Dressing in the Dark: Designers Try on "Lipstick" on "Project Runway"

As much as the designers might loathe it, I do love when Project Runway forces its contestants to work together to design a garment. While the results might sometimes be truly awful, the process does sometimes produce some truly mind-blowing creations (I'm thinking of Chris March and Christian's pairing last season).

So I was curious to see how this latest crop of designers would fare in their first team challenge on this week's episode of Project Runway ("Welcome to the Jungle"). Were the results runway-ready or just plain also-ran? Let's discuss.

Brooke Shields stopped by as this weeks' guest judge/corporate synergy icon as the designers were tasked with creating a look for Shield's character Wendy to wear on Season Two of the NBC drama Lipstick Jungle. (I loved the way the designers seemed to silent acknowledge that they had never heard of the series, nor that it had been given a second season order.) In an echo of the Sarah Jessica Parker challenge from last season, designers pitched their concepts to Shields, who then selected six captains who would implement their designs with the help of another designer.

I thought that the pairing of Jerell and Stella would implode as they have such different design aesthetics but they actually worked so harmoniously together that I added some extra salt to the dish of crow I was eating. Their design was absolutely suited for both the world of Lipstick Jungle and Shields herself and they even wisely styled their model Nicole to resemble the star herself. The design was chic, bohemian, and elegant and definitely embodied the brief--to create a look that could go from day to night--perfectly suited for the office or a night on the town. The leather corset belt was genius and the combination of textures and pattern created an amazing silhouette and looked fashion-forward. I also thought that it filmed the best and would pop on television more than the other designs.

Also impressive was the work that Keith and Kenley pulled off. I was worried about these two working together as I thought they'd be at each other's throats but they managed to keep one another in check throughout the process, creating a winning garment that was chic and fit the brief perfectly. Keith's soft fringed skirt was creative and imaginative and embodied the very essence of movement and femininity; paired with an organza floral-print top that could be transformed as Wendy moved from day to night and a leather belt, it was a gorgeous garment that showcased how their own diametrically opposed styles could be melded into this one garment.

As for the rest, ugh. It was really a mixed bag. I thought that Korto managed to fix the bagginess of her "sweet potato" ethnic-inspired tunic jacket but she had immunity so I knew that she and Joe wouldn't end up on the bottom this week, even if Joe's dress looked poorly constructed and oddly baggy in places. I was disappointed with Terri, whom I've been rooting for; she and Suede did not work well together and I thought that the design was far too urban than would work for Shield's character and the boardroom/nightclub structure of the challenge.

And then there was Blayne. (I won't even mention Leanne in the same breath as I do feel as though it was Blayne's vision that categorized this challenge.) I appreciate that Shields wanted to take a risk with this design (or that the producers urged her to do so) but I didn't see how shorts of any kind would be acceptable for either the boardroom or for a posh night on the town and the end result justified those feelings. Blayne designed a bizarre outfit (quelle surprise) that combined an unstructured top, an overlayed beachy shirt, and above-the-knee length shorts. I do agree that their model looked like a woman who got dressed in the dark and grabbed whatever she could as she ran out of the house. It was messy, inappropriate, and--paired with the pearls--just weird.

Finally, completing the bottom feeders was Kelli and Daniel, who created a nauseatingly bad black and leopard print design made up of separates: a rouched skirt, a slutty top, a jacket that makes Victoria Secret look like haute couture, and a lacy belt. It was vile. Just for the poor judgment that went into making this garment I knew that one of them would be going home and, to be honest, I was hoping it would be Kelli. Just as the judges did, I questioned both of their taste level (how odd was Kelsey laughing hysterically when Daniel defended his design aesthetic?) and felt that they deserved to be called out for something that was so amateurish and costumey.

Sure enough, it was Kelli who was auf'd as the judges were just so horrified by this design that she needed to be banished from Parsons post-haste. But worry not, Kelli, I have a feeling Daniel will be joining you soon...

Next week on Project Runway ("Good Queen Fun"), it's a blast from the past as Season Four's Chris March returns for a challenge in which the designers need to create an outfit for a group of drag queens.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Ghost Whisperer (CBS); Summer Olympics (NBC); Friday Night SmackDown (CW; 8-10 pm); Legally Blonde (ABC; 8-10 pm)

9 pm: NUMB3RS (CBS)

10 pm: Swingtown (CBS); 20/20 (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

10 pm: Swingtown.

On tonight's episode ("Get Down Tonight"), Tom and Trina teach Susan and Roger how to line dance; Janet gets a job at the local newspaper.

Welcome to the "Jungle": A Sneak Peek at Brooke Shields on "Project Runway"

In the latest cross-promotional opportunity on the series, Brooke Shields, late of NBC's femme drama Lipstick Jungle (and previously of FX's Nip/Tuck), guest judges on this week's installment of sartorial showdown Project Runway.

