October 17, 2004
Look out Derek Zoolander, the Manhunt is on!
First, a quick link to an inspiring website that got hundreds of people from around the country to put up thousands of protest signs on/around highways. Apparently, this is illegal because you're not supposed to be on/around freeways and there's no political ads allowed on/around freeways (at least in CA), but I love that people out there are going outside the traditional media channels to express themselves.
Austin, TX***************************************************************
Last Tuesday, Bravo premiered it's new reality series Manhunt, which is basically a male version of America's Next Top Model. Although the guys do look better in the show than on their website pics, I'm still not terribly impressed with the goods. They're generally immature, totally full of themselves, shallow and... well, stupid. Here's a little tid-bit from each guy to give you a little insight into the minds of male models.
Hunter
Since the day I took a breath on this earth, I knew I wanted to be a male model.
Hunter has a southern accent and is the tannest blond man I've ever seen.
Paulo
Competition is the reason why I get up every morning. It definitely brings the best out in me.
Paulo is from South Africa and says that he had a 38 inch waist not long ago, but is now down to 32. It's good to see that even male models are willing to drop insane amounts of weight on a moment's notice (see Yoanna).
Maurice
Women come up to me all the time and say, "You're gorgeous, you're beautiful," and I say "Nah", you know.
This guy sells air filtration systems in Vegas and wants to open his own air filtration systems business when he grows up. Now that's hot.
Brett
I served four years in the United States Air Force, played a little college basketball, was actually a Mormon priest for about five years, was a Chippendale dancer for about a year and now I'm a real estate agent in Las Vegas.
OMFG.
Sean
Life's definitely easier for people who are good-looking.
I don't see how this guy knows that... he's not cute at all. He's one of the four that got eliminated this week; he's super-duper tall, has built arm and chest muscles, but has skinny neck and a tini-tiny head. Not a good look.
Casey
I'm threatened by everybody.
Not only does this guy have a freakish body that totally disturbs me, but he's also a total lame-o. When the guys had to skydive (with a professional attached to them), he totally freaked out. Sadly he didn't cry. Actually, there was no crying in this episode at all, but my money's on him to be the first to do so.
Kevin
If I were to change anything about myself, I would, uh, advance myself forward, learn new things, try to experience as many things as I could.
This guy is just boring. A lot them are. There's just not that much going on beyond the boyish good-looks and pecs.
Ron
I'm the gay guy - I have the fashion sense. I have what it takes and I'm gonna bring it to the table.
OK, but you're not the only gay guy there, so perhaps that's not such an upper-hand after all.
Seth
Justin Timberlake and Usher Raymond are role models in certain aspects, but I would say that my biggest role model is, uh, Jesus.
This guy says he's a virgin because he thinks that's what God has planned for him. Newsflash Seth - Justin and Usher ain't no virgins. Although he's a good role model, I just don't think the Jesus look is in.
Jason
I guess we got to wear make-up some and try on a lot of clothes. Sounds like, I guess, stuff women would be doing
Duh.
Jon
I'm kinda at a crossroads right now, where, uh, I could do like modeling or I could go and do my physics and astrophysics and stuff.
Brains and beauty? Oh my!
Micah
As a male model, you have to market yourself, you have to do certain things to get what you want - doesn't mean I'm gonna go down on some guy because of it.
I guess Micah just really doesn't have what it takes.
Blake
I've definitely been slacking on my exercise regime and this isn't the time to be slacking on my exercise regime when you see all these ripped guys out there.
The professional male model that critiqued the guys said that Blake had a "bit of a pear shape going on." Blake denied it, but he does have one of the rare guts among the guys.
John
Random people that don't even know me just, ya know, come up, stop, ask if I've done modeling, or just "You have amazing eyes" or "you have an awesome look".
This guy has scary eyes, but that'll probably get him far since he's got such a "unique look".
Kevin
If people make fun of me or laugh and say "that's the most stupidest thing I've ever seen in my life," that's me, that's why I know I did it, I don't have no regrets.
This guy gets the Derek Zoolander Award - for being the dumbest rock on the show and for getting in the most Zoolander quotes in the show.
Tate
I think that my little boy takes a lot of love that I should be giving to my girlfriend, but I think God throws challenges at you like this to see what kind of person you are.
I think God has shown that you're the kind of person who has a kid out of wedlock and talks about God while posing with your shirt off.
Brian
I'm gonna bust the male model myth by showing the world that... you're allowed to be very decent - or good-looking - as well as very smart... in the head.
