Jessica was my favorite on Greece's Next Top Model.
Unfortunately, she just "shifted" out of the picture.
I have a soft spot for reality shows. I absolutely love Top Chef (Season 6, Top Chef Just Desserts and the ongoing All Stars Season are my favorites – I highly recommend them) and I think Tyra Banks is a genius; her Next Top Model shows are extremely entertaining and it kills me that although the winners keep on vanishing into oblivion, there never seems to be a shortage of aspiring “top models” for yet another season. Tyra Banks' franchises are quite amusing too. I just finished watching an episode of the Greek Next Top Model, which is so sad, yet so deliciously amusing. Though, I take back the “delicious” part. It's too much of a high-calorie word for the specific series. In Greece, everyone talks about how stupid the girls are. Girls are girls; I used to be their age not long ago and really, I admire them for not freaking out more than they actually do. But here, the judges are the weirdest specimen of all. They take themselves so seriously. There is no self-mockery, no teasing, nothing. Someone needs to call Tyra! Or maybe Tyra is in on it and picked this judges' table on purpose, to make us laugh with their self-importance.
Cutting to the chase, the reason I started writing about all this is because I was trying to figure out why I like these shows so much. And I figured the answer was shift. These shows, along with all those more obvious makeover series (10 Years Younger can only come second to What Not to Wear – got to love Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine) in certain ways, celebrate change and evolution. Everyone in reality television seems to go through various stages of change, to the viewer's sheer satisfaction. Basically, they would make the best characters that a great film could ever boast about. Because they offer the show's plot multiple climaxes, whether they belong to the most scripted of reality genres or not. Will chef Fabio succeed with his chicken and polenta concoction? Will awkwardly named Greek model Jessica quit before she's booted out by Vicky Kaya (our indigenous “Tyra Banks” substitute)? It's so irrelevant, yet so fluid, and hence, so alive. Or better, “real”.
PS - And that is how it's done. Giving meaning to one of the least meaningful moments of my day. Reconceptualizing silliness always makes me feel better. At least for a little while.