Will the designers be able to please the stylish star with their fashionable designs for powerful business women? Or will they end up stranded in the jungle with too many animal prints and 1980s accessories?

Shields is no stranger herself to high-end fashion herself or drama, as shown by this clip, where she pays an "unexpected" visit to the designers at Parsons.



And if that weren't enough, another sneak peek at this week's episode of Project Runway, as Tim checks in on the designers in his own inimitable style:



Catch Project Runway tomorrow night at 9 pm on Bravo.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: NCIS (CBS); Summer Olympics (NBC); Beauty & the Geek (CW); Wipeout (ABC); House (FOX)

9 pm: Big Brother 10 (CBS); Reaper (CW); Wanna Bet (ABC); Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Primetime: Medical Mysteries (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8-10 pm: Britcoms on BBC America.

I don't know about you but by Tuesday night, I'm usually in need of some comedy in my life. Why not stick around on Tuesday nights for BBC America's new comedy lineup, consisting of classic episodes of Coupling, new comedy Not Going Out, and Absolutely Fabulous?

9 pm: Flipping Out Reunion on Bravo.

On the Flipping Out Reunion Special, watch Jeff, Jenni, Zoila, Chris Keslar and the others gather to take a look back at the sophomore season's good times and bad times and those truly awful times, like the firing of Chris Elwood. What really happened there? Find out tonight.

Designers Go for the Gold on "Project Runway"

Before getting into specifics about this week's episode of Project Runway ("Rings of Glory"), I want to pause for a brief second to urge tanorexic Blayne to get some help. Like serious psychological counseling.

Anyone who is tanning themselves every other day has some deep mental issues to deal with and he seemed to be suffering from withdrawal in this week's installment as he bemoaned the lack of self-tanning into the production's rigorous schedule. I think we're talking intervention time here, people. The constant tanning may have affected his design sense, his language abilities (it could explain the use of the invented suffix "licious" after every word), and his very sanity.

But in all fairness, I thought that this week's challenge--delivered to the designers by guest judge/Olympian Apolo Anton Ono--was an innately tricky one as they were tasked with creating an outfit for the US Olympic team's female members to wear during the Opening Ceremonies (which are slated to air, of course, on Bravo's sister network NBC on Friday evening; how's that for cross-promotion?). Sportswear is difficult to pull off at the best of times and this had the risk of pushing designers in one of two directions: towards far too athletic looks that didn't have any fashionable elements or towards pieces that looked overly designed, even costume-y.

So what did our estwhile band of design divas pull off this week? Let's discuss.

While she may not have won this particular challenge, I am once again blown away by Terri's skills. This week, she created several pieces that could have come out of the sportswear collections of Ralph Lauren or even Michael Kors, designing an elegant ensemble that worked as a throwback to the sort of cricking uniforms that categorized the Opening Ceremony garments of yesteryear but which was also deeply rooted in 2008: a tapered white pant perfectly set off a strapless band top, itself contrasting nicely with a striped jacket that Terri magically whipped together in a few hours' time and topped off with a stylish ruffled scarf. The overall look was perfectly suited for the event, would show off the athlete's bodies, and was innately stylish. Well done, Terri.

Korto, who won this challenge, definitely put some thought into thinking about both the Olympians' muscular bodies and the temperature in China, designing an outfit that made use of lightweight leather and linen to create a breezy look that subtly made use of red, white, and blue without being overt or intrusive, offering a wide-legged pant, a lightweight leather vest and a belted top that looked cool, confident, and sexy to boot.

Rounding out the top three designers was Joe, who was irritating me to no end this week as he created friction with several designers, most notably Daniel, whom he accused of re-threading "his" machine, which he had been working on ten minutes earlier, and told him to "wake up." Whatevs. Get a grip, dude, and pay more attention to what you're doing and stop accusing other people of creating drama when you're doing that just fine yourself...

Anyway, Joe's outfit wowed the judges but I thought it was way too literal and in-your-face. Plus, squorts are just not okay, regardless of the event at hand. Were the multi-colored zippers a cute idea? Sure, but it wasn't going to win him this particular challenge, thank god. It was a little too sporty for my liking and a little too "USA" (made even more evident, if you couldn't tell from the colors, by the USA going down the side in red). I thought it was pretty meh; it seemed like Michael Kors agreed.

Stella: stop using black leather. You are officially warned now. I am amazed that the judges haven't called her out for this yet (maybe it's still too early in the game) but week after week she is using the "leatha" once again as the basis for all of her garments. Michael, Heidi, and Nina called out Rami constantly for his perpetual use of draping, so it's weird to me that they aren't telling her to do something different for a change. Time to step outside your comfort zone, Stella.

Ah, Daniel. I really don't know what you were thinking this week. The garment was atrocious and had no relevance whatsoever to the challenge, the client, or the competition, really. Daniel created an odd, purple-hued garment with red buttons which was really more of a cocktail dress than something that female Olympians would be able to wear at the Opening Ceremony. He missed the boat entirely with the athletic theme of the challenge and couldn't quite grasp the history of the Opening Ceremony or what it was really all about, despite that half-hour they spent at the Armory. Just... wow.

