TV ROUNDUP: HBO PICKS UP “Agency” / TYRA’S ‘TOP MODEL’ DRAMA
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

HBO has retained the services of “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.” Based on the best-selling books by Alexander McCall Smith. They also ordered thirteen episodes to begin filming in the summer.
“Agency” stars Jill Scott as Precious Ramotswe, the proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana. Anika Noni Rose plays her quirky secretary, Mma Makutsi and Lucian Msamati stars as Ramotswe’s devoted suitor, JLB Matekoni. Actor Idris Elba also makes an appearance in the pilot.
TOP MODELS’ $6 MILLION DAMAGE?

The current models seen on Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model are being accused of trashing the $6 million loft where they stayed for 10 weeks. The girls apparently did $500,000 in damages which Tyra’s production company has yet to pay and additionally skipped out on a $1,500 electric bill. They had promised the landlord any damage would be minor, but word is that was a lie, according to Page Six:
The crew “punched hundreds of holes in the ceiling to hang lighting equipment” and ruined the Brazilian wood floors, forcing the owner to tear them up and install all new flooring when the women moved out three weeks ago.
“These girls not only destroyed the floors, it appears they had food fights. There’s ketchup and coffee splattered all over the landlord’s $20,000 white drapes. There’s lipstick on the walls,” said the insider. “They moved in furniture and made holes all along the walls.”
“A plumber had to come fix the toilet and the water caused $90,000 worth of damage to the electrical store on the first floor,” said our source.
“The landlord is devastated,” the source said. “Three other shows approached him [to use the loft] and he turned them all down for ‘Top Model.’ And a tenant was supposed to move in a week ago, but when the place wasn’t ready, they pulled out. Tyra Banks should be ashamed of herself.”. [READ MORE]
Now that’s messed up!









63 Comments
1.
flatbush vixen
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
never watched the show, but congrats 2 Jill!
ANTM is wacked CW needs 2 pull it! but whats going on with Tyra and all these scandals?!?!
2.
MEP
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
And third..the girls should be ashamed of theirselfs..they should behave like disciplined grown women.
3.
Bri
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
LOVE JILL SCOTT!!!
4.
April Tiwana
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
What the hell? the girls cant appreciate the opprturnity they have???? ungrateful or what lol…
5.
HOLLIEWOOD
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
I’ve never seen the Agency show but it seem like it might be iight… in a Dick Tracy sorta way!
I need me a loft! Tyra wdup! lol
::are U tired of seeing the same ole “so called” artist-just call me the savior! duhn duhn nuhn nuhn! im here to save the day::
6.
BRIAN
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
why should tyra be ashamed of herself?
I’m sure she’s gonna pay for it. she’s not the one that caused the damages, the girls are. lol.
7.
ninabrown
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
i’m so proud of jill
antm-wth? what could they have possibly done? dayum
8.
JuJu
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Damn! If they had me in a $6 million loft…I wouldn’t wanna touch nothinq! lol…but anyways Tyra Banks is actin REAL CHEAP!
9.
Special K
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Get it Jill! I will be watching that show it sound good
And I am so sick of ANTM!
10.
dominica
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
ohh that’s a shame..;looooove jill scott
11.
PROVOST...
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Hmmm…never heard of the first show, but I’m interested to see it.
Them damn girls oughta know better…
12.
Camilla
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Thant’s a shame if that did happen to the loft! I think that Tyra’s production company or whomever draws up the legal documents should put something in the show agreement that the girls sign. Something that states they would be partially if not solely responsible if something happens to the property. That happened to one of the guys on Real World…he ended up paying for everything he damaged! The girls should learn that they have to appreciate the opprotunity they had…such a lack of humility and common courtesy!
13.
Economy Crunch is part of a complete breakfast.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
$6,000,000 dollars?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Somebody tell me how to get to the yams.
14.
TANISHA
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
NOT THE FIRST TIME TYRA SKIPPED ON A BILL!!!!!!!!!! TYRA IS JUST TACKY!!!!!!
15.
miss brown
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
i don’t like the fact that everyone is jumping on Tyra! you only know one side of the story, there could be more to this…she might be suing the girls for the damages….anything could be going on. but stop being so quick to throw people under the bus. But in all honesty, I agree with most of you. This cycle of top model is boring, and i think this should be the last one.
16.
just jenn
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Cant wait for when Agency gets shown over here in the UK in Easter on BBC 1. I love miss Jilly!
WOW them Top Model crazy! Classic example of GGW!
17.
Pam
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
YAYYY JILL.. Im so happy for u..
18.
Leslie
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Jill Scott movie “to begin filming in the summer”… she already filmed it summer of 07. Maybe they will air it in the summer of 2008
19.
Kelsey
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Yeah and TYRA should be ashamed of herself. She and that show has earned her well over 500,000 there is no way she should have walked away from the damages caused by her show, even though they weren’t mature enough to appreciate what they had, its still HER show. 500,000 dollars ain’t much to TYRA or ANTM
20.
