Tyra, Television, and the Cost of “Good TV”

To answer your first question: No, that is not correct for AP Style. In AP Style, you do not use italics or bolding for show titles. Instead, you use quotation marks for television shows, movies, books, and song titles.

Here is the edited article. I have adjusted the punctuation, removed first-person commentary (as per standard journalistic AP Style, unless it's an op-ed), corrected the titles, and tightened the phrasing for a professional tone.

2003: The Year Reality TV Set the Screen Ablaze

By Natasha

The year was 2003, and reality television was booming. From makeover and lifestyle programs like "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," "Trading Spaces," and "Sell This House," to social experiments like "Punk'd," "The Simple Life," "The Surreal Life," and "Boy Meets Boy," television pushed boundaries that kept audiences glued to their screens.

Competition shows became the true fan favorites, including "For Love or Money," "Average Joe," "Fame," and "America’s Next Top Model." These programs fostered a connection between viewers and contestants, offering the hope that anyone could achieve stardom, provided they could handle the weekly dose of drama.

The world was a different place 23 years ago. Jokes tolerated in 2003 would likely lead to a comedian being canceled today. Phrases once considered socially acceptable are now frowned upon. While pushing boundaries was once seen as necessary for a show’s success, those same creative choices would now face immediate backlash on social media, with fans demanding accountability or cancellation.

"America’s Next Top Model" (ANTM) debuted in 2003, a concept birthed by supermodel Tyra Banks. Before the show, Banks navigated a modeling industry fraught with prejudice. Through determination and the guidance of her mother, Banks became the first Black woman on the cover of GQ, the first Black woman on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and the first Black woman to secure a major Victoria’s Secret contract.

When the idea for a modeling competition arose, it seemed natural for Banks to create a space for aspiring models—ideally, the safe space she was never afforded. In hindsight, the concept was genius.

However, 17 years after the premiere, a new generation rediscovered the series during the COVID-19 pandemic. The internet quickly highlighted what many now consider unacceptable behavior: contestants forced to pose in blackface, traumatic makeovers, alleged sexual misconduct, and body shaming.

Following the social media backlash, Banks addressed the criticism in the Netflix documentary, "Reality Check: America’s Next Top Model."

While Banks played a significant role in the show's controversial moments, she was also a Black woman in a cutthroat industry trying to prove she could lead a successful franchise. She faced executives who often underestimated her intelligence and capability. While that drive can be motivational, it can also become a recipe for disaster when taken to extremes.

The documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of the most sensitive moments of each cycle. While the film places much of the blame on Banks, she often avoids full accountability in her responses. This raises a pivotal question: Did Banks hold all the power, or was the environment a joint effort between her, production, and network executives?

Furthermore, should judges like Miss J, Mr. Jay, Nigel Barker, and Janice Dickinson be excused because they were "just doing their jobs"? Or does Banks bear the brunt of the blame because she was the face of the brand with a responsibility to protect the contestants?

"Reality Check: America's Next Top Model" is now streaming on Netflix. As the conversation continues, fans are left wondering: Is the world ready for Cycle 25?

* Punctuation: Fixed "comma splices" and moved commas/periods inside the quotation marks.

* Clarity: Removed "In my personal opinion," as the byline already implies the author's persective, and AP Style favors directness.

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