Project Runway Kerfuffle Continues

I'm kinda thrilled about the latest Project Runway news which, incidentally, has nothing to do with designers or clothing. According to Reuters, the lawsuit regarding the PR move to Lifetime continues which will delay the production of further seasons. If NBC wins, it sounds like PR will stay on BRAVO.

It just seems right.

And the Weinstein's will lose. And that's always a good day for the little guy.

What shocked me was that the Weinstein's deal with Lifetime was for 5 more seasons. Given the current state of things, what do you suppose that would actually look like?

Again: A Big Hot Mess.

Project Runway: Failing to "Make It Work"

Am I the only one who couldn't seem to care about the most recent season of Project Runway? I don't think I watched more than 10 minutes of it. And I like the show. Just... didn't happen for me this season.

This fine question comes courtesy of Meghan's Blog this morning and I breathed a sigh of relief courtesy of solidarity. I fully agree. PR used to be one of the best shows out there: compelling designers, creative challenges, a sense of wonder in the whole process. In this season, I've watched probably 5 episodes and saw nothing but formulaic boring-ness. Most of the designers this season at one point or another came off as snotty, entitled brats. The judges, who used to be a source of comic relief (I do think Michael Kors can be really hilariously harsh) and design guidance now are just more comic-book, harpy versions of their former selves. And we've been saddled with guest judges who are big names but not necessarily authorities when it comes to fashion (I'm sorry, but Apollo Anton Ohno as fashion icon...c'mon). Heidi who was fairly wooden from the beginning (as any good mannequin should be) now fully believes she's on the same level as Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. Boring. The only compelling person left is Tim Gunn who still cracks me up but who continues to capture his unique contributions to fashion on his own show Tim Gunn's Guide to Style.

I wonder if this is a natural progression when it comes to these "contest based" reality shows. When it was a home-grown, humble production that no one fully understood yet, it was fantastic. But the bigger the draw, the more elitist and, frankly, uninteresting it becomes. I knew the entire show was in trouble when the designers started talking back to Tim. Remember the first season? Tim's word was fashion law. If he said your design was crappy, you'd best listen. He's still always right (it's uncanny, really) but when the contestants on the show are already putting out their own lines prior to appearing on PR, I have to ask what the purpose of the show is. When the contestants don't want to win but just make it to the final 3 so they can show at Bryant Park, how good can the contest really be?

I hate to say it but this smacks of exactly what happens when the Weinsteins get involved. As soon as they were on board to produce, the scale of the show became phenomenal...and it lost it's connection to the audience. If we can't relate to the people competing, why watch? I know I won't. I know someone won...and I don't even care enough to go Google to find out who it was. I'm sure I'll see Kenley on the omnipresent BRAVO re-runs but I don't want to.

PR's moving to Lifetime (and with that production moves from NY to LA) for the next seasons and I don't think it'll survive. The only real viscera that remained for Tim Gunn to work with was the backdrop of New York City and Parsons School of Design. With those gone, the show will inevitably go the way of everything else that moves to Los Angeles: it'll be too superficial and plastic for us to recognize it anymore.

"Where's Andre?" indeed. I think PR needs to spend a little more time looking to get him and his crazy, half-cocked counterparts back. That would be interesting.

A Big Hot Mess.

Oh no.

I had heard about this on tv this morning and I didn't want to believe it was true. But it now seems confirmed that after next season, Project Runway will move from Bravo to (duh duh duh DUUUHHH) LIFETIME. That's right...television for women.

Of the deal, which she and Tim Gunn have already signed on to, Heidi Klum said:

"Fashion is about change, so we're looking forward to saying hello to Lifetime, our new fashionable home for our fashionable series," said Klum in a statement. "We're excited to bring Project Runway to the #1 network for women."

Thanks Heidi. Because obviously fashion is for women...like Michael Kors. Who, for the record, is still in negotiation as is Nina Garcia. This is nerve-wracking.

