We are about 5 weeks into Cycle 12 and I am starting to ask myself if the judges are being harder on the models, or if the models just need that much more direction this time around.  Do you know what I mean?

It seems to me the judges are really coming down a bit harder than the last couple cycles on ALL the models.  Sometimes you can pick out the favorites, etc., but this year, I see an equal bashing given to all.  From the crazy outfits to just plain being forward about how bad a photo turned out, the judges are speaking their minds right to the models.

I don’t think this a bad thing at all.  Keep them focused on the prize and make sure they know that it’s not all about being pretty, hot or beautiful, there is other work involved.  They go over and over about how you cannot just walk into a photo shoot and look good.  I think the commercial episode this week really brought out which models had the talent to step it up.

Finally, I am really starting to dislike Paulina as a judge.  Only because I think she is very “flippy floppy” on her critiques, but she is also a b*tch.  She offers less help to improve and I think that is the part of the judge that is the most important.  If I am failing at something, give me some advice, right?

Watching the first show of the season is always a bit fun because we get to see the judges just rip apart the poorly dressed and the bad attitudes.  Most of the final 13 weren’t really poked at much, but there were a couple of them that needed to “redress” themselves in front of the judges.

One scarf had to be removed and earrings that reminded Tyra of “bracelets” needed to be removed quickly while the models stood there.  It always amazed me that none of the models really act out about the comments from the judges.  I know that you should most likely listen to the comments, but there are such attitudes on the show already, I figured one would have a word or two in defense.  So far, none have.

Looking back on earlier cycles I see that the producers love to pick a couple “staples” to be in the house.  You have to have the bad attitude (Sandra), the “weird” one (Allison, London) and, of course, the quite one that sits back and watches (ala McKey from cycle 11).  This adds a bit of drama and we know that is a part of reality TV, so the audience just deals with it.

I am not sure the show would be any fun if you didn’t get to see the models that don’t stand out.  Would you watch American Idol without the geeks, weirdos and those with shameless plugs?  Exactly.

It was nice to see Tyra get a little “listen hear fashion lady that doesn’t know fashion models” on some of the models.  I just think that if you REALLY want to be a model, there is some studying involved.  It doesn’t always get you to the final show, but it will help you throughout that’s for sure.