Project Runway EEZ EEN! (Pt. 1)

Project Runway

By sg-dub | Friday, December 9, 2005 | 5:02 pm | 46 Comments

[Disclaimer: I do not know much about fashion. I will make fashion-related errors throughout this season's recaps. Corrections are welcome, but don't be a dick about it. There were too many people in the first episode to put together a seamless and funny recap. It's more informational than I usually like, but also necessary.]

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True inspirational story for the holiday season: About a year ago I was goofing around with my own little (now more or less defunct) blog which had a steady readership of about 30 people. I wrote short little recaps of “The Amazing Race,” “The Apprentice,” and a little show called, Project Runway on Bravo. I watched and recapped every episode on my little blog from Day one of what quickly became my favorite Reality/Contest/Elimination show of the year. It was also about a year ago that my friend EdHill told me about the existence of this site called TVgasm and how these guys did exactly what I did – just a hell of a lot better and with a lot more words and pictures. Then, one day a TVgasm reader mentioned “Project Runway” in the Forum and EdHill linked my little blog there saying, “This blog recaps that show.”The next thing I knew, I had many more readers and an email from J-Unit asking me if I’d be interested in trying to write for his site, specifically about “Project Runway.” So I spent like 12 hours one Saturday combing back through my blog entries, trying to capture the essence of the first 8 or so shows in a feeble attempt to catch everyone up in the hopes of going forward from there. I sent this first effort off to J-Unit and was told, “Thanks, but no thanks – the show is too far along in its season and besides, we try to be more descriptive here.” (I’m serious, this is 100% true) I huffed and puffed and immediately forgot about writing for this site. I didn’t, however, forget about “Project Runway,” which continued its incredibly strong rookie season and finished off with the best reunion show of any reality type show I’ve ever seen. (And, as you have figured out by now, I followed up with J-Unit a few months later and got the gig.)

As if that weren’t enough reason for me to love “Project Runway,” After watching the first hour of the two hour premiere this week, I was reminded all over again why I feel this show is simply the best. Although it’s certainly still too early to tell, it appears as though the show will avoid the dreaded Sophomore Slump. Why? Off the top of my head, here are the reasons why the show rules, in no particular order:

- Heidi Klum is beautiful and deliciously robotic a la Chenbot.
- The show tests skill and creativity, not lying and cheating.
- There is no luck involved.
12-7-05a.jpg- There are very few commercials.
- After commercials, they pick up right where they left off, not with a rehashing of the last scene.
- Cool music
- Real, not wannabe, models.
- I actually learn stuff
- The gay dudes are just dudes, not necessarily, “The gay guy.” (Austin Scarlett notwithstanding)
- The challenges were dreamt up by creative, smart people.
- Eliminations are based on skills, not Neilson ratings.
- Eliminations are done in a pretty cool and unique way.
- For the most part, the contestants are professional and very well-spoken by reality TV standards.
- Asians, blacks, and Latinos are representing.
- The innovative challenge within the challenge with the models also vying for a lucrative contract. (Morganza notwithstanding).
- These people possess skills I will never, ever begin to have.
- The show’s website is informative and laid out pretty well
- Tim Gunn is the man.

What’s more, I’m not even really into fashion or design at all, but I still love the show. Heck, I go to a local sports bar every Sunday to watch football. I played hockey. I drink light beer. I get my hair cut at a barber… That said, I don’t dress like a complete tool either. Oh, and I’m straight. Speaking of which, have you ever seen a cuter pregnant woman than Heidi Klum? The woman is flawless, even with child. (Or was did she give birth to a baby seal? Har-har.) Actually, I have seen a cuter pregnant woman, but I’ll keep that revelation to myself for a couple months.

Ok, so what about the actual show? Due to my lengthy and somewhat unnecessary preface, this recap will only tackle the first hour of the premiere: “The Road to the Runway.” It immediately jumped into the fray, with short little snippets from the tryout/interview process from different locations. In New York, last season’s winner Jay McCarroll helped out with the selections. (Jay was sarcastic and funny last season – and talented.)

