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Laura Morett claims she was surprised during last night's Tribal Council -- not because she was booted but because it took John Fincher until the re-vote to write her name down.
The 39-year-old office manager from Salem, OR became the eleventh castaway eliminated from Survivor: Samoa during last night's broadcast of the CBS reality competition after getting blindsided by a tie breaking re-vote at the season's ninth Tribal Council.
On Friday, Laura talked to Reality TV World about how she knew John was gunning for her all along; the root of her problem with Shannon "Shambo" Waters; why she feels Shambo's beef with her was unwarranted; and who she thinks is one of the most "misunderstood" castaways remaining in the game.
Reality TV World: You seemed really shocked on last night's show that someone flipped during the re-vote -- were you really that confident that all four of your Galu allies were going to be willing to risk their own necks to save you via a rock-pulling tiebreaker in which you would have been the only one guaranteed to be safe?
Laura: No I wasn't shocked. If you actually go back to the video that's on CBS.com, where it says "Laura's Final Words," you'll see my actual reaction -- the cameras on me -- you'll see that my jaw didn't drop open like what you see.
I knew from the first part -- when we voted the first time -- and they called my name twice, I knew Shambo was voting for me so I expected to see my name once. But when my name came up again, I knew that they didn't fall for the John decoy. I knew that [the former Foa Foa members] were sticking with Laura.
I was actually surprised that John voted with us the first round. I thought for sure that he would write Laura the first time. So I was shocked that it even went to the tie. I knew John was coming for me. What people don't know is that [Brett Clouser] and I had a really tight alliance. I knew everything that was going on with the boys because Brett told me everything. So I knew in Russell Swan days that John was coming for me or [Monica Padilla].
So this was a perfect opportunity for John -- he could get rid of Laura and his hands were pretty much clean of the blood. It wasn't his idea.
Reality TV World: Just to be clear, you knew immediately it was John who had flipped.
Laura: Yeah, absolutely. We were tight. [Host Jeff Probst] asked us that during [Tribal Council], "Well Shambo doesn't feel you're tight." We have [David Ball], Brett and Monica -- and those people proved that they were going to draw stones for me. I think that's pretty tight myself. I think that's loyalty right there. So [Shambo] can say, "No it's not," but I didn't see anybody saying [to Shambo], "You know what? I'll draw stones for you girl to keep you in this game."
Reality TV World: You already mentioned how Foa Foa didn't go for Monica's plan, but had you been aware of John's previous objection to Monica's plan to save you by convincing the Foa Foa folks to vote for him?
Laura: Yeah, because Brett was telling me that.
The time that I got sent over to Foa Foa when Shambo was the new leader and I came back and it was that fishing challenge with the puzzles, when I first stepped on the mat Brett leaned over to me and says, "Lulu" -- Lulu is my Hawaiian name -- he says, "Lulu, they want to throw this challenge and vote you off." I'm like, "What!?" He goes, "They want to throw this challenge and vote you off" -- meaning [Erik Cardona], John and Shambo. He goes, "But Dave and I aren't going to do it."
Just then, Jeff says to Shambo, "Shambo, who's sitting out?" Well she sits out Monica because she knows that she won't throw the challenge. She sits out John, and then she says, "Laura" -- and I'm thinking, "Crap. I don't even have the chance to fight." Brett tells me, "Don't worry, we're not going to do it." Well the challenge is taking forever to get this puzzle done, and I'm getting nervous. I'm thinking, "Oh my gosh, are they throwing it?" Of course we ended up winning, and Brett's like, "Lu, I swear to you" -- and I totally believed him, we had an alliance beyond what anybody knows -- so I knew he didn't try to throw it.
But I knew at that point that if John was serious enough to throw a challenge to get rid of me, he wants me gone.
Reality TV World: John was shown bashing your decisions, but his own decision to just flip and sacrifice you instead of trying to sacrifice you as part of a deal that might bring Shambo back to Galu side's also seemed pretty poor.
Laura: Yup.
Reality TV World: Given you seemed to be the overriding reason why Shambo had left Galu, are you surprised that he didn't try and cut some kind of deal that would have brought her back or did something like that happen and just get edited out?
Laura: When John makes that comment it's almost like the jokes on him because of the fact that we were going to use him as the decoy. We were just telling him that so that he didn't know that we were going to use him as the decoy. We wanted him to think, "Hey John, who should we vote out?" so that he thinks that he's in charge. But the reality is -- John, sorry -- but you're going to be the little worm that's the bait. We're going to use you.
But then we found out that [Russell Hantz] tells him, "Oh, by the way, they're thinking about writing your name down," that's when Dave goes to him -- it doesn't show Dave but it shows Dave and Brett and him talking and saying, "Here's what we're going to do." So the funny thing is, he's talking about how simple our strategy is, when in reality it's like in reality John, the joke's on you. That wasn't our strategy, we just wanted you to think that you were in charge of what's going on but we were going to use you as a decoy.
It's not rocket science. (laughing) We knew there was no change in Shambo's mind. The woman did not like me.
Reality TV World: That was evident and it leads well into my next question. We saw you have several arguments with Shambo during the season and you directly referenced her as one of the causes for your elimination. Where do you think her dislike for you originated?
Laura: It's funny that you even said... We didn't... You see one argument, and it wasn't even really an argument. I was looking for my canteen that we had given her because she went to Foa Foa and mine was full. Okay, so we said, "Here. Take my canteen." I think that's kind of nice. She comes back and cannot find my canteen. It's not too far-fetched to think she lost it seeing how she lost our chicken and she lost our snorkel gear, right?
So I'm not even talking to her. I'm looking for my canteen and I'm counting them to find out and she says, "Laura I don't like being called a liar." I looked at her and I said, "Shambo, I'm not calling you a liar." I wasn't even addressing her. She constantly was coming after me, and I think what really made it worse was... You can see it, I go to her -- I kneel at her feet and I'm sitting at her feet because who wants somebody not to like you? I said, "Shambo, look it. I am not calling you a liar." She says, "Whatever Laura, you did this and this and this." She starts naming these things, and I say, "Shambo, I have no idea what you're talking about."
What makes it worse is she says, "You did such and such." Dave was standing right there and Dave says, "Shambo that was me. I did that. Laura didn't do it." She said, "And you did this." And Monica goes, "Shambo that was me. I did that. Laura has no idea what you're even talking about." Then Shambo says, "I don't even know what this little 90210 clique." She felt like they were defending me, and the reality was they weren't defending me. They were telling her, "Shambo, Laura didn't do that. You're irritated with the wrong person."
Reality TV World: So did you try to bury the hatchet with her?
Laura: Absolutely. The frustrating part is -- I'm being portrayed as this mean girl -- don't you think that if CBS had footage of me being mean to her and calling her names they would show it? They absolutely would. I called her a Gilligan. (laughing) I called her a Gilligan in a confessional because she lost our snorkel gear and our chicken. It was like a tongue in cheek, oh my gosh, this woman is Gilligan. That's the worst thing I called her is a Gilligan. How dare me.
It's hard watching it. It's hard being portrayed as this mean girl. It shows in the very first scene when we're all swimming on Day 1 when we all go out in the water and she's sitting on the beach and we're like, "Hey Shambo, come on! Come in here swimming!" And she's like, "No. Those young people out there swimming."
First of all Shambo, I'm your age, Dave's your age, and [Russell Swan] is your age. Quit being this victim and come out here and go swimming. We would say, "Shambo come sleep in the shelter with us. We're cold and we need the body heat." [She'd reply] "I'm going to sleep in my tree. I'm going to sleep in my tree." She would constantly choose to do things to isolate herself and be this nobody wants to be around me.
Reality TV World: Besides Shambo, you also commented after your ouster that winning the first two Individual Immunity challenges put a target on your back for being too strong. How big a role do you think those two immunity wins played in your ouster -- do you think you wouldn't have been voted off so soon if you hadn't won them?
