“It’s a Mother F***ing Walk Off”

Project Runway

By EdHIll | Monday, January 30, 2006 | 5:31 pm | 93 Comments

pr-01-25-06a.jpgUp until now Project Runway has been credited with being the most honest reality show out there. Granted, all reality shows have a certain element of playing to the cameras and fake drama. For instance, I don’t think there is one second of the Real World-Road Rules Gauntlet 2 that isn’t faker than any night of WWE Raw, but the beauty was always basking in the horribly amateur way they all play to the cameras (“I surcomb!â€?), thinking that anyone over the age of 13 believed that nonsense. The only thing real on that show is T.J.’s utmost respect and reverence for the Gauntlet. You can’t fake that.

But Project Runway eschewed all those trappings and based a reality show on skill and talent winning the day, not reality-show backstabbing “villainsâ€? and phony alliances. Well, that veneer has begun to crack ever so slightly with this episode. The end results are still based on talent, but we now have this season’s Wendy Pepper, i.e. the woman who will pull reality show gimmicks to get ahead. Zulema. What, pray tell, did she do this week to send everyone into a tizzy? Two words. Two magical words.

Walk Off!!But before we get to that let’s set the stage – or the runway, to be more apt. After another (sadly metaphorical) close shave with Santino last week (Why is this one note DEE-signer still on this show?), it’s truth time. “What I made for Sasha was pretty ridiculous and horrible,” he tells the camera. This time he will heed the advice of the judges and try to tone it down more. We’ll see.

When they are all brought before the judges we see Heidi and her cute little bump, which we all know carries the dreaded moleman baby. This challenge, she says, is all about inspiration. And to give a talk on inspiration, as well as a contractually obligated in-show plug, we will go to Michael Kors’ studio where he will give them a talk about what inspires him, and tell them all about their next challenge.

pr-01-25-06k.jpgBut first let’s bring out the models in their sexy black slips. Zulema won the last challenge and her model was Rachel. If she decides to go with Rachel than Shannon is out. Or she can have them bring all the models out on the runway and choose a new model. This has been one of the new “twistsâ€? this year, whereas last year every week the designers got to choose a different model. Up until now this twist has backfired with every designer staying with their models from the beginning. But not now. Zulema is here to play a game. She is going to switch models. Which kinda makes sense since her model, Rachel, has a cottage cheese ass and can’t walk. When everyone realizes what she is going to do we get all sorts of stunned reactions from the DEE-signers, including the obligatory Andrae face, which I’ve seen so many times I’m starting to think it’s not so much an expression as a weird form of palsy that he can’t control. Daniel V. says it best when he tells us “It’s a mother f*$&ing walk off.â€?

Zulema wants the walk off to be between Danielle, Tarah and Shannon. After we see the girls strut their stuff, Zulema decides to go with Tarah, who has one of the best walks of all the models (but nothing close to the legendary coked-out Morganza from season one). Tarah was Nick’s model and by the expression on Nick’s face, he looks like he wants to take all his marbles and go home. He’s about to cry. I haven’t seen a gay man this upset since Crash beat Brokeback Mountain for Best Ensemble Cast at the SAG awards. (There, my weekly Brokeback joke quota is fullfilled.)

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Does Andrae even have any other expression? Seriously.

But first we need Michael Kors to explain this week’s challenge to us. Time for another field trip! I guess Bravo can’t afford a bus. Next season they should totally get a bus and paint it like the Partridge Family bus and we can watch them drive all over the city and even get a theme song. When Mike meets us at his studios he brings them all together and talks about inspiration. And lo and behold he has his new spring designs there to show them! What an amazing coincidence. His inspiration is Doris Duke, a tobacco heiress from the 40’s known for her floral prints, and not the dead wife of Uncle Jesse Duke from the Dukes of Hazzard, because then the whole spring line will be done in dungarees, and we all know they don’t breathe well.

Michael then has a present for each of them. It’s an Olympus Digital Camera! Yay product placement! Their job is to spend an hour walking the streets of New York taking pictures. From one of the pictures they take they are to design a dress using the picture as their inspiration. I have to admit, that is a neat idea.

As we walk the streets we get a glimpse of everyone’s pictures. Chloe takes a lot of pictures of buildings because she likes lines. Kara takes pictures of construction signs because Kara sucks. Santino finds a picture of some overlapping graffiti, which makes me fear for another Santino ruffled explosion in our future. Daniel’s picture is a vase with orchids in it that was in Michael Kors’ lobby. Gee, way to really phone it in, Daniel. Why not just take a picture of the Olympus Digital retail box and use that? Andrae takes a picture of a grimy puddle. His theory, he tells us, is that he likes to take things that are considered ugly and apply the “charm gunâ€? to it, which is the only gun Andrae will most likely ever hold.

When we all get back to the studio to have everyone start working we see that Nick is still whining like a nine-year-old girl with a scraped knee because of the great model stealing brouhaha. He’s losing what little focus he has. Thank god Tim is there to the rescue as he comes in and tells everyone it’s “tough loveâ€? time. No one’s love is tougher than Tim’s. Damn, why did I already waste my weekly Brokeback Mountain joke!

He believes Daniel has great ideas but he loses momentum and ends up falling short of his potential. Chloe needs to step out of her comfort zone, meaning enough with the blue dresses. Zulema needs to take risks. Instead of just nodding and accepting the criticism, she decides to get snippy and retorts with a “well with me it’s more about time constraints.” Tim won’t have it. “They don’t care. They know about the time constraints.â€? Zulema, don’t cross Tim. He’ll eat you up and spit you out and look fabulous doing it. Kara is the only one left who hasn’t won a challenge. She needs to step away from making dresses that look like something that you can buy on Madison Avenue. Santino. Oh poor Santino. “You are in serious jeopardy. And I reserve that comment only for you.â€? Uh oh. Santino is feeling the heat. He’s even starting to sweat. Or that could just be grease buildup. It’s hard to tell with Santino.

