Tyra Takes New York

Wed., Jun. 6, 2007 4:47 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

America's Next Top Model might soon be hitting Broadway.

While producers of The Tyra Banks Show confirmed Wednesday that the supermodel's daytime chatfest will be shooting its third season in New York, speculation has begun as to whether the CW's catwalk competition will be setting up shop in the Big Apple, as well.

"I'm thrilled to be moving to New York," said Banks, a native Los Angeleno whose first apartment once she became a model was in NYC. "After spending some time in the city this past spring, I knew the energy and rhythm of the city would be great for the show. I feel connected and completely at home."

Telepictures Productions, which has also renewed Tyra for a fourth season, was said to have been eyeing a change of venue would give a jolt to the program, providing access to a different pool of guests.

"Moving the talk show to New York provides a great opportunity to meet all kinds of people and keep sharing the message of empowerment with everyone everywhere," Banks said. "The excitement of New York City will translate to the show each and every day as we continue to face compelling issues…head on."

Tyra, which is also produced by Bankable Productions and Handprint Entertainment, will tape at Chelsea Television Studios, still under the guidance of its current batch of Los Angeles-based executive producers. The show's third season premeries Sept. 10.

With her show currently nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Talk Show and Talk Show Host, Banks' brand of real-woman issues, done Tyra-style—"Tyra Cleans Out Her Closet" day, "Dressing Sexy at Any Size," "Church of Thin," etc.—has helped the former Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated poser further burnish her image as one of those down-to-earth hotties.

Not to mention it helps balance out the ultimately skin-deep judging process on Top Model, which already seems tailor-made for a relocation to the fashion-savvy magazine mecca that is New York.

The CW has declined to comment on the relocation speculation.

The eighth cycle of the hit CW series wrapped up with 20-year-old Jaslene Gonzalez winning the multifaceted grand prize—a Seventeen cover and six-page photo spread, representation from Elite Model Management and a $100,000 CoverGirl contract.

The seventh and eighth seasons of the catty yet utterly addictive Top Model were the top-rated shows on the freshman CW this past season, averaging 5.4 million and 5.5 million viewers apiece, including the 6.4 million who tuned in to see Jaslene's dream come true.