Laura: You know, again, I think it's a culmination of more than one thing. Shambo we knew was flipping to Foa Foa so we knew we didn't have her vote. Perhaps if... It's hard to say. Would I have done it differently? Would I have went in like that again and played hard? I absolutely would have. I play big or I go home. I would have always regretted my whole life if I would have played those [challenges] and I kind of held back because I didn't want to show my strength. I would have always thought, "Morett, why'd you do that? Why didn't you give it your all?"
I think I'm the only female to ever win back-to-back Individual Immunity idols. I can say I played hard. I did the best that I could and it's not always about the strongest competitor that wins.
[Editor's note: Laura is not the first female contestant to win back-to-back Individual Immunity challenges. Survivor: Borneo runner-up Kelly Wigglesworth accomplished the feat on Survivor's very first season. More recently, Amanda Kimmel did it during both of her back-to-back runner-up finishes on Survivor: China and Survivor: Micronesia.]
Reality TV World: During last week's Tribal Council, you seemed really blown away that Russell had managed to ruin your plan to vote him off and were shown whispering that Russell had "just stirred up a whole lot of hell."
Laura: (laughing)
Reality TV World: What did you mean by that comment -- was that a threat of some kind...
Laura: No. It was more like -- seeing how I don't really swear -- it was almost like me saying, "Oh...". When he did it I was like, "Oh my gosh." It was more a matter of this is going to get crazy now. That's what it meant.
Reality TV World: Monica and John had seemed to have been worried that Russell might have found a second idol and tried and convince you to target Natalie instead of Russell at that Tribal Council but you and Dave seemed to overrule them, why were you two so dismissive of their concerns?
Laura: Actually, Dave was the one who said that we don't have to worry about that.
Reality TV World: So it was just Dave who was driving that?
Laura: Yeah. Monica and I both said, "Let's split the votes." Believe me, Monica and I were always on the same page and we both said, "Let's split the vote." But what happened was when Dave said, "No, no, no, no, no -- we don't need to worry about that. I don't think we need to worry about that," Monica and I already knew that the guys were worried about us being a dominant force.
So when Dave said, "No, no. We don't need to worry about it," it was kind of pick our battle -- do we stick our foot in and say, "No, we need to do this" or do we kind of just say, "Okay, we'll listen to you boys. What do you think we should do?" We didn't want to be like, "Guys, come on! Let's split the votes! Let's think about this."
It shows me for like a second, but it doesn't let me finish what Monica and I were saying. Like I said it was a battle that Monica and I had to pick -- try to convince these guys and take the chance that once again these girls are not listening to us and they're doing what they want to do, or do we say, "Okay boys, tell us what we should do?"
Reality TV World: So you have already mentioned your alliance with Brett. Do you think Brett was more with you, Monica and Kelly Sharbaugh, or do you think he was more with John, Dave and Erik?
Laura: I know he was with me.
Reality TV World: What's your take on Dave -- he's come across as a pretty non-strategic and borderline maniacal player so far. Do you think that's accurate?
Laura: He's so misunderstood. Do you watch Seinfeld?
Reality TV World: Yeah.
Laura: He's Kramer, [Kramer] is Dave Ball. He's extremely smart, he's so misunderstood in this game. He's a great player, he's athletic, he's doing good. I think that a lot of time socially he gets uncomfortable. He's a very sensitive guy, and so I think his emotions and his feelings kind of screw him up a little bit. But he's so smart. He would overanalyze things, so a lot of times I'd have to take him for a walk to talk him off the ledge -- be like, "Dave, it's okay. Don't get your feelings hurt."
He'd get upset with Shambo all the time, and I'd be like, "Dave, it's just a game. It's okay." He's a great guy. He's loyal. That man was going to draw a stone for me. I can't say anything but kind words for somebody that was going to do that.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, November 20, 2009 - 04:19 PM EST
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After having to wait more than a year to air its first Project Runway installment, Lifetime is wasting little time in debuting the next one.
The network has announced Project Runway's seventh season will premiere on Thursday, January 14 at 10PM ET/PT.
While it filmed in February at New York Fashion Week, Project Runway's sixth-season finale aired last night and was won by Irina Shabayeva.
The finale broadcast averaged 4.275 million total viewers and a 3.4 household rating. In addition, the episode generated a 3.2 rating in the Women 18-49 demographic, a 3.6 rating among Women 25-54 and 2.9 among Women 18+, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Project Runway's sixth season premiered in August -- more than a year after Lifetime Networks and The Weinstein Company first announced their five-year, 10-season deal to bring Project Runway to Lifetime from Bravo beginning with the reality competition's sixth season.
Following the announcement, Bravo's NBC Universal parent company filed a lawsuit against Lifetime and The Weinstein Company -- which was resolved this past April.
In addition to Project Runway's seventh-season premiere, Lifetime also confirmed the second edition of the show's Models of the Runway companion spinoff will debut on January 14 at 11PM ET/PT.
Both Project Runway's seventh season and Models of Runway's second season will air in HDTV (while they were broadcast in widescreen, this year's initial Lifetime editions aired in a non-HD format).
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, November 20, 2009 - 04:00 PM EST
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Laura Kirkpatrick feels Nicole Fox edged her out for the America's Next Top Model title by performing a bit better during photo shoots.
The 19-year-old waitress from Stanford, KY finished as the runner-up to Nicole during Wednesday night's America's Next Top Model thirteenth-season finale broadcast on The CW.
On Thursday, Laura talked to Reality TV World about what area she thought she was better than Nicole in; if she's recovered from being "crushed" by her finale defeat; her thoughts about a contestant who was tall enough to be eligible for Top Model's earlier seasons winning the "petite edition;" and how the show will help her to continue to pursue her dream.
Reality TV World: What was going through your mind right before the final judging panel? Were you confident you'd be able to beat Nicole?
Laura: Well at first I really was. I was like, "My personality is really strong compared to Nicole's." So I was like, "I might really win this thing. I'm confident." But then again in the back of my mind I was like, "Well I really haven't [been called out first at any previous panels], except for Cirque du Soleil -- and that was kind of iffy because it was a group shot and I didn't really get [my photo] displayed in the house." So at the same time I was thinking, "How could I win without [ever] having the best photo of the week?"
It was tough. I really didn't know what to expect.
Reality TV World: How did you handle it when Tyra Banks revealed Nicole as the winner?
Laura: I cried like a baby. I was so hurt. I was crushed. I thought my life was over. But the next morning I woke up and I was like, "It's going to be all okay Laura." I know it's going to be okay because I know I'm going to work a lot and I'm really confident -- even if I don't have the title of America's Next Top Model. I will be a model. That's my dream, is to be a model.
Reality TV World: Why do you think the judges chose Nicole over you?
Laura: Umm... I guess because she did have really strong... My pictures were pretty strong, but hers were really strong. That's really the best thing I can come up with. (laughing)
Reality TV World: While you were consistently one of the judges' favorite finalists this season, so was Nicole. Did you view her as your biggest competition?
Laura: At first, I thought she was going to be sent home for her personality problem. She never talked at first! But she finally opened up and she's a nice girl. Then I kept seeing her pictures. Every time with the judges, she could do no wrong in front of them. They really saw her as perfect.
Reality TV World: Was there anything more you think you could have done to improve your chances of winning?
Laura: Sometimes I still second-guess myself about some of the photo shoots. I think maybe I could have done this or I could have done that and I really could have pushed myself more. I just held back because I was a little bit insecure I guess because living with your competition really gets to you sometimes.
But now that I can go out and be a model I know that I will be good in my professional photos shoots because I won't have any competition around me.
Reality TV World: Were you surprised you stayed around during last week's double elimination?
Laura: When it got to the Top 4 or 5, I really did not know what to expect. I wouldn't have been surprised if I went home because they were all doing so good. But then again, I was like, "I haven't been in the bottom two. So hopefully I can just keep pushing forward and win this whole thing."
Reality TV World: How did your grandma feel about all the attention on the show? Does she have any interest in becoming a designer?
Laura: My grandma's so stressed -- she wanted to kill me at first. She goes, "Laura, look what you have done!" (laughing) I was like, "Well grandma that's my everyday life! I had to say it and stuff!" But no she's not looking for any day jobs or anything. But if she did get special requests for clothes or anything she would do it because she ain't going to turn down the money.