Andrae and Nick. Tim has only 3 words for them “Be more ambitious.â€? With that, Nick’s already tenuous grasp on sanity is sent into a tailspin. He just wants to quit the whole thing. All of this because he has to use a different model this week. Something tells me he is not meant for the business side of fashion.

pr-01-25-06j.jpgAfter Tim’s pep talk it’s off to the fabric store Mood to get started. At the store Nick is still wallowing in his own misery and decides to invite Tim to join his pity party. In a passive aggressive masterstroke he asks Tim his “adviceâ€? about which fabrics would look good on a blonde model. Tim bites and asks why a blonde model and Nick tells him that Zulema did the unthinkable and switched models and left him with Rachel. Once Tim hears this he reacts in quite a funny way. He rips Rachel apart. “She’s such a problem. She’s like an elongated marshmallow with Gumby legs. Ugh, She’s such a stiff walking.â€? Damn Tim, don’t hold back.

On the other side of the store Zulema, the model stealing witch, is searching for fabrics of her own. Her inspiration is a picture of a woman in traditional African garb. So her inspiration to make a dress is a picture of a dress. How creative, Zulema.

Back at the studio the great Nick Crisis of 2006 is reaching its breaking point. He tells Daniel he doesn’t even want to be there any more. He may just quit. Man, when I first saw Zulema pull the walk off stunt I thought it was a cheap reality show gimmick. But damn if it isn’t turning into one effective cheap reality show gimmick. Luckily Nick has Daniel V. there to back him up. They are like two peas in a pod. Nick is Wonder Twin Jayna to Daniel’s Wonder Twin Zan. So I guess that would make Tim Gleek. Daniel gives Nick the pep talk he needs and soon Nick is back to his old self again, ready to take on the world, in the form of…an Ice Gondola!

Later at dinner Zulema is wondering why everyone is shunning her. She thinks they are acting like it is kindergarten. From what I remember about kindergarten there was none of that stuff. You just sat around and played with blocks. Man those were fun times. The backstabbing stuff didn’t start for me until at least 4th grade. But I get her point. I don’t sympathize with her of course. She wants to pull that crap, of course no one will talk to her.

Once everyone gets to work it’s time for Tim to stop by and give us his take on everything. My favorite part of the episode. Nick’s dress is a full length gown and Tim warns him that he better make sure his Gumby-legged marshmallow-assed model can walk it right. Santino actually gets off without much of a scathing report. I don’t know if that means Tim liked it or he’s just so tired of Santino’s repetitive designs that he just gave up. Andrae’s gutter water picture is actually shaping up quite nicely. Kara’s, of course, is lame. Her inspiration was a No Trespassing sign, and her dress is literally a black tube dress with a black and yellow stripe wrapped around it. Booo-ring. Tim warns her that she may be too literal minded with this one. He then tells her that in fashion there is a fine line between being witty and being funny. Thankfully in the world of TVgasm, it’s a line we don’t have to worry about too often.

Zulema is even worse than all the others. She has practically nothing done and her inspiration sucked in the first place. She even admits she has almost nothing to work with.

The next morning it’s time for everyone to get up and go to the runway. Kara is forced to wake up Zulema and tell her they have 15 minutes to get ready. Zulema then gets out of bed with the same clothes she had on last night, and goes downstairs without showering or changing. How very Santino of her.

When Tim comes around and tells everyone that they have one hour for fitting and makeup, it’s time for…Models in their underwear! Zulema is so behind she is forced to stitch her model into her outfit, much to the dismay of her model Tarah. Tim then comes in after the hour is up and tells them it’s time to go. “If you stay here you self-eliminate” he says. Funny, I self-eliminate myself every night before bed, but you don’t see any reality show cameras filming it… yet.

At the runway show it’s time to meet our judges. Michael Kors, Nina and the winner of the first Project Runway , Jay. After the models all do their intial walks, they bring everyone out to discuss. Daniel’s seems to be a big hit with everyone there. Kara not so much. When they ask her about it she goes into this long diatribe about warning signs and how it’s welcoming yet not welcoming like the city is welcoming yet not welcoming, yadda yadda, yadda. Jay says that her talk doesn’t mach the dress. It’s too simple. Kara comes back by saying “simplicity has its voice.â€? Yes we know, it’s called Saved By the Bell.
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Nick also has a bout of verbal diarrhea describing his dress when he starts by saying he was thinking of water and the ocean, and ends up with saying that he pictures it as something Paris Hilton would wear on the beaches of Greece. Whoa buddy, unless it’s got built-in Pampers, she ain’t wearing it.

Zulema’s is a mess. They think it’s uninspired and poorly executed. Santino’s dress, which was inspired by graffiti, or as Heidi calls it, graff-EEE-ti, causes quite a stir when Jay says it looks exactly like Austin Scarlett’s Emmy dress. They then cut away to a look at Austin’s Emmy dress and it’s an almost exact match. Heidi says that the waist is too high and it looks like a big butt is hiding there somewhere. To this Michael shoots back “I know a few women who can use that dress!â€? Oooh, you’re so bad!
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When it’s time to announce the winner it’s Daniel’s orchid poofy dress. He is shocked since he thought Andrae was the clear winner. Oh but the shocks keep coming, because when it’s down to Kara and Zulema we find out the one to be eliminated is Zulema! And I pity poor Heidi who had to double cheek kiss stanky Zulema who at this point probably smells like a week old egg salad sandwich.

When Kara walks back and Nick sees that she’s OK and it was Zulema who is gone, he has a mangasm that makes last week’s Sasha Cohen explosion look like foreplay. It just goes to show you, one day you are EEN, and the next day you are out.

What did everyone else think?

About

93 Comments

  1. 1
    Victoria
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 5:38 pm

    You should have posted the Lost recap first.

  2. 2
    EdHill
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 5:41 pm

    Yeah but there isnt a new lost this week so it gives me more wiggle room. besides it takes time to compile all my “links o the week”

  3. 3
    Sherlock
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 6:12 pm

    Brilliant, as usual.