Whereas “American Idol” spends several weeks on this winnowing process, PR whipped through it quickly and sparingly. SUCH a breath of fresh air. We saw a bunch of freaks, sure, but instead of giving them the airtime they so pathetically yearned for, we only saw them for a second or two with no audio. Instead, we “met” the folks who actually made the cut – imagine that. It’s completely opposite of AI and it’s great. The first designer to make it was Diana Eng, a RISD (Rhode Island School of Design, which has more freaky people than any other college in the world by the way) student from Florida. I immediately took to Diana, as her design ethos involves math, science, and computers and in her words, “I’m a hybrid nerd/fashion designer I guess.” She’s totally the girl we all cheated off of in math class. Go Diana with your awkward well-spoken bad little self!

12-7-05e.jpgThe second day of auditions in NYC brought some more annoying freaks (including Austin Scarlett to help judge) that we’d have to pretend are “for real” on other shows until we met Zulema – another very well spoken and intelligent reality contestant! Love. This. Show. Unfortunately for Zulema, she bears a striking resemblance to Miss Jay Alexander from America’s Next Top Model fame. Welcome to the show, Z!

After New York, the production traveled down to Houston where second runner up Wendy Pepper joined the judges. Wendy Pepper, for those who are not familiar, tried her hardest to ruin season one. She sucks – for she brought “strategy” and backstabbing to the show, which made no sense in the context of what was going on. She was a total bitch and simply didn’t “get it” last year. So I was pleased when she walked the tryout line and said, “Hi! I’m Wendy! Did anyone see season one” only to be greeted by crickets. Chloe made the cut there and it was off to Miami.

Season One’s lothario, Robert, was there to help judge. If Robert was in charge, rest assured every hot girl in a bikini would have made the cut but alas, he wasn’t. Instead we got Heidi, an annoying loudmouth from Alabama. Out in LA, season one runner up Kara Saun help pick a couple more gay guys (Nick and Raymundo) among others. Raymundo mentioned that his old-school Mexican father would be upset knowing his son was on the show because, “He thinks this is very gay.” See, that’s funny because, y’know, Raymundo is FLAMING. And if his father is denying that, well… Let’s just say he can’t possibly be.

A dirty looking younger Donald Sutherland character named Santino joined the fray, and then Daniel “Feel your bliss” Franco showed up… Again. You see, Daniel was unceremoniously booted in round one last season, after failing miserably at making a dress out of butcher paper in the initial grocery store challenge. (By comparison, Austin Scarlett won that challenge with an impressive dress woven from corn husks.) Daniel Franco was back to prove he had skills and brought along some beautifully crafted jackets to drive his point home. He still has a problem with puffery (verbally and facially) such as when Kara Saun suggested that, “design is not about the hairdo” and he responded, “That sounds like truth to me.” Hey Daniel, a simple “Yes” would suffice.

So Tim Gunn suggested the judges “caucus” about whether or not to give doofy Daniel another chance. “Caucus?” Awesome, Tim, awesome. Despite being called, “Annoying,” they decided to give him a second shot.

Now in Manhattan, all the contestants met for the first time (we were introduced to several others – Guadalupe the odd little SCTV character with the Bruce Lee haircut, Kirsten who designs sexy swimsuits for rich people, Andrae the bald guy, Daniel Vosovic the Adrien Brody look-alike, Kara Janx the South African lady with the coolest last name ever, Emmett the uppity dandy who knows Tim Gunn from Parsons already, John the chubby gay crazy dresser, and Marla, the old lady. It’s tough to get them all straight at this point.

12-7-05d.jpgSo let’s get rid of two people! Yeah! This was the “semi-finals” after all where the judges would decide who would actually be on the real show. Heidi Klum arrived and brought them into the workspace for the first time. Each designer (and many of them are already successful designers in their own right) was given 6 yards of muslin (I had to look that one up) and $20 bucks and tasked with designing an outfit/dress that expressed who each person was in one week’s time.

Oh pregnant HeidiKlumenspiel… I want to rub your belly. Anyway, once Heidi brought the gang to the workspace, Tim Gunn arrived to tell them that they had 2 hours to get their shit together, meet their model and get her hair and makeup done before the first runway competition. We got a little bit more insight into Andrae’s thinking (“Muslin is such a white trash fabric”) and Zulema Miss Jay (“John’s dress is so simple.”) See, I thought John’s dress was pretty nice – a simple little orange summery dress – but what do I know? Nothing these people do is “simple” to me.

