America's 22nd Next Top Model will be its last. After an aggressive number of cycles and 12 years on the air, the fashion-focused reality competition will air its final episode this fall.
Creator and host Tyra Banks signaled the news Wednesday, tweeting, "Thinking #ANTM22 should be our last cycle. I truly believe it's time. May your pics be forever fierce. Keep on Smizing!" The CW confirmed the news shortly afterward.
"Top Model" has held a unique distinction on the TV dial. It moved over to The CW's inaugural season in 2006 from UPN — and it has been the last lingering series from the now-defunct network for some time. Produced by The Tyra Banks Co. — formerly Bankable Productions — the series is responsible for launching the career of several models and actresses. Adrianne Curry, YaYa DaCosta and Analeigh Tipton are all "Top Model" graduates.
"'America's Next Top Model' was a successful franchise for two networks," said CW President Mark Pedowitz, "first at UPN and then The CW, and it became not just a ratings hit, but a global pop-culture phenomenon. I want to thank Tyra and Ken for all their years of success in establishing a show that was not just popular in the US, but all across the world."
The show has also been a pretty stable performer for the CW, airing late-summer/early-fall on Friday nights of late. The current season is averaging a 0.6 rating among adults 18 to 49 and 1.7 million viewers. It's also the only hour-long reality entry in The CW's relatively thin unscripted stable. The network has recently focused that arena on comedic-skewing entries like "Penn and Teller" and the revival of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Banks is also suffering no shortage of work at the moment. Her syndicated panel talk show "FABLife," on which she stars and executive produces, has gotten off to a strong start with daytime audiences.
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