  4. 4
    mspixiechick
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 6:15 pm

    I feel badly for Tarah, because I just can’t see Daniel trading his model for her, and that is about the only way the girl is going to get through to the next challenge. But I am sooooo glad Zulema finally got booted — her massive sunglasses bugged the crap out of me.

  5. 5
    EdHill
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 6:17 pm

    “her massive sunglasses bugged the crap out of me.”

    Amen.

  6. 6
    anonym.
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 6:37 pm

    andrae’s orgasmic shock face + his uncomfortably short shorts = tv perfection!
    santino is a gigantic mess (and i mean that both literally and artistically)- his clothes are way too ostentatious and almost look like something that a kindergarden class could paste together by randomly adding fabric and feathers to a slip dress (a la the snowman “project” in billy madison’s kindergarden class with that teacher who put paste on her face–but i digress)

  7. 7
    Leah3t
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 6:47 pm

    I command you to ignore Victoria.

    I was so glad to see Zulema go. She dished out so much attitude and never had anything to back it up.

    Not only was Santino’s dress a rip off of previous years, it also looked just like the my space barbie he made earlier this season.

  8. 8
    joslyn
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 6:50 pm

    You should do a montage of all the times that Andrae does that stupid “I’m so gay” face.

  9. 9
    anonym.
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 6:51 pm

    santino’s clothes always look unfinished to me, even though they’ve got so much shit on them already…everything is asymetrical, but i guess that’s his “trademark,” just like andrae has that “sexpot” shock look

  10. 10
    ceenee
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 6:55 pm

    I loved how as the episode progressed, Zulema’s face became oilier and oilier… when she was eliminated (YES!), I was expecting her to be carried away by her own sebum!

  11. 11
    Keyser Soze
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 7:55 pm

    I liked Daniel’s orchid outfit, except that it made the model look like she had ginormous porn star boobs. A little poof goes a long way.
    Andrae clearly won on concept of this challenge, and I really though his dress was possibly the best piece so far this season. I was disappointed he wasn’t the winner.
    Santino looks like a smelly belch. It’s becoming clear now that he is a one note designer. At least the Engster could put mini-spy cameras in her outfits and make them functional.
    Mad props to EdHill for the WonderTwin reference. Ahhh memories of Saturday Morning Justice League…

  12. 12
    TinkerbellAPixie
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 8:47 pm

    OOH Ed – great recap. Just wish you’d posted the side by side of Santino and Austin’s matching dresses. That was hilarious on the show.

    I lost a bet – I was sureeeeeeeee you would post a screen cap of Tarah standing in her little flesh colored panties jealously pouting as Nick was fitting the Staypuffed Marshmodel.

    As for the Lost recap – take your time my dear Ed, genius can’t be rushed – and I LIVE for your little links to all the online Lost goodies.

  13. 13
    ooda
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 9:52 pm

    Chloe’s model really needs a nose job, and urgently. EdHill, great recap of the episode.

    When the comparison of Santino’s dress to Austin’s dress happened, my mangina was in a tizzy just like Andre in the above photo, especially as I hadn’t watched season one, and that Santino made special mention that he wanted a fabric that no one else was using.

    Andre should have won this one. Daniel’s dress was good, but I guess I’m just not that into poofiness.

  14. 14
    Victoria
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 10:08 pm

    I will forgive you this time EdHill, but it better be worth it-I’m sure it will be.

  15. 15
    fuuunk
    Posted January 30, 2006 at 10:39 pm

    I couldn’t get enough of Santino’s Tim impression. I’m going to need some clips of the impression schenanigans next week.

  16. 16
    holyterror
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 1:42 am

    Fuuunk: I especially liked “Rock the Casbah!”

    Is it just my imagination, or do their living quarters really look like shit? They have to double up in rooms with twin-sized beds? No circus-themed “mansion” with a clown-face entrance?

    I really don’t think Santino’s gay — I know of no gay man who would tolerate that beard.

  17. 17
    holyterror
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 1:51 am

    Nick’s tension with Santino seems to be heating up. He tried not to partner with him last week and bad-mouthed him both in the ‘confessional” and on the runway. Plus, he cried when Emmett lost instead of Santino.

    I saw the Austin analogy as soon as Santino picked the fabric — strange thing is, it was even ugly the first time. Like a chiffon mood ring. Something for a Junior High prom dress. Why would two trained designers independently pick such a hideous fabric out of that whole store?

  18. 18
    serenasixfeetunder
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 4:20 am

    “I was expecting her to be carried away by her own sebum!” Many props, CeeNee!! any excuse to use a medical term for a bodily secretion should ALWAYS be taken advatntage of…
    (I think I am the only one who didn’t like the Daniel V golden cream-puff special in this episode…)

  19. 19
    jenny10girl
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 4:40 am

    Oh EdHill…how much I loved the Wonder Twins reference…BRAVO!!! I truly thought Andrae should have won…I totally hated the poofy thing that won. Yay for Zulema being out…I also hated her oversized sunglasses…

  20. 20
    Testiculon
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 4:43 am

    “….close shave with Santino last week (Why is this one note DEE-signer still on this show?)…”

    I myself was wondering this until I happened to see the disclaimer that Bravo runs at the end of the show:

    (Paraphrasing) The judges final decision is reached after consulting with the producers of Project Runway etc etc….

    So it’s not just about the judges decision, it’s also about what makes good TV. And, love him or hate him, Santino is good TV.

  21. 21
    Lizardqueen
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 6:12 am

    I thought Daniel’s dress was ugly. I think the winners are chosen based on their fulfillment of the challenge rather than the most beautiful garment. And that’s fine. The bidding for designs on the website usually mirrors the sentiments expressed here. Does that make us average? Often the winner on the show does not receive the high bid in the auction.