The models arrived and were fitted and made up and boom – time for the first runway where, as Heidi told us, “One day you are EEN, the next you are OUT!” Don’t let her pretty smile and round belly fool you – Heidi is ALL German bondage and domination. As before, the judges are Heidi, Fashion icon Michael Kors, and Elle fashion editor Nina Garcia – the toughest critic of the three.

The models strutted their stuff and aside from the rather unattractive first girl (runway models are all about the body though); it was a generally lovely show. Apparently muslin is a crappy coarse cotton material that is wicked hard to work with – hence the challenge. Once again, I was blown away by what some people can do with 6 yards of crappy fabric. Some of the dresses were really quite nice looking. And for what it’s worth, I do believe Maria is my favorite model out of the gate – but I really don’t have enough to go by yet.

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Santino’s winning dress and Maria, my early favorite model

The runway show was well edited, had cool background music, and showed off each designer’s creation as well as the anxiety written across their faces. Poor little Diana Eng’s dress had some issues with her magnetic clasps that seemed to have “reversed polarity” in transport. Yeah, I heard that taking the train from Providence, RI to Grand Central involves an interstellar trip through a worm-hole. But I can’t be mad at little Diana Eng… No one can.

After the show, five people were called back to the runway: Santino (he just looks smelly, doesn’t he?), John (Bob’s Big Boy gone gay), Heidi (Sweet home Alabama), Daniel Franco (sigh), and Diana (No! Not Diana! The polarity reversed damnit! It’s not her fault!) Actually, another great aspect of the show is that these five represented the winner AND the losers. Dispensing with all hype, Heidi immediately announced Santino’s intricate little baby doll dress the winner and sent him on his merry way. All three judges totally agreed his was by far the best design.

The judges then asked the others about their ideas and told Heidi that her simple white dress was merely, according to Michael Kors, “A bando with an a-line skirt.” Ooooh, total fashion bust! He also said that John’s orange summer dress, which only took 8 hours to create, could be found, “On the back of a ret dye bottle!” Oooooh, SNAP! If I only knew what that meant! (But I know it was another total fashion bust!)

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Winner Santino (left) and Loser John

Diana Eng and her Magneto dress were still “EEN,” (“in”) so it was down to retread Daniel Franco, John the fop, and southern hick Heidi. Before he knew what hit him, the Kluminator told John he was “OUT” and that was that. That’s right, a flamboyant dresser who was a total character, dismissed because his design was weak – NOT kept on the show because he was “wacky.” Best. Show. Ever. This gave us a rather funny/sad moment when John went backstage and everyone thought he was therefore still in the running. Everyone raised up high fives and offered congratulatory hugs to him only to be told that he had been cut. WHA-wha-whaaaaaaa.

In the end, Heidi (whose dress was my least favorite) was told that she was also “OUT,” and that Daniel would live to see another day. True to form, hot Heidi offered redneck Heidi her “Auf Wiedersehen” send-off. “Aw heck, I don’t know what that means,” retorted not-hot Heidi. With that, hot Heidi whipped her with a cat o’nine tails and sent her on her way back to Alabama.

As the first hour ended, nein-hot Heidi did the impossible: Four clichés in one sentence. “There’s a plan for me, it is what it is, I gotta have faith, and I gotta keep on truckin’.” Oh how I wished uber-hot Heidi heard her to dole out some more punishment, but alas, she was not.

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John’s (left with TiVo bar) and Heidi’s losing dresses

Part 2 coming soon!

About

46 Comments

  1. 1
    Lizardqueen
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 6:30 pm

    I watched this show yesterday because of all the raving here at the Gasm. How fabulous. Who is more gorgeous than Heidi? I’m looking forward to enjoying the seaon. Did you think the shoe bomber had escaped and started calling himself “Santino the fashion designer”?

  2. 2
    Lindsay
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 6:49 pm

    OK, so remember that bad Mark Cuban show, “The Benefactor”? I can’t be too sure, because I only watched the piece of crap once (it was real painful), but there was a girl on that show who designed clothes who I think looked like Zulema. Is that possible?

    And in a totally contructive, non-snotty way: it’s ‘bandeau’ and ‘Rit’ dye.

    Outstanding recap, can’t wait for Part 2!

  3. 3
    stevo
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 7:08 pm

    Project Runway is the best reality show because everyone on it is a true freak, not just some famewhore trying to act crazy for the camera so that they can get more camera time. You could not make these people up. They are beautiful freaks and I love them for it!

