So now we’re down to the final three. Tyra reminds us that “This has been a season of wild firsts” from “walk outs” (Cassandra) to “fake outs” (when she pretended to give Jayla and Nicole the boot). Tyra’s leaving out the truly “wild” firsts, like “black outs” (Lisa poolside and drunk) and “make outs” (Kim and Sarah in the limo).  I can’t believe that this train wreck is finally screeching into the station.

Back at the Savoy, Bre is doing some crazy dancing (in tribute to Lisa?) on the bed, and she and Nicole are really playing nice and cutting loose.  But Nik is fretting because, “the judges think that I’m a dud.” 

Tyra Mail arrives, telling them “True Beauty Comes from a Solid foundation. Be ready at 6 AM.”

The next morning, the girls meet Evil Jay for their big Cover Girl shoot.  The winner’s picture from this session will run as a national ad.  And the girls will also be shooting an ad for Cover Girl True Blend powder foundation, and they’ll be the first to work with the new product.  The photo shoot, Evil Jay tells them, we’ll be about “Girls on the go but their skin is looking gorgeous and flawless because that’s what the True Blend foundation does.”

Naima –the winner from last season—is trotted out to give them some clichéd “advice” about winning. She tells them “think about how much you want to be the cover Girl and really transmit that in your photographs.” It doesn’t help that she’s telling them this in a completely monotone voice.  Is it bad that I don’t even remember this girl winning last time?  The season before (with Eva) was much more fierce and fabulous and flawless.

The girls are given their scripts for the commercial.  Their lines are as follows:

“In this city, it’s better if you don’t blend in.  Except, of course, for when it comes to your skin.  That’s where new true blend Powder foundation comes in.  True Blend picks up your skin undertones, whatever they may be. And duplicates them flawlessly. (Did Evil Jay write this copy?)

Even if nothing else blends in you can always count on True Blend.  New from easy, breezy, beautiful Covergirl.”

Nik is nervous because in the past her commercials have not been great. (Remember the Secret commercial dramafest when Jayla “stole” her secret?)

The girls are directed to pretend to flit about with each other and several male models who are wearing some goofy costumes.  Then they are filmed individually. Bre goes first and chokes on the lines.  Evil Jay comforts her by saying, “on the plus side, you look flawless.”)  But Bre knows that looks alone won’t be enough to win.  She says,” Please let me have a good commercial because if I don’t they’re gonna be sending my black ass home real soon.”  Bre thinks that what Evil Jay was really thinking was “Sayonara bitch, you’re outta here.”

Nicole notices that Bre has flubbed her lines, and that Nik is scared and making such a big deal out of the commercial that she’s psyching herself out.  But when it’s Nik’s turn, she nails it, everyone on set applauds and the dykey director runs up and gives her a big smooch. 

So now Nicole is nervous because Nik did such a great job. So Nicole chokes—and I mean HARD—on her lines. It’s so bad that the director eventually tells her “even if you got the first line right, that would be good.” Ouch!