VH1 announced Thursday that the original host of “America’s Next Top Model” is returning to her duties after a one-season absence.
“Tyra has always been the heart and soul of the franchise and her absence was deeply felt by our fiercely loyal fans who missed their Queen of the Smize,” executive producer Ken Mok said in a press release.
“America’s Next Top Model” (or “ANTM” as it is sometimes called) was canceled by the CW after 20 seasons in Oct. 2015. It was revived over on VH1, but with British pop singer Ora as the host. Banks stayed on as an executive producer.
“We’d like to thank Rita Ora for being a great partner and total pro,” Mok continued. “She infused this new iteration of ‘ANTM’ with passion and creativity and we wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors.”
Banks and Mok will also be executive producers in the upcoming season.
“I’m overwhelmed and humbled by the intensity of the ‘ANTM’ fan base whose deep affection for the show led me to have a change of heart,” Banks said. “After giving it a lot of thought, I realized that remaining behind the camera wasn’t enough because ‘ANTM’ is woven into my DNA.”
Despite not hosting “ANTM,” Banks has been keeping busy. She launched a talk show, “FABLife” in 2015, but exited after two months to focus on her cosmetics line. The show wasn’t picked up for a second season. She also signed on as a board room advisor for the new “Celebrity Apprentice,” but distanced herself later.
7 Facts About VH1's 'Pop-Up Video' on Its 20th Anniversary (Videos)
It seemed like too much work at first.
Woody Thompson and Tad Lowe pitched 10 ideas to VH1, but when they got to the "Pop Up Video" idea of putting factoids about each video on screen, network executives exclaimed, "“Wait, you’re going to have people read TV?”
Lionel Richie's "Hello" is the greatest pop-up video ever.
Thompson and Lowe are most proud of their efforts on Lionel Richie's "Hello," which features a horrific sculpture of the singer. They talked to the real sculptor for the episode: "They only had the one head, and they only saw it the day of the shoot, and it looked like Patrick Ewing, this horrific sculpture," the producers shared with People. "But they still used it."
Not every artist was happy with the show.
Famously, Billy Joel made VH1 pull an episode featuring his "Keeping the Faith" music video because their allegation that Christie Brinkley "did not keep the faith" in their marriage was causing their daughter stress and bullying at school.
They brought it back.
VH1 ordered new episodes of "Pop Up Video" in 2011, using the old style of pop-up factoids during music videos from artists like Kesha. Season 1 consisted of 60 episodes, and it went on to a second season in 2012.
Oh yes, there were copycats.
The popularity of "Pop-Up Video" spawned countless knockoffs and imitators. In one example, Disney Channel re-released their original movies like "High School Musical," calling them the "What's What Edition."
It's not all that original.
Certainly, "Pop-Up Video's" basic idea of commenting on a video as it's playing isn't all that unique. "Mystery Science Theater 3000," which pokes fun of B-movies, debuted in 1988, and VH1's sister station MTV's "Beavis and Butthead," featuring the two animated assholes giving their opinion of music videos, premiered in 1993.
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Alanis Morissette and TLC were responsible for the network greenlight, but Billy Joel didn’t like it
It seemed like too much work at first.
Woody Thompson and Tad Lowe pitched 10 ideas to VH1, but when they got to the "Pop Up Video" idea of putting factoids about each video on screen, network executives exclaimed, "“Wait, you’re going to have people read TV?”
