Miss America: Realty Check

[LeslieAGD]

In the Top 8, my favorites were Indiana, Washington, Virginia, and Michigan (home state bias)...so of course I was very happy to see that they were voted the top four ladies.

I am a little surprised that Michigan won, to be honest, but I think she did best in swim suit and had a very strong answer in the question round. Her evening gown was definitely "modern" but a little over the top in my opinion, and I thought she was one of the weaker singers.

I really believed Washington was going to be in the top spot.

[ZTAMich]

Miss Michigan went to a HS near where my husband went. Small world. He thought she was awesome. Me? Not so much!! Poor thing went first for talent and she wasn't as good as those that followed her. At 19, I thought her dress was a little much for her, even in a pageant.

I loved when a host (ah I can't remember who!) was backstage with some ladies who did not continue on and he asked "So what's it like to be out there in a bathing suit & high heels?" and Miss CT (I think) said "Well I don't know I'm sitting here with you!" Too funny.

[SoCalGirl]

What was up with the host? He kept stumbling over his words.

[LPIDelta]

Hmmm...I feel bad that every time Miss Michigan will look at her crowning photos, she'll be wearing that ugly, ill-fitting dress. That was like the dress that won Miss USA like two or three years ago--to me, that is no longer a modern look. I also wish that someone older than 19 would have won, but I guess they are trying to make the pageant "younger" so it makes sense. But, Miss Michigan nailed the question, so I am sure that won it for her.

It was interesting that Miss Indiana was in the "Always a Bridesmaid" group, and she was first runner up! I really do think she or Miss Washington should have been the winner. Of course, I was rooting for Wisconsin too, who seemed so real.

Of course, I think the judges got it wrong from the beginning because they didn't chose Utah to continue. If she would have won, that would have definitely changed the image of the pageant!

[ZTAngel]

Miss Michigan's voice hurt my ears. I read that she wants to become a Broadway star and I was like, "Noooooo!!!!!!!!" Miss California had a pretty good voice. Not as strong as one of the Miss America's from a few years ago. Katie Harman maybe? I remember being blown away by her voice.

I am not being bias here because i am from California , but I really thought Miss California did a better showing than Miss Michgan. Of course Miss Michigan had a better answer on her q & a portion ,but her talent seemed a bit off ( though i love that song). Miss California ,Well let me say, i would LOVE to look like her in a bathing suit. I thought she was the one who blew everyone away in bathing suit. Killer Abs!

[LeslieAGD]

Originally Posted by LPIDelta

Of course, I think the judges got it wrong from the beginning because they didn't chose Utah to continue. If she would have won, that would have definitely changed the image of the pageant!

I didn't care for Miss Utah at all.

Naturally the boy's ecstatic that Miss Michigan won.

I absolutely loved Miss Washington. If not the top spot, surely she should have done better than Miss Indiana. I didn't care too much for Miss Washington in Episode 1 of Reality Check, but she grew on me...and I really really wanted her to win. She did great, though. How you like them apples? LOL

[LegallyBrunette]

I completely forgot to watch the pageant after avidly following "Reality Check." Thanks for all the updates on here a.e.B.O.T.!

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I was never so glad to see a Miss Florida go! Not cute.

I would have bet money on Miss Wisconsin. I loved her so much and it's not her fault that the violin wasn't pitch perfect...remember that they did talent at random, which isn't right because people really do need time to keep their instruments (vocal, body, or actual) warmed up. Her dress was amazing and she just did it for me.

Am I the only person not happy that they were calling out girls who DIDN'T make it?! That's disrespectful in my opinion-like-"Hey! Look at this loser over here as she walks away trying not to cry! And now I'm going to hand her a doughnut and be like oh now you can let yourself go and force her to laugh while I rub salt in her wounds with inappropriate jokes!"

Michigan looks like she has really thin hair. Not a good look, plus it was another blonde...her version of "Over The Rainbow" aimed and missed the rainbow and landed on the ground. A lot of these "talents" seemed like they were put together just for the sake of a pageant.

ETA: the girl who did that whack jazz performance made me want to shoot myself. Smiling and kicking is not a talent, show your true abilities as a dancer and not just the cute bits you picked up in time for the competition. And the song didn't help.

I forgot to ask in my previous post...

What did you guys think of the telecast? I could have done without "Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino" 92308423478612 times, but the program as a whole drew my attention for the whole 2 hours.

I like that it's only 2 hours now. I know MA telecasts of years past dragged on to three, and that's just too much. The manner in which the contestants were eliminated were also pretty neat. I guess I'm kind of indifferent to the swimsuit phase. I know they were trying to stay away from the robotic swimsuit walk, but I suppose it wasn't that bad. Talent was my favorite. The girls didn't know which order they'll be performing and at the same time didn't know if they've been eliminated. I LOL-ed when Georgia was kicked off.

Before we knew it, the two hours was up and a new Miss America was crowned. I really do hope they keep this same format (Reality Check included) next year.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by OTW

Before we knew it, the two hours was up and a new Miss America was crowned. I really do hope they keep this same format (Reality Check included) next year.

I agree. Held my interest the whole time and I really enjoyed learning more about some of the women during the Reality Check program (although I think they could have spread the love a little more...it seemed like once they picked their 10 or so ladies, those were the only ones we learned anything about).

All told, I hope it was successful for the pageant. Interestingly, CMT showed last year's pageant this morning....and now TLC is replaying last night's pageant again.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

I think Miss America was nice and short, it was a good length, but it was all too rushed. Especially during the question section. It didn't give people enough time to perform and truly answer. I feel they should of cut some of the Clinton time to fix that, but whatever. I think Miss michigan won because of high marks on the swimsuit side. Then she sang first which gave her a boost in regards to, she didnt have to be the 10th person to sing in a row. I really wanted Miss Washington, and I thought that she would of really been this new change for them. I still love her opener, "how bout them apples." I wasn't the biggest fan of Miss Utah, because she made it all too much a joke. She didn't take it seriously. Now, other girls were funny and goofy, but they genuinely wanted to be there, or atleast made it seem that way. Miss Utah didn't. I still think Miss Virginia is like freaking HOT!!!

[UofISigKap]

I just figured it out! Miss Indiana looked so familiar to me and I couldn't figure out why. For Days of Our Lives fans...doesn't she look like the girl who played Chloe?

[Fleur de Lis]

My friends and I were SHOCKED that Miss Michigan won. She's definitely cute, but they said at the beginning "everyone will be scored by what happens from now on." Ugly dress, bad singing, I just don't get it. I was impressed by Indiana, California, and Washington's talents, and I thought Miss Wisconsin should win just because her talent was amazing (and went to Vanderbilt! Gave me someone new to cheer for when Miss Tennessee was eliminated) I really was rooting for Washington because I thought she could give Miss America a new image - Miss Michigan is just more of the same to me.