Reality TV World: Do you feel you were portrayed accurately on the show?
Laura: Oh yeah, I think I was portrayed more accurately than anybody. I was really happy with it.
Reality TV World: Is there a specific reason why?
Laura: Not really, just that I know [Kara Vincent and Sundai Love] maybe were made a bit meaner than they was, but everything somebody says is kind of behind the back. Sundai would say it to your face, but it kind of made it luck like she was saying it behind my back. She wasn't like that.
I know Kara, she said a lot of things about Nicole, but I would kind of think that she has a reason to because I know that Nicole had said something about Kara's labia -- and that's really hurtful. So I didn't blame Kara for saying all that stuff. Everybody thought, "Kara's so mean," but she really wasn't -- she made was really sarcastic and really funny and they didn't get to see that side of her.
I was doing things like making people laugh -- I know that was portrayed a lot - -I'm really sweet to people, but I also can stand up for myself too.
Reality TV World: How were you cast for America's Next Top Model? Is it something you always wanted to apply for but never could because of the height requirement?
Laura: I've always wanted to be a model, period. I got online and looked at all the requirements and stuff that you had to do to be on America's Next Top Model. My height was an issue, so I didn't really apply for it. But it was a good thing I didn't because my time came.
When I heard about it I was in New York trying to model for my college spring break. My grandma called me and was like, "They're having 5' 7" and under tryouts in Chicago." So my car was broke down. So me and mama bought a $200 Cadillac and I packed my bags and said, "Mama, I'm going to Chicago." She's like, "Excuse me? Why?" I said, "Because I'm going to try out for America's Next Top Model."
It was spur of the moment. I just could not wait one minute longer to pursue my dreams. So I drove up there and for two days -- from 6AM to 2AM -- I just kept making it to round after round after round. Finally I got to a round where I filmed a tape for Tyra. They were like, "We might call you, we might not." They tell all the girls that. The next week I got a call to come out to L.A..
Reality TV World: You just mentioned the 5' 7" and under angle for this season, so what's your take on Nicole being 5' 7" and winning -- considering she could have applied to all of the previous seasons if she was old enough? Do you feel it was unfair that someone 5' 7" won?
Laura: Umm... No, not really. I'm just like half-an-inch from 5' 7" and you really do have to at least look tall. So it doesn't surprise me that they picked someone 5' 7".
Reality TV World: You've already discussed how it's your dream to model so I'm assuming that's next for you?
Laura: I'm going to go to wherever I believe I'm the most marketable and really pursue modeling hardcore. I just want to try to model as much as I possibly can. I really think I'll do a good job at it.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, November 20, 2009 - 01:05 PM EST
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Laura Morett thought she'd managed to convince all four of her remaining allies to save her by leaving their own Survivor: Samoa fates up to a rock draw, however she underestimated one of her ally's own self-preservation instinct.
The 39-year-old office manager from Salem, OR became the eleventh castaway eliminated from Survivor: Samoa during last night's broadcast of the CBS reality competition after getting blindsided by a tiebreaking re-vote at the season's ninth Tribal Council.
"I believe that I'm sitting here tonight for a couple of reasons," said Laura after her ouster.
"One because [Shannon "Shambo" Waters] has always had it out for me, and two, I think that I was a physical threat. Clearly it wasn't a good idea to go into the first two individual Immunity challenges and win them back-to-back. I'm disappointed, but I hope Galu sticks together and someone from the purple ends up willing the $1 million."
Survivor: Samoa's tenth episode began on Night 24 following the elimination of Kelly Sharbaugh -- who was blindsided when Russell Hantz, a 36-year-old oil company owner from Dayton, TX, played his Hidden Immunity Idol at Tribal Council and negated all the votes the former Galu tribe members had cast for him.
Needless to say, Laura wasn't too pleased since she viewed Kelly as an ally.
"It was quite the shock at Tribal Council tonight when Russell pulled out that second [Hidden] Immunity Idol," Laura said in a confessional. "We know that he's sneaky and that he just like lurks around camp and he's always snooping around. We should have known better. We really should have known better."
However, Shambo -- a 45-year-old sales representative from Renton, WA -- was thrilled with the move given her dislike of Laura.
"When he got up and played that Immunity Idol, the look on Laura's face -- she was just pissed. It was awesome. I was thinking, 'I've got to find that Immunity Idol, give it to Russ again," said Shambo in a confessional, as the Hidden Immunity Idol was re-hidden after Russell's use of it.
Russell began his search for it the next morning and was confident he'd find.
"They're like magnets to me -- I'm just drawn to them," he boasted, having already found two without any clues.
Although she had played along with her fellow former Galu members and voted to oust Russell before he played the idol, Shambo confirmed she had no allegiance to them in a confessional -- meaning both alliances were now tied at five members apiece.
"I've got to have [John Fincher], he's my No. 6," she said, referring to the 25-year-old rocket scientist from Los Angeles, CA.
She approached him in private and explained Laura was destined to go at the previous two Tribal Councils -- except she won Individual Immunity prior to each.
"I want to know if she doesn't win it, will you be the sixth vote to put her out?" asked Shambo directly.
"I don't have an answer to that question right now," replied John. "I don't."
"Will you betray my confidence [because] I asked you that question?" she asked.
"I won't say anything. I'll look you straight in the eyes and will not tell anyone you asked me that question," he told her.
However in a confessional, John said he believed he's the only former Galu member who was aware Shambo "flipped."
"Now the question is what am I going to do with it," he wondered. "Things are on the table with Shambo and she thinks she's in good with me -- and she is. But I've got to do what's right for me."
The 10 remaining castaways then arrived for a Reward Challenge and host Jeff Probst explained the rules. The castaways would divide into two teams of five and one person for each team would lie face down in a cradle suspended in the air. Attached to that cradle would be four ropes.
The other four people would pull on those ropes to maneuver the person in the cradle as they gather 15 small flags one at a time in order and place them in the appropriate holes. The first team with all 15 would win a picnic lunch at a waterfall.
"I'm thinking they're going to be giving out a clue to the next Hidden Immunity Idol [to the winning team]," predicted Russell. "Man if I can find this clue, that's it. It's over."
The yellow team consisted of Shambo, Jaison Robinson, a 28-year-old law student from Chicago, IL, Monica Padilla, a 25-year-old law student from San Diego, CA, and Mick Trimming, a 33-year-old doctor who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA -- with John in their cradle.
The purple team consisted of David Ball, a 38-year-old fitness instructor from Los Angeles, Brett Clouser, a 23-year-old T-shirt designer who currently resides in Los Angeles, Laura and Russell -- with Natalie White, a 26-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative from Van Buren, AR, in the cradle.
The challenge then commenced and purple took an early lead that they never relinquished, claiming reward.
"If I can find this clue for the next Hidden Immunity Idol than I can't see how it's not going to be possible for me to do what I want to do and take out Laura," said Russell.
The purple team enjoyed their plane ride to the waterfall and enjoyed their picnic even more. Back at camp, Jaison and Mick talked to Monica.
"I know we're tight, I know where the votes are right now," Jaison said to Monica. "If we essentially feel like it we've got more on our side. We're willing to offer you a very good deal."
"I don't know," she replied. 'I just don't know. It's risky."
"We just need to make a decision, throw the challenge, and go to Tribal Council," said Jaison.
"But we need one more vote," said Monica, which brought replies of "no we don't" from both Mick and Jaison.
"You're No. 6," said Jaison.
"It's still going to be five and five," she said.
"We have six -- you are No. 6. We know because let's just say this person knew about the last Tribal Council," said Jaison, an unspecified reference to Shambo.
Monica later claimed she knew Shambo "could be the fifth vote," but stopped short of committing to the plan.
"I want John out," she told them.
"We can do that. We can absolutely do that," said Mick.
Back on reward, the castaways received a clue to the next Hidden Immunity Idol -- which included a text clue and video clip of the idol's location that made it clear the idol was hidden under a large moss-covered rock.
"I'll find it, for sure," said Russell in a confessional. "As soon as I go back to camp I'm going to start looking for it because I need the Immunity Idol for myself."
