April 26, 2007 (Burbank, California) - Asia Nitollano, a Knick City Dancer from New York City, received her feather boa and became the newest member of the chart-topping musical group The Pussycat Dolls on the season finale of The CW's "Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll."
The final episode found the three finalists, Asia, Melissa R. and Chelsea, showcasing their skills in a group performance of "Lady Marmalade," followed by a solo performance for the judges. Asia belted out the Pussycat Dolls' "I Don't Need a Man," while Melissa R. sang "Stickwitu" and Chelsea performed "Feeling Good." In the end, Melissa R. and Chelsea were asked to hang up their boas, while Asia got her first taste of fame by immediately peforming "Don't Cha," alongside her new bandmates on stage.
"Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll" is executive produced by Robin Antin (The Pussycat Dolls), Steven Antin ("Young Americans"), Ron Fair (Geffen Records), Laura Fuest ("Beauty and the Geek"), Jimmy Iovine (Interscope Geffen A&M Records), McG ("Supernatural," "The O.C."), and Ken Mok ("America's Next Top Model"). The series is from Warner Horizon Television, 10 by 10 Entertainment, Pussycat Dolls, LLC, Interscope A&M Records and Wonderland Sound and Vision.
May 3, 2007 (Burbank, California) - Brittany, a bartender from Savannah, Georgia, was the ninth girl eliminated during the eighth cycle of The CW's hit reality series "America's Next Top Model," reducing the pool from 5 girls to 4.
The girls met with the owner of Priscilla's Model Management, Priscilla Leighton Clark, and Australian model Jodhi Meares, who organized and booked several designers to meet them on "Go Sees." The girls were given a strict deadline to complete their "Go Sees," in which they were evaluated on their personality, portfolio, and runway walk. Most of the girls made good impressions on the designers, but Brittany became overwhelmed after getting lost in a foreign city. When both Natasha and Brittany were disqualified for missing the deadline, Brittany's tantrum caused Priscilla to question her professionalism. When Jaslene won her first challenge of the cycle, she choose Dionne to join her for a unique photo shoot at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, shot by fashion photographer and Top Model judge Nigel Barker.
The following day, Jay met the girls on the beach at dawn for a swimsuit photo shoot. After they learned that they would do two photo shoots, one for a women's magazine and the other for a men's magazine, they were surprised to see that Tyra was their first photographer. While shooting the girls for the women's magazine, Tyra felt that Brittany seemed a little nervous and that she was holding back during her shoot.
During the judging, the panel was shocked to learn that Brittany did not book a single job during the "Go See" challenge. While the judges agreed that she took beautiful photos, they worried that her personality would hinder her career as a model. Nigel noted that Brittany is the perfect example of a model who almost has the full package, but having the personality to go along with the looks is key. "You've taken some beautiful photographs, but this week you went on 'Go Sees' and not one of those clients said they would book you," said Tyra. "Having all the pretty pictures in the world is great, but if you can't get hired, you don't exist in the modeling industry." Tyra then eliminated Brittany from the race to become "America's Next Top Model."
In addition to a $100,000 contract with cosmetics giant CoverGirl, this year's prize package for the winner of The CW's "America's Next Top Model" will include a contract with Elite Model Management and a cover and six-page fashion spread in Seventeen magazine.
The eighth cycle of the hit reality series "America's Next Top Model" on The CW follows 13 young women as they attempt to prove they have what it takes to make it in the high-stress world of modeling. Banks, who created the show, also serves as executive producer along with Ken Mok ("Making the Band") and Anthony Dominici ("The Amazing Race").
"America's Next Top Model" airs Wednesdays, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on The CW. For more information about "America's Next Top Model" log on to http://www.cwtv.com/.
Johnny Miller (Taylor Handley, "The O.C") was a happy, well-adjusted high school student with good grades and a room full of sports trophies until the terrible night a year ago that his father committed suicide. Unable to cope, he tried to drown his pain in alcohol and drugs. Now, fresh out of rehab, Johnny is struggling to deal with an uncertain future in the surreal glare of Palm Springs, where his mother, Karen (Gail O'Grady, "NYPD Blue"), and her new husband, Bob (D.W. Moffett, "For Your Love"), have decided to make a new start.
The lush oasis of Palm Springs, with its golf courses, country clubs and beautiful people, is an unsettling new environment for Johnny. He quickly discovers that this paradise isn't quite what it seems when he meets his next-door neighbors: Cliff (Michael Cassidy, "The O.C."), a handsome high school junior whose considerable charm can't quite hide his disturbing dark side; and Cliff's mother, Tess (Sharon Lawrence, "NYPD Blue"), a former Southern beauty queen with a taste for younger men. Johnny learns that his new neighborhood is consumed by a tragedy when Cliff reveals that his best friend, Eddie, who lived in Johnny's house, recently died under mysterious circumstances.
Eddie's death seems to haunt everyone Johnny meets, especially Greta (Amber Heard, "Alpha Dog," "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane"), a stunning young beauty who fascinates Johnny from the moment he lays eyes on her. Intriguing and secretive, Greta has been on her own since the death of her mother many years before. With her father always away on business, Greta has become a self-sufficient loner. She quickly realizes, however, that Johnny is a kindred soul; someone forced by tough circumstances to grow up too soon. Even though Greta is drawn to Johnny, she refuses to talk about Eddie's death. In his search for answers to the deepening mystery, Johnny turns to another neighbor, Liza (Ellary Porterfield, "The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio"), a gifted but awkward high school student who conducts explosive science experiments in her garage, yet still manages to keep a close eye on everything that happens in the neighborhood. Liza and Johnny soon bond in their pursuit of the truth.
While Johnny adjusts to his new circle of friends, he is surprised by the arrival of Nikki (Tessa Thompson, "Veronica Mars"), a troubled L.A. party girl he met in rehab, whose family has written her off as a lost cause. Nikki is also fighting to stay sober, so Johnny introduces her to his colorful AA sponsor, Jesse Jo (Leslie Jordan, "Will & Grace"), who just happens to be a drag queen. Jesse Jo cares deeply about Johnny's recovery, and he immediately takes Nikki under his wing as well.
It often seems to Johnny that the flamboyant Jesse Jo is the only voice of reason in the strange and artificial atmosphere of Palm Springs. As he searches for answers to the questions surrounding Eddie's death and tries to fit into his new hometown, Johnny is learning that growing up may be the biggest mystery of all.
"Hidden Palms" is a Lionsgate Television production in association with Outerbanks Entertainment with executive producers Kevin Williamson ("Dawson's Creek," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "Scream 1, 2 and 3") and Scott Winant ("Huff," "My So-Called Life").