  4. 4
    Vee
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 7:09 pm

    #2 – Her name was Zemia and her bio says she is a Disease Intervention Specialist or something like that. They don’t look alike to me once you discount that they are both black women on tv.

    Sg-dub – I share your love for Project Runway and I can’t wait to read your enthusiasm spelled out in what is sure to be a fun recapping season. Thanks for watching.

  5. 5
    The Svan
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 7:34 pm

    This is by far the best reality show, I’ve watched every episode. Santino is by far the most talented on this show and will take the prize unless the judges get pissed at his attitude.

    The best part really is Heidi saying “One day you are EEN, the next you are OUT!” Thanks for the recap, now just hit the funny parts when you do the clothes off your back episode.

  6. 6
    Digo
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 7:46 pm

    Rit Dye is the really inexpensive dye you can find just about anywhere for tie dye projects and the like.

    I think Tyler was saying that in reference to the dye job John gave his dress.

    The first time I had ever watched this show was yesterday and I’m already addicted. It wasn’t until you pointed out all the things that set it apart from other reality shows that I realized just how awesome it is.

  7. 7
    stevo
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 8:08 pm

    Okay, let it be known…I am gay….I like to think that I know about fashion(at least a little bit). For instance, when Michael Kors said to “Sweet Home Alabama”…”Take away the trim and all you’re left with is a bandeau and an A-line skirt” I knew exactly what he was talking about.

    That being said, whenever they bring out the finalists that represent “the best” and “the worst” I still cannot say for sure which is which. It seems to me that usually the most “hideous” creation looks very similar to the most “fabulous” creation.

    I freakin’ love this show!

  8. 8
    Pat
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 8:22 pm

    Enjoyed the recap–just have to add the very humorous description given Santino by someone on the Project Runway boards–”…Santino, or as I’ll call him, Mick Fleetwood…” Love the show v. much but I’m already sensing that Zulema is the next Wendy Pepper–hogging the closet in the apartment, and being frankly rude about it–ugh. Looking forward to your next installment–

  9. 9
    sg-dub
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 8:24 pm

    You see, I’m learning stuff from you guys. I had it as “rit” dye but spellchecker offered up ret so I went with it. And I had no idea what it was. When I win Jeopardy someday, I’ll be thanking you.

    Watched Part 2 tonight and my first favorite model quit! (The models were much prettier – and had better asses – last season, FWIW.)

    The Svan – yeah, more “funny” in the 2nd part… esp for you, one of my favorite commenters. But don’t tell anyone else I said that..

  10. 10
    EdHill
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 8:53 pm

    Thank god this show is back. I love it for every reason sg-dub said and more.

    Tim Gunn IS the man. Here’s a little secret. I am a graduate of a fairly prestigious (If I may say so) Art school. Tim Gunn is just like my old art professors. You’d be working on your project and they would wander in and just start giving you constructive criticism about what they think. Do you think these colors work? What are you trying to say with this piece? Have you used you’re negative space correctly? Tim Gunn is just like that. He’s not a corny camera hogging reality show host. And the man is also dapper as hell. Watching this show brings me back. Even the final judging is eerily reminiscent of my past. Tough, but fair and genuinely intelligent criticisms of your piece. This show really captures that spirit.

    There are no cheesy reality show gimmicks. Sure you can shtick for the cameras or decide that you want to be “the villain”, but in the end it doesn’t mean shit. You are judged on your skill as a dressmaker and that’s it. Nothing else.

    With that said I love Diana. RISD represent! The piece she showed at her audition was brilliant. It was a hooded sweater with a tiny camera on the front and it would monitor your heart rate. If your heart rate got high, it meant you were in a situation that was exciting and it would trigger the camera to take pictures. That was a freaking brilliant idea. And I loved her dress. The magnets thing was a good idea in theory but just didn’t work. And not exactly practical to have magnets on your clothes in this Ipod cell phone society. But whatever, my girl thinks outside the box.

    Santino looks like a girl friend of mines duechebag ex boyfriend. So for that reason alone I will root against him. And I also really enjoyed Daniel because after last season when he came in acting all reality tvish and got the beat down, now he is all humble and constantly afraid he’ll fail.

