Miss USA Pageant Continued - Miss USA 2000: Lynnette Cole, Tennessee - Entertainment - http://maxpages.com/beautypageants/miss_usa

Photo above courtesy of Miss Tennessee USA.

UNOFFICIAL COMMENTS: The following are comments made by Jamil Johnson and had no bearing on final night.

Miss USA Viewer Comments contiuned:

Tedshan: Like so many of you, I thought Miss Connecticut would be named Miss USA 2000. I based this on the internet photos. She was less than glamorous on the presentation. This is surprising because she held the title of Miss World USA. I didn't care for Miss Alabama until she stepped onstage. Why wasn't she first runner up? And how did Miss New Hampshire manage that position? How did she make top 10? I also liked Miss Wisconsin. Miss Tennessee was a favorite before the pageant and my clear choice for the crown during it. I agree that some of the changes are not improvements; they cheapen the pageant, make the ladies appear unintelligent, and do not let us get to know the delegates. I also recall the "Texas dynasty" and cannot believe who held that title in recent years. The women in general lack glamor. Will there ever be another delegate chosen as Miss USA who is as beautiful as Christy Fichtner, Michele Royer, and Judi Andersen?

Sjdgd: It doesn't matter how much a dress cost or what designer made it. The pink dresses looked horrible. I thought that maybe on tv it would look good, but it did not. Last years black outfits were precious. The pageant last year was great compared to this year. The only difference is that this year, they picked the right winner.

Nyguytoo: I've been watching the Miss USA/ Miss Universe pageant since I can remember. And when I saw the Miss USA pageant, I was so disappointed by the whole show. I don't even don't know where to start. First the intro of delegates...hate it. The interview competition with the press(????), what was that all about? I don't even get them, they trying to be cute and funny they end looking stupid and the... who want's to be miss usa thing...now that's really being cheesy. Who came up with this idea. I watch the miss usa to see a pageant. The whole show looked so awfully done and the host... don't let me start with him. Is this supposed to be there 2000 show? I hope they don't do this to Miss Universe. I already accepted that they did some changes on it... like the very extinct little sisters. I know the pageant is trying to be now and happening. But I think they are ruining the image of the pageant that I've known for a while. I miss the old pageants with Bob Barker and all. Very disappointed and a really bad miss usa show.

Tcvandeberg: From along time MISS USA watcher and former contestant on the state level, I must say I was very sad to see the way the delegates were introduced, I enjoy seeing the state costumes it shows pride in there state. As for Carson I would can him, people do not watch pageants to see the MC be cute. I also think if you are trying to show how far women have come ask more intelligent questions in the press conference, and in the final two question and answer sessions. Good luck to MISS USA in the MISS Universe pageant.

Nick Rollins, New York: I tuned in right about at the beginning of the evening gown competition, so I didn't get familiar with the candidates until the Top 5. The following comments are almost exactly as written to a group of my friends, cleaned up just slightly, so you can get an unfettered male view of the pageant. Yes, I was trying to be funny, but I was very (even brutally) honest. Also, I'm a reasonably intelligent man, so though I may sound like a caveman in my comments, I'm really not. There's method to my madness. Carson Daly is hosting, and it appears he's trying to look like a Backstreet Boy or something. Evening Gowns, Kansas: Hot like you wouldn't believe; Georgia: Alright; New Hampshire: New Hampshire? In the top 5?? You're kidding, right? Pretty cute. Tennessee: Looks like Fran Drescher. I'm not kidding. Alabama: Cried when she made the Top 5. The contest in the Top 5 is some god-awful take on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." This is just ridiculous. I can't stop watching, though. Hey, I've got a rooting interest as long as Miss NH is in it.Miss New Hampshire is only 19. The color analysts said she "tried to gain some weight before the competition." That's just amazing. The gown Miss NH wore wasn't particularly flattering, but she was extremely attractive. Miss Kansas looked just unbelievable in her gown. I may have overestimated her, but she just looked amazing. Miss Alabama wasn't particularly cute, either. Quite frankly, I don't know the criteria the judges used, but they certainly weren't the same as the ones I used. As I had said before, I'm not a stupid man, and I understand the whole concept of overall appearance, and how the woman carries herself, and poise, and all of that. A woman that cries every time something happens is not poised. Miss TN DID answer the final question the best (basically by default). Weighing all factors, the winner from the Semifinalists should have been Miss Kansas, and the winner from the Finalists should have been Miss NH.

Edward: I am just happy for the winner but I got a little nervous down to the final two because I thought Alabama would place 2nd instead of New Hampshire. I didn't like Christina Aguilera. I thought the evening gown competition was okay. I enjoyed this pageant as much as the one in 1997, infact, I think it's the best since! I think I watched my first Miss USA in 1993 but didn't watch again annually until 1996. So that is just how I viewed it. We also saw beauty queens from 1997 from other major pageants: Connecticut, California, and Oklahoma. Out of these ladies, I thought Connecticut would make the cut, but I agree that interviews just can kill your chances. Out of all the top ten ladies, only Tennessee and Michigan were on my list.