This guy has the biggest, least-deserved egos I've ever seen. He thinks he's so hot, but he dumb, ugly, has bad hair and absolutely no humility. Gross.
Rob
I think I'm gonna do well. I had a psychic come up to me at the gym and they told me "i know what you're working on and you're gonna do really well.
I think Rob is the secret professional model. He actually looks like a male fashion model and isn't as awkward and retarded as some of the other guys.
Casey
There's a lot - a lot of good-looking people here, so it's gonna be tough. Hopefully, my personality will shine through a little bit.
What personality?
Matt
I'm not the kinda guy that wakes up and I go to the mirror and I'm like, [funny voice] "Oh, this is my life - my looks." I'm not like that at all.
This guy is the least in-shape of all of them. He also seems to be the youngest. I say he's shark bait.
So you watch this show? Sounds like you hate it. You shouldn't watch things you hate.
watching things you hate is half the fun. i'm having more fun when yelling at the television and throwing kleenex boxes or my shoes, then if placidly sitting there sucking my thumb.
Posted by: michele at October 17, 2004 03:11 PMI wouldn't say I hate it... it's like a car accident: awful, yet fascinating... which is pretty much how I feel about all "reality" TV.
Posted by: Kristina at October 18, 2004 12:21 AMThis just reinforces the opinion of male models I developed as a result of working at a photography agency. Modeling agencies would call us up all the time and ask if they could send models over (like they were complimentary cans of soda or muffins or something) and the agents I worked with always said yes because they thought the dudes were hot and liked to flirt with them. Sometimes, though, the agents would be busy when the models got there so they'd tell me to go and review them, which basically meant I had to stand with them and page through their portfolios while making small talk. It was annoying because they all seemed to think I should be impressed by them just by virtue of their being models (which, granted, probably most people usually are) and because I had to pretend that I gave a damn about their photos, but it was also funny because in the back of my mind I kept thinking, 'Dude, I am SO not an important person in the 'industry'--you should really quit trying so hard.'
Posted by: Renee at October 18, 2004 12:01 PMSummary of Episode #2:
This week, the big controversy was all about Kevin P. and Tate having girls in their room after-hours and getting busted when they were all surprised with a late-night photo shoot. All the guys were mad because they felt breaking the rules could jeopardize the whole show and thought it was just disrespectful of Kevin and Tate. Some also pointed out that Kevin not only professes to be a good Christian boy, but that he has an infant son that he talks about all the time as if he's super-dad... but I also think it's worth noting that his son has mother than Tate should be thinking about too.
In other news, Kevin P. (yes, the late-night rule-breaker) turned out to be the secret pro model. He pretty much saved Tate by telling the judges that he thought Tate had learned his lesson and has potential. I don't think Tate did, since his last words about the controversy were about it was no one else's business if he hooked up with a girl or not. So, I still don't like Kevin P. because he's a pompous ass, but I like that there's a mole on the show.
Eliminated this week:
John - I was surprised, since he's got such cool eyes and a unique look, but I guess the judges thought it was too unique
Blake - I thought he was the most expendable, despite being a really nice person
Brett - I guess at 6'5" you're just too tall to be a high fashion model
Casey - I'm sad Casey is gone because I thought he'd be the first to cry. He's not that good looking, he's got a weird-looking body and he's lame.
You crack me up...if only Mike and I would get off our cheap asses and get the "Arts" package so I could watch this wonderful sounding show :) Save a couple on your DVR so I can see sometime!!
Posted by: Jess at October 20, 2004 11:45 AMWait, they eliminated four dudes on one show? How does that work?
Also, in other model-related news, is it just me or are the girls on this season's AMNTM much worse models than the prior two seasons' girls? This week it looked like they all sucked--maybe Tyra should start doing four at a time, too.
Posted by: Renee at October 22, 2004 07:57 AMYeah, more seem to suck than last year. I mean, how hard can it be to look at the camera and look sexy? I think that the show this season is focusing more on the girls with problems than the girls who are doing well... meaning that they're not focusing enough on Yaya, who I think is the best looking and has consistently had the best shots. This week, the only bad thing they could say about her shot was that it was too "dancer" (whatever that means), but I think her shot was the best. I guess Amanda's had consistently good shots, too, but we've already established that she's a heinous bitch, so I don't want her to win.
Posted by: Kristina at October 22, 2004 01:41 PMseth your one hot hunk of dude,WOW baby!I,d like to ride that!
Posted by: maria at October 29, 2004 10:14 AM