Throng

Host Tyra Banks has been forced to apologise over a promo for America’s next Top Model which featured a model with “the smallest waist in the world”.

Banks was criticised over the clip which has her telling the hopeful she has the smallest waist in the world before saying to her fellow judges “There’s something about her I quite like.”

The model, who is only known as “Anne from Dallas”, stands before the judges in the promo and demonstrates the exact size of her waist with a man wrapping his hands completely around it.

One of Banks’ fellow judges say that if the model progressed to the final it "will make...the rest of the cast eat Tic Tacs and watercress for the rest of the season."

Banks, who has been a vocal campaigner against the use of ultra-thin models and unhealthy body image, has apologised for the promo running in the US ahead of the upcoming season.

"As a leader in celebrating and promoting healthy body image, I must admit that I regrettably didn't see this clip before it was released to the public," Banks said in a statement.

7:30pm - Friday, July 23 on TV 3

There's something nutty coming to America's Next Top Model when the winner of Cycle 13 is announced on Friday, June 23rd at 7:30pm on 3.

This week sees funny-man extraordinaire Eddie Murphy making an appearance on America's Next Top Model. But, don't expect to see Murphy dressed in drag and learning to walk the runway or sitting in as a guest judge. He will simply be attending the fashion show to support his daughter, Bria Murphy, who will be modelling in the finale runway show.

Make sure not to miss this when the judges select the winner in this week's America's Next Top Model, screening on Friday, June 23rd at 7:30pm on 3.

TV3 and C4 viewers can now enjoy a new and improved On Demand service which will increase offerings of key premium international and local shows.

Fans of TV3 favourites including GLEE, Americas Next Top Model, NCIS LA, Modern Family, Underbelly and Bones will now be able to view online immediately after their free to air broadcast.  

Home and Away fans are in for a special treat. From today - the last 5 episodes of the popular soap will be available to view online at tv3.co.nz  

Local shows like Outrageous Fortune, The Kitchen Job, Hitched, RadiRadiRah, 7 Days and Target, along with current affair offerings The Nation and Campbell Live will also be available to on demand viewers.  There are plans for more shows to join the On Demand schedule throughout the year.

The keystone of the new service is the upgraded video player which offers viewers a TV-like experience with higher quality video and shorter ad-breaks.   

In spite of most shows now being filmed in widescreen, why are several of them being shown as 4:3 on Freeview? Is this some sort of cost-cutting measure?

This shows I've noted that are doing this include:

TV2 - Two and a Half Men (only when repeated?), The Amazing Race, Tyra

TV3 - Project Runway, America's Next Top Model, Models Of The Runway

C4 - South Park

Any other shows you know about where this is happening?

7:30pm - Friday, May 7 on TV 3

The day is finally here! After a whole lot of hoopla from Tyra Banks and her crew about the season of the shorties, America's Next Top Model Cycle 13 premieres on Friday, May 7th at 7:30pm on 3.

Continuing straight from Cycle 12, America's Next Top Model's 13th Cycle will feature contestants who are all 5'7" or under - a complete turnaround from the show's first 12 seasons, which required contestants be 5' 7" or taller.

"There have been top supermodels in the past that weren't as tall as the industry demands, like fashion icon Kate Moss," Banks said in a press release when the show began casting the season.

"So we are changing up Top Model for Cycle 13 and making it a year for the shorter model!"

7:30pm - Friday, April 30 on TV 3

Join supermodels Tyra Banks and Paulina Porizkova with runway coach Miss Jay Alexander and model-turned-photographer Nigel Barker as they crown the next winner of America's Next Top Model on Friday, April 30th at 7:30pm on 3.

As America's Next Top Model prepares to name its latest winner, Paulina Porizkova has announced she has been fired from her judging role on the popular reality series.

"Listen, do you know why I am in Los Angeles... because I am looking for a job," Porizkova told The Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson during an appearance.

"Because I was fired by America's Next Top Model on my birthday, they timed it well," Porizkova added.

So why did the model, who replaced Twiggy in Season 10, get the boot?

America’s Next Top Model is pushing New Zealand as a tourist destination after the reality show filmed here for its latest season last year.

Host Tyra Banks bought her modelling show here in November last year to shoot three episodes, the first of these has just screened in the US.

Bringing the show to the country was a ploy by Tourism New Zealand in partnership with Air New Zealand to encourage more Americans to holiday here.

"By bringing television shows like America's Next Top Model out here to film, we are enriching the '100 per cent Pure New Zealand' campaign and showing Americans what they can actually do when they come to New Zealand," chief executive Kevin Bowler said.

7:30pm - Friday, March 26 on TV 3

Clay Aiken endured his fair share of scrutiny during his American Idol days, but the tables are now turning as the singer puts on his best judging face in America's Next Top Model, screening on Friday, March 26th at 7:30pm on 3.

Oddly enough, Aiken won't be giving his opinion on voice work or stage presence, but rather acting, a skill that he has not really displayed to any advantage on television except for a short stint as Kenny the cafeteria worker on Scrubs.

But despite the singer's limited television roles - he's also starred in Monty Python's Broadway play Spamalot - Aiken feels that his experience along with his reality TV past will give his comments credibility in the eyes of the models.