My dilemma is this: programs on Lifetime suck. I like PR on Bravo...and how did Bravo ever give them up? AND, Lifetime is partially owned by the Disney Corp...if we thought product placement was bad before just hang on to your themed-challenges...I think we've got things in store we never could have imagined.

I can't handle this drama. And there's not even sequins involved.

Project Runway--Onto Bryant Park

Holy mother of god...what a great final "trial runway" show before Bryant Park.

Leading up to this, I was really surprised (and actually kind of delighted) that Sweet P managed to hang in there this far. For the past three weeks, she's been crying, whining, bitching and moaning about running out of time, having construction disasters, and a lack of imagination. Eventually, that's gotta catch up with ya and it finally did for Sweet P tonight. While I enjoyed watching her this far, I was glad to see her go. If she was still in, someone who deserved it more would've been out and that's just not right.

As for the remainders, here's what I think:

Rami: Dear, sweet Rami. If you drape anything...ever again...I will lose all respect for you. Listen man, how many times do you have to hear--from Nina Garcia, nonetheless (the very judge who singlehandedly brought Santino Rice to his knees)--that you keep doing the same thing over and over again. No more excuses. Push your limits for the love of god...it's Bryant Park now.

Jillian: I think Jillian is brilliantly talented...I just cannot handle listening to her say anything. Which may be the mark of a good designer...good designers should be seen and not heard, perhaps. Having said that, every week she's come through with new and innovative designs that always seem attuned to the level of drama, understatedness, or wacky-crazy that the challenge requires. She seems well-rounded: able to do haute couture as well as commercial. Go Jillian go. I'd love to see her take it all.

Christian: Little dude makes me angry with that spiked out asymmetrical haircut and Tinkerbell voice. On the other hand, he seems like the only idiot-savant in the group. So we're not sure whether or not he's made it out of his teens...so what? His designs are probably the most cutting-edge and with that ever-elusive "point of view" that everyone always talks about. He's probably the front runner right now although something about that feels wrong.

Chris: You lucky, large man you. Austin Scarlett (the most famous costumer ever) never made it as far as Chris and if ever an underdog existed, you are it buddy. But I like Chris a lot; he's already been revived once, having been brought back after Jack had to bow out much earlier in the season...wouldn't it be awesome to see him show at Bryant Park? I say yes. The commentary on this last show was right on...he's got the drama to bring something really interesting. I want Chris to at least show.

And, before I make my predictions for the finale, let me just hand it to PR on two fronts. First, the judges this season have been nothing but In-Cred-i-ble. I'm sorry, to stand there and have Roberto Cavalli tell you that you could show in Paris--that's got to be incredible. Michael Kors is always bitchy-fabulous but they really put together a top-notch panel of guest judges this season. I also want to salute them on this creative, thrill-filled ending compromise. When Heidi say to Chris "you're in," I literally lost my breath...I couldn't believe that Rami was out and I momentarily felt conflicted because it didn't seem that he deserved THAT. So the fact that they're still basically competing I think is the best of both worlds...they now have months to show what they're made of. Bravo...well...Bravo; you've done good.

So, who is it in the Finals?

I say, the final 3 will be : Jillian, Christian, and Rami (sorry Chris, you're my emotional favorite but Rami's been scared shitless now and he's gonna bring it).

Winner: Jillian.
I'm gonna call a repeat of Season 3. Going in to Bryant Park, Santino was the star and "genius" while Chloe and Daniel were consistent all season. Chloe's consistency and solidity of vision and temperment paid off. The same will happen here. Christian will implode with the weight of possibilities and all the time. Jillian's gonna pull out all the stops and now she has the time she needs to do what she knows best. Rami will beat Chris to show because his taste and point of view (again...and I hate that phrase) are more cohesive and refined. However, he believes so steadfastly that he's right that, ultimately, he'll present a collection full of drapery and will end up in 3rd.

There it is. Can't wait to see who prevails.