QuquYuyu: This years Miss USA Pageant was a real shock, I couldn't believe the introduction, with the delegates backstage..I miss the Miss USA state costumes, and parade of states. I did think the delegates looked nice in the pink dresses, but they should of just been worn for the top 10, and Press Interview. As for top 10, I was glad 4 of my choices made it, Michigan, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Kansas, but was really disappointed not to see Florida or Connecticut up there, in my opinion, I would have replaced those 2 girls, and tooken out Iowa and Colorado. Overall, I thought the pageant was good, but could have been better. But, I am so glad Miss Tennessee, Lynnette Cole, won Miss USA, I think she will do great at Miss Universe this May. Go Lynnette!

Rabah: Wow, what an outstanding pageant! I had a feeling that Tennessee is gonna make it to the crown. She is adorable and very cute. Also, she is very brilliant and captured everybody's attention, I think. But I have to comment about the Swimsuit competition, and I must say: What on earth was that???? The top ten didn't look good in there swimsuits like last year's top ten. I only liked at that portion of the competition: Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, Colorado, New York. I'm very upset that the last two didn't get high scores in their swimsuits. And, Lou Bega, instead of singing, he was just asked to stand at the corner. What the... !!!!! Instead of having a "living" swimsuit competition, we had a "dead" one, or let me say, dead, with all what that word means!!! I must say, last year's swimsuit competition was 101 percent better!!! I forgot to mention that, I prefered to see the delegates to be presented on stage, not in differrent places in the theater. That was wrong to do. They should have made snapshots for the delegates like last year, and made them to be presented on stage, also, for a longer time!!!! This year the delegates were presented fast. I just had a glimpse of them. This was completely wrong, and something that shouldn't have done at all. But let me comment on the delegate's gowns, they all were great, except for that of Iowa. She seemed that she had a catfight before the competition - her gown looked as it if it really did go into a catfight!!! What bad taste. I liked Alabama, Colorado, and Kansas. Tennesee's gown was excellent, but I didn't like that long tail. Also, instead of asking the delegates hard questions like last year, they made this rubbish, "Who wants to be Miss USA?"!!! This wasn't a good decision to make. What can I say, Donald Trump is out of ideas?! The Miss Universe organization is not putting much effort?! Idon't know. Also, I would like to say, that Iowa and New Hampshire shouldn't have to be placed in the top ten. They weren't much powerful, especially New Hampshire who got the second highest mark in the press conference competition - she didn't deserve that - and ranked higher than Colorado in the swimsuit competition - Colorado had a 101 percent better body than hers. She didn't even deserve to be in the top five. but she did well at the end, I have to admitt it. She did well in "Who wants to be Miss USA." She was confident at that part. But she really didn't do well after that in the final question. Her answer was not right. That wasn't the way to answer. The best answer was that of Tennessee, my favorite. She really deserves the title. Congratulations to her, and may her year be as beautiful as she! good luck to her when she competes in 2000 Miss Universe Pageant in Cyprus. Note: I wanted Texas and Washington to be placed in the top ten, for both looked gorgeous in every part of the competition, especially the swimsuit part - Washington looked better in the swimsuit than any other delegate, including Tennessee!

Charles King: Well, all I have to say is IT'S ABOUT TIME! Tennessee has been at or near the top four out of the last five years and a semifinalist 6 of 7. Lynnette more than made up for her ghastly top five question response in Teen USA. I had Lynnette as one of my top ten (wow, only got three this year) and one of my top three before the pageant began. Once Kansas was out of the picture, she became the prohibitive favorite. She will represent the USA well in Universe. Lynnette is a hard worker and extremely pageant saavy without being borish or plastic. The production this year was better than most, with only a few minor glitches. Carson Daly is so incredible because he doesn't take himself so seriously. Carson is our new Bob Goen and I bet he will be at Universe as well (even though I like Jack Wagner). Leave it to this pageant to have a few surprises, such as Connecticut not making top ten and New Hampshire does. I hope the NH pageant officials figure out what works, because Bridget Vizina represented them well. I did not consider Alabama in top five at all until evening gown -- one of the best gowns ever worn in the pageant and one of the best evening gown competitions in the last 10 years. I think Ali was right in saying that Alabama's gown pretty much carried her in the final phases of the competition. It was also good to see that contestants of African-American descent did better this year than in year's past as four made top ten (Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee and New York). As for Kimmy Pressler - her trips during her final walk pretty much capsulized her year as Miss USA, a year of trips and stumbles.

NGVANITY: Whoever came up with the final question of the night needs to read more current events. That was such an old and unimportant question that it was and insult to women everywhere. Please, next year lets try to stay a little more current.