    Super job EdHill. Form of a million gay tears because that bitch stole my model. Shape of a mop to swab them all up.

  22. 22
    ceenee
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 6:30 am

    #16 holyterror:

    I think it was on Santino’s website (or a link to an article therein) where he claims to be bisexual… frightening for girls AND guys!

  23. 23
    ceenee
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 6:39 am

    #11 and #18: I wasn’t wild about Daniel Valium’s ensemble either; it looked more like a poppy pod than an orchid. And his model’s hair was just WRONG.

    I feel so bad for Tarah, she is one of the cutest models but is surely doomed next week.

  24. 24
    Leah3t
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 6:47 am

    holy terror- “Like a chiffon mood ring”– NICE!

    Testiculon- I think most reality shows have a disclaimer like that.

  25. 25
    kepster
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 7:07 am

    EdHill, the Michael Kors showroom is only three blocks away from Parsons, so taking the “field trip” in a bus wouldn’t make much sense. That said, I’d still like to see the designers have to get in a Partridge Family bus…hee hee!

  26. 26
    ruplub
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 7:16 am

    Although Daniel V. is quite talented, I thought Andrae’s dress was the prettiest one.

    EdHill – you didn’t comment on Santino’s Tim Gunn impersonation, which I thought was DOBA. I just want to give Santino a bath or something – ick.

    I saw Zulema on the Today Show the following morning after this eppy aired, and she wasn’t that bad. I think she’s very calm, collected and well-spoken. I think the show just ‘villainized’ her for some added drama.

  27. 27
    hardly@work
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 7:19 am

    thank You edhill!!! i haven’t had the chance to read the recap yet, but just knowing that its posted warms my heart. can’t wait to read it…

  28. 28
    jelodi97
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 7:41 am

    I thought this was a boring episode. Besides the model-stealing “drama”, there was nothing really that interesting. Nick was acting like a ridculous spoiled baby. “I’m inspired by my models.” WTF Nick?? If you want to be a designer, you’d better get inspired by the people who buy your clothes and come in all shapes and colors. Nick was such a puss about the whole thing, I wanted to slap him. Prior to this episode I thought Nick, Daniel V., and Chloe would be in the final three. Now I’m thinking Daniel V., Andrae, and Chloe. And Chloe’s designs are starting get really stale. She could have done a lot more with that dress and didn’t.

    Zulema’s garment was truly a disaster. And her pouting over her “shunning” from the rest of the designers shows that she’s mostly a lot of talk. She sucked, I’m glad she’s gone.

    I say Kara goes this week.

  29. 29
    Krizzatch
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 7:43 am

    I didn’t like Daniel V’s design at first either, but then you see how he goes outside the box to “make it work”. The inverted silhouette is very creative and stylish.
    Santino’s impressions of Tim were so great – I can’t wait for next week when there are more. He sounds just like my man Tim!

  30. 30
    hardly@work
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 7:43 am

    well i guess i’m in the minority on this one, i loved daniel’s design, it wasn’t just another dress, it was special

    i was shocked to hear tim’s harsh words, he ususlly goes by ‘if you don’t have something nice to say..’can’t believe he tore into her like that

    ‘kara took pictures of signs because she sucks’…exactly, every week she gets more bland,

    gargasmell, i used to support him, but since the bodice of every dress he has made has been the exact same, ugh, but i can’t wait to hear more of the tim impression

  31. 31
    holyterror
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 7:58 am

    Ceenee (#22): Just when I thought my sistahs and I were safe.

    Santino should lose the ‘do-rag and hat, shave his head and the rats’ nest of a beard, and trim the moustache. (“Straight Bitch Eye For The Bi-Guy.”)

    Daniel’s outfit would make ANYONE look like an asshole. And doesn’t his model know about hair conditioner?

  32. 32
    Leah3t
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 8:02 am

    jelodi97- i totally agree. shunning, my eye. pick up your plate and walk over to the table and eat with them! thats your own dumb fault! ‘nobody wants to talk to me because i have screamed at everyone on the show for no reason’ is not getting shunned.

    did you guys see in ew that wendy pepper blames the show for her divorce? any more info on that?

  33. 33
    jash
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 8:26 am

    i thought this was one of the best episodes yet. santino’s tim gun impression was a riot–and you can see more of his impressions on the bravotv.com website under “videos” of the project runway section.

    i thought tarah was the best of the models, and she is so out since i doubt daniel would give up his model for her. poor thing.

    daniels outfit was beautiful, and wonderfully executed and one of the more high-fashion designs of the group. i even thought the stylists did his models hair in a way that reminded me of the moss used to pot orchids.

    kara drives me nuts. could she say “Danger–no trespassing” any more during this one episode? SHUT UP.

    and i was happy to see michael kors be reliably bitchy “she looks like a debutante gone wrong–like her mom made her prom dress and she’s a bad sewer”

    haha

  34. 34
    Laurie
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 8:42 am

    Kara needs to GO. Gah she is annoying.

    I had orginally had Nick, Chloe with the final spot up for grabs in my final two; but I’m going to have to say Daniel V., Nick, and Andre are going to be the last 3. Andre has come just a long way from his breakdown in episode 1, and Chloe’s stuff-while well executed-has started to get really really boring.

  35. 35
    ceenee
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 8:52 am

    Holyterror– don’t worry, we are ALL sisters (who occasionally get oily skin)… it just seems prudent that if you are going on national tv, you should get some blotting papers or powder! Producers and makeup artists– make it work!

  36. 36
    bexwrex
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 9:05 am

    “It’s a Mother F***ing Walk Off” THANK YOU!! I haven’t even read the recap yet but I was so glad to see the title. I’m lovin Daniel V more & more each week.