Similarly, Jerrell created something that, while unique and striking, had no place whatsoever in this week's competition; it was as though he heard an entirely different brief than the other designers, creating a 1940s inspired look (complete with hat!) that was modern and definitely different: a pouf-sleeved blouse with several handkerchief/neckties, a high-waisted belted skirt with leggings, and that polka-dot hat. It certainly looked avant-garde and designed but it had no relevance in a challenge in which he was meant to create a garment for female athletes who would look utterly ridiculous in that get-up. While I knew the judges wouldn't auf Jerrell for this, it wasn't a surprise that he got critiqued so heavily.

And then there was Jennifer, the self-proclaimed surrealist whose work so far has been dowdy, matronly, and boring... and has yet to show any signs of the surrealism she claims has influenced her work. Where was the art of Dali and Magritte in this week's garment, a girlish above-the-knee skirt with a plain top and cut-away cardigan? Seriously, I am hoping someone can explain this to me, because I am just not seeing it at all. Once again, Jennifer was criticized for injecting her own style into the challenge rather than using the challenge to create something beautiful; like Stella with the leather, she seems unwilling or unable to break out of her own little box to create something different. After barely squeaking by last week, I knew that Jennifer's time was up and, sure enough, the judges decided to send her packing.

I think it's for the best. She hadn't created a single design that impressed me in any way and she really needed to bring her A-game to this week's challenge, knowing that she was on the chopping block after last week's performance. Alas...

Which design do you think was the best and which was the worst? Discuss.

Next week on Project Runway ("Welcome to the Jungle"), it's time for more cross-promotional opportunities as Brooke Shields, star of NBC's femme-centric drama Lipstick Jungle, drops by for a challenge in which the designers must create outfits for working women.

"The Worst Review is No Review": Inspiration and Lack Thereof on "Project Runway"

Is it too soon to want to shake some of these designers already?

I'm talking about this season of Project Runway on Bravo (the very last season of Project Runway on Bravo, to be specific); unlike previous years, I am distinctly getting the feeling that some of these "eccentric" designers were definitely cast for their quirkiness (speaking in the third person, adding "licious" to every word, being obsessed with leather) more so than their design abilities. Sure, Suede's dress last week was absolutely amazing but if he doesn't stop referring to himself in the third person, I am going to start to root for him to be auf'd right away. (Yes, it bothers me that much.) And the less said about Blayne the better, in my book.

On this week's episode of Project Runway ("Bright Lights/Big City"), the designers were tricked--rather easily, I might add (don't these contestants watch the series?)--into thinking that they were off for a night on the town with Mssr. Tim Gunn, when in actuality Tim forced them into some ridiculous red ponchos and wellies and then took them on a double-decker bus tour of Manhattan at night. The designers were split into groups, given an hour to photograph some inspirational images at three different locales, and then were told to design an outfit based on one of those photographs.

I have to say that I absolutely loved this challenge. Sure, Project Runway has used the photographic inspiration challenge in the past, but never with such dynamic results; having the designers photograph the city at night also opened up a whole new world of possibilities, utilizing light and color to great effect.

It's funny to me that, after all this time, some of the designers still don't listen to Tim's advice as he goes by offering up his opinion. Tim is on target about 98 percent of the time and knows what the judges are looking for, so it is always surprising to me when some of the designers (ahem, Emily) choose not to listen to him about their garments. Unlike some other series, where a mentor like Tim might be striving to inject some drama, Project Runway's Tim Gunn has always given his fledgling designers a true and honest opinion from the start. And guess what? Tim's criticisms were the same exact ones that the judges later gave on the runway. While it might be too late to change directions completely by the time Tim strolls through the sewing room at Parsons, there is enough time to try to tweak the design along his guidelines. After all, he is there to help.

So what did the designers do with their nighttime Manhattan inspirations? I have to say that there were a bunch of designs that really stood out to me and I was really impressed with several of the garments that went down that runway. While I knew that either Kenley or Leanne would win this challenge, I was really pulling for Leanne to win, if only because it was a complete 180 degree turn from where she was last week, in the bottom two. Kenley's dress was absolutely stunning: a thoroughly modern version of a 1980s Joan Collins power garment, it masterfully played with the concept of volume (with a half-pouf skirt) and embodied the aesthetic of Lacroix and Ungaro but with an updated twist. She's clearly the one to beat this season and I wouldn't be surprised if she has, not one, but several more tricks up her vintage sleeves.

As for Leanne, I was absolutely stunned by her design, a separate sleeveless blouse and architectural grey-on-black ruffled skirt that completely captured the look of her photograph (a tree planter) and, yes, looked as though it came right off the rack (in a good way) rather than being sewn together just hours before. It was inspired, professional, creative, and showed that Leanne had taken on the judges' criticisms from the last challenge and pushed herself to be dynamic and to edit her ideas more constructively. Well done, Leanne; you've erased the judges' memory of the disaster that was last week's ensemble.