With everyone back at the camp, Russell began his search almost immediately after sharing the clue with Mick and Jaison.
"We totally underestimated Russell's ability of finding the idol," said Laura. "We need to just keep that Hidden Immunity Idol out of Russell's hand."
Dave followed Russell -- who was looking around a stone wall -- while Laura tailed Jaison. Russell eventually started running and Dave gave chase -- however Russell doubled back to the wall and found the idol.
"There it is. Oh my god. This is way to easy," he said before pocketing the idol with no one around.
At camp Monica told Laura about her distrust of "two people" from the former Galu.
"The Foa Foa claim that there's at least two people on board. They will not name names," Monica told Laura. "I don't trust Shambo or John... We have to be careful. They might come after you or come after me first."
Laura knew she needed to be "on top" of her game and win Individual Immunity.
The castaways then arrived for the next immunity challenge and Jeff explained the rules.
For the first part of the challenge, each castaway would have three tiles arranged close together that they'd have to break with only one rock. For every tile they broke they'd receive a spear for the next round of the challenge -- which would have them shooting their spears at a target. The closest castaway to the target would win Individual Immunity.
Jaison broke one of his tiles, Dave broke one of Monica's tiles -- giving her a spear -- and Mick connected with one of his tiles. Brett broke two of his own. Mick was then the closest to the target and won Immunity.
"I believe it is the destiny of Laura to go home," said Shambo.
Once they castaways were back at camp, Russell was "happy" for the opportunity to oust Laura.
"I knew at least we had a tie, and now he had a fighting chance because it's five to five," he said -- correctly instilling confidence in Shambo, who openly told Brett she was voting for Laura.
"You're not going to fluctuate or change at all?" asked Brett.
"There's no way on god's green earth," she answered. "She's too strong and she's too manipulative."
Dave and Laura then approached John with a plan to once again target Russell.
"Incorrect," replied John. "The answer is Natalie."
"Okay," said Laura, eager to save her own skin.
"And the reason is she's the least likely to have the idol because she didn't look for it," said John.
In a confessional, John bashed the "analytical skills" of the Galu tribe -- expressing his displeasure for deciding to vote off Erik Cardona "over a 30 second decision," even though he had gone along with it and it had been sparked, ironically, by Erik's attempt to get the Foa Foa members to go along with a John-devised plan to vote off Monica, Laura's closest ally.
In addition, he also slammed the Galu tribe members' decision to "piss off" Shambo and the matter in which they had "telegraphed" their previous attempt to vote Russell out of the game.
"It's continually impressive and bording on annoying how pathetic the analytical skills of the Galu tribe are," John vented.
Meanwhile, Monica told Dave and Brett that "some people were saying John" in an effort to try and save Laura.
"It's an option, it's a good option," said Monica.
"Don't get excited, John is flighty," said Dave. "He gets nervous."
"This is a big move you guys," said Monica, as she was told by Brett and Dave to "be strong."
"The plan is for me to tell Foa Foa that I am voting for John. In reality, I will be voting Natalie with my tribe," said Monica in a confessional. "So hopefully it will be four Foa Foa members voting John, five Galu members voting Natalie, and then the one -- Shambo -- voting Laura."
Monica pitched the plan to Russell, and he was hesitant.
"I'm not ready to write Laura's name," Monica told him. "This is a huge move for me Russell, if I'm switching I'm going to vote out somebody I want to vote out."
Russell listened as Monica continued to badger him about her lack of trust for John, while Mick was unsure of his trust for her.
"I'm not sure how much Foa Foa can trust Monica," he said in a confessional. "She seems legit, or Laura has put a little snake on the ground to get information, and that's just as likely."
thinking the matter over, Russell told Jaison and Mick that they should try and put an end to Monica's plan by just telling John the other former Galu members were after him.
"He doesn't trust us," said Jaison.
"It's going to be a tie," replied Russell.
Meanwhile, Brett talked with John and told him Shambo was planning to vote for Laura and revealed Monica's plan to avoid a five-to-five tie by convincing the former Foa Foa members to vote for him.
"Monica's plan seems to be the only feasible one," said Brett. "It's trying to get them to vote for you --Shambo votes for Laura, four vote for you, the five of us vote for Natalie."
"It would be nice to have that run by me before it gets employed," said John.
"I haven't said anything yet," assured Brett.
"The answer is not to get four votes against me," said John, who was then approached by Dave as well.
"You guys are betting my life that Shambo votes for Laura," said John, who added in a confessional that he was not "risking his life to save Laura's."
"Laura picked a fight with somebody that I think is about to knock her out, and I'm not going to step on the way of the punch."
In addition, John also revealed that Survivor: Samoa's rules didn't call for Tribal Council voting ties to be broken via the firestarting challenge the show's recent editions have used. Instead ties would be broken via a new twist on the old "purple rock" tiebreaker that memorably resulted in the elimination of Paschal English at Survivor: Marquesas' Final 4 Tribal Council.
"If there is a tie tonight the rules of Survivor state there is a revote [and] if there is a tie again the remaining eight members [who didn't receive votes] choose rocks," John said. "One of these rocks will be a different color and that perosn will go home."
Afterward, Russell pulled John aside and said he felt he was being "swindled" by somebody from the former Galu.
"We're putting Laura's name down and we're going to the top," he added. "If it goes to the tie -- that's when it has to happen, the switch."
"What's the next vote?" asked John. "If I'm going to give you a Galu before you give me a Foa Foa, the next vote needs to be Foa Foa."
"That's a deal," said Russell, however John was leery of Russell's "B.S."
"The best position that I can put myself in would be to vote with Galu, have a five-to-five tie, vote with Galu again and have a another five-to-five tie and just pray to god that one of the Foa Foa members goes," he said. "I don't know what I'm going to do."
Tribal Council then commenced, as jury members Erik and Kelly entered. John said he was "absolutely" surprised two former Galu members had been booted after the merge despite entering it with an 8 to 4 numbers advantage.
"We're trying to figure out at what point somebody says, 'Oh hey this is an individual game,' and take advantage of our votes and start playing their own game," said Mick.
Jeff asked Shambo if the remaining Galu members were "all one" and she responded "negative" -- beginning with when they "decided to vote Erik off."
"Galu was broken to me," she said.
Laura disagreed and said she still felt Galu was "tight," which led Jeff to counter that "a group can't be tight if one of the members isn't."
"If Shambo's on the fence, we've got a really interesting night in store," said Jeff -- who then recapped how tie breaker procedures would play out if there was a tie.
"I'm absolutely not okay with taking the chance, but I'm not the only one controlling the game," said Laura -- apparently unaware of the irony that, per the new tiebreaker rule, she would actually be the only Galu ally not taking any chance if her allies remained loyal and forced a tie.
"Man this is good sh-t," Erik gleefully whispered to Kelly in the jury area.
The vote then commenced and ended in a tie between Natalie and Laura. The other eight castaways then re-voted and John followed through with the plan he had discussed with Russell -- resulting in Laura being eliminated by a 6-5 vote and Laura, Dave and Monica's jaws dropping in disbelief.
"Wow," Dave whispered as Laura silently gathered her torch and left the game.
"[This is] so good!" Erik mumbled as Shambo let out a laugh about her triumph over Laura. "And there goes the lead."
Survivor: Samoa's next episode will air Thursday, November 26 at 8PM ET/PT on CBS.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, November 20, 2009 - 12:17 AM EST
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Irina Shabayeva was crowned Project Runway's sixth-season winner during last night's finale broadcast of the clothing design competition's first Lifetime edition.
"I'm definitely proud of myself. I think this deserves a pat on the back. I did have some stiff competition," said Irina after her victory was revealed and she was congratulated by her parents.
"All good things take a lot of work and effort, and that's why they're great. So it was well worth it. I can't believe I'm a Project Runway winner. That's crazy. That's insane."
As Project Runway's sixth-season champion, Irina -- a 27-year-old Republic of Georgia native who immigrated to New York City with her family as a child -- won a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine, a trip to Paris, one year of representation from Designers Management Agency, and $100,000 to start her own line.