Dame
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
I see you Jill keep doing big things.
I haven’t watched ANTM since Danielle won.
21.
Knuck
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
That’s the last time I watched it too @ #20
22.
Double J
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
I am not a Tyra fan but I must sat why should she be ashamed of herself? first of all she did not do that the girls did. And she has the money to pay for the damages. the girls are the ones that should be ashamed of them self acting like they are two year old putting lipstick on the walls.
23.
Still Tragic
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
What do people think coke/heroin infested amazon women do when they get bored? They trash buildings! Those landlord people are naive as hell.
24.
blk dds
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Are those girls that young and immature. Who would want to live in a house where there is food on the drapes, holes in the walls and f’d up hardwood floors. Hundreds of holes for lighting? Some females probably actually “shit where they sleep”. Nasty bitches. I don’t blame Tyra, I blame those nasty ass triflin broads. How dare they mess up something that is not theirs. I feel like for the next ANTM, when they pick the girls, they should go to where they actually lay their heads at night and see how those broads live. I hate when I go over to somebody’s house and when I step in I don’t even want to take my coat off. It’s customary/habit for me in my own home to take my shoes off at the door. Reality TV sucks! Their shoes are hawt though.
Although I’ve never heard of Jill’s new show, congratulations to her.
NOTE TO JILL:
I LOVE YOU, LORD KNOWS I DO, BUT IF YOU COME ANYWHERE NEAR MY BABY IDRIS, IMMA HAVE TO DO YOU HARM.
25.
hustlezhard
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
nothing worse than nasty azz females…….”You keep yo’ body clean, ha?!” - Juvenile
26.
noelle teague
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
so much wasted money its a shame… ;(
27.
noelle teague
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
lmao at above me.. ur stupid
28.
noelle teague
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
thats 25.. sry once again
29.
noelle teague
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
#24 i co sign!
30.
LeAnne
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
I’m confused. The show is about Africa… but where are the African actors? Why not give them a chance? If a show was about caribbean people and no one in the cast was Caribbean–Fuck Yeah! I’d protest!
hairsmystory.com
31.
H-Town Chic***
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
That’s a damn shame!!!! You can’t put young immature girls in no 6 million dollar loft. They can’t appreciate $hit like that!!!! I know Tyra had some words for those young ladies!!!
32.
MISSISSIPPI G_DDAMN
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
This is a major coup for Jill Scott & Co. Hats off to HBO. Let’s try and support this show (if it’s as good as it sounds) and help give it a fighting chance.
It looks like it might be a good replacement for The Wire (RIP) in keeping up with good quality black programming.
33.
SUPERCENT
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Tyra is to blame because she was the one whom made that promise and owner of the company. If she would have used proper contracts that made those WOMEN sign accountablity, they would have treated his prperty better. Also, the filming crews were the ones whom made the most damage. They have been known for destroying property from filming but normally most production companies pay the damages off in full. Tyra have been receiving a very bad name lately. She’s a pretty woman but she smell OF FAKENESS. What goes around comes around, in the entertainment world it comes faster. She better get this person paid cause it is going to cost her more money cause this owner is losing money. There will more than likely a statement issued from her camp either saying its not true or that he was paid. I am sure the owner have video on this.
34.
Keisha
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Oh heck nah!
They need to cancel that show and send all those lil trifling chicks packing!
35.
LaFemmeFab
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Go Jill! shes suppose to be performing in New Orleans for the music festival
36.
MISSISSIPPI G_DDAMN
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Gotta co-sign with #33.
Just like your apartment, if you’re the lease holder YOU are responsible for any damages your roommates/children/family/guests might cause to the unit. You might want to pursue separate legal proceedings against the family/roommates, but you most definitely have to ante up to your landlord.
Damn, doesn’t anybody watch The Peoples Court lol.
37.
a.k.a. new yorker
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
i’m confused. i thought the top model women were WOMEN oder than 18. why are they acting like children? smh
38.
charlee
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
cosign # 20 havnt seen antm since danille won too
39.
simplylovely
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
I could never tear up someone else’s place! Especially if it caused alot of money! I’d be too scared lol. Those girls had to have been high to cause that amount of damage!
40.
GAY BROTHA
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Im a fan of No 1. Ladies Detective Agency book series so I am excited that they are making it an HBo tv series. I agree with the previous poster,we need to support quality black programming.
41.
BrittanyBeauty
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
iTS TYRA’S FAULT BECAUSE THAT’S HER DAMN COMPANY!!!!!!
42.
Emma V's Great-Grandaughter
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
The women need to pay some of the damages but not all because they don’t have the money Tyra has anyway.
43.
Adrian Clyde
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Half of those girls are either fresh out of school or just starting college. They don’t have money to pay for shit. lol
44.
B
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
It’s not Trya’s faught….its the models and her crew.
Tyra is not worried about that loft….but hopefully after hearing this news she will do everything in her power to fix the problem.
45.
B
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
In a legal standpoint….YES, Trya’s company is at faught….but not Trya Banks the person. You guys have to make see that difference.