  11. 11
    Sarcasma
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 9:11 pm

    I hate Santino. He won the first challenge and suddenly he has this all empowering self of entitlement.

    He looks like a homeless person that wandered in from the street.

  12. 12
    larabee
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 9:46 pm

    “as they say in the world of fashion, one day you are EEN, one day you are out”

    Auf Wiedersehen!

  13. 13
    Miranda
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 10:06 pm

    I loved the Santino/Donald Sutherland comparison. I hated Wendy then and I see she hasn’t changed much since last season. I thought that maybe watching herself be a horrid bitch to everyone would make her stop and think. For the record, I still think that fabulous Austin Scarlett deserved to be in the final 3. I agreed with the judges that Jay won and that Kera Saun is also fabulous. That Wendy Pepper is one SALTY bitch though!

  14. 14
    iheartprojectrunway
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 11:04 pm

    Did anyone else think Nick’s (the FIDM teacher) dress was way better than Santino’s? Santino’s cocky attitude is already grating on me…

  15. 15
    Brett
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 11:04 pm

    SgDub…. We’re glad J-Unit came to his senses and hired you on. You rule.

  16. 16
    Pinwiz
    Posted December 9, 2005 at 11:45 pm

    You did not compare Heidi to the Chenbot! Oh no, you di’nt!

    While I see the resemblance, Heidi seemed to have taked a big step forward while still remaining fairly non-responsive. Plus, she has a real role in the fates of the designers. Compare that to the Chenbot’s “But first…”

    I love them both, but they’re not deserving to be in the same room.

  17. 17
    shank
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 1:21 am

    Ha, spectacular recap…can’t wait for the rest. I’m stoked that I’m not the only one who’s hopelessly rooting for hypernerdy Diana Eng. She’s totally going to install absurd machinery in her future dresses.

  18. 18
    jenny10girl
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 5:16 am

    Ok EdHill…It is ashame that Santino looks like some douche bag…but he’s my early favorite…I love his style as well as his attitude…I love this show and I am so happy to see there are others out there that love it too!
    :o )

  19. 19
    Soriner
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 5:53 am

    I like Santino. I suspect a lot of his comments are being said tongue in cheek (e.g. “They just didn’t want me to win twice in a row.”), but the show isn’t showing us the whole context to see that.

    My prediction is that Santino will get to the top 3, and take runner-up.

  20. 20
    The Svan
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 5:57 am

    Diana seems to be better served by getting a bit of exposure here and then moving on. I don’t see how she can bring technology into it being limited to certain materials and time. It will most likely hamper her but you are all right in that she seems real sweet.

  21. 21
    DJjazzyJason
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 6:52 am

    My standard routine every monday as of late has been: Waking up in either a dumpster or a on a sandbarge, dropping by the E.R. for a quick stomach pump and free condoms, running to the bank, running from the bank, pilates class, cocktails with Grandma, then home to have friends over to watch our favorite shows Surface and Medium whilest we drink wine and smoke. Since “Project Runway” has started again we’re officially switching our television party night to Wednesday.

  22. 22
    aeb
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 7:08 am

    who is the chick that made the AWESOME dress (she won round 2)? i’ve loved her stuff from this point.

    secondly, good asses? did you see the ass on zulema or whatever’s model? yeah. i also think zulema resembles Taquita from MTB3. just my opinion.

    i do not think heidi should have gone home. i loved her simple dress, although they were looking for construction and not accesories or additives and i get that.

  23. 23
    The Svan
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 7:43 am

    The Svan believes you are referring to Chloe, aeb.

  24. 24
    holyterror
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 7:47 am

    Steveo (#7) is right — the bit about lining up the best and the worst together is sadistic and a really great device, both since 1) like J-Unit said, the viewers really don’t know what’s relevant in ranking the pieces and so they question their own judgment, and 2) real genius in anything, especially fashion, is often just a tweak away from idiocy. They’re ALWAYS surprised when they find out they’ve won! I think it’s because really talented people are so aware of their own shortcomings, and these are really talented people.

    I wish all the reality shows would stop bringing people back. Daniel is 1) sooo annoying and 2) already had his chance and fell flat on his puffy face. It was definitely fun, though, watching him sweat like Nixon through both judgment sequences. That garbage bag dress of his in season 1 looked like crap even in that great graveyard of the losing garments they had. That’s another thing I love, that graveyard! It’s like having their head hung on London Bridge as a warning to others!