I thought that Terri's design was gorgeous and provocative, consisting of a backless print dress (which matched her photograph to a T) with black satin pants. It was urban, sophisticated, and confident, telling a compelling story about the woman who would wear this. I thought she brilliantly captured the essence of Manhattan street culture while still keeping it wearable and runway-appropriate.

(While the judges didn't mention him by name, I really, really liked Jerell's design, an asymmetrical chartreuse gown with a long train and a fitted bodice. It didn't pop like some of the others, but it was damn impressive nonetheless. And I did not care a whit about Blayne's ghastly rainbow dress or Stella's--surprise!--leather pants and halter top.)

And there there was the bottom three. Tim called it perfectly when he referred to Jennifer's design as "matronly" (I forgot her name halfway through the episode, so I began to refer to her as matronly); inspired by some Columbus Circle clocks, it failed to capture any of the energy, light, or movement of Manhattan and, though Jennifer claimed that she liked to use surrealism in her work, was just matronly and boring. You can't call a dress "Holly Golightly meets Salvador Dali" and have it look like this; there was nothing fresh, original, or young about Jennifer's design and it looked messily finished, to boot. I had a feeling that she would be the one to be clearing up her space upstairs.

Keith's design looked messy and uninspired. I get what he was trying to do by taking on a revision of the fringe dress but here it just looked like he sewed pieces of white fabric onto a sheath and called it a dress. There was no aspect of form or silhouette here and the model just got lost in the material (loved that Michael Kors said it looked like pieces of toilet paper caught in a windstorm); Tim warned Keith that the dress would have to be fitted and he didn't listen. I didn't think they'd send home the Salt Lake City native but he's definitely on warning and better step up his game if he has a chance of making it very far in this competition.

Finally, there was Emily. Oh, Emily. I keep trying to wrap my head around what you were striving to create in this challenge and I just can't envision it... or understand how you thought that this awful dress was beautiful. Essentially an asymmetrical black dress, the garment then went an unexpected route with layers of orange, red, and yellow ruffles, which cut the model right across the chest and then trailed down to nowhere in particular. It was perhaps a too-literal interpretation of her over-exposed photograph showing light movement but, regardless, it was vile. Tim warned her that it was not looking good but she continued to go in the direction she was moving. Perhaps the worst comment any of the judges have made to date was Nina Garcia's "no comment" about this dress; if that's not the kiss of death for a Project Runway challenge, I don't know what is.

I really thought that Jennifer would be the one to go home. Heidi said that she wasn't interested in seeing anything else that Jennifer designed, so I was surprised to see her stay in the competition whilst Emily got auf'd. Then again, in a reality competition where criticism and discussion is part and parcel of the series, the worst thing you really can say about a design or a designer is that you have nothing to say.

Ouch.

Next time on Project Runway ("Rings of Glory"), designers are challenged with designing sport outfits for the Olympic Games and are judged by Olympic medalist/Dancing with the Stars winner Apolo Anton Ohno.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Big Brother 10 (CBS); Last Comic Standing (NBC; 8-10 pm); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); Don't Forget the Lyrics! (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); So You Think You Dance (FOX)

10 pm: Flashpoint (CBS); Fear Itself (NBC); Hopkins (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching:

10 pm: Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List on Bravo.

Okay, I know, I know, but I find her acerbic overeagerness somehow calming. On tonight's episode ("For Your (Grammy) Consideration"), Kathy comes up with an exciting way to promote her new CD by going on a rather unusual date, but discovers that her mom seems to be the one getting all of the media attention.

Suede Happy, Satin Sad: Life in the Third Person on "Project Runway"

Okay, here's the deal: just a few quick words about last night's episode of Project Runway ("Grass is Always Greener") because then I literally have to dash out the door to start the drive down to San Diego for Comic-Con. (If you never thought you'd see the words Project Runway and Comic-Con in the same sentence, it's a day of miracles.)

This week, the designers had a pretty tough challenge, designing a cocktail dress using only "green" fabrics, considering the narrow timeframe involved and a Project Runway first that had the designers' models actually buying the fabrics and trims. While these ladies might look lovely, they didn't seem to know the first thing about fashion, many of them picking out fabrics that wouldn't really work as a cocktail dress; no less than three of them picked the same awful brown satin that gave me the heebee-jeebees just looking at it. Ick.

Some designers are already starting to irritate me to the point that I wish there would be a mass auf'ing in the works. Blayne's loathsome ability to add "licious" to every single noun or adjective in the English lexicon is absolutely killing me; I think he used it at least three times last night (including the Atlas New York apartment chalkboard's "team licious") and I wanted to hurl my television set through a window each and every time. Suede calls himself Suede, which would be bad enough but has to turn up the annoying factor to eleven by constantly referring to himself in the third person, which is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. And Stella seems locked into one particular thought pattern ("leather") and doesn't really want to budge from her design aesthetic. Doesn't she remember how hard the designers came down on Rami for his constant draping?

