America’s Next Top Model: Renewed for Season 19

The CW has handed out their first renewal of the 2012-13 season. No, it’s not their biggest ratings draw — The Vampire Diaries. They’ve agreed to bring back their longest-running series, America’s Next Top Model, for season 19.

Cycle 18 of ANTM is set to kick off next week and is a “British Invasion” themed run. Last fall’s cycle was a “all-star” edition and garnered the show’s worst ratings to date. Cycle 17 garnered a 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 1.84 million viewers. Year-to-year, that was down by 39% in the demo and 26% in viewers.

That’s not stopping Tyra Banks and company from making tweaks to their typical format however. Season 19 will be a college edition. The network’s only successful reality series, ANTM was given an early renewal so that casting could get underway via campuses across the country. The college edition of ANTM is expected to debut in the fall.

America’s Next Top Model is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment, in association with Bankable Productions. Ken Mok and Laura Feust are the executive producers. ANTM was created by Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris.

UPDATE: Here’s the press release regarding the upcoming casting sessions:

THE CW NETWORK’S HIT SERIES “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL” HOLDS OPEN CASTING CALLS FOR CYCLE 19, “THE COLLEGE EDITION,” IN CITIES ACROSS THE U.S.

February 23, 2012 (Burbank, California) – Open casting calls for The CW’s AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL are currently being held in select cities across the country. Cycle 19 is the “college edition” of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, where casting directors are looking everywhere from Ivy League campuses to party schools, from pre-med to pre-beautician, and from Big Ten to Pac Ten for girls from all walks of life, all parts of the nation, and all types of continuing education who will be invited to show their school spirit – and their modeling chops – to Tyra and the judges. The girls will vie for a prize package that will launch their modeling careers as well as help them continue to earn their degree.

Tyra Banks has just graduated from the Owner President Management Program of Harvard Business School and was inspired to look for model potential among women attending all types of further schooling. Casting directors are looking for females, ages 18 to 27, of diverse backgrounds, shapes, sizes and with a minimum height requirement of 5’7″ tall.

Open Call Cities:

Friday, February 24

3:00pm (pre-registration)
Ramar Communications
9800 University
Lubbock, TX 70423

5:00pm
Jefferson Pointe Mall
4110 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Saturday, February 25

10:00am
Jefferson Pointe Mall
4110 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46804

12:00pm
Bridal Elegance
205 W. Etna Rd.
Ottawa, IL 61350

12:00pm
WPXT-TV
4 Ledgeview Drive
Westbrook, ME 04091

12:00pm
Polaris Fashion Place
Lower level by Saks
1500 Polaris Parkway
Columbus, OH 43240

Sunday, February 26

1:00pm (casting call)
Holiday Inn Park Plaza
3201 Loop 289 South
Lubbock, TX 79423

Thursday, March 1

3:00pm
Seminole Grand Apartments
1505 West Thorpe
Tallahassee, FL 32303

5:00pm
The Grocery Tree
University Plaza
4710 Vestal Parkway East
Vestal, NY 13850

Friday, March 2

2:00pm
La Roche College
Zappala College Center
9000 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

4:00pm
G Entertainment
8805 Ohio River Rd.
Wheelersburg, OH 45694

Saturday, March 3

9:00am
Virginia College of Jackson
5360 1-55N
Jackson, MS 39211

9:00am
Michiana Beauty College
7321 Heritage Square Drive, Suite 160
Granger, IN 46530

9:00am
Savannah Mall
14045 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA 31419

9:00am
Salvation Army Kroc Center
1833 Broad Street
Augusta, GA 30904

10:00am
Peachtree Mall
3131 Manchester Expressway
Columbus, GA 31909

11:00am
City Place
700 South Rosemary Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

12:00pm
King of Hearts and Bridal Shop
1707 Hudson Lane
Monroe, LA 71201

1:00pm
Prien Lake Mall
496 W. Prien Lake Mall
Lake Charles, LA 70601

1:00pm
Music City Hall
4101 East 42nd
Odessa, TX 79762

Monday, March 5

9:00am
Northern Quest Casino and Resort
100 North Hayford Rd.
Airway Heights, WA 99001

Thursday, March 8

2:00pm
Shoppes at Montage
Shoppes Blvd
Moosic, PA 18507

3:00pm
Euphoria Institute of Beauty, Arts & Sciences
A Division of Lincoln Technical Institute
Lincoln Mall
622 George Washington Highway
Lincoln, RI 02865

6:00pm
NW Iowa Community College
603 W. Park Street
Sheldon, IA 51201

Friday, March 9

8:00am
Fashion Careers College
1923 Morena Blvd
San Diego, CA 92110

10:00am
Mark Dodge
3118 Government Street
Mobile, AL 36606

1:00pm
The Shoppes at Eastchase
7274 Eastchase Parkway
Montgomery, AL 36117

5:00pm
Lake Forest Mall
701 Russell Avenue
Gaitherburg, MD 20877

Saturday, March 10

10:00am
Westfield Franklin Park (Food Court)
5001 Monroe Street
Toledo, OH 43623

10:00am Frontier Mall

1400 Dell Range Blvd.
Cheyenne, WY 82009

10:00am
Village Mall
1627 Opelika Rd.
Auburn, AL 36830

10:00am
The Fashion Center @ Pentagon City
1100 South Hayes Street
Arlington, VA 22202

12:00pm
Virginia College
5124 S. Peorla Ave
Tulsa, OK 74105

12:00pm
Sikes Senter Mall
3111 Midwestern Parkway
Wichita Falls, TX 76308

12:00pm
Nebraska Furniture Mart/Mrs. B’s
7312 Jones Circle
Omaha, NE 68114

TBD time
Westfield Vancouver
8700 NE Vancouver Mall Drive
Vancouver, WA 98662

Sunday, March 11

9:00am
Aveda Institute
8188 Park Lane
Dallas, TX 75231

* Locations and times subject to change. Please visit www.cwtv.com for up-to-date casting information, applications, as well as additional open calls sponsored by local CW Affiliates.

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions. The executive producers are Ken Mok (“Making The Band”) and Laura Fuest. The series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris.

What do you think? Do you think ANTM should have been renewed? Are you curious to see the college edition of the show?