The Tyra Banks Show

The Tyra Banks Show

Genre	Talk show
Creator(s)	Tyra Banks
Starring	Tyra Banks
Opening theme	Just For Today by India.Arie
Country of origin	United States
Production
Executive producer(s)	Tyra Banks Benny Medina Kerrie Moriarty John Redmann
Running time	60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Syndicated by Warner Bros.
Original run	September 12, 2005 – present
Links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

The Tyra Banks Show is an American daytime talk show hosted by supermodel and America's Next Top Model creator Tyra Banks. It premiered on September 12, 2005 and is filmed in front of a live audience at CBS Television City in Los Angeles. While the show covers a variety of topics, there is a significant focus on current issues facing women. The show is aired in many countries, and is also available on XM Satellite Radio's Take Five channel in both the United States and Canada. As of December 18, the show was renewed another two seasons through the 2008-09 season.

The Tyra Banks Show has been nominated for several Daytime Emmy Awards including Oustanding Talk Show and Outstanding Talk Show Host.

[edit] Notable Episodes

In the show's first month on-air, a notable episode featured Banks undergoing a sonogram to prove that her breasts are real.

In February 2007, Tyra infamously groped Katharine McPhee's breasts to see if she had implants. (Video of Tyra Banks grabbing McPhee's breasts) She asked for permission before the examination.^[1]

In March 2006, Banks and her camera crew went undercover at a strip club in an attempt to understand the men who patronize these clubs. She was set to perform but opted out right before her scheduled performance.

In November 2005, Banks went undercover as a 450-pound woman to show people the experience of weight discrimination; she later termed the reactions of people on the street as well as those of three prearranged blind dates "the most heartbreaking days of her life". Another episode depicted Banks's undergoing the make-up and prosthetics to change her appearance into a man for an undercover assignment.

Other themes of episodes have included an interview with white and black women being treated differently and subsequent shows have dealt with similarly racially charged issues.

In May 2006, Banks went to a maximum security prison to meet some of the female inmates to learn about their experiences. As a visitor, she was subjected to all tests and searches that prisoners undergo, including a public and invasive strip search. On the show, she said it was "one of the hardest things she had ever had to go through." Banks also interviewed prisoners who had been released during her day at the prison.

In November 2006, Banks put on a "panty party" show in which she stripped down to her bra and underwear, after which the entire audience took off their robes and revealed their own lingerie. 1

In November 2006, Banks held her second annual Thick 'n Sexy Top Model search for plus size models. Maggie Brown won the contest that included a year contract with Wilhelmina Models, a shopping spree at Lane Bryant and a spread in Bombshell Magazine.

Banks expressed her ardent enthusiasm for the health and beauty benefits of Vaseline in a spoof in September 2006.^[2]

In an episode that aired on November 8, 2005 Banks confronted supermodel Naomi Campbell in an effort to publicly end their 15-year feud. Banks revealed that she was afraid of Naomi and that she shook with fear when they were in the same room. Banks asked the studio audience to leave for the interview so she could face Naomi one-on-one. The pair successfully reconciled.

In one episode, Banks interviewed several workers from a legal brothel, and showed real footage of one of these prostitutes lying in bed with a client discussing price options.

Another notable show featured Banks confronting members of Reverend Fred Phelps's anti-gay family to explore the issue of homophobia.

When tabloids released a few photographs of Tyra "40 pounds heavier in 2 months", she appeared on the show wearing the same bathing suit as in the photograph and defended that she was not fat (also stating that there is nothing wrong with fat). She ended by saying "Kiss My Fat Ass", in reply to those who criticize women about their weight.

On February 19, 2007 Tyra revealed the photos shot in the Bahamas to celebrate her milestone of being the first black woman to appear the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in 1997.

Mikalah Gordon, who placed eleventh on American Idol's fourth season, acts as a regular correspondent for the show and has appeared in six episodes .

The second season of Banks's show started on September 11,2006 and averaged just over two million viewers per episode.^{[citation needed]}

In the episode where Tyra underwent a public breast sonogram, she verified that her breasts are natural and removed her bra from under a t-shirt to reinforce this point.

The Soup on E! consistently airs clips of the show depicting her apparent narcissism and outrageous stunts performed by her on the show.