from the TV staff at Film.com. Check back here on Wednesdays for more Film.com stories about your favorite shows: Big Brother, The Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, American Idol and America's Next Top Model.

By Susan Young, Film.com

Paulina Porzikova, two beautiful women stand before us. Yet we only have one photo. The name that is called is safe, and the other must clear out pronto.

Tyra Banks owns the show. I think you know which model's name isn't going to be called.




But that hasn't stopped Paulina from getting her designer thong all in a twist.

She's ruffled about getting booted as a judge on America's Next Top Model. And she started pulling out the pity card on Craig Ferguson's talk show on May 12.

"The reason I was told I was fired was because it seemed that America's Next Top Model had gotten too fat and they needed to cut some fat and the fat was me," she said.

Ouch.  Imagine the worst insult a skinny girl can get is to be called blubber and disposable blubber at that.

"So I figured it was either that, or my gigantic huge ego," she continued. "Which I wasn't aware of until I was told by the producers that I have an ego problem."

Model with an ego? That's just kooky talk. Besides, with Tyra walking around in her own cocoon of self-involvement, I'm pretty sure she didn't even notice Paulina was around half the time.

Tyra's sure taking notice of Paulina now that the former supermodel has opted to slap Miss T for her bad behavior on every talk show and entertainment magazine she can find. Like the fact that Tyra would never win the go-see contest she puts her wannabes through because she's always late for tapings.

Good thing ANTM Ken Mok and Tyra opted to clear this whole situation up in a joint statement issued on Monday.

"The current state of the economy has forced shows to make major budget cuts industry wide," the statement states.  "America's Next Top Model is not immune to these financially challenging times. We've had to make significant cuts in every area of the production, and, unfortunately, Paulina was a casualty of these cuts."

Anyone who has watched a Tyra skit, like her as the robot in the science lab, knows the show has a zero production budget. . Where else could they cut but with the bloated panel? Of course, I would have gone with Miss J and those stupid, growing bow ties and such paying tribute to the fallen beauties.

But make no mistake, Tyra is truly upset about Paulina getting pink slipped. Or that's what she says in the co-statement.

"Tyra, who pursed Paulina to join the show as a judge multiple times, was incredibly saddened by the decision the show was forced to make. We really enjoyed working with Paulina, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors."

Touching. But then this isn't the first time a judge has been shown the door. Janice Dickenson, who could teach Paulina a few things about ego, exited the show first. Then she was replaced by Twiggy before Paulina perched on the panel.

At least Paulina will have a friend to commiserate with when American Idol takes down Kara DioGuardi.

Well, we have no scoop to shovel right now, but things don't look good for the four judge experiment. No one can claim Kara has brought any added insight into the process. She certainly isn't as entertaining as the ditzy Paula or the egotistical Simon. At least Simon shells out some actual constructive criticism.  And Randy. Well, gosh-darn it we can't get rid of the Yo-Yo check-it-out Teddy Bear.

Having an extra mouth on the panel has only caused problems for Idol, with going overtime and the Supreme Diva Trio feeling cramped.

So next season, we're looking at a culling of the judging herd. Paulina's out, Kara's sliding to the exit, and we'd like to put Miss Jay into that dust bin. After he chirped out his responses in bird talk, it was time to see that chick walk down the runway and out the door.


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