Only three models remain for the first Asia's Next Top Model FINAL from the 14 that entered. The three finalists represent Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines - Asia's Next Top Model photo

Video Beat - ASIA'S Next Top Model Final - NEW TV SEASON in ASIA- Part 2

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

The bad news is a new season of American Idol is on imparting more drama and deceit. The good news is it was time to move on and search out new, fresh and interesting programming. The result being we found some interesting shows and an interesting channel that offer more steak than sizzle with more substance in its content. Their programming is informative and can make you smile. WHY NOT? - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday, February 17, 2013

FRESH & INTERESTING PROGRAMS

When Star World began running promotions that American Idol Season 12 would begin airing in January our first reaction was who cares we're not interested. The show reached its most outrageous point last season with a series of events that clearly indicated that the show was a farce. It caused more anger than pleasure to us thus we opted not to watch the show.

The option was to watch other channels and programming that had value and integrity. During the last 5-7 years the successful shows that are produced in America have become to self indulgent and lost the plot of the chemistry of what made their series popular. The result being that there was a decline in their ratings now they're scrambling to stop the bleeding.

In the process of realizing the goal of finding good programming we searched through channels and came upon the BIO channel that has several interesting series including Storage Wars, Shipping Wars, Billy the Exterminator that show the real personalities of Americans from various parts of the country. Bio also offers numerous one to two hour biographies on Entertainment Stars from both the East and Western Worlds. We found this to be the most interesting as we have learned more about the Asian culture and their entertainment stars including a in depth bio on Bruce Lee's Hong Kong experience.

A new season of the Amazing Race USA will premiere in Asia tomorrow Monday February 18 on the AXN Network. Please note the schedule below or check your local listings for the time in your area.

They're on but quite frankly we're American Idol and Top Modeled out. As the saying goes the bloom is off the rose for Top Model and American Idol as those two shows have overdosed on excessive self promotion and lack the true focus on the talent. Now it's all about its hosts and judges but recently there was a change with Asia's Next Top Model.

Next Sunday the 24th America's Next Top Model the College Edition will premiere in Asia. The show has finished it run in the USA and the winner has been decided. The new slant being the College Edition features college students. It remains a Tyra Banks production and the formula remains the same with the chemistry emphasis being a salty talking judge and an effeminate male instructor or judge. Since we lost interest in that casting formula and choice of contestants that are for the most part arrogant and display a street tough attitude we eliminated the show from our must watch list believing that tough and rude is the wrong message to send.

Our interest perked when Asia's Next Top Model another Tyra Banks franchise premiered. This is a program where women act like women and not bad ass men. The Asian girls are more feminine and polite which is a refreshing change from the Western style of women preferring to wear the men's pants and be equal to them.

Also our interest was to see how the show would deal with models from East Asia with different languages. The result was they handled it very poorly particularly with Trang a Vietnamese model. The problem was a conflict in communication regarding her lack of English language skills thus she misunderstood some of what she was instructed to do. Prior to her exit she was the best runway model. She was a strong contender. The effeminate male judge/trainer complained that he had better results with models that spoke NO ENGLISH. It was obvious there was a personality conflict. We've viewed the Top Model Vietnam in the Vietnamese language and it was handled better in the manner they dealt with the models with the difference being the hosts were also Vietnamese. Trang was disrespected and mentally beaten down by a judge that is based in Singapore.

The red flag that jumped up is the show has a model representing Thailand that has a European accent and facial features. She appears not to be Thai at all. It brings to mind how the Thais are ashamed of their culture and indigenous look and roots. In their entertainment and model industry they make every effort to look white as they clutch on to the look and behaviors of nations that have a history of being colonialist masters. The apparent mentality is that if they look white they are wealthier and will be more acceptable in business and by those doing business from Western nations. Of the 14 contestants only three had brown skin which represents their indigenous heritage.

The Thai girl Jessica is not the best looking but the whitest. She has been catered to by the judges throughout the competition. She is well mannered, has modeling skills but the mystery is why is this non Thai looking and sounding person representing Thailand. She is one of the three finalists with the other two from Taiwan and the Philippines.

The judges have been beating down the Philippine girl Stephanie who has the sweetest personality. She is also a single mom. Kate from Taiwan is the most attractive but she has a mocking personality. Given the favoritism to the Thai (?) Jessica she appears to be the favorite to win.

The lack of indigenous people qualifying for contests in Asia calls for a need to have contests that reflect the true identity of Asian nations and not contestants with features and white skin of their colonial masters.

If a show is designed to represent Asians then true Asians should be in the contest and represent their appropriate indigenous background and not those of colonial masters. This is a space that is being neglected by producers and those who choose the contestants that represent their nations. Nations should be proud of who they are and not hide behind skin whiners and Western behaviors. In the process they lose their true culture and the appeal that attracts foreigners to their country. It's as absurd as traveling to the other side of the world to eat at a McDonalds.

The final of Asia's Next Top Model airs TONIGHT this Sunday February 17th is Asia on the Star World Network. Check your local listings for the tome in your area.

Part 1 - IT'S ON!!! American Idol

Part 3 - GLEE 4 - CHARICE - TAIWAN'S SUPERSTAR A-MEI

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