You’re OUT: Five Reasons Why “Project Runway” Is Over
Posted by: Amelia McDonell-Parry
Filed in:
entertainment
10:40AM, Friday August 28th 2009
Daniel Vosovic, “Project Runway” season 2 runner-up and “All-Stars” winner, tells NYMag.com’s “The Cut” that being on “PR” again was a “mind f**k.” He goes on to explain, “It felt like a weird summer camp. Four years later everything was the same — same stage, same crappy lights, Heidi’s pregnant again. It’s like I had never left.” That may be true of the “All-Stars” reunion (which aired last week)—which brought together some of the show’s biggest personalities and best designers—but the new season of “PR” is rapidly proving it’s not the same fabulous, edgy, and fashion-forward show now that it lives on Lifetime.
I’m just gonna say it. “Project Runway”—you’re OUT. Here are five reasons why.
1. The Mommy Demographic: Lest you forget that Lifetime is “television for women,” last night’s elimination challenge was to design a “maternity chic” look for Rebecca Romijn. Now, I have nothing against pregnant ladies. In fact, I hope to be one some day, and I certainly think designing cool, sexy, fun maternity wear is a worthy design challenge. But on Lifetime it seemed, well, so ... appropriate and obvious. Snore.
2. Where Are The Gays? It’s only the second episode and Michael Kors is already taking time off. Tim Gunn hasn’t “hollered at your boy” yet. And not a single person has even hinted at some “hot tranny fierceness.” Lifetime is toning down the queer quotient and I don’t like it. Even Nina Garcia is less bitchy!
3. Mitchell: He landed in the bottom three on episode 1 for designing a sheer muumuu. Last night he was in the bottom three again, this time for designing the sluttiest pair of diaper shorts I have ever seen. Yet he remains. WTF?
4. Safety Wins: On the first episode, Christopher’s blatant Rihanna For Forever 21 look was the winner. While it wasn’t a crime against nature, the poofiness at the bottom of his dress was dated and suburban prom-worthy, not chic. Last night, Shirin’s well-constructed dress and jacket was a far more deserving winner, but it’s clear that playing it safe—and thus BORING—will get you far on Lifetime’s “Project Runway.”
5. Dare To Lose: On Bravo’s “PR,” often the edgiest designers were given the opportunity to harness their creativity over the course of the show, as the judges saw limitless potential in some of their crazier designs. Sometimes those designs came out just WRONG, but the passion, ambition, and desire to push the envelope were at the core of what “PR” was all about. In the first two episodes of Lifetime’s “Project Runway,” the two edgiest and forward-thinking designers—Malvin and Ari—were given the boot before those who lacked innovation or, um, sewing skills.
What do you guys think? Has your love for “Project Runway” hit the skids now that it’s on a new network? Or do you think the show is just as hot as ever?
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mutam
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 09:48 am: [report]
I am definitely a lot less excited for this season, however when this was filmed, it was not yet known where the show would be airing. It was actually shot to air on Bravo and midway through was when the dispute between Bravo and Lifetime began, so I don’t think they were toning it down for Lifetime since they didn’t know where it would air. I just think they were playing it too safe overall and haven’t done anything to change it up so people are getting bored with it. Just my two cents.
_jsw_
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 09:51 am: [report]
Yeah, this show is on life(time) support. I’m not sure it can come back. I used to love to hate watching it (didn’t want to watch, but felt compelled to). Now I just hate watching it. We’ll see if it can rebound.
Zandra6483
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 10:14 am: [report]
I disagree. Yeah, there’s less drama so far, and Tim Gunn seems too toned down. But Ari and Malvin were by far the most deserving ones to go home! Ari’s dress looked like an aluminum foil trash bag and Malvin’s idea of the belly as a mother/egg was offensive and weird looking. And he annoyed me in general. (Although, if we could have bumped off two people last night, Mitchell would have been gone in a heartbeat. I think the only thing that saved him was that the cardigan was kinda cute.)
pinkwhiskey
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 10:15 am: [report]
@mutam - That was exactly what I was gonna say.
The format for this season was not LIfetime influenced. Truth be told, I didn’t care for last season at all either. I’ll flip to see the challenge and then flip back to see the winners, but I’s rather be watching Bones reruns that watching the “reality” part of the reality show. Sort of like SYTYCD, I like to watch the performances and see who wins, I don’t really care about their personal lives. And besides, nothing behind-the-scenes has been remotely interesting since the fabulous Santino Rice and his Tim Gunn impressions.
belligerentjane
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 10:27 am: [report]
I loved Epperson’s design. And dislike that they go for the “safe” design.
_jsw_
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 10:40 am: [report]
@pinkwhiskey: Agreed re: Santino.
My favorite part of the show is the model-oriented after-show, actually. It’s nice to see their perspective, and at least, because it’s new, it doesn’t seem like it’s running on autopilot.
AbbyUNC07
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 11:05 am: [report]
Definitely noticed that they have been voting the crazies off first. Usually they keep them around for mid-season drama and get rid of the boring people.
Kathls
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 11:08 am: [report]
I already threw in my thoughts on the blog article, but I have to second something from this article. As much as I loved the first few seasons, one thing that has always bothered me is the fact that sewing skills seemed to be unnecessarily picked on. I personally think it’s more about the design than an individual’s technical skills. If someone was producing sh*tty work as part of the design because they thought it looked good, that’s one thing. A lack of perfect seamstressy skills under the shows time restrictions should not play into who stays and goes. I don’t know how much that factors into the decisions, but it’s annoying to hear the judges harp on it.
sweetsdjc
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 11:51 am: [report]
@mutam - I was going to make the same point. This show was filmed and produced with the thought it was to stay on Bravo. This is not editing for Lifetime.
I will agree that I’m surprised that Nina is being nicer. The gay thing? Are you kidding me? Just because there’s no catch phrase (there wasnt last season either!) doesnt mean it’s lacking on the gays. In fact, I’m a little irritated by just HOW overly gay Mitchell, Ramon, etc., etc are. Like…I love the gays, but I feel like they are all trying too hard to be Christian Sirriano or something, but they totally lack the originality that MADE him so great.
Anyway, I still think it’s great
And i’m loving the model’s viewpoint.
sklut
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 12:04 pm: [report]
It’s like the show and the entire cast took some Ritalin. I stil love it.
loveitlala
wrote on August 28 2009 @ 01:06 pm: [report]
Fashion in general is out right now.
resullins
wrote on August 29 2009 @ 11:29 pm: [report]
@AbbyUNC: first… please tell me you’re a Carolinian! And that handle means you’re at UNC, I’m a huge fan.
Second… I disagree with your statement about the boring people. Ari was interesting… mildly… but she would have gotten RETARDEDLY annoying four shows in. And that thing she made… not deserving at all. As for the ‘philosopher,’ I am SO glad they got rid of him. As soon as he got booted off, the first thing he said was “I guess I’m too conceptual for America.” Such total and complete crap. At leat two of the judges were foreign! He annoyed me with his “I’m deeper than you” fashion. Give me stuff someone can actually wear.
I think there interesting people will come out. I’m enjoying quite a few of the contestants. Jason, Epperson, Athelia (?)... I think the season will make a name for itself. But we’re only two episodes in.
And dear GOD don’t get me started on Santino. He actually said that he made PR… and gave them none of the credit. What a pompous ASS! I prefer the Siriano, Vosovick types… that are entertaining, but not annoying.