...and, yes, America's Next Top Model.

While I'm getting things off my chest, I might as well come clean about my not-so-secret guilty pleasure that is America's Next Top Model, which I've been watching religiously since the first season - er, "cycle". (They don't call them seasons, since the series airs twice a year, but does anyone else find the choice of "cycle" a little, um, connotationally unfortunate?)

Anyway, the show has been surprisingly, inexplicably fantastic since its inception - until this season. (I'm just gonna call it a season, okay?) Sure, there's been the lovely, seizure-cursed Rebecca who collapsed during judging, and socially-handicapped wrestler Michelle with the flesh-eating bacteria scare, but overall this season's cast has been remarkably unremarkable, and by far the least interesting and charismatic yet (not to mention the most generally inept). Although one nice treat has been the weekly 45-second "My Life As A CoverGirl" spots (online under "Extras") featuring last season's thoroughly adorable winner Eva, but then again they just prove to remind us how much better last season was.

However, the one standout who's clearly (if quietly) emerged this season is the eclectically exotic Naima, and at this point I think/hope there's no way she can't win. (She's already won the online poll five weeks running.) But Brittany definitely has the most personality, even if she is a somewhat disturbingly freakish Janice Dickenson clone.

Anyway, ANTM airs Wednesdays at 8pm (7pm CST) opposite Lost, but repeats Fridays at 7pm opposite practically nothing.

P.S.: FYI, you can now get an 80-hour TiVo for just $99 - $200 off! (Submit my e-mail address as a referral when you activate it and I'll get TiVo points!) There are also lots of TiVo deals at Amazon.com.