Irina defeated Althea Harper, a 24-year-old from Dayton, OH who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY who finished as the runner-up.
"I think everything happens for a reason, and even though I didn't win I feel just really great because I made a lot of good friends, met a lot of great people and got a lot of great advice," said Althea after her elimination.
"I'm feeling good because overall everything was positive. I made have been the winner, but I'm still a winner."
Carol Hannah Whitfield, a 24-year-old from Anderson, SC who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, finished in third place.
"I came to Project Runway having no clue what was going to happen. I didn't really set any expectations, I just wanted to do my best and just kind of go with it," she said after her ouster. "I feel like I did really well... It's like simultaneously the most bizarre and most amazing experience of my life."
Project Runway's sixth-season finale broadcast began with the three remaining finalists finishing their "surprise" thirteenth design and finalizing their collections for the finale runway show at New York Fashion Week, which took place at Bryant Park in February.
The finale runway show then commenced, and each of the women was shown -- despite February reports that they had actually remained hidden backstage -- coming out on stage and introducing themselves to the audience before their designs hit the runway.
After being shown taking to the runway for a second time and walking with their models at the conclusion of their runway shows, each of the women was also shown receiving rave reviews from audience members who all seemed to know their identities.
Project Runway's regular judging panel -- Heidi Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia -- and guest judge Suzy Menkes then met with three finalists to critique their collections.
Irina was first, and Suzy said she liked her collection's concept.
"It seemed very coherent," she said. "There was a starting point and it was really worked around in different ways."
Heidi thought it looked "finished," while Nina liked the T-shirts she had designed.
"It was you communicating in a very intimate way," said Nina before asking why the collection was so black, which Irina replied was "intuitive."
"You give yourself a bit of a disservice," warned Michael.
Carol Hannah was next, and Nina said she "loved" the first look.
"It was very spirited and you work very well with these fabrics that are difficult," added Nina.
Heidi was surprised to find her favorite was the thirteenth design Carol Hannah had put together in the last couple of days.
"I had a hard time seeing it as a 13-piece collection," added Heidi. "I just felt like every time something came again it was interesting, but it was always so different that it didn't seem cohesive to me."
Althea went last and Michael said her designs could be "dissembled" into separates, which he liked.
"You could buy a piece and add it to your closet and put your own spin on it, which I think is great," he added.
Suzy liked the knitwear but was unsure where that felt in with the futuristic theme.
"I thought the last three pieces of your collection were off," added Nina. "I almost thought we had moved into another show."
The judges then deliberated their decision.
Michael called Carol Hannah's opening design "exciting" and "photographical" and Suzy thought she had "the best sense of color."
"She played with the color, she just didn't play with it enough," added Michael.
"She loves dresses and she's impeccable in her tailoring," said Heidi. "That's what has made her get this far -- she's always been really good at that."
Nina said she loved Althea's "sense of coolness."
"She can really translate what's going on in the street," she added. "She's got that connection with what is cool and what is out there."
Michael thought women would "respond" to Althea's designs, and Nina agreed.
"Again, it looked a little bit like an assemblage of clothes," said Michael. "It didn't really tell a tale, I don't think."
Suzy didn't think Althea's designs "took well to the runway."
Heidi thought Irina's designs were "really well made and modern" with an "edge."
"She definitely had the best sense of showmanship," said Michael. "She knew how to punctuate it with the hats... They were all a little different but the same, which is a collection."
Heidi said she agreed that Irina's lack of color hurt her, and Michael said he was confused by her gown design.
The finalists then returned and Irina was revealed as the winner.
"Your line was sleek, modern, cohesive and it told a story," said Heidi to Irina. "You knew what kind of woman you were designing for, and you really did articulate that beautifully."
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, November 20, 2009 - 12:01 AM EST
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NBC announced it has ordered United Plates of America, a new reality competition series that will follow contestants as they vie for the opportunity to open a restaurant chain in four cities across the country.
The tentatively-titled series will begin with the contestants pitching their restaurant plans to a panel of investors, who will then put the participants and their ideas through a series of challenges designed to see which has the greatest potential for success.
The winner will be selected by a panel of "some of the most important names in both the dining and business worlds who will invest their own money in the final restaurant chain and have a huge stake in the game's winner," according to NBC.
"This is the first time the culinary and business worlds have come together in a big event series where the prize is one of the largest in reality TV history," said NBC reality chief Paul Telegdy.
"Not only will viewers get to watch the competition unfold, they'll be able to eat at the winning restaurant immediately after the show's finale."
United Plates of America is produced by Magical Elves and will be executive produced by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz, the production company's co-founders.
The series is the latest project to result from the May 2008 exclusive first look development deal Magical Elves -- which also produces Bravo's Top Chef culinary competition -- announced with Bravo and NBC's NBC Universal parent company on the same day it also revealed it would not follow Project Runway to Lifetime from Bravo.
"This show is going to make the American Dream come true for someone out there - all they need is one great idea," said Cutforth.
"With a prize of this magnitude, we believe this show will bring together everything we love about reality TV; creative passionate contestants, a dynamic panel of experts, and fierce competition," added Lipsitz.
Since the development deal, Magical Elves has continued to produce Bravo's Top Chef and its Top Chef Masters spinoff, which Bravo recently renewed for a second season.
In addition, Magical Elves is also producing Top Chef: Just Desserts --another recently-ordered Top Chef spinoff -- and has also taken over production of Dance Your Ass Off, which airs on NBC Universal's Oxygen cable network and is currently in production on its second season.
Casting information for United Plates of America is currently available via NBC's website.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 04:21 PM EST
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Nicole Fox claims she could read her impending America's Next Top Model victory in Tyra Banks' eyes.
The 18-year-old student from Louisville, CO was crowned America's Next Top Model's thirteenth-season winner during last night's broadcast of The CW reality competition's finale and won a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics, a contract with Wilhelmina Models and a cover and six-page spread in Seventeen magazine.
On Thursday, Nicole talked to Reality TV World about how she knew she would win but wasn't confident heading into the final judging panel; why she feels the judges chose her over runner-up Laura Kirkpatrick; her serendipitous casting situation; and what her feelings are on winning Top Model's first-ever "petite edition" despite being 5'7".
Reality TV World: First of all, congratulations.
Nicole: Thank you!
Reality TV World: What was going through your mind right before Tyra revealed you as the winner?
Nicole: I can tell you exactly what was going through my mind right then -- I was actually monologuing internally. (laughing)
So of course she stands right there and she says, "And America's Next Top Model is..." and then she pauses for about 30 seconds. Her eyes are shifting between me and Laura. Right in that moment, I thought, "Tyra's giving Laura a lot of eyeball action right now. I wonder if she's trying to fake me out? Wait a minute? That means that I won!" Then, sure enough, I was totally right -- she was trying to pull one over on me. It was really cool.
Reality TV World: Why do you think the judges chose you over Laura?
Nicole: Just watching the final deliberations, it seems that we were very evenly matched. The judges were really thorough comparing the two of us, and it seemed like the only area in which they thought I excelled over Laura was my ability to be a fashion model. They said that both of us could get commercial work, but there was a potential that I could also do fashion. So that's what really seemed to make the difference to the judges.
Reality TV World: What was more difficult for you -- the finale's runway show or CoverGirl commercial?
Nicole: (laughing) Actually the CoverGirl commercial was probably the worst, although my walk wasn't the best on the runway. But I felt like it wasn't nearly as difficult as that commercial because while I was filming -- even from Take 1 -- [Top Model photo shoot director Jay Manuel] was really hard on me. Rightly so. He just said, "You sound like a snob. I would never buy this mascara from you." So it was really disheartening. I know he was just being critical in order for the commercial to be really good, but it was definitely a really difficult challenge to overcome.
Reality TV World: Were you confident right before the final panel? Did you think you had done enough to win?
Nicole: Not at all. I was afraid that I let Laura outshine me in those last final challenges. As soon as Laura's name was announced to be in the Top 2 with me I knew immediately that it would be a really difficult battle because she had endeared herself so much to the judges by that point. She has a great story behind her that is so relatable to so many girls because of her dyslexia. On top of that, she's a perfect fit for both Seventeen magazine and CoverGirl. So I felt very threatened by her.