  37. 37
    hardly@work
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 9:11 am

    daniel v. just blended in at the beginning of the show, but his work is standing out more each week, (however i didn’t like his ice skating dress)

    on ‘soup’ they had a clip of him saying that, i get giidy everytime i hear him say it

  38. 38
    criscogirl
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 9:17 am

    I’m gonna have to stick up for Santino simply because I now adore him courtesy of his Tim Gun impressions. If the producers really were keeping him around for good television, they would have kept Zulema around for future tension considering Kara equally deserved to go home. While Santino’s designs can sometimes go overboard, it is much better than Kara, who’s dress this past week I could have went to a store, bough a black dress and stapled a yellow strip across it, and Nick’s, who has the same design each week with different fabric. Santino does make beautiful things, just maybe not to the common folk. (I watch ANTM and wonder what the designers were thinking but all the fashion industry people are loving it). While Santino might not make the type of clothes that will help him win this thing, I think other designers should definitely go home first due to their lack of creativity, which this show is trying to promote. I think Daniel and Andre are shoe-ins for Top 3 but the third spot is still up for grabs with Nick, Chloe, and surprisingly enough Santino because they are all stuck in terms of their designs not improving with each week.

  39. 39
    USNRNPage
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 9:37 am

    Great recap Edhill.

    I agree that Andrae made a gorgeous dress. Santino needs to go soon.

    What is with this show and the tragic heiress references. First Nicky Hilton, then Doris Duke. Hmm, will Barbara Hutton get a nod this week?

    I can’t wait to see Nicks meltdown this week, when he realizes that his model has to leave, and marshmellow buns will have to do until he wins a challenge.

  40. 40
    Vee
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 10:06 am

    So, if Nick wins a challenge do you think he’ll be a hypocrite and “steal” someone else’s model?

  41. 41
    brilliantmistake
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 10:12 am

    I was also surprised by Tim’s comments in the fabric store. I expected more of a classic Tim pep talk along the lines of ‘your design is more important than the model’ instead it was more ‘dude, you’re doomed.’ Luckily DanV stepped up.

    Along the tragic heiress line, there is always Sunny von Bulow for the fashionable coma motif. (Is Nicky Hilton a ‘tragic’ heiress?)

  42. 42
    huskerfan
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 10:51 am

    how could you not comment on how arrogant and conceited jay is now? what, you win a reality show, haven’t even done anything with it and then all of a sudden you have the right to act like that? c’mon. embarassing.

  43. 43
    AbbyAnn
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 11:02 am

    I was disappointed in Tim this week. Normally he’s a voice of reason, but he played right into Nick’s model-bashing pity party.

    From the standpoint of “what would I wear?” I liked Andrae’s dress better than Daniel’s outfit. But I can understand Daniel winning the challenge, because the shape of his outfit wasn’t common. It evoked his inspiration photo without being too matchy-matchy, and it wasn’t a style and shape of dress you’d see anywhere. Andrae’s was prettier, though.

  44. 44
    grifter
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 11:02 am

    daniels’ inspiration was sooo lame but his outfit turned out cool b/c it was the first really conceptual design of the season…it wasn’t just a dress w/ boob cups and straps. andrae’s was cool and really reflected his inspiration well but he totally ripped off santino in the nicky hilton challenge with the gray/blue braided sashing.

    chloe’s gotta go next. her dress looked like it was stapled together. kara needs to be kept for the way she enunciates… sometimes her mouth is a perfect square.

    santino’s gettin tired but i still dig him.

  45. 45
    juddfan
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 11:18 am

    Great re-cap and comments. I was sad Nick was such a weepy wuss–reminded me of myself with all that pouting, but I was happy that both he and marshmellow bonded, it was sweet that she felt happy to be with him and worked on her walk. Would we know about the marshmellow if it wasn’t for miss Z’s short dress!

    I’m enjoying Santino more and more in the love-to-hate way, just wish he’d loose the jesus locks, esp with a spare pate! Horrid!

    Also, a pic of a dress for inspiration for a dress–couldn’t agree more!!! sorry for Tarah . . . she’s a cutie, and I liked her little bup lip when she got switched.

    Thought Andrae was clearly the winner here, beautiful work. I thought the orchid was way more daffodill, and frankly, a pic of a flower is up there in the lameness of a pic of a dress . . . oh well. Hate the last samari hairdo on Daniel too–ugh! Clearly they are not hair designers!!!

  46. 46
    jjsquishy
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 11:39 am

    Probably the crappiest part about this episode is that Zulema basically secured Tarah’s elimination, along with her own. I highly doubt Dan V. will switch models.
    Ewww and the whole not showering thing … it should be required in high stress competition, like this one. I feel for Zulema’s pillow cases.

  47. 47
    juddfan
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 12:19 pm

    hey jjsquishy . . . maybe next week they’ll have to make a dress from those pillow cases!

  48. 48
    hardly@work
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 1:14 pm

    nick designed brenda strong’s gown [the voice of desperate housewives] for the SAG awards, to check it out: http:nickverreos.blogspot.com

  49. 49
    hardly@work
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 1:16 pm

    sorry http://nickverreos.blogspot.com

  50. 50
    jjsquishy
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 1:48 pm

    Hardly, as soon as I saw that dress, I remembered it from the Nikki Hilton ep.

    Oh yeah, and was it just me or did PR1 winner Jay seem a little bitchy. Probably an inferiority complex.

  51. 51
    aeb
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 1:48 pm

    i can’t believe there weren’t more chats about how ugly kara’s dress was. and how nice michael was to santino.

    i couldn’t really see what was so wrong with zulema’s dress in comparison to kara’s. kara’s was awful!