But onto the clothes. Despite his third-person tendancies, I thought that Suede did an amazing job with his design, transforming hard-to-use satin into strips of fabric from which he constructed a gorgeous bodice of overlapping cream and red and paired it with a tutu skirt, creating a dress that could have gone in one of two ways: a gorgeous, understatedly elegant and eye-catching creation... or a hot mess. Fortunately, it went towards the former and was a startling showcase for his creativity and vision. Well done, Suede. I had a feeling he would be the one getting his design sold on Bluefly.com, even if immunity wasn't up for grabs this week.

The designer to beat, however, really has to be "1940's broad" Kenley, who sent an absolutely amazing design down the runway this week; it was a stunning knee-length cocktail dress in a flawless cream satin, with a high, hand-sewn collar and a thin, black beaded belt. The effect was one of elegance and simplicity and her model Shannone wore it beautifully. I've got my eye on Kenley now.

I do have to say that I was impressed with the design that Stella ended up pulling together in the end. I did assume that she would pull off another black trash bags fiasco again this week but I was pleasantly surprised with her creation, an assymetrical, barely-there off-the-shoulder dress that featured one long sleeve and some biker-chic stitching along the sides. Considering she was working with a cream/champagne satin, the effect was startling, especially as her model Kendall really wanted something beachy: billowing, loose, and dripping with extra fabric. Instead, Stella injected her own design aesthetic into the mix and pulled off a gorgeous dress. Hmmm.

As for those landing at the bottom, there was a lot not to love about this week's designs. I thought Korto had an interesting idea with the outside darts but it didn't quite work in the execution and the model really did look as though she had fins coming out of her posterior. Not the right look for a cocktail dress and it didn't show off Korto's construction abilities at all. Leanne's schizophrenic brown satin sack dress with pockets and matching Peter Pan cap really did look like five dresses squeezed into one design: far too many ideas and not enough editing going on here. The result was messy and overwrought. Poor Wesley's design was a train wreck; stuck with not enough fabric (though he did have that awful seafoam green as well), he created a brown satin dress that was too tight, too short, and too shiny. It looked cheap and badly constructed, as though--according to Michael Kors--twenty sets of hands had worked on making it.

I really did think that it would be Leanne who would be the one sent home, up until the very last second. I really like her quirkiness quite a lot (and find her to be a slightly more endearing Sofia Coppola for some reason) but I thought that Wesley, while VERY young, showed some real potential to create some lasting American sportswear. But c'est la vie, I suppose. Heidi pulled a bait-and-switch and auf'd Young Wesley right then and there. Which is sad because there were several designers who overall have a lot less talent than Wesley or Leanne and who should have been up there based on their previous week's designs. But that's not how Project Runway works: you're only as good as your last design and Wesley's was definitely the worst of the worst.

Next week on Project Runway ("Bright Lights/Big City"), tempers flare during a rain-soaked challenge, the designers must find inspiration in the Manhattan sunset and use the colors of the city to create their designs; Sandra Bernhard drops by to be this week's guest judge.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Greatest American Dog (CBS); Last Comic Standing (NBC; 8-10 pm); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); So You Think You Dance (FOX)

10 pm: Flashpoint (CBS); Fear Itself (NBC); Hopkins (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching:

10 pm: Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List on Bravo.

Okay, I know, I know, but I find her acerbic overeagerness somehow calming. On tonight's episode ("Busted in Bora Bora"), Kathy heads to Bora Bora for a stand-up show and greats some fans; back in LA, she tries to get her mother to move out of chez Griffin and into a retirement home.

Hospital Plumbers, Diapers, and Plastic Cups: Just Another Challenge on "Project Runway"

While another season of sartorial showdown Project Runway has begun on Bravo, it marks the very last time that the series will make its debut (not to mention its trademark blend of catwalks and catfights) on the cabler as it will move next season (set to launch in November) to Lifetime.

Last night's season premiere episode ("Let's Start From The Beginning") offered a look back at the very beginning of Runway with a challenge that was a virtual flashback to the first challenge ever on the series, even as it introduced 15 contestants to the fabled world of Parsons, Atlas New York, and, well, mentor Tim Gunn.

So far, there are very few designers that I am impressed with, especially as I didn't feel like they really took their first challenge to heart: armed with $75, they had 30 minutes at grocery store Gristede's to pull together supplies to create an entire ensemble back at Parsons. Would the designers stick to fabric substitutes like tablecloths? Or would they make use of the fresh produce and food products that line the grocery's shelves? Sadly, most of them opted for the latter rather than the former, with a whole array of clothing fashioned out of tablecloths and shower curtains on display.