Reality TV World: You were one of the front runners throughout the competition -- you were always one of the judges' favorites and did well at all the photo shoots -- but when did it start to creep into your mind that there was a chance you could win?
Nicole: You know what? It tried to creep and creep and creep all throughout the competition, but I did my best to zone that out. Every time I found myself thinking, "Oh, I could actually win this," I tried to shut that out. I tried to turn my brain off.
I just really wanted to stay focused on the journey. I thought that if I got too involved thinking about the prize and I didn't win it, then I would come away with nothing because I wouldn't have valued the experience as much as I could have.
Reality TV World: You were criticized a few times for a lack of personality. What's your take on that criticism and is it something you thought might be a problem?
Nicole: Yeah, coming into the competition I knew that was going to be an issue. I really do have a personality, but I'm very reserved around people that don't know me and I know that it takes them a really long time to get to know me -- even in my everyday life. So adding cameras to the mix I knew it was going to be an uphill battle.
But honestly, I don't take the criticism too hard because I know that I was that way. I did struggle a lot to bring out my personality, and even by the end of it I don't feel like I had fully emerged from my shell, so to speak. But a lot of it was a result of camera shyness.
Reality TV World: Do you feel you were portrayed accurately on the show?
Nicole: I do feel like most of us -- not just me -- were portrayed quite accurately on the show.
Reality TV World: How were you cast for America's Next Top Model? Given your 5'7" height, you technically could have applied for previous seasons, right?
Nicole: Right. Well, actually I couldn't have because I turned 18 like a week before auditioning and that's the cutoff -- so I would have been too young.
However I was cast on the show when I attended open calls in Denver. I actually waited around for six hours at the audition location. I had my picture with me and my application and I was waiting to go before their casting-crew panel. However I was actually turned away after waiting for six hours because so many girls showed up to audition and they couldn't see all of us. So I was really upset. I thought, "No! I waited here for six hours! I'm not going home!"
So I hunted down somebody at the venue who claimed to be associated with Top Model. I gave him snapshot of myself and my application. He assured me that they would ship it to L.A. and somebody would look at it. I didn't really believe him. (laughing) Then I left. But a month later I got a call.
Reality TV World: Since you were among the tallest thirteenth-season contestants, do you think your height gave you an inherent advantage?
Nicole: Because the judges weren't looking at that so much, in the competition I don't feel like it really gave me much of an advantage at all. I think it came down to my focus. I think honestly I tried the hardest of any girl there.
Reality TV World: Third-season winner Eva Marcille was 5'6" and a half -- so does it feel strange to win Top Model's "petite edition" and not even be the shortest winner ever?
Nicole: (laughing) It is a little weird gray area right there. A lot of people ask, "Because you technically are not a true petite model do you think Tyra failed to prove her point with having a petite cycle?" I don't think that's the case at all. I think throughout the whole cycle you could see what a tough competition it was. It wasn't easy for me to win. These girls gave me a run for my money. So it is weird to be the tallest girl and have won the cycle, but I'll take it. (laughing)
Reality TV World: After you won Tyra told you it was only the beginning. What are you currently up to and where do you go from here?
Nicole: Actually today I have a meeting at Wilhelmina and I'm sure they're going to go over my potential in the industry. Honestly, I'm just going to take any advice they have for me. If they think I need to move to Asia to get work to build my portfolio, then I will do just that. Honestly I'm going to throw my whole self into this. I'm not enrolling for school next semester because I really want to focus on this and take the opportunity as far as possible.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 03:52 PM EST
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Rebecca Meyer signed up for The Biggest Loser to shed weight and not to find love -- however she ended up doing both.
"I didn't go into the ranch expecting to fall in love -- not at all. I just expected maybe to lose some weight. But I got so much more," Meyer told reporters during a Wednesday conference call.
Meyer became the eleventh contestant eliminated from The Biggest Loser's eighth season during Tuesday night's broadcast of the NBC reality competition.
In addition to losing weight, learning to live a healthier lifestyle and making life-long friends, Meyer revealed during a Tuesday appearance on The Jay Leno Show that she's currently dating fellow contestant Daniel Wright.
"Daniel and I, it was important for me because I really did fall in love with my best friend. We became friends. We became like that person, each other's go to person for whatever," she told reporters.
"To be completely honest, if we would have met somewhere like at restaurant or a club I don't think that we maybe would have even been friends, let alone fallen in love. Not that we're both interesting and fun people, it's just we're kind of different. But in The Biggest Loser scenario we didn't like each other all that well in the beginning and went from not liking each other to becoming friends, to becoming best friends."
Meyer said she and Wright "started getting close around" the third week of the competition during "long walks."
"Daniel and I would go for walks around the mile just to finish some burn, and just talk because I'm a night owl. And we just got really close," she explained, adding the cast's trip to Washington D.C. was a "turning point" in their "friendship."
"We spent a lot of time together, when he and I became best friends. Not that it lessened [Amanda Arlauskas] and I's friendship. It just was Daniel was there for me for a lot of stuff and I didn't have to explain it at all to him, and he just understood because he was going through the same things as I was."
Meyer said her close communication with Wright "wasn't for the camera" and continued to blossom once filming was over.
"After we both left the show and came home, we realized that we wanted to spend hours on the phone talking to each other. I then in turn fell in love with my best friend. And so I mean I just don't think that this sort of would have happened the way that it happened, if things wouldn't have progressed on the show," she said.
"We're definitely there for each other emotionally, mentally, and physically on the ranch at this very raw state of our lives, and it's just both a key part of each other's journey."
Specifically, Meyer said he relationship intensified after a few weeks of "constantly talking."
"The next couple days of us being together, I could tell at certain times I thought he was going to kiss me. And I just stopped him on a walk and I looked at him and like, 'You can't kiss me.' And he's like, 'What?' And I'm like, 'You can't -- not until I know.' I was like, 'I have to know.' And he's like, 'Okay,'" explained Meyer.
"He's just a true gentleman and respects it. And I'm really glad that we waited that next couple of weeks because then we were able to talk and I was able to realize that I was falling in love with my best friend."
Meyer added her "vision of perfect is falling in love" with her best friend and "making it real and not for anybody else's reasons" but her own.
"Then September 11 at 3:00 AM, I said, 'How do you tell your best friend that you're love with him?' And he's just like, 'I'm in love with your Rebecca.' And I'm like, 'I love you,'" she told reporters.
Since she's in Iowa and he's in North Carolina, Meyer said the long-distance relationship was "very tough" at first.
"Initially that was the reason why we weren't going to do it. When he first told me he had feelings for me, I was like, 'I can't do long distance. I don't want to do this.' I had a lot of emotional and intimacy barriers up. Didn't want to have to be in a relationship, let alone a long distance one," she said.
"But then I was like, 'Really? Am I going to stop something that like could potentially change my life forever, just because of, you know, 17-and-a-half hours?' Yes, that's how long it takes to drive to see each other. But we had both decided that we're not going to be in our respective states forever, and so the long distance won't be permanent, I'll just say that."
While they've been traveling to see each other every few weeks, Meyer said there's currently no plan in place for either to relocate.
"I'm definitely not moving to North Carolina. And Iowa is not a place that we both want to be right now," she said.
"We're not real sure about what we want to do or where we want to go. We know that we would like to figure it out together. And that after the finale, the world is sort of our oyster and we get to sort of figure it out. There really is no definitive plans yet. We just know that we want to be closer to each other."
Meyer has previously stated she was more than upset by her The Biggest Loser ouster, and she explained to reporters it was partly because she never anticipated it -- ever.
"Being eliminated was something that I never even fathomed happening. When we were ever interviewed about whether or not I though I was going to be below the yellow line or was going to go home -- I just never even put it in my mind," she said.
"So I haven't even wrapped my mind around the fact that I was being eliminated."
She added that was what made it so difficult when Rudy Pauls cast the deciding vote against her and said it was based on a lack of trust with her.
"Having someone who I called friend and who I looked up to in some ways, [he] had this opinion about me that was completely out of left field," she said. "So that was probably the hardest thing to hear."