  52. 52
    stacyrocks
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 2:02 pm

    aeb,

    I think not many commented on Kara’s ugly dress because this is what we’ve come to expect from her. I can’t recall seeing anything she designed/created that made me go ‘Cute!’ or caught my eye… in a positive way. :)

  53. 53
    hardly@work
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 2:24 pm

    i think the big to-do aboutzulema’s was the presentation of the dress, from what tim said on his podcast and their reactions to it, i think it was very poorly constructed and not finished, which is hard to tell on tv, eventhough kara’s was a bore, at least it was well made and not ill-fitting

    plus…if the challenge was about inspiration, making a red dress from a picture of ….a red dress

  54. 54
    anonym.
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 3:04 pm

    jash- i totally agree about how kara’s dresses are hideous and completely uninspired…plus, i was wondering how she got the concept of her yellow-and-black “no trespassing” dress, when her “inspiration” was just an orange sign..am i missing something? it looks more like the police tape…or a bumblebee

    * i’m surprised more people don’t like nick–i love his dramatic personality and he really creates beautiful dresses, especially the MYscene barbie dress and the “nicky hilton” one. in my opinion, he should have beaten santino on that challenge…santino’s was too messy in the bodice

  55. 55
    juddfan
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 3:05 pm

    actually, despite a lack of creativity, I thought Kara’s dress was ok, but she was lucky to have such a shapely model to show it off.

    I thought Z’s dress was ok too, but someone had to go . . . I found her time management issues repetative and annoying, but I didn’t mind the model switch or most of her work . . . finished or not . . .

    Couldn’t Kara have used a yellow and black sign though . . . her pick was orange!

  56. 56
    juddfan
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 3:08 pm

    wow, anonym, looks like we had a simultaneous thought!

  57. 57
    Lizardqueen
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 3:10 pm

    I actually thought Kara’s dress was ok. It was well made, if plain. She also seemed to fulfill the challenge. Take pictures, choose an inspiration. The judges probably thought it wasn’t artsy enough and she certainly has a hard time articulating her thoughts. I wouldn’t wear it, but it was sort of 80′s fabulous. Of course I also liked Kirsten’s ensemble from the 1st episode “Clothes off your back” and that was roundly drubbed.

    Andre continues to get the shaft, and not in a good way.

  58. 58
    Lizardqueen
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 3:43 pm

    Great minds, juddfan. Count me in the simultaneous thought club. Wierd.

    Looking forward to having you and the newly named “zoobabe” Dana snarking on the latest edition of Survivor. Will you be choosing a new moniker based on which contestant makes your heart flutter? I hope not, but adore you regardless.

  59. 59
    BSideLover
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 3:45 pm

    Jash – I am so with you! I was seriously about to jump through the TV and punch Kara if she said “DAIHNGER, No TRESSPAHHSING” one more freaking time! I cannot STAND her accent! And her hideous face doesn’t help either. (Wow, who brought me?)

    And huskerfan, I’m also with you on Jay. I can’t believe more of you aren’t up in arms about how rude and arrogant he was to the designers. Thank God Heidi called him out on it. (Of course, then he was an asshole to Heidi and I’ll have none of that!)

    I thought Kara should have gone this week. It was SO boring! Show some creativity, dang. Zulema’s at least had some texture.

  60. 60
    juddfan
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 4:10 pm

    yes, LQ, great minds!!! I saw an ad with the new survivors and don’t see any obvious picks to take the place of judd in my heart, will it be a bad season for me . . . time will tell. Thanks for the tip on Dana though!!!

  61. 61
    PixieGal
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 5:17 pm

    Oh my beautiful, beautiful Tarah. Why were you so horribly stolen away from Nick by that she-devil Zulema?

    That girl does not deserve to be eliminated and now Nick has to deal with The Human Marshmallow until he either wins or two giant Graham Crackers and a giant Hershey Bar find their way to her and a fire and put her out of her puffy misery.

  62. 62
    juddfan
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 5:33 pm

    ooo . . .pixie girl, you aint kiddin’ with that!!!!

    Maybe the producers will make something happen to keep Tarah in, it’s so unfair!!!!

    And LQ, I didn’t even realize Survivor was starting this week . . . and I checked out the peeps for it, sadly, no one to replace that Judd . . . could he be a surprise guest like Stephame and Bj were . . .

  63. 63
    anonym.
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 6:03 pm

    juddfan and lizardqueen– yes, great minds do think alike :)

    anyone else love the sassy nick? i love how he said he was about “to cut” zulema after she took his model…funny, i would love to see a no-holding back catfight between the two..who do you think is the bigger bitch? but nick does have better sunglasses, def.

  64. 64
    eellsinoc
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 6:05 pm

    How hilarious is Tim? He makes the episode each week. The way he purses his lips together and criticizes the designers – I love that!

  65. 65
    anonym.
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 6:07 pm

    http://www.apparelnews.net/library2/032604/andraegonzalo1.jpg

    ^ i believe that’s andrae…i googled him, trying to make a sequence of gaytastic faces, but i only found this

  66. 66
    B-Side
    Posted January 31, 2006 at 10:37 pm

    Not only is it Andrae, but there’s a pseudo-Chenbot behind him!

    I miss Diana.

  67. 67
    Lizardqueen
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 3:59 am

    anonym., I really like Nick. His clothes are beautiful but I’m over his kewpie doll hair. It’s his too small plaid hat, wouldn’t you say? In a back alley fight I have to bet on Zulema. I wouldn’t root for her though. Also that Andre pick is scary. His head is too big to accomodate hair and I’m glad he decided to shave.

  68. 68
    Aries
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 4:13 am

    I probably would have found Nick’s comment about cutting Zulema funny if he’d said it early on in the show but after 35 minutes of watching his meltdown, I was just like SHUT UP!!!! Zulema stole Nick’s model, not his penis. And she was entirely within her rights to do so as the winner of the last challenge. I guess all the designers had been lulled into complacency, like Santino noted everyone up until this point had remained loyal to their own models. And after hearing Zim dog the poor girl, I see why Zulema made the switch. Was there a less dramatic, more tactful, non-bitchy way to go about switching? Yes, but it’s Zulema, so there’s no real surprise face that she decided to go that route.

