I have to make a confession: Despite justified criticism, I have been watching Germany’s Next Top Model for 20 years. Is the show a perfidious reality spectacle that mercilessly demonstrates young models? Absolutely! Still, I just can’t get rid of her. Greetings from Stockholm syndrome.
Now the big anniversary relay has started at ProSieben, but unfortunately my biggest criticism remains again this year: The casting consequences for the relay start are the most boring what there is to see on German TV. We have a show that shows us how to do it better.
GNTM castings are the most boring that reality TV has to offer
GNTM is back-and unfortunately in episode 1 the same problem awaits us as every year: the big model casting is simply dying. Instead of starting a bang in Germany’s most successful casting show, we are fed up with pure boredom again.
The same tragedy year after year: Heidi Klum sits on her throne with a frozen smile and lets hundreds of women stick over the catwalk. A short turn, a shaky pose – and the next face is handled. If a candidate is lucky, she may answer a question; Most of the time is not even time for that. The young models come and go, and after ten minutes every face is forgotten again. Drama, emotions, tension? None.
The only constant in these episodes is model mom Heidi Klum. But that alone just doesn’t know how to entertain. Heidi does not make biting comments, she shows no passion or convinces with humor. Instead, we get your soulless Hollywood smile for two hours, behind which every spark is suffocated authenticity. Klum degenerates into a woman without properties; No corners and edges where my interest could get stuck. Even the guest appearance of daughter Leni does not bring an action to the action. Instead of torturing us with a single routine-boring Klum lady, we get a second free. Thanks, ProSieben.
The problem is obvious: If Heidi cannot captivate us and the candidate: just scurry past us like anonymous silhouettes inside, there is simply no emotional bond. We don’t even get tears of disappointment to see the retired models.
Sure-the casting process is a necessary evil for Heidi and ProSieben. After all, you have to check exactly who has the stuff to become Germany’s Next Top Model. But just because the selection process for Heidi is demanding and tiring, must not transport this boredom into the home living room. After all, I don’t sit here to work – I want to be entertained! (Okay, in my case it is also work, but you know what I mean.)
GNTM, give me more fire or dare finally a radical step
Let’s stake: Neither Heidi Klum nor the young models can do it in the first casting consequences, even to ignite the smallest spark of emotion in me. The only thing that interests me in the two -hour show: which models Heidi’s judgment survived and may continue. The whole thing remains so impersonal, that an Excel table would have had the same emotional effect.
Why doesn’t ProSieben do everything to make the first episodes of a new season more gripping? Where’s a bait that keeps me with the bar from second 1? Just gntm, that has been struggling with larger image problems for years, Should it not be allowed to lose new addicts in the first episodes. As a sufferer fan, I know that it becomes more exciting from episode to episode and hold through – but not everyone puts up so much patience for Heidi’s show, which is evident in steadily falling odds.
Let’s make a comparison to DSDS: Here the castings are the absolute highlight of every season because RTL ensures drama, conflicts and emotions. When Dieter Bohlen would be sung singer: brutal comments on the inside, Is that not nice, but is undoubtedly entertaining. In addition, the candidate is underpinned here with emotional stories. One thing that does not succeed in the GNTM castings 20 years later. If the models show would sell as a factual documentary series in which the authentic everyday model is in the foreground, I might be able to forgive boredom. But let’s do nothing: GNTM is not about modeling, but about interpersonal drama.
But how can the problem be solved?
The answer is actually surprisingly simple: The casting process must be more exciting than with DSDS. Give us crazy challenges, sets us a jury that carries real emotions and shows us moments that go beyond Heidi Klums. Or: Simply leave out the Drögen castings and start in episode 1 with the TOP 40. Finally, the show will only be interesting anyway when we discover our very personal favorites in the cast with which we are looking forward to for weeks. GNTM runs on free TV every month. A few fill episodes could really get over.
GNTM is currently running on Prosieben on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:15 p.m. All of the episodes that appear can be streamed at Joyn.