Over on the other side of the studio Zulema is bitching about the Banana Republic fabric. She is sick of all the navy blue being used. Makes you hope for the irony if Old Navy is next weeks challenge. But then you would need to have really bad fabric and stitching to complete the "Old Navy" experience. That and fleece. Lots and lots of fleece.

Meanwhile Santino is once again talking all sorts of smack about people while he designs his newest monstrosity. This weeks complaint is Diana’s voice is driving him nuts. He calls it a high pitch squeal. Why can't everyone have an annoyingly nasal whiny voice like he does? While working on his piece (it's definitely his piece since he pretty much takes over from Nick from the get go) he say's he thinks it needs more "flair". Flair for Santino means burying the dress in tons and tons of ruffled crap. The man is a cake decorator in the wrong profession. He should be decorating a Fudgie the Whale instead of a supermodel.

While they are working we get another appearance by Tim Gunn. Tonight’s ensemble is a smart looking blue blazer with a matching pair of blue jeans. You would think this look was a little outdated, I'm thinking Jerry Seinfeld circa 1997, but dammit if Tim just doesn’t Make it work. Ahh crap. I said it. Time to drink.

Things seem to be going all right with his reviews (he loves the Chloe/Emmet and Daniel/Andrae pieces) until he stumbles across Marla and Diana. Ad you can tell it’s bad from the combination of the look on Tim’s face, and the sudden ominous "Tim thinks it sucks" theme music. "I don't see it." he says. He thinks they are way off the mark. "It's just not working for me�. Oh crap. Does that count? Do I have to drink to that? OK, I'll do half a shot for that one. From what Tim said Diana and Marla decide to chuck the whole idea of a pencil skirt.

Andrae shows Tim his accessories

Over at Zulema and Kara’s table we get a study in contrasts. Zulema is quite calm under pressure. Kara, who is mentally unstable, is not. When they are not confident in their design Kara turns on the waterworks and starts her weekly meltdown. This sends Zulema into her bitch mode, which we saw briefly in episode one where she demanded all of the closet space for her crap. “You can cry, but you gotta cry and cut. Don’t stop and cry.� She says to Kara, who is simultaneously blubbering and cutting fabric at the same time. If she was also chewing gum I think it’d be a record of some sort.

The next day when everyone comes down to the work space, Tim has yet another surprise for them. It’s time for a field trip! Yeah! But then I remembered last time their “field trip� was just a walk over to that weeks corporate sponsor Toys R’ Us. Why can’t they ever go someplace fun for a field trip like bumper cars or the Bronx Zoo?

Well before you know it they all, including the models I might add, walk through the streets until they stop at, surprise surprise, the Banana Republic store. After Tim introduces us to the Banana Republic corporate whore who then rattles off an in show commercial for Banana Republic, we find out what the next part of the challenge will be. Each team will be responsible for creating their own window display using their models as mannequins and they will be judged based on feedback from passing customers who are going to be filling out cards selecting which window they liked best. This reminds me of one of my favorite movies, Mannequin 2: On the Move. Ahh Meshach Taylor, you are an overlooked genius.

I may be going out on a limb here, but I think Andrae is gay

With That Tim gives them all some money and they are off to the craft store to buy supplies for their installation. Diana goes with a classroom setting and starts buying desk supplies. Marla, as usual, hates it. Maybe they should have gone with Marla’s idea which was…Oh wait, Marla didn’t come up with ANYTHING. Unfortunately Marla is actually right about the idea sucking as Tim takes a gander and gives them that look that has crushed many a heart. Diana’s whole concept turns out to be just a pile of crumpled up paper on the floor. Not exactly a creative masterstroke.

But across the way Santino and Nick aren’t doing much better. Their concept is their model is working in an "art gallery". And their vision of an art gallery is to have a huge wall with brown paper bags all over it and a message smeared on it by what must be a mental patient. This whole spectacle earns a “P.U.� from Tim, which is probably the only swear word he knows.

Chloe and Emmett go with a nice simple white background with Emmett’s drawings of the actual dress behind it. Nothing cool like Unicorns or Spiderman, but just drawings of the model. Ho hum. But Tim says that he thinks it is “more fabulous than I can say.� And Tim is never wrong.

Daniel V and Andrae's window is also pretty simple. Two different clocks showing night and day so they can have the model move from one end to the other showcasing the outfits day and night looks.

Posted by EdHIll on January 16, 2006 5:02 PM