I was really hoping for some ingenuity here, much like guest judge Austin Scarlet's famous cornhusk dress or, hell, Michael's amazing coffee-filter dress from Season Three. Instead, most of the dresses looked like they could have been created from any fabric off the shelves of Mood instead of utilizing the raw materials on offer.

Which isn't to say that some of the designers didn't come up with some amazing ideas. There were a few designs which did blow me away altogether and, even when the design didn't wow me, I was impressed by the choice of material. Like how Kenley used a lawn chair to construct a skirt or how Joe used different colored pasta shapes and oven mitts. That was unexpected, at least.

I really liked Korto's yellow dress, even if it was constructed from a tablecloth; however, the silhouette that she created was at least vastly different than anything else on offer, with its vaguely Japanese kimono effect and she gets points for using raw produce--lettuces and cherry tomatoes--to create a jeweled-effect scarf/wrap.

Also taking this challenge seriously was Daniel, who created a cocktail dress completely out of blue plastic cups; I was completely blown away by how he went about doing this, melting the cups with an iron to the point that they became malleable and could be moulded into the shape he desired. The effect was definitely eye-catching and I do think he had the very best use of non-fabric materials.

The winner? Kelli, by what seemed a landslide. While I didn't care for the top of her vacuum clearner bag dress (it looked like a sanddollar bra, to me), I thought that the skirt element--the bags bleached and dyed to created a marbelized effect--was absolutely stunning and showed true vision as well as well-thought execution. It was a piece that could have sold right off the runway, which was something that most of the other designers couldn't really say. And it was definitely a head-turner. Well done, Kelli.

On the other side of the pack were the bottom three, who I absolutely called from the first five minutes of this episode, due to their cockiness and "wackiness." Beyond I doubt, I knew that Blayne, Jerry, and Stella would end up on that runway, shaking in their designer shoes as to which of them would be auf'd from the competition. I hated Blayne from the first second he showed up at Atlas New York, with his obsession with fake tanning and words like "girlicious" and his garment, which Michael Kors described as though he had "stuck a diaper between [his model's] legs," was absolutely ghastly. I am sure it was calculated to provoke a reaction from the judges but it was a horrific cross between a blousy unitard and a diaper and looked freakishly amateurish on the runway. Ick.

Jerry, meanwhile, irked me with his misplaced self-confidence, especially when he presented his psychotic raincoat design on the runway. I absolutely loved how Heidi deemed the look akin to a "hospital plumber" and there was something vague serial-killer-ish about the entire ensemble, from its Batman-like cape effect to the ragged gauze "dress" and the terrifying yellow gloves. Appalling and creepy, all rolled into one.

And then there was Stella's garbage bag dress... which looked less like a dress and more like she draped some black garbage bags on her model as she was walking down the runway. I didn't like the way that Stella seemed to give up altogether at Parsons after she was the one foolish enough to pick garbage bags out of everything at that store as her sole material. Not cool. I get that she comes from this rough-and-tumble punk aesthetic but I don't see her lasting very long in this competition if she can't break out of that pattern to showcase a different kind of look.

I actually thought that it would be Stella who would be getting the axe last night but the judges surprised by cutting Jerry from the pack for his axe murderer creation. I think Jerry was just as stunned himself as he seemed to be surprised to land in the bottom three and even more that he was packing up his workspace so quickly. Personally, I would have been beyond thrilled if the judges would have sent home all three right then and there, but we can't lose the "drama" on Project Runway already, can we?

Next week on Project Runway ("Grass is Always Greener"), the designers must expand their way of thinking by going green with the help of their models.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Greatest American Dog (CBS); Last Comic Standing (NBC; 8-10 pm); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); So You Think You Dance (FOX)

10 pm: Swingtown (CBS); Fear Itself (NBC); Hopkins (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching:

9 pm: Dragons' Den on BBC America.

The British reality series, in which inventors pitch a variety of products--like a machine that helps babies sleep--to a panel of multi-millionaires (a.k.a. the Dragons). Tonight's pitches include a styling service for female professionals, an instant fix for wobbly tables, and luxury organic aromatherapy. Will any of them win over the notoriously hard-to-please dragons? Find out tonight.

10 pm: Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List on Bravo.

Okay, I know, I know, but I find her acerbic overeagerness somehow calming. On tonight's episode ("No Time for Siestas"), Kathy launches the Kathy Griffin Leadership Academy in Mexico and tries to land some substantial corporate donations.

10 pm: Swingtown.

On tonight's episode ("Heatwave"), Tom throws a pool party on an intensely hot day but Trina is still furious about his recent affair and things go from bad to worse when Susan shows up with Roger.

Hot Tranny Mess: Bunim-Murray to Take Over for Magical Elves on "Project Runway"

Bunim-Murray will replace Magical Elves as the executive producers of Project Runway when the series jumps from its former berth at Bravo to new digs at Lifetime for its sixth season. I can't say that I am particularly pleased with the news.