Meyer said she and Pauls were "friend on the ranch" and "are friends now" -- which is why it "was very difficult for me to accept his excuses for wanting to vote me off."
"I was a huge threat in the game. My percentage has always been one of the top percentages -- and I'm not saying that to be cocky -- it's just blatant facts. And they knew that I was a threat," she explained.
Despite the fact that they've "buried the hatchet," Meyer said it's still emotional to think about Pauls citing her lack of trust and honesty.
"I don't really ever think I'll actually quite understand. I just wish that he would have been completely honest. Instead it was just about the game, and I respect that," she said.
"But when they were just saying I was dishonest, I'm like, I have been the most honest person here -- laid all of my cards out. And so it's just sort of still a little confusing, but we'll be friends and he's was always sort of that person for me. He was like that big brother that you never really knew."
Meyer also commented on Liz Young, who used her 24-year age advantage over Meyer as a bargaining chip to stay in the competition.
"I think that people will say anything to stay on the ranch," said Meyer.
"My 25 years of life got me 279 pounds. Her almost 50 years of life got her to 257 pounds. So for her to say that her journey is somehow more important than mine, I didn't respect that. But I mean it's like I said -- people are going to fight to be there and I'm glad that she actually fought for herself. That's what I wanted her to do the whole time, but not at the expense of my journey. But it is what it is."
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 03:08 PM EST
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Nicole Fox was crowned America's Next Top Model's thirteenth-season winner during last night's broadcast of The CW reality competition's finale.
"This journey was incredibly hard. I have learned to embarrass myself and to speak -- which was a struggle," Nicole said after her victory.
"Sometimes I didn't think I was going to survive the journey, like I remember during casting week I went home and I cried because I was like, 'What have I gotten myself into with this?' I didn't think it would be okay to be that dorky girl, but I'm a dork and I'm America's Next Top Model."
As Top Model's thirteenth-season winner, the 18-year-old student from Louisville, CO won a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics, a contract with Wilhelmina Models and a cover and six-page spread in Seventeen magazine. In addition, Nicole became Top Model's first 5'7" or under "petite edition" winner.
Laura Kirkpatrick, a 19-year-old waitress from Stanford, KY, finished as the runner-up.
"My mom, my grandma and my sister and my littler brother are going to be so proud of me," Laura said after recovering from her initial tear-filled disappointment. "They won't even care that I'm not America's Next Top Model."
The thirteenth-season finale began following the double elimination of Erin Wagner and Jennifer An, as both Laura and Nicole expressed surprise at being in the Top 2. Laura expressed confidence at her ability to beat Nicole if it came down to personality.
"Nicole's pictures are always really good and they've been really strong in the past, but personality-wise and stuff, I don't see her as a whole lot of competition," said Laura in a confessional.
However once the girls learned they'd have to compete in the season's second CoverGirl commercial shoot, Laura's confidence quickly turned to concern due to her dyslexia.
"I do feel like I have an advantage over Laura because she just stresses out so much about being able to read and memorize a line," commented Nicole.
The next day Laura and Nicole met Top Model photo shoot director Jay Manuel for their CoverGirl commercial and photo shoot -- with the winner appearing in advertising for the cosmetics company.
The girls then met twelfth-season champ Teyona Anderson, who revealed what makeup they'd be modeling. Jay then explained that while he was coaching one of them during the commercial's filming, judge Nigel Barker would be photographing the other one.
Nigel thought Nicole looked "fantastic and "amazing" and also "modeled really well." Laura initially struggled with the commercial shoot as she stumbled over lines, but Jay thought she had a "really good attitude."
"I feel like I have defeated dyslexia," she said after it was done.
The girls switched spots, and it was Nicole's turn to have a hard time with the commercial -- as Jay thought she sounded snooty and her performance level was "low."
"I feel like I was trying so hard not to be snotty," opined Nicole. "Jay tells me that I look like a snob and nobody would buy this mascara from me. I'm like, 'Oh my god!'"
The next day the girls were met by Seventeen editor-in-chief Ann Shoket, who was there to shoot their potential cover photo for the magazine.
"Those girls did so well. I was so impressed by what I saw today," Ann said after it was over. "It is anybody's game at this point."
Back at the house, the girls practiced their runway walk for the season's finale runway show before they each had a one-on-one conversation with Top Model creator and lead judge Tyra Banks.
They then arrived for the runway show, where they were met by Jay and Top Model judge and runway expert J. "Miss J" Alexander -- who revealed Erin, Jennifer and fellow previously-ousted thirteenth-season finalists Brittany Markert and Sundai Love would also be participating.
"This is the first time that we have brought back eliminated girls," said Jay.
All of the girls then received hair and makeup before the runway shoot commenced. While both were nervous, neither Nicole nor Laura had any significant problems.
"You guys really did a good job, both of you," Tyra told them afterwards. "You should be proud of yourselves. I know you were nervous, but you did a good job."
That night Nicole and Laura arrived for the thirteenth season's final elimination ceremony -- where they were met by Tyra, Nigel and Miss J.
The judges then evaluated Laura and Nicole's photos from the previous thirteenth-season shoots and watched their recent CoverGirl commercial and photo shoot before deliberating their decision.
Tyra then revealed Nicole as the winner.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 01:11 PM EST
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Adam Jasinski is apparently finding life in the big house a bit more difficult than life in the Big Brother house.
The Big Brother ninth-season winner has filed court papers asking for his release from prison after he was arrested last month in Massachusetts for attempting to sell 2,000 oxycodone pills as part of a drug trafficking operation he allegedly operated, TMZ reported Wednesday.
In the documents, Jasinski claims he's willing to live with his parents, wear an electronic-monitoring bracelet, relinquish has passport and undergo mental health and substance abuse counseling as conditions of a potential release, according to TMZ.
In addition, the filings state that Jasinski -- who is currently awaiting trial -- plans on "calling into question the veracity of the cooperating government witness" and claiming that his arrest involved "entrapment and outrageous government conduct," TMZ reported.
The documents also reportedly attempt to use Jasinski's minor celebrity status as a defense. According to the filing, the government's claim that he flew to Massachusetts specifically to sell drugs is "illogical given Jasinski's high public profile."
The 31-year-old Delray Beach, FL resident was arrested on October 17 after flying to Boston and attempting to sell the drugs to a Drug Enforcement Administration witness.
According to an affidavit DEA Special Agent Todd Prough filed, the witness -- reportedly a local drug dealer who had been arrested earlier in October -- met Jasinski at Logan International Airport and then drove to a North Reading, MA strip mall where DEA agents arrested Jasinski after he pulled the pills from a sock stuffed in his pants.
The witness set up the drug buy via an October 8 phone call to Jasinski, according to the affidavit, which added Jasinski stated he had used his $500,000 Big Brother cash prize to bankroll his drug dealing and boasted that he has been "obtaining thousands of pills of oxycodone" which he's sold "to customers all along the East Coast" during the few several months.
Jasinski was charged with possession of oxycodone pills with intent to distribute and faces a maximum of 20 years in jail and a $1 million fine if convicted. He was subsequently ordered held without bail.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 03:51 AM EST
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Kelly Osbourne is apparently facing foot surgery after Dancing with the Stars' upcoming finale.
"I have flat feet and somewhere in the 25 years of my life, I tore the cartilage in my bunion in both feet," she told OK! Weekly after Monday night's performance episode, adding she was advised to undergo an operation.
"I said no. I didn't want to have it because I believe if you start cutting things, you have a whole new set of problems and it wasn't that bad, so I deal with it."
However competing on Dancing with the Stars' ninth season as a celebrity participant apparently hasn't helped the injury and has instead caused more pain.
"Basically, my doctor said, 'Told you so, told you so. You wouldn't be [feeling] this if you had had the surgery.' So I'm going to have to have it after the show," she told OK!.
Osbourne addressed her injury following her final routine with professional partner Louis van Amstel during Monday night's live semifinals performance episode.
"I am on top of the world considering this morning I couldn't even walk," she said during the broadcast. "I had to have injections in my feet in order to dance tonight so it's just been over the moon."
