December 28, 2007
For a while earlier this year, it seemed like there were going to be so many potential rivals aiming to knock Tyra Banks' America's Next Top Model out of the top spot of the model reality show world, it would just be a matter of time until Tyra had to admit defeat. There was A Model Life and America's Most Smartest Model, and then Bravo announced Make Me a Supermodel.
Bravo's series hasn't yet started, but as of now, we're not seeing the other two as having made a significant dent in her viewership. It seems right now more likely that dissatisfaction with the outcome of last season might have more negative impact than the competition from a show like America's Most Smartest Model.
The show did fairly well, but unlike many other reality programs, even with the Writers' Guild strike hasn't spurred on VH1 to schedule a second season yet. One person sure wants it. Judge Mary Alice Stephenson appears unfazed by the less than enthusiastic response from some of the contestants to her direct style, and is ready to work through another pack of America's Most Smartest Model.
December 24, 2007
Check out all our lists for BuddyTV's Top 7 of '07 to relive the best and the worst of the year in television.
Not since Ivan Drago has a self-proclaimed Soviet so threatened the existence of the American dream. On VH1's America's Most Smartest Model, cocky Russian-born Andre Birleanu stormed in with a fury, making no friends with his standoffish demeanor and total self-confidence. He bellowed that models are superior to average people in every way, and mocked his fellow competitors, taking glee in every elimination.
December 20, 2007
Angela Hart made it all the way to the final three of America's Most Smartest Model. But ultimately, Mary Alice Stephenson just felt she was not as strong of a model as Andre Birleanu and VJ Logan.
Mary Alice didn't send her off, though, without remarking on Angela's musical abilities. They all had learned just how talented Angela really was as a singer and performer, and the America's Most Smartest Model judge was “blown away” by her voice.
Angela didn't win the America's Most Smartest Model competition, but she is probably hoping that she can turn her exposure from the show to her advantage in either career. From her own words on her website, however, it would appear that in her heart, she really wants one career more than the other.
December 18, 2007
Whether you think it was outright cheating or simply underhanded but permitted scheming, no one can deny that VJ Logan was helped along to an America's Most Smartest Model win by a lot of clever – and some say dirty – tactics on his part.
Judge Mary Alice Stephenson didn't have an issue with them, but some viewers did and would have even preferred volatile Andre Birleanu to VJ.
What does VJ have to say about the controversy?
December 17, 2007
Last week, the world of modeling competitive reality shows was in a tizzy when Saleisha Stowers was named America's Next Top Model. Fans have accused her of cheating in the competition because of her past connections to host Tyra Banks, and her appearance in a Wendy's commercial, which is against the rules of the show. Yesterday, yet another “cheating” model, VJ Logan, was named the winner of a reality show when Mary Alice Stephenson and Ben Stein chose him as America's Most Smartest Model.
The moral is clear: cheating works. Perhaps this is not the case in all reality shows, but in the cut throat world of modeling, you're allowed to take any advantage you can.
December 17, 2007
As we’ve reported earlier, America’s Most Smartest Model Andre Birleanu has been in some legal hot water lately. However, after the initial reports, there was a strange silence from the Birleanu camp, without a lot of additional details or public comments from the VH1 star in response.
It now turns out this was not his choice, rather direction from VH1, and the grumpy Russian would appear to be pretty unhappy about it.
Andre has said, "VH1 has not allowed me to comment to the press or to clear my name. They tell me not to say anything, but then they don't stand up for me."
December 16, 2007
Tonight brings the finale of the second most popular model-themed competitive reality series, America's Most Smartest Model. Throughout the season, VJ Logan has cheated his way into the finals, being supported by judge and host Mary Alice Stephenson he entire time. On the other corner is Andre Birleanu, the tough-talking Soviet son of diplomats who has made it his mission to break every one of his opponents. Helping him is the fact that he has more modeling experience than probably the other 15 contestants combined.
Now, there can be only one. Will pretty boy newcomer VJ take the prize, or will it go to the experienced if difficult Soviet comrade? Judging by the title of this show, I'd say VJ takes two out of three ("America's" and "Most Smartest"),while Andre wins the "Model" category.,
December 13, 2007
Last week on America's Most Smartest Model, the final female was eliminated as Angela Hart was deemed not model-y enough to capture the title. We have ourselves an old school cold war-style show-down between Russian Andre Birleanu and California Boy VJ Logan.
Mary Alice Stephenson recently offered up her thought on the eliminated Angela and the two remaining contestants.