I think that executive producers Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth have done an incredible job over the last four seasons with Runway and they leave some pretty big shoes to fill in terms of quality and content and I've yet to see that Bunim-Murray can really pull off a series of this magnitude.

Bunim-Murray's previous collaborations with Lifetime include America's Psychic Challenge, so I'm a little concerned that quality will suffer when the series shifts nets; production will also move from New York to Los Angeles for the sixth season, though judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia, along with mentor Tim Gunn, will return next season.

The fifth season of Project Runway, the last under the watchful eyes of Magical Elves, kicks off on Bravo on July 16th at an earlier time of 9 pm ET/PT.

What do you think? Will you continue to watch Project Runway even after it switches networks? And does a network berth have anything to do with the overall quality--or perception--of an individual series? Discuss.

Catwalks and (Legal) Catfights: Lifetime Poaches Bravo's "Project Runway"

While it might sound a bit jaded, it always feels good to be proven right in this town. In the past week, two of my casting scoops (Olivia Williams on FOX's Dollhouse, Bobby Cannavale on ABC's Cupid) have been confirmed by the trades and it feels pretty darn good to be vindicated, especially since many people were, shall we say, doubting my sources.

Speaking of scoops, Televisionary reader Cinemaniac got wind a few weeks ago about a major deal brewing at cabler Lifetime that he referred to as a "game changer." While I was puzzled at the time by what sort of business pact would really alter the cable landscape (especially emanating as it was from women's niche programmer Lifetime), it's all now immediately clear in light of yesterday's announcement.

Lifetime, in case you haven't heard, has managed to close a five-year deal that has effectively poached reality series Project Runway from its perch at Bravo, which developed and made the series the jewel in its reality crown over the past few years. Bravo, you've been auf'd and, damn, does it sting.

Personally, I have a hard time picturing Project Runway, arguably one of the classiest, coolest reality productions around today, moving to Lifetime. After all, who could have predicted that Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia would suddenly be sharing screen time with Lifetime Original Movies? (Klum and Gunn have completed agreements with the network, which is still negotiating with Kors and Garcia.)

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

Added Gunn, "Lifetime and I will definitely 'make it work' together. I am very excited to be part of the Lifetime family."

Bravo still has one more season of the reality series scheduled to launch this summer. After that, Runway will shift to Lifetime and the programmers over at the cabler are looking at launching the sixth season in November.

I am not completely convinced that the audience will follow the series. Sure, devout Runway fans will flick over a few channels to catch their favorite program (even if it is way too soon for another cycle this fall), but, for most of the public, there is still a stigma attached to Lifetime, despite the efforts of Susanne Daniels and Andrea Wong to change this perception. Even as Lifetime's Army Wives continues to gain traction, there's still an odd association with the network being slightly more downmarket than Bravo, which appears to attract a younger, more affluent audience. Which is, I am sure, what made this deal so attractive.

NBC and Bravo aren't taking this sitting down though. They've gone ahead and sued The Weinstein Company, which distributes the series, claiming that the company had violated their right of first refusal during the renegotiation process and that they were in talks with TWC about moving Runway from Bravo to another NBC Universal network, possibly NBC itself.

In a statement released to the press, an NBC spokesperson offered the following statement: "NBC Universal has continuing legal rights related to Project Runway, including a right of first refusal to future cycles of the series, which the Weinstein Co. unfortunately has refused to honor. NBC Universal regrettably had no alternative but to bring legal action to enforce its rights to this program, including the right to decide whether it is in the best interest of the company to continue to air the show under the proposed financial terms."

TWC claims that the lawsuit "is without merit." TWC's counsel David Boies offered this statement: "While good for the market for lawyers, it is always unfortunate when parties try to win in court what they have lost in the marketplace."

Broadcasting & Cable notes a possible reason behind the shift to Lifetime: "[TWC] was dissatisfied, in part, that Bravo spawned several competition reality shows that were very similar to Runway, thereby diluting the uniqueness of the show," according to sources, and "had been looking around for another network for a while and that NBCU had the power to bid for Runway and did not.”

It should be noted as well that the July launch of Project Runway's fifth season, so soon after the recent season ended, was agreed upon by NBC under a concession to TWC. If Lifetime does launch Season Six of Project Runway, it will mean that no less than three seasons of Runway have aired during the 2008 calendar year.

I'm a fan of the series and even I think that's excessive. Or as Tim Gunn might say, that's a lot of look...

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: NCIS (CBS); Biggest Loser (NBC; 8-10 pm); Beauty and the Geek (CW); Just for Laughs/Just for Laughs (ABC); American Idol (FOX)

9 pm: Big Brother 9 (CBS); Reaper (CW); Dancing with the Stars (ABC); Hell's Kitchen (FOX)

10 pm: Secret Talents of the Stars (CBS); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC); Boston Legal (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Beauty and the Geek.