    If he mentions “bliss” even once, I’m going to track him down and kill him and anyone who gets in my way. He already made one irritating, sing-song little “blessing” when Heidi was eliminated. And his hair still looks like a bucket hat made of black feathers.

    By the way, all the Talking Heads went to RISD.

    Tim rules. Even when people are stupid enough to tell him he’s wasting their time (Daniel last season, Andre this season) he’s flawlessly cool and polite. I’d like a talking doll of him — “Carry on! Carry on!” “That’s a LOT of look.”

  25. 25
    The Svan
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 9:27 am

    holyterror, The Svan thought the same as you but the first episode clearly showed Daniel coming for redemption and Project Runway thought about it and went off his design. The Svan thought it was acceptable and wasn’t done for the sake of the show.

  26. 26
    Hinha
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 9:48 am

    I’d just like to add two more reasons why this show is cool: The cast is not chosen for their looks. There are no wannabe actors or models throw in as eye candy (OK, but we get real models for that!). And it is not a vote-based popularity contest — it is judged by experts (with the exception of that tacky bitch, Nancy O’Dell, last seaon!).

  27. 27
    oaktowntruds
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 9:58 am

    Can’t wait for your part 2 recap, so I can chime in with all my thoughts about Santino, who is my pick for best villain for season 2. When he was smirking and gloating over Andrae’s breakdown on the runway? Awesome! I hate him already, but I LOVE him for his evilness.

  28. 28
    The Svan
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 10:19 am

    Santino is the best designer. He was spot on when he said they wouldn’t let him win the first two.

  29. 29
    BigMax
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 10:51 am

    I have to give sg-dub some major props for the Bob’s Big Boy line… truly dead-on and hysterical.

    Too bad he didn’t last longer — myl could have done another double-take.

  30. 30
    rhm
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 11:16 am

    I thought it was interesting that when Diana was explaining what happened with the magnets, the fashionistas got all confused and I think it was Michael who said, “I don’t even know what that means.” Not the brightest bunch, those judges, which makes me fear that Diana probably won’t last too long. But I love her! She’s adorable and her designs are interesting & innovative.

  31. 31
    maui
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 11:29 am

    Great show. The talent of the contestants really runs things, not how many people call in, or how long you can stand on a platform.

    Two bad points that they had in Season 1 -

    1. Nancy O’Dell as a judge? Just because you’re a talking head for some wannabe show does not make you a fashion expert. And that dress was hideous!

    2. Wendy Pepper – Does anyone else think that they kept her on because “America wants to see a normal person make it big”? Granted, it’s a “reality” show, but in all “reality”, the producers can make the show however the heck they want.

    Ugh, it pissed me off that they kept that talentless Real World/Road Rules Challenge reject in the top three. So many of the others had a lot more talent. Can I hear it for corn-husk using, stand-in runway modeling Austin Scarlet?

    *Not sure if it’s a point of contention, but Parker Posey as a judge? Now she’s got greater fashion sense than Nancy O’Dell, but not sure how I felt having her as a finals judge. Still love her though, workin’ at the DQ….

  32. 32
    oaktowntruds
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 12:24 pm

    Wendy Pepper was often in the bottom two, but, by her own admission, she won when she really, really needed to. I would much rather have seen Austin in the top three, but I do think his silhouettes were often too similar: he never really seemed to break out of his a-line, glam-dress mold … and when he did, the results were not so great (remember the teal leopard print “bridal” gown?).

  33. 33
    katieshole
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 12:38 pm

    I love this show, especially when Heidi Klum sounds like a Nazi. She could of done a few cameos on the old TV show, ‘Hogans Heroes’.

    Runway rocks!

    KH

  34. 34
    holyterror
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 1:28 pm

    Svan (#25): I do think the outfit Daniel made from his own clothes was amazing. I looked down and wondered how the hell I’d make anything that good out of what I was wearing.

    But still … a show like this is such a rare opportunity, and really changes people’s lives, even those who are only runners-up. Seeing the size of the lines to “audition,” I really think it’s unfair to give someone like him another chance at so few openings. He not only had his chance, he was eliminated FIRST and was snotty to Tim (The MAAAN!).