While she subsequently told OK! "it's really not that big of a deal," it was enough of a concern for Osbourne that she tried her best to conceal it so it wouldn't impact viewer voting.
"I didn't want a sympathy vote and I didn't want to get [voted] through because somebody felt sorry that my foot gave up on me," she explained to OK!, likening the pain to a tooth cavity.
"You know when you have a cavity in your teeth? It's like that in the bone of your foot and every time you take a step, ooh," she continued.
"Or when you have your hair in a ponytail for a really long time and that feeling like, stop, my head's killing me! It's like that but constantly in your feet, every step you take, every time you breathe in and your body changes its weight a little bit, it just sends a shooting pain. It is so painful."
Van Amstel added the three-inch heels Osbourne wears for dancing "makes it really bad," and she said it's compounded by her being flat footed.
"I roll my feet in and all the pressure is on the bunion of my foot and it's really painful!" she told OK!.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 03:30 AM EST
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Channing Cooke and Kevin Hunte became the next two finalists eliminated from So You Think You Can Dance's sixth season during last night's live results show on Fox.
Channing, an 18-year-old contemporary dancer from Haverhill, MA, and Kevin, a 23-year-old hip-hop dancer from Brooklyn, NY, had found themselves among the bottom three couples based on home viewer votes cast immediately following Tuesday night's performance episode.
They were then ousted by So You Think You Can Dance judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman after all six dancers each performed a solo routine.
"This experience has been really amazing, I feel like I can now walk away not only as a better person but also as a better dancer," Channing said during a video montage that followed her ouster.
"[I've learned] that if you put your mind to something and you work real hard it will always be done. And put God first [and] anything is possible," Kevin told So You Think You Can Dance host Cat Deeley after his elimination.
In addition to Channing and Kevin, the other members of the bottom three couples were Channing's partner Victor Smalley, Kevin's partner Karen Hauer, as well as Mollee Gray and her partner Nathan Trasoras.
Both eliminations were unanimous but difficult decisions, according to Nigel.
"It's not easy because certainly every one of these dancers was good enough to be in our Top 20 and is really good enough to be in our Top 10. But we've had to make a decision because that's the nature of the competition," he said.
"I'm going to repeat what I've said many times, which is we use [the] 'dance for your life' [solos] to give us something else but we base this decision on everything you have done in the competition and what we know about you and take the 'dance for your life' in order for you to be able to change our minds. I don't think anybody changed our minds about this decision tonight."
After announcing that Mollee, an 18-year-old jazz dancer from Orem, UT, was safe, Nigel turned his attention to Channing and Karen, a 27-year-old Latin ballroom dancer from Venezuela who currently resides in Queens, NY.
"Channing and Karen, this is about performance as well as about technique... Channing your technique is absolutely terrific and that's why you are obviously in our Top 20 this year but we do feel that your personality is not coming out as much as we would like to see it," he said.
"We've spoken out this on numerous occasions and it's -- we need to be very careful that you don't just become a technician that is a really great dancer that becomes a really great teacher. You need to be a performer too and what we've found with Karen is she is without question a performer and we believe Karen is a star this season... therefore we have decided to keep Karen this evening," Nigel continued.
"Channing, thank you very much [but] we're going to let you go."
After revealing that Nathan, an 18-year-old contemporary dancer from Downey, CA, was advancing to the competition's next round, Nigel announced Kevin's elimination.
"Kevin, you always feel a little uncomfortable we feel in the routines that you've put in, You are certainly a terrific dancer, you are well deserved being in our Top 20 but we're looking for growth and although just by doing the routines that you do you are growing as a dancer, we still feel as though there is a long way to go and you are in a competition against, this evening, two other guys who are really, really, really good dancers," Nigel said.
"Which is why, Kevin I'm sorry to say, we're going to let you go this week. Victor you're safe."
So You Think You Can Dance's next sixth-season episode will air on Tuesday, November 23 at 8PM.
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Posted by: Reality TV World staff on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 02:31 AM EST
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Aaron Carter was unable to follow in Helio Castroneves' winning Dancing with the Stars footsteps, however the two reportedly share have a more dubious IRS connection.
Carter currently owes the IRS more than $1 million in back taxes according to federal tax lien documents filed in Los Angeles last week, E! News reported Tuesday.
The former House of Carters reality star has unpaid taxes that date back to 2003, according to E! News, which added he owes the federal government $965,284 from that year alone.
In addition, Carter owes $45,350 from income he earned in 2006, E! News reported.
Carter was eliminated from Dancing with the Stars' ninth season last week with professional partner Karina Smirnoff.
Castroneves won Dancing with the Stars Fall 2007 fifth season with partner Julianne Hough and was subsequently indicted in October 2008 on one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States of income taxes and six counts of income tax evasion.
He pleaded not guilty and was eventually acquitted.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 12:08 AM EST
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Joanna Krupa did better than she anticipated on Dancing with the Stars, however she thinks it still would have been nice to have a shot at the ninth-season mirror ball trophy next week.
"I definitely exceeded my expectations from the beginning, so I'm happy that I made it to the semifinals," said Krupa during a Tuesday night appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
"I won't lie, I am bummed -- I really thought I had a shot to go into the finals. But I knew tonight was going to be a hard night because we did have three other amazing couples with definitely higher fan bases than myself."
The model and her professional partner Derek Hough became the thirteenth couple eliminated from Dancing with the Stars' ninth season during last night's live results show broadcast on ABC -- which also determined the three couples who will now compete in next week's finale.
Krupa and Hough were eliminated from the competition based on a combination of the judges' scores they had received for the three dances they had performed on Dancing with the Stars' Monday night performance show and the home viewer votes that were cast immediately following the broadcast.
"I think what we've accomplished has been amazing," said Hough, who also participated in the Kimmel appearance.
"I think all three of the couples deserve to be in there and we couldn't be happier for them. We're just proud of what we've done this season."
Now that she's out of the competition, Krupa said she's pulling for former The Osbournes star Kelly Osbourne and her partner Louis van Amstel.
"We both grew so close as friends throughout the whole season, we promised that we'd root for each other, whoever makes the finals. So I'm rooting for Kelly," said Krupa.
Hough said while he was "very happy" to have Krupa as a partner he added he was also slightly concerned initially.
"I was a little worried because models do not normally do well on this show," he explained. "But I look at it as a challenge -- and an exciting one -- and it all came to pass. I think she did an amazing job."
Krupa can currently be seen on the cover of Playboy's December issue, and Hough said he promised his partner he wouldn't look at the magazine until after their elimination.
"So as of tonight, I'm going to go home with a glass of red wine and have a little look," he told Kimmel.
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - 12:50 PM EST
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Rebecca Meyer lost 122 lbs. thanks to her The Biggest Loser experience, however she also gained a boyfriend.
"I'm actually dating Daniel Wright," Meyer revealed during a Tuesday night appearance on The Jay Leno Show.
Meyer became the eleventh contestant booted from The Biggest Loser's eighth season during last night's broadcast of the NBC reality competition -- and her ouster came a week after Wright was booted during a special double elimination.
"Daniel was my best friend, is my best friend," Meyer told Leno. "Leaving the show we talked -- like five, six hour conversations -- and then, you know, he told me he had feelings."
<TBODY> 
| </TBODY> Meyer added it's easy for her to connect with Wright -- who also competed on The Biggest Loser's seventh season -- because they have had similar journeys on the show.
"Daniel and I have gone through the same thing, I mean, he's gone through an even more intense version of it and I fell in love with my best friend," she told Leno.
In addition, Meyer said saying she was upset by her The Biggest Loser elimination is an "understatement."
"I was obviously not happy about being eliminated, but it's just sort of water under the bridge now," she explained. "It's about weight loss and not about being The Biggest Loser [winner] for me. It's about getting my life back."
Meyer specifically weighed-in on Rudy Pauls, who cast the deciding vote against her and said it was based on a lack of trust with her.
"I think it was an excuse to get rid of me because I was going to beat him," she told Leno.
(Photos credit NBC/Justin Lubin)
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Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - 12:12 PM EST
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| Wednesday, November 18 |
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