    As for Zulema’s complexion, I too noticed that it grew oilier and oilier. I think the stress was getting to her at that point because nothing else could account for so much grease. When they showed them all at dinner, it looked like a pretty decent meal, so fast food is probably not the culprit. The next time she goes to Duane Reade or logs on to drugstore.com, she not only needs to get the Dark n’ Lovely I recommended a couple of weeks ago, but the entire line of Neutrogena’s Deep Clean. The facial cleanser, scrub, medicated pads, everything. Since she’s not getting the $100K prize, it’s a low cost way to fix the complexion problems.

    I know I’ve dumped enough hate on Zulema but I hadn’t seen any mention in any of the other posts about her awkward return once she was auf’ed. If I remember correctly only Kara hugged her while everyone else just sat there with “don’t let the door hit you on the way out” expressions on their faces. Up until now, it looked as if Zulema got along with everyone, or as well as you can get along with her. But she always seemed sad when the other auf’ed contestants did the walk of shame back to the dressing room and even hugged them. So why no love for her this time? I understand Nick’s ding-dong-the-witch-is-dead attitude but I didn’t get why everyone else was being so cold to Zulema in their last moments with her. Granted, maybe it’s the editing but it struck me as a strange way for the rest of the designers to react to her departure.

  69. 69
    jelodi97
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 5:05 am

    Nick v. Zulema?? Zulema would kick Nick’s ass no doubt. In fact the only one who could take her would probably be Santino.

    As for Jay’s bitchiness, I think that there was probably some editing for effect going on there. Plus, from what I’ve read on Jay since last season, I think he’s having a hard time with all of the sycophants, toadies, and unsavory sorts that have crawled out of the wood work. It’s got to be hard trying to start a business and have all that BS going on simply because you were on tv.

    I’ll be the first in line to get something from his line if and when it ever comes out. I love Jay.

  70. 70
    hardly@work
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 6:18 am

    i haven’t seen season one of PR, but Jay was pretty much what I expected him to be, of course he was going to jump at the chance to give the new contestants a hard time, and kara and nick did babble

    i think sassy nick is great, but i’m still reeling from charming emmett’s departure

    i was thinking chloe, nick and daniel for the top three, but IMO it looks like daniel, andrae and nick

  71. 71
    heehaw
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 8:47 am

    that picture of Andrae says so much on many levels. that shape of his mouth looks like it is used to being like that. … you catch my drift? the shape of a giant cheerio.

  72. 72
    heehaw
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 9:04 am

    anyone else think daniel was kissing up by taking a picture in Michael Kors office? interesting how he loved his dress sooooooooo much. “he is a real daniel fan”. smooch smooch! that poofy dress was way overated. leave it up to a gay guy to hide the models lovely boobs with a giant non-form fitting poof top. kinda like a pirate shirt with the sleves cut off.

  73. 73
    ceenee
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 9:43 am

    I think Jay was trying to be helpful and speak from experience when he criticized the “wordy” designers… maybe it didn’t come out so sweet, but it’s Jay, and he had always been brutally honest in the last season.

  74. 74
    juddfan
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 10:37 am

    hey anonym, I’ve liked Nick all along–though I thought that black and white top was a mess–is it me!? It really looked bad to me (and not form fitting either) like a messy scarf from a mix of fabrics tied like a survivor buff at the ribs–but I digress.

    He was pouty (like me as stated) and I agree that the cut comment was after quite an extended pity party, so therefore, enough! But I was glad he got back on track with marshmellow, perhaps he’ll even be okay when Tarah is cut . . . we’ll see. We will need some drama, since we all know Kara is going tonight!

    Poor Zulema . . . guess I never hated her, I even liked her some, (that sparkly gold eye shadow, c’mon) but good advice on the skin, and I’m sure she’d win the cat fight . . . nick couldn’t hit a girl!!!

  75. 75
    anonym.
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 11:32 am

    “Not only is it Andrae, but there’s a pseudo-Chenbot behind him!”

    Score! that’s almost as good as seeing them together..but there’s got to be more chenbots out there. now that would be a multi-million dollar business..order a chenbot and stick them at your premier/launch party to add instant celeb cred.

    *glad a lot of you like nick as mich as i do..yeah, he was having a melt down, but only because zulema had “the walk-off”..i have a question? why is zulema’s ex-model even on the show if she’s THAT bad? wouldn’t they have tryouts to get on the show..or, more appropriately, motherf***ing walk- off’s?

  76. 76
    anonym.
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 11:39 am

    lizardqueen– i have to admit that his ‘faux-hawk’ is getting on my nerves a bit and the cap isn’t helping…but at least he’s no santino. or WORSE: austin scarlett! yikes! that man spent more time primping and coiffing in one day than i did throughout all of high- school…and teenage girls spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, so that’s saying a lot.

    juddfan- i really wasn’t sure what i thought of nick’s outfit..was it a top and skirt, or a whole dress connected? i think he had a hard time with the ‘inspiration’ challenge, considering he is usually inspired by ‘rich girls’ (which i must say, is a fab choice for making mucho dinero)..i thought the skirt was a bit boring…had he connected the two on one side and made it more form-fitting, i would have liked it more.

  77. 77
    juddfan
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 12:09 pm

    guess we’ll all have to buy his my scene Barbie when it hit’s the shelves!

  78. 78
    subgenre
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 12:35 pm

    I thought this challenge ROCKED! Part of the whole fun of this show is to see the creative process that the designers go through. If anything, this ep showed which designers are truly artists and which are more run-of-the-mill “hacks.” Ironically, it is the run-of-the-mill designers, like Kara, who are more in line with the Grand Prize of working at Banana Republic than the true artists like Nick, Chloe, and, yes, Santino.

    Why all the Santino hate? I think he is still innovative and original. Remember, the designers have very little time to create, plan and execute their designs. Many of the designers are using the same tricks over and over again: Nick and his fishtail skirts, Chloe and her penchant for blue, and Kara and her basic black sheaths. I just think that Santino is not the right fit for what the judges are looking to become the next madcap Banana Republic deigner. He is more trendy LA haute couture. Much like Bo Bice really was better off NOT winning “American Idol 4″ because he is more of a “Rocker” than a “Pop Idol.”

