The Nightly – The ANTM Documentary w/ Oscar Montoya
Host: Hatch Podcasts
Date: February 20, 2026
Special Guest: Oscar Montoya
Episode Overview
In this cozy, late-night episode of The Nightly, hosts Krista, Kristen, and Sophia invite the actor, comedian, and pop culture enthusiast Oscar Montoya into the “Hatch Pillow Fort.” Their main theme: a deep, gossipy dive into the new Netflix documentary about America's Next Top Model (ANTM)—the show's formative influence, its problematic legacy, and Tyra Banks' enduring (and eccentric) pop culture presence. Along the way, conversation orbits around favorite bedtime routines, nostalgia for early-2000s television, Tyra’s wild business ventures, and more.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Bedtime Routines & Book Picks
[01:05] – [06:12]
- The panel opens with a discussion on sleep habits. Oscar reveals he's a “big reader in bed,” focusing on clearing out long-unread books and donating them, currently tackling a Star Wars “Legends” novel from his youth.
- Sophia shares her decision to stop reading a book she didn’t enjoy (The Wilderness), switching to a nonfiction book about a famous art thief who stole art to enjoy it at home.
- “I was like, I'm just not reading because I have this book I'm not enjoying. … I need to just move on.” – Sophia [01:34]
- Discussion of childhood nostalgia books—Krista mentions wanting to try The Babysitter’s Club as an adult.
Scroll For You: The ANTM Documentary
[06:31] – [18:16]
- Sophia introduces the main segment, “Scroll For You,” to highlight clips from the newly released Netflix ANTM documentary.
- The group shares their emotional response to Ms. J. Alexander’s health incident and apparent estrangement from Tyra Banks.
- “Tyra sent her a text, and I was like, oh my God. … It really, like, I felt a deep well of sadness.” – Sophia [08:17]
- Oscar, a huge ANTM fan, watched all three parts in one day and reflects on how deeply formative and problematic the show was upon rewatch:
- “You know, I grew up in the toxic 2000s...it was very much such a huge part of me. ... We would have Zoom watches...and we all realized, like, oh, this is not. This is different than I remember.” – Oscar [09:40]
- The group unpacks how, as kids, they saw the show’s drama as entertainment, only to recognize its cruelty in hindsight.
- “Did you think, wow, Tyra’s really mean and this is a mess and they're really tearing down young women on this show, or did you just think...this is fun drama?” – Krista [10:26]
- They discuss Tyra’s framing of the show as “empowering” versus the retroactively obvious trauma and harm, like the portrayal of plus-size models and controversial photo shoots:
- “She was saying, oh, you know, she's too fat. … Tyra was really defending her...I remember watching that, and really, like, it worming its way into my brain of like, oh, this show is good. It's good for women.” – Oscar [11:39]
- The group critiques “veneer activism” and the misguided, sometimes exploitative segments (e.g., models posing as unhoused people).
- Discussion of Tyra Banks’ enduring pop culture impact, her business ventures (like the ill-fated SMiZE Cream and the ModelLand attraction), and her eccentric public persona.
- “But the thing that I’ll say about me is that I’m a huge Tyra Banks fan in the sense of: her weird business decisions she’s done is, like, so flabbergasting.” – Oscar [13:39]
- “She has, like, stores…You can’t get it in the U.S at all.” – Oscar [14:13] (on SMiZE Cream)
- Oscar reveals he read Tyra’s ModelLand novel on Facebook Live during the pandemic: “…500 pages. It’s huge.” [15:32]
- The group delights in Tyra’s recent viral absurdities (like her claim about having a “special gift” to immediately taste food on her tongue).
- “She says, I have a special gift—where as soon as a food touches my tongue, I can taste it.” – Oscar [15:54]
- They reflect on the whiplash between Tyra's roles as a stern reality judge and Oprah-like talk show host:
- “You cannot host America's Next Top Model where all you're doing is ridiculing women and then host a talk show where you're trying to be Oprah and cry and hug people.” – Krista [16:43]
- Oscar’s favorite Tyra talk show memory: color-coded shirts for audience members by sexuality.
- “She separated the audience by sexual preference and different colored T-shirts.... And the ‘in-between’ in the front Tyra section.” – Oscar [17:10]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Oscar on the show's legacy:
“Watching it now, it’s just insanely formative … It’s interesting what kind of veneer activism was wearing back in the day.” [12:26] - Krista on Tyra’s duality:
“You cannot host America’s Next Top Model where all you’re doing is ridiculing women and then host a talk show where you’re trying to be Oprah. ... You are so not trustworthy as a compassionate person.” [16:43] - Oscar on Tyra’s eccentric powers:
“She says, I have a special gift where as soon as a food touches my tongue, I can taste it.” [15:54]
Other Highlights
Oscar’s Recommendations & Plugs
[18:32] – [19:28]
- Oscar shares his projects:
- Podcast: Drag Her (Drag Race recap podcast)
- Podcast: Eurovangelists (Eurovision Song Contest podcast)
- Instagram: @ozzymo
Pillow Fort “Goodnight”
[19:34] – [20:22]
- Oscar gives a sweet shout-out “goodnight” to his nail tech, Elena:
- “She’s just the sweetest human being and her story is incredible. So, Elena, have a good night.” – Oscar [20:22]
Important Segment Timestamps
- Bedtime routines & reading chat: [01:05] – [06:12]
- Sophia introduces ANTM doc segment: [06:31]
- Discussion: ANTM’s problematic legacy & Tyra Banks: [07:10] – [18:16]
- Oscar plugs podcasts and social media: [18:46] – [19:28]
- Oscar’s “goodnight” to Elena: [19:34] – [20:22]
Tone & Vibe
Chill, funny, slightly irreverent with warm, genuine nostalgia and a cozy, confessional slumber party feel. The hosts and Oscar share both personal stories and pop culture snark, striking a balance between gossipy fun and thoughtful reflection on media’s evolution.
For fans of pop culture, reality TV nostalgia, and Tyra Banks’ endless weirdness, this episode is the perfect bedtime wind-down.