Jessie Lopez: I do believe that opening number really sucked. Like they should've announce the delegates when they are on stage instead of backstage that certainly is not good. And what's with that Who Wants To Be Miss USA thing? I certainly did not like the fact that the 5 finalists had to answer a certain question and use a life line which in this case their parents for some help. Nonetheless the pageant was great. And out of the top 10 that I picked 5 of them made it.(Tennessee, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, and my fav Alabama). I especially loved Miss Alabama a lot. She did well in every competition including the evening gown in which she won. It was so beautiful. By the time the final question was asked I knew that Alabama choked in that answer. If she would've answered a great answer without any nerves she would have won. But I was really proud that Alabama made it that far. Why did the 10 semi-finalists did not have sashes? The semi-finalists always have their sashes after they complete all 3 competitions. It was not the case in this year's pageant. You have to wear a sash to indicate where you from. Congratulations to the new Miss USA Lynnette Cole.

William, New York: The pageant was O.K. I am happy that Tennessee won.I think they should bring back the sashes for Miss Universe.

Unknown: I was also disappointed when I watched the show, in fact, we have an 11 yr. old daughter who models, and she and I were anticipating a 'fun' night of TV, a girls show. Instead, we found Carson to be rude, obtrusive, and if I wanted to watch I want to be a Millionaire, I'd watch that. I found the questions to be condescending and not at all what someone who is adamant that one promotes education, not just beauty would ask. The only nice part of it was to see the family members, but professional it was not. Carson might be great on TRL, but a host, p-l-e-a-s-e. I won't promote the show, I won't watch it and I definitely won't appreciate Carson and the antics, the songs were way too long, couldn't the singers sing two songs, redundant it was not what was promised nor expected.

Jennifer, Alabama: I really enjoyed the Miss USA Pageant last night. I am very happy because Miss Alabama made it all the way to the top 3. All the ladies did an exceptionally well job.

Stacy Aronoff: I was very disappointed in last nights production. The opening number usually triggers the excitement for the show as the delegates burst out onto stage for the first time of the night, but this time they quickly introduced each delegate as if the show hadn't even begun yet. The fitness video was a disappointment as well. It was a great idea to attract viewers with a performance by Christina Aguilera, but it distracted attention away from the delegates in the video. They barely even showed the video and I'm sure the live audience solely had their eyes on the live Christina. If they wanted Christina Aguilera to perform, they would have been better off not involving the fitness video at all-- it just didn't fit in with her performance. The worst part of the night was the interviews with the top 5 finalists-- which were actually not interviews at all. At the risk of sounding facetious, if I wanted to watch Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, I would have turned to Regis Philbin's show. I wanted to watch the Miss USA Pageant. I thought they would interview the delegates so that the judges and the audience would have an idea of the delegates' personalities to base their decisions on. For the first time in 49 years, I don't think the audience or the judges had the chance to get to know the delegates at all. They usually ask them questions about their lives and their goals. They usually give the delegates a chance to show off their personalities and intelligence. In essence, they used to give the delegates their chance to shine in the spotlight. This time, we barely got the chance to hear their voices. I think the biggest mistake with this years pageant was that the production staff was so involved with finding hip, modern methods to achieve ratings that they lost the purpose of this pageant. The tradition of the pageant was to get to know these women-- how they present themselves physically and verbally on stage. Unfortunately, this did not occur last night. I still think it's a great idea to have popular musical guests and celebrities to attract viewers. I also agree with their intentions to "redefine" the pageant to celebrate the strong, intelligent, modern woman. But, the way it was done this year was neither effective in that way, nor was it entertaining. The intentions of the production staff were good, but I think they need to find a better way to integrate modernization with tradition. I'm definitely going to write to the Miss Universe Organization to express my views and give them some ideas to improve next years pageant. I hope others that feel the same way I do will write to them as well so that next years pageant will be more effective and memorable.

Send in your Miss USA Pageant viewer comments to beauty_pageant99@hotmail.com.

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Jamil's Miss USA Top 10:

Tennessee: Lynnette Cole (Miss USA 200)

Kansas: Tiffany Meyer (Finalist)

Connecticut: Sallie Toussaint

Washington: Jamie Marie Kern

South Carolina: Lisa Rabon (Semi-Finalist)

North Carolina: Portia Lyndell Johnson

Florida: Kristin Ludecke

Georgia: Patti Dunn (Semi-Finalist)

Oklahoma: Amanda Penix

Missouri: Denette Roderick

Well... I did very bad. I only got 4 out of 10. After thinking that I nailed the top 10, I find that I have done bad. I am glad that I picked Miss USA 2000. I am completly suprised that Connecitcut didn't make it. But, her Interview score probally brought her down. I am suprised that the former Miss Teen USA Delegates didn't have a better showing but thats ok. I did good in my eyes.

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Please send in your Miss USA viewer comments to beauty_pageant99@hotmail.com.

Possibilities:

Minnesota: Paige Swenson

Rhode Island: Heidi St. Pierre

West Virginia: Tara Shae Wilson

Utah: Keri Hatfield

New Mexico: Christina Ortega

My possibilites are all bad. Hopefully I will do better at Miss Universe 2000!

UNOFFICIAL COMMENTS: The above are comments made by Jamil Johnson and had no bearing on final night.

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Page Updated Sun Jan 14, 2001 3:33am EST