46.
AWJ12687
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Glad to see Jill after Why Did I Get Married I was sold on her acting. I may watch just cause she is becoming a quick fav actress 4 me.
47.
liva
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Wow, Jill, good look. I’ll check it out.
Those ANTM girls need to be sacked.
Stupid little girls.
They need a lesson.
I say begin with an all new cast.
48.
ALESHA
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
OH NO SEE II LOVE CONCRETE LOOP BUT YALL GOT UR FACTS ALL MESSED UP IT WAS NOT 6 MILLION DOLLARS OF DAMAGE IT WAS 600,000 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE THINK ABOUT IT HOW SOME GIRLS GONNA DO 6 MILL WORTH OF DAMAGE BETTER CHECK UR FACT CHECKER THANK YOU
49.
supyall
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Thats whats up. love love love Jilly from Philly.
That man who owned that apartment clearly never did a production at his place. they are going to mess your stuff up. thats just the nature of the biz. ppl are dirty and messy especially when they know that other ppl have to clean it up. ie, pa’s.
he should have never had those curtains in there in the first place. that was foolish on his part.
hopefully he can get SOME money back. he isnt going to get all of it.
50.
Duvalkido1
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
everybody on here with negative comments about tyra are simply haters. how about you work your ass off for millions and see how reluctant you are to give it up for some shit you didn’t do. get a life with that. on another note, i love jill scott she’s very talented. But look at all the negative comments about tyra and the positive one’s about jill. people, you are hating on tyra because her beauty has been accepted and because she’s rich and famous and not on jill because she is like you, an underdog. Before you say jill is rich and beautiful too, not in the eyes of the majority.
51.
MISSISSIPPI G_DDAMN
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
@#50
I wasn’t gonna respond until you used that tired ass term HATER so now I’ll repeat for your slow ass. Now read carefully:
You must have missed the memo - Just like your apartment, if you’re the lease holder YOU are responsible for any damages your roommates/children/family/guests might cause to the unit. You might want to pursue separate legal proceedings against the family/roommates, but you most definitely have to ante up to your landlord. Tyra’s production company leased the space. IT’S THE LAW.
Better now?
52.
yes
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
he must have never watched antm before, 13 women is gonna get a little messy and white drapes? please!!
53.
JSCENE
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Good for Jill…happy she’s really coming into her own and really getting out there. She’s a very good actress.
As for Tyra’s fake ass, what goes around, comes around; what you put out there, you definitely get back; what goes up, must come down; do it to me, and i’ll do it to you…well, yaw get the picture…..bottom line she’s getting what she deserves (she did them other girls greasy by picking a friend of hers as the winner last season)…..
54.
Bee Fan
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Tyra shouldn’t be blamed for the house problem, she wasn’t the one living in the house anyways, and she shouldn’t be ashamed of herself because anyways everyone knows she is gonna pay the dameage. The girls are the one that should be ashamed of themselves because after they have been given the oportunity to be on the show, they make this problem with the house.
55.
???????
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
the problem is not that she didn’t do it, it just the fact that her company didn’t pay or set rules n stuff like that. None of it is really her fault, tho
56.
JSCENE
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
OBAMA WON MISSISSIPPI…..HE’S ON HIS WAY!
57.
Our history is GOLDEN
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 /
Damn shame Tyra. Though she may not directly be responsible, the show is attached to her name and that doesn’t make her look good. Dang, how the producers gone do the landlord like that? And how them heffas gone mess the crib up like that don’t have no home training. Hmm, top model is becoming played out and it needs to be pulled from television.
58.
joneblaze
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 /
Im looking forward to The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Hope it turns into another good HBO series
59.
brownsugar
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 /
I know this is off the subject… the sandals the models are wearing are HOT! Where can I find a pair?
60.
something aint right
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 /
I’ve read all of the books in the series. I’m a huge fan, i can’t wait till it comes out. It was about time!!!!!!!!!!
61.
MG
Thursday, March 13, 2008 /
This is getting shown over here (UK) during Easter. Trailers look good! CAN’T WAIT!!!!!
62.
Patience
Saturday, March 15, 2008 /
Great for Jill Scott. Regarding ANTM alleged misdeeds, in fairness, whose to say the landlord is not exaggerating the damage to cushion updates that he/she wanted to make for the new owner? If it goes to court, I hope the settlement is reasonable whatever number that comes out to be. The court or negotiators will probably be a bit more reliant on the facts and require proof of the damages.
Iinteresting playing it out in the media. Doing so likely accomplished the goal of making Tyra look bad. After all is said and done, the production company and owner still have to work it out. When production companies use private residences or commercial properties they often have to make restitution for the damage done by hauling their equipment in and out and that done by personnel, intentional and unintentional. Sometimes they don’t agree how much should be ponied up and how quickly the payments should be made. Thanks Page Six for making this seem like an odd occurernce!
63.
truffsaya
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 /
I LOVE Jill Scott & Anika Noni Rose… can’t wait to see the show!
Ummmmmmmmmmm Top Model still on???