Dear Suds Buds,

I do not know where the time goes. We’ve had such great content to publish between yesterday and today, that I am just now getting to write my weekly column.  For a change, I am shifting gears a tad because the first season of America’s Top Model is out on DVD and I just gotta say, if this wasn’t a soap opera, nothing is. 

For the uninitiated, the first season of America’s Top Model is an eight-part reality series, where ten young women were selected to be groomed as professional models.  The winner landed a cover in Marie Claire magazine and a big $$$ modeling contract.  Here’s the set up:  Left to fend for themselves in a single Manhattan penthouse for the duration of the series, the wannabes were carefully coached in the attitudes, responsibilities, rigors, and occasional disadvantages of the glamour industry. On each episode, a handful of the contestants were eliminated by a panel of celebrity judges, among them supermodels Tyra Banks (who created and co-produced the series) and Janice Dickinson, fashion editor Beau Quillan, and designer Kimora Lee Simmons. Season 1 of America's Next Top Model premiered May 20, 2003.

But here’s the thing. Supermodel Tyra Banks was downright cruel to some of the hopefuls.   The blurb on the cover of 3-disc DVD set says:  “Go behind the scenes with the first season of TV’s hottest and sexiest show. It’s survival of the fittest when America’s Next Top Model pits a beautiful bevy of woman against each other for instant fame and fortune.  World-famous supermodel Tyra Banks coaches and coaxes the contestants from catwalks to catfights as they each claw their way to the top to become a superstar model.”  Clawing and cat fighting is right!  I’ve just got one thing to say to the host, main judge and executive producer, Tyra Banks. Lighten up, lady.  It's not life and death.  Eat a Krispy Kream or two, will ya?  Geeze.  LOL

To get an idea of the tone of this series, just listen to the titles of the episodes:  The Girl Who Wants it So Bad; The Girl is Here to Win, Not Make Friends; The Girl Who Gets Rushed to the Emergency Room, The Girl Who Drives Everyone Crazy; The Girl Who Everyone Thinks is Killing Herself; the Girl Who Deals with a Pervert; The Girls Who Get Really Naked; How the Girls Got Here; and finally, the last episode – The Girl Who Becomes America’s Next Top Model. 

Along with the entire first season, the DVD set offers these special behind the scene features:  Casting Call, Reliving the First Season and the Two Jays. 

Whether you’re into the world of modeling (hey B&B fans, this is perfect for you! ;o), or want to catch a glimpse of what happened in season one so you can be well versed to enjoy this season, I highly recommend this DVD set. It’s available on Amazon.com.