    Plus, new seasons and new “characters” provide a fresh chemistry. It’s a drag to have to listen to someone you “know” already (Bobby Jon!), and who’s what my father used to call a “real meatball.”

    No one should come in with a special status, and if they’re eliminated, they should move on to another venue. There are many talented people waiting for a break, as I think this season’s cast proves.

  35. 35
    holyterror
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 1:38 pm

    Katieshole (#33): Heidi’s cuter than Christmas (my brother always says that and I don’t really know what it means, but it seems to fit her), and part of that is her accent. She also is quite intelligent and very kind, even to people who really lay an egg. Don’t lump her in with the Nazis. The young people of Germany had nothing to do with that, and I know you meant it in jest, but she can’t change how she speaks. It’s too easy an analogy to make, and rarely appropriate.

  36. 36
    holyterror
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 2:07 pm

    KH: P.S. I think the best way to defang the Nazis may be to say that they sounded like a famous model.

  37. 37
    lia
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 2:18 pm

    so i absolutely adore heidi and she is just the cutest thing i’ve ever seen in my life. LOVE HER! i’m highly addicted to pretty much all reality tv, but project runway is definitely my favorite…if only i could design anything :( so i must be one of the few people who actually love santino, but he was right when he said they didn’t want him to win 2 in a row. also love nick, andrae(although i could have done w/o him crying) and daniel v. & chloe

  38. 38
    The Svan
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 3:02 pm

    holyterror, you have good points and it is not the Svan’s place to say an opinion of your quality is wrong. It won’t matter in two or three weeks when he is eliminated.

  39. 39
    holyterror
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 4:55 pm

    Svan (#38): I bow to The Svan. Love, ‘Terror.

  40. 40
    holyterror
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 5:35 pm

    #37: Whatever the truth of the matter, Santino should not have walked back stage and stated in the presence of the winner that she only won because of politics, and that he really would have won were it not for his previous win.

    She won. Deal with it. That’s the beauty of this show — Wendy won over Austin. Everybody mourned, but the rules were applied fairly.

  41. 41
    hoark
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 6:50 pm

    first season, i avoided this show because there was a lot of crap reality spewing forth at the time, so i was being selective. thank god i got over it. jay and austin are my favorite reality people ever. this season, diana eng is in the running. and santino will definitely be the bitch i hate to love (or vice versa).

  42. 42
    holyterror
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 7:20 pm

    The Bulge: It’s like Heidi’s gorgeous belly and nipples are standing up to blow kisses and say, “Hello.”

  43. 43
    grifter
    Posted December 10, 2005 at 11:58 pm

    to all you santino haters out there…back off! the dude’s hot, sexy, and talented. and his designs are totally couture. and while he was being truthful about the judges not wanting to give him 2 in a row he was also being totally tongue in check! and you couldnt see his mouth when he said it so he might have said it at some other point and the editors put it in that spot. not even our beloved PR is immune from reality tv editors!
    as for diana. she’s cute but the whole magnets reversing polarity schtick will be old by week 3. someone needs to tell her that she’s making clothes…not builing a nuclear bomb! and i heard tim gunn has already nicknamed her dr. sprocket!

  44. 44
    cones
    Posted December 12, 2005 at 9:55 am

    “The judges then asked the others about their ideas and told Heidi that her simple white dress was merely, according to Michael Kors, “A bando with an a-line skirt.” Ooooh, total fashion bust! He also said that John’s orange summer dress, which only took 8 hours to create, could be found, “On the back of a ret dye bottle!” Oooooh, SNAP! If I only knew what that meant! (But I know it was another total fashion bust!) ”

    It’s Bandeau top, but right on!

  45. 45
    BB
    Posted December 12, 2005 at 2:47 pm

    This show just catches you so off guard sometimes.
    I mean I saw the little blue dress with the black pockets and thought the judges would rip into it, seeing as it came from the Pretty Woman wardrobe left-overs!

    but then she won!

    PR never fails to surprise

  46. 46
    grifter
    Posted December 12, 2005 at 5:05 pm

    BB- i totally agree. and tim and everyone else seemed to feel sorry for chloe b/c they didnt think she was wearing much that night. but her jersey dress that she said she made 3 days before arriving in new york had absolutely no structure to it so she basically had a totally blank slate to work with. and it was tons of material!

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