    Nick is super cute despite his disappointment this ep. He is like everyone’s fave gay uncle. I think someone even referred to him as “Uncle Nick” this episode. You can see Tarah’s disappointment in not working with him and also Rachel rose to the occasion to please Nick because he is such a good guy.

    Daniel’s inspiration pic was so BORING!!! It was a pic of FLOWERS which are already beautiful. Andrae was robbed. He took something ugly, saw the beauty in it, and gave life to his vision, which – as the lovely Heidi pointed out – looked expensive and chic. You could see the photo reflected by his creation; whereas, Daniel’s design was not as clearly symbolic. Even Daniel was shocked when he came off the runway and said he thought it would be Andrae’s win.

    I this show!!! I missed Season 1, too, but am SO happy I found PR this time around. It is fun and educational without being catty and mean.

    Kudos to the venerable (or is that venereal?) EdHill for another AMAZING recap. EdHill, YOU are truly an artiste and the inspiration to wannabe snarksters everywhere!

  79. 79
    RedRainbow
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 7:25 pm

    I thought Andrae’s dress was the best one myself. I mean who do you know personally who would wear Daniel’s poofy shirt vs. Andrea’s dress?

    Andrea cracks me up. Do you think that he has the same facial eye-popping face anytime anyone says “Andrea!”. Seems on this show anytime his name is said he does the pop-eye, insert spinach in open mouth thing.

    Santino’s dress could have been so him, but I hate how he makes so many dresses with that high waist, like a baby doll. Sheesh I thought he said he used to play with Barbies. Far as I remember, Barbie always shows off her small waist, which you can never do when you have this bunch-up of material right under the breasts, it totally covers up the waist. LOL! Ah well, he’s fun to watch though, and no doubt I cannot help myself in that I want to see what he will make next.

    Glad Zulema and her glasses are gone. She’s gonna get dents in the sides of her nose if she keeps wearing those things too long, heh.

    Man I hope Kara is gone next, danger danger! dumb dumb! No imagination no imagination! So lame. At least she should have gone out with a bang with it, I would have. I.e., like have more tape LOL. Tape draped in shreds around the model’s head and in her hair, put maybe some tacky giant red X where the crotch is on the front, oh the plethora..

    This show is really so fun to watch. :)

  80. 80
    Lizardqueen
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 8:00 pm

    Ok, I confess to having finally watched this episode. Nick was a whiny little bitch. I was totally shocked that Tim hated all over the elongated marshmallow like he did. And Kara is the new Lydia, just sliding through. The kid stays up and watches this with me. He is always asking lots of questions about “Santonio”. Santino fascinates young and old alike. His Tim impression is deadly.

  81. 81
    aeb
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 7:20 am

    i am DYING to talk about last night’s episode. but, whatever. my top three have changed (sadly. i almost cried last night).

    anyway, i think kara really could have done something with that dress. the thing about zulema’s “finishing” or presentation is that they don’t really show the viewer. obviously we noticed ass hanging out.. but the banana republic dress? i never noticed the hem wasn’t done!

  82. 82
    Lizardqueen
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 8:05 am

    DYING is not a strong enough word. aeb, I am so fucking pissed! The boy fell asleep during the new show last night. The first words out of His Royal Cuteness’s mouth this morning were “Who got kicked off the runway last night?” But I will patiently await for His Royal Snarkness’s recap.

  83. 83
    jenny10girl
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 11:11 am

    Is it really sad of me to say that I already have the Project Runway Barbie?

  84. 84
    EdHill
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 12:29 pm

    Im working on it now. Love this show.

    jenny10girl, if you send a pciture of you with the barbie Ill see if I can post it.

  85. 85
    huskerfan
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 1:39 pm

    does Daniel V. remind anyone else of Andy Samberg from SNL?

    http://www.saturday-night-live.com/snl/castbios/andysamberg.html

  86. 86
    jenny10girl
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 3:31 pm

    EdHill you’ve got a deal!! …should it be a picture with me in it??? :o )

  87. 87
    jenny10girl
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 3:33 pm

    Ok if I read the entire sentence I would see that I should be in it…don’t mind me…When I get back from Florida on Tuesday I will send it to you!!

  88. 88
    Lizardqueen
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 4:05 pm

    jenny10girl, I hope you are enjoying a respite from the cold and barren northerly regions. Can’t wait to see you with your dolly. Did you guys see that you can now bid on all of the Project Runway Barbies? The Emmett one is still my favorite and I’m working on a LQ sized version of that adorable little hippy dress. What’s up with those Barbies anyways? As though Barbie’s features weren’t exaggerated enough.

    “Designers, Rock the Casbah.”

    PS-Good call huskerfan.

  89. 89
    jenny10girl
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 4:09 pm

    No LQ I didn’t see that…I must check it out…!!! Thanks!!

  90. 90
    Lizardqueen
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 4:19 pm

    Can I also tell you that I may never get over the fact that Emmett’s cute dress sold for $155 dollars?!?!?!? After that show the auction seemed to really catch on and become pricey. Even some of that crazy reindeer lingerie went for more than twice that!

    Is there going to be a TVgasm cocktail hour or what? I must talk to someone who actually watches these shows. I need to hear everyone’s Tim Gunn impression.

  91. 91
    EdHill
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 8:20 pm

    jenny10girl, Sure. It’ll make sg-dub that much more jealous.

  92. 92
    ceenee
    Posted February 3, 2006 at 5:15 am

    #85 Huskerfan: Funny you should mention the Daniel V/Andy Samberg resemblance–
    In this week’s Savage Love Dan professes his fantasy of a Daniel V/Andy Samberg sandwich! Too too funy.

  93. 93
    hardly@work
    Posted February 3, 2006 at 6:57 am

    which one of emmett’s dresses went for $150,i stopped visiting the auctions after i saw what the hideous lingerie went for…must go look at the barbie’s now

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