Green on TV: America's Next Top Model
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 10.24.07
So, picture a TreeHugger writer getting home, exicted to watch Game 1 of the World Series on TV. Now, picture that same TreeHugger writer instead sitting through an hour of the reality TV series America's Next Top Model because he couldn't get to the remote in time. Sad, isnt' it? Anyway, it seems green messaging is now getting so far into the mainstream, it is even invading reality television. Tonight's Top Model episode featured the models doing a recycling-themed photo shoot as a way to highlight how modeling can be used for the forces of good. Models were decked out in sets featuring recycled newspaper, plastic bags, aluminum cans, etc. Apparently, this whole season is "green" themed, including both the model's housing and the transportation they use.
TV Squad gives us a little bit of info about their ride:
To go with this cycles green theme, the girls learned that they'd be transported around town in a 100% biodiesel bus that was replete with earth friendly items like grass and seats made from recycled tires.
ANTM (as they call it) is even pushing energy-conserving housing, having the models live in...a "green" mansion. Yes, we said mansion - the house is freaking huge (even for the gaggle of models it holds). As we have said before, mansions and green building just don't fit in the same sentence. Not only does more space equal more materials and more total energy, large houses make it much for difficult to build a walkable and bikeable community. Maybe next go round, Tyra Banks and Co. will make a real statement by subscribing to the "less is more" philosophy.
of course the whole reason models exist is to persuade us to buy stuff we don't need, so really who are antm kidding...
I watch this show and I also think the "go green" think is a big fat joke. There's nothing green about that house with track lighting everywhere that's always on, a huge pool and hot tub and a lighted runway with a gigantic video screen framed by *fake* plants.
Whatever, Tyra.
I do agree perhaps the green label is a misnomer, but the greening/sustainability attempts are good steps in the right direction, even if not entirely 'green'
Better to have alternative building materials and interior accessories and use however much less energy or lumber or whatever is said to be good about the home, than to have the same place be built conventionally.
Of course everyone can do better, be more regenerative, live more simply, create better envioronments and cities. But I'd much rather have the biodeisel Hummer than give up completely because there is no point and go back to having them all run on standard fuels.
They started the season on a cruise ship, they use insane resources for sets, and isn't it set in LA? Isn't Tyra in New York? Does she fly back and forth every single time?