The Jays — that's Mister and Miss, to you — of America's Next Top Model fame are branching out. J. Alexander and Jay Manuel have signed on to star in their very own makeover show called Operation Fabulous. I guess Operation Fierce would have been too obvious. The duo will travel the country and use their style know-how to assist fashion victims. How nice of them. [Us]
You can throw away your Kleenex and stop your inconsolable crying. It turns out that rumor that Tyra Banks was considering leaving her own show because she found Jay Manuel to be insufferable — I do sometimes wonder if all the hair bleach is going to start seeping into his brain — is false. Of course Tyra's not leaving her own show! Our Thursday morning jokes are safe. For some reason, at the end of its online report on the subject, Us invites readers to "relive her bathing suit drama." I'm not sure how it's relevant, but far be it from me to get in the way of Us's misson. Relive her bathing suit drama here!
Mr. Jay might have gotten a tad too vocal about how stupid that homeless photo shoot he was forced to direct on America's Next Top Model was. What other explanation is there for why he and Tyra Banks no longer get along? According to inside sources at ANTM, Tyra and Jay Manuel aren't even speaking anymore, and Tyra doesn't really want anything to do with the show or the judges and only ever shows up when it's time for panel.
The rumor is that she might leave the ANTM to focus on becoming Oprah Winfrey. I mean, to focus on her talk show, which is far inferior to ANTM, but I suppose someone out there likes it better. If Tyra leaves ANTM, I'll have to stop watching. What's the fun in watching if there's no one to make fun of the next day? The actual contestants are too easy.
Essence threw a party in NYC yesterday for Tyra Banks, its February cover girl. Some of her former ANTM contestants (of color) were on hand to toast their one-time mentor, along with Idris Elba (who DJed), Jay Manuel (of course), and Sam Fine (remember our interview with him last year?), and others. Pics after the jump. CONTINUED »
America's Next Top Model's J. Alexander gave an interview to AOL Black Voices that was sometimes rambling, sometimes funny, and always absolutely insane. He broke down his "white phase," his relationship with Andre Leon Talley, and, most interestingly, his tendency to get a little violent. CONTINUED »