The Top 10 Reality Judges of 2010
We pretend reality-show judging is an easy job, but it's clearly difficult to condemn a sloppy hemline, herald an amuse bouche, and bemoan "pitchiness" with just the right panache. At Movieline, we appreciate the strife of reality's best magistrates, and we think it's time the best of the bunch were recognized in dignified listicle form. Join us for the definitive list of 2010's top reality judges.
10. Tyra Banks, America's Next Top Model
America's most gifted smizer understands the subtle, cheek-centric differences between "commercial," "editorial," and "high fashion" models. Better yet, she's one of the few reality judges who garners the complete trust of her subjects.
9. Iman, The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection
Though Isaac Mizrahi is the more determinedly articulate member of The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection's panel, Iman is the undisputed sorceress. I'll allow this clip to explain.
8. Merle Ginsberg, RuPaul's Drag Race
Ginsberg has the unenviable task of competing on the Drag Race panel with RuPaul, whose word is the lord's, and Santino Rice, whose snark and sneer are torpedoes. But somehow she thrives in this ecosystem, ably pinpointing the drag queens' vulnerabilities, hang-ups, and general fabulousness.
7. Carrie Ann Inaba, Dancing with the Stars
Meanwhile on the considerably less cool Dancing with the Stars, Inaba has the unenviable task of counterbalancing Len Goodman, who remains stodgy as ever, and Bruno Tonioli, who is a zoo animal. Within an average 20-second critique, she points out issues of technique, flair, and physicality without becoming self-serious. Word for word, she might be the most efficient judge on reality TV.
6. Nigel Lythgoe, So You Think You Can Dance
TV's most positive reality-competition series has a lovable grandmaster in Nigel Lythgoe, who is at his best when he's defending great contestants who aren't earning enough viewer votes from week to week. The onetime dancer (who studied "classical ballet, modern jazz, ballroom, character, classical Greek and National dance") understands both talent and star quality, and his understanding lends urgency to SYTYCD.
Pages: 1 2
Subscribe to the new Movieline on YouTube
Comments
I have to say that this list just tickles me--that's how spot-on it is! Thank you most for not overlooking the endlessly entertaining RuPaul's Drag Race!
I watch ALL the shows represented and, while I may have placed them slightly differently on the list, I agree that Ben Folds does a marvelous job of critiquing and his sense of humor cracked me UP in the finale of The Sing-Off.