I've given up on this sad retreat of a once-great reality series, even if the geeks and beauties were finally paired off (too little, too late, I say). If you are still watching, this week's episode ("From Geek to Chic"), the geeks finally get their much-needed makeovers and the teams go to the set of CBS soap "The Young & the Restless" (random), where Michelle Stafford and Joshua Morrow judge the teams on an acting challenge. And, oh, there's another twist at the stair ceremony...

9 pm: Last Restaurant Standing on BBC America.

On the tenth episode of this addictive British import, three couples enter Raymond's latest challenge: to come up with exciting microwavable meals and pitch them to two high street stores, creating an innovative and original dish that also has mass appeal, producing eye-catching packaging, and offer an informative and personable presentation. This could just be the challenge that makes or breaks them when they learn what might fly in the restaurant doesn't work on the supermarket shelves.

9 pm: Hell's Kitchen.

After last week's ho-hum season opener to this tired reality franchise (and a tersely worded letter to Gordon Ramsay), I'm ready to shut it down myself. In this week's episode, the contestants are tasked with slicing halibut into six-ounce fillets and then one member of each team is tasked with serving as maitre d' during the dinner service. Yawn.

10 pm: The Riches on FX.

On tonight's installment ("Slums of Bayou Hills"), Wayne encounters a bit of a hiccup when an important investors meeting brings trouble in the form of one of Doug's old Princeton buddies; Dahlia finds living an honest life difficult after she appeared at a police station to admit she is a parole violator.

Designers Offer Posh Collections, Spice Up "Project Runway" Season Finale

Say what you want about Christian's haughty attitude (though it was tempered remarkably with serious nerves this week), but that boy's collection was, to borrow a well-turned phrase, fierce.

I knew that Christian would take home the top prize on this season's Project Runway because how could the judges, including guest Victoria "Posh" Beckham, not reward the elaborate stylings of a 21-year-old wunderkind whose young age belies a true visionary? Out of all of the contestants at the beginning of the season, Christian was the one to beat this season and it's only fitting that the fierce designer--a former student of Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen--wowed the 2000 assembled guests at the Project Runway show.

I was very happy that the final three designers were Jillian, Rami, and Christian, each of whom brought a different aesthetic and ideal to their collections. While all talented, these three couldn't be more different from one another and it was that very difference that made the final runway show just a sight to behold.

On the runway, Jillian presented first. Jillian's collection was innovative and feminine, a fantastic assortments of looks, fabrics, and techniques. I agree with the judges that her knitwear--a departure for Jillian--was utterly amazing. Her jackets and skirts were breathtakingly gorgeous: beautifully constructed, passionate, fashion-forward and yet utterly feminine. Yet the overall collection lacked cohesion, a fact that Tim Gunn pointed out to Jillian ahead of time. While the separate pieces dazzled and were perhaps the most wearable out of the three collections (for the average woman), they didn't seem to have much relevance or relation to one another. There was no connective tissue here or any sense of an overall story and very little "wow" factor. Still, I would imagine that Jillian will get snapped up by some design firm; she's proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that she can design clothing that women will rush out to buy.

Up next was Rami. I was very curious to see what Rami had pulled together for his collection and whether he had eschewed the gorgeous draping that made him a season-long target for the judges. Happily, while there was some evidence of draping going on, Rami moved away from focusing on those efforts to embark on a voyage of technique: there was draping but also weaving and tight construction. It was a brilliant effort and the collection was utterly cohesive, each piece leading to the next and the next, taking a visual cue from the preceding piece to create a fluid effect. There were astounding and astonishing pieces within Rami's collection, Oscar-worthy gowns that will likely find many clients in his Los Angeles studio looking for their next red carpet garment. However, I did disagree with some of Rami's color choices, notably his preference for turquoise and magenta, which did him no favors on the runway. While the collection was fantastic, with some standout pieces (a silky grey dress with woven bodice, a gold fishtail dress, a floor-length black stunner), I wanted to really see Rami go for broke, to turn in some final pieces that left the judges open-mouthed with amazement.

That was just the reaction that the judges gave final presenter Christian's collections, an avant garde collection inspired by paintings of 15th century armor that translated here as ruffles, redefining clothing's relationship of hard/soft, textural elements, and literal armor. Unlike the other two collections, Christian did stick to a limited palette, here presenting mainly black, cream, and beige. His craftsmanship was pure perfection, each piece topping the one that came before and literally squeezing in the wow factor missing from the other designers' collections. How on earth did this kid manage to create these astonishing designs? I will agree with the judges that the one minor flaw of the collection was its insistence on black, an effect that rendered the first few garments almost indistinguishable on the runway.

Still, the pieces were extremely high fashion, exceptionally daring, and utterly visionary. A pair of slinky pants, paired with a binding jacket, cream ruffled neckpiece and oversized floppy hat instantly summoned Dior and Goya in equal measure. A two-toned belted cocktail dress in coordinated full-