A Runway Rewind

I'll be very honest--I'm amazed and appalled at my own lack of commentary on one of the few shows actually giving us new episodes every week. So let me begin with a rundown of what I've thought of this season so far:

Insight #1: I'm amazed that these are listed as "the best designers" so far. Personally, I don't see it. When I think back to some of the designers of the past seasons--Kara Saun, Jay, Santino, Chloe, Daniel...even Andre ("Where's Aaaahn-dre?")--they weren't fooling around. They were awesome. And while there are clearly some break out superstars in this season, on a whole, there seems to be a wide array of "hot mess" present as well. They may be more accomplished in terms of their own businesses (Rami and others actually have previously put out their own lines of clothes and some have actually dressed celebrities for minor awards shows), I can't say from my amateur standpoint that they're bringing a higher design acumen to the show.

Insight #2: Project Bore-way. After nearly every show, I find myself longing for the days of Santino Rice, Jay McCarroll...hell, even Wendy Pepper. They had personality, they had spunk. We might have hated them, we might have loved them--at least we felt something about them. As much as I love Jillian's designs, listening to her is like scraping my nails across an emery board. Victorya (now booted) was at best puzzling and annoying. And Christian, who appears to be the poster-child for personality this season, screams "I would really rather be Paris Hilton" to me. I don't want to be on Christian's side. I don't want to be on anyone's side. Problem.

Insight #3: Guest judges are getting better. Oh, I remember the days of PR when a Betsey Johnson or Cynthia Rowley (who interestingly is actually an automaton, apparently) was a "special" day. The guest judge for the Season 1 FINALE was Parker Posey, for chrissakes (if you don't watch Christopher Guest movies, you have no idea who this is. Even if you do watch, you have no idea why she's able to judge fashion--I'm still in the dark myself). So, to see the veritable list of designers trot through that fourth chair has been really impressive. You know exactly what Michael Kors and Nina Garcia are going to give ya. But that 4th chair is like the knowledgeable and respected wildcard...and offsets Heidi's growing weirdness.

And now, My Official PR4 Rant: What is with the blatant, shameless product placement this season? While we've always had to contend with "The Tresemme hair salon and the l'Oreal Make Up Room," and then last season we tacked on the "BlueFly Accessories wall" (which, incidentally, used to be something else which I cannot recall at the moment), I've not remembered this incessant bowing to the gods of capitalism. Past challenges were for the US Postal Service or Banana Republic (okay, that last one's iffy). But the Hershey challenge could not have been more tacky, really. While the designs themselves didn't scream Hershey, watching 45 minutes of designers unwrapping Reese' cups and Twizzlers made me long for some chocolaty goodness and I felt manipulated. Then last night's challenge was nothing but idol worship of jeans juggernaut Levi's. At least Levi's is clothing and, therefore, has a logical connection to fashion. But c'mon. All the judges do is lean on the designers to be less mainstream, more imaginative, and then in the same breath say--But how really does this say Levi's? I don't like it. Let's not box in the designers by trying to give us more commercials for brands during a telecast that is already laden with too much commercial time. Because, if you're Rami, how really do you drape denim and twizzlers wrappers?

All I have to say about last night: What the eff. Ricky winning? I'm sorry...did somebody slip Michael Kors a crazy pill while we were blinded by Levi's branding? On the other had, seeya Victorya. Good riddance.

Definitely more to come in the future. Next week: picks for top 3.

It's a Bravo Reality Couple!

I know I'm usually vigilant about keeping things quasi-intellectual over here (or at least *saying* that that's what I do) but I was browsing the reality-show websites today and found out this little tidbit: Dale Levitski, runner-up of Top Chef #whatever fame, and JackMackenroth of Project Runway 4 are a couple!

Dale












Jack


Awww. Supposedly they met unrelated to Bravo (on Myspace) but I think I'm not going to believe it. I'm gonna have to look at the numbers and see how badly Project Runway is doing this season. Especially because they set it up so perfectly with the end of Top Chef--I think on the reunion show, one of the main segments was talking about Dale's single-ness. Obviously, many people were bothered by this but, more importantly, many people knew about it. So, could it be that just weeks after we meet Jack on PR, touted as "the HIV-positive designer," these two winsome bachelor's make a *random* love connection? Oh...come...on.

Those writing about it have been making Jack's HIV+ status a huge talking point. I read about four interviews that in a polite and round-about way asked "how that's all working" (my polite and round-about way). He responded in the same "PSA style" to all of them as if to ensure the masses that Dale's in no danger. No one really seems to be inquiring about his health which, I'm sure, Jack appreciates. ("Hey guys, I'm over here...")

All I know is, thank god these two got together...I was wondering what we were going to do now that Lance Bass (of Backstreet Boy and 'I almost went into space because I paid the Russians $1 million' fame) and Reichen Lehmkuhl (of Amazing Race infamy) are kaput. Just in the nick of time, I'd say. That place the media sets aside for "the gay couple" was getting a little dusty.

Project Runway is BACK!!!

There are some shows that, like calendars, help me to mark time while being endlessly entertaining and even admirable. Project Runway is just such a show. I've watched every season of this Bravo gem and it never gets tired. Hosted by Heidi Klum who now has possibly the most famous tv line ever (In fashion you're either een or you're aout...) and backed by judges and Tim Gunn, all of whom have now become endeared members of my television family (I have waited months just to hear Michael Kors talk about the designs--he's just as awesomely lovingly bitchy as Isaac Mizrahi--and Nina Garcia's no slouch either), I couldn't be more thrilled that the new season started Wednesday night.

I was absolutely *delighted* that Meghan did some television "toe-stepping" on PR for this last Wednesday. I concur wholeheartedly with everything she said and appreciated her insight since I only saw the last half-hour. I thought Rami, who won the first challenge with his clingy, drapey, cinched with a shoulder flower dress, was the right choice. I generally want to barf when I see those shoes with it, but otherwise lovely.

Really, I was sad to see Simone go and here's why: My fear with PR is that, as the seasons go, the casting gets more and more freakish. While last season we saw what I thought was a huge jump up in terms of technical ability and design potential, we also had a lot of crazies in the mix that really had no chance of winning. At this point, I'd like to see these tried-and-true reality shows really cast only for design talent and see what comes from that. While Wendy Pepper, Jay McCarroll, Santino, Andre, Jeffrey and Laura were all great *characters* in the end, their idiosyncrasies enhanced what was already there design-wise. What I know is that yesterday, that teal blue stretch fabric with vomitous raggedy train creation was something I could have put together. Frankly, even the stick-thin model looks lumpy and disgusting in it--and she's not a lumpy and disgusting kind of creature from what I can see. (And WHAT'S with the TEAL SUEDE SCRUNCHY STILETTO BOOTS.--so much wrong there) There's no way that woman should have lasted more than this challenge, but poor Simone who I think looked and acted fairly non-crazy gets the boot (only made better by the fact that her boot was not teal, scrunchy, or suede). I concur with Meghan here: the design needs to drive the decision and none of this "personality" crap. From the looks of things, there's plenty of personality already built into this cast.

The last thing that should happen with this show (or Top Chef--another BRAVO creation), which has really distinguished itself from other kinds of "trashy" reality shows (Fear Factor, MTV Road Rules, etc) is that the level of talent and the output of the designers is top notch. Bravo...we know this. Let's assume people tune in because they like to celebrate the innovation and creativity of the designers and not because they're "good for tv." Do you want to PR to become The Real World that now casts only those willing to be blatantly racist/sexist/any other -ist and/or have sex on tv? I think not.

Oh...and Bravo has excellent and numerous blogs from people involved in production, judging, and past participants of the show. Check them out. I'm thinking I'm going to make Nina Garcia's a regular stop for me.

Guess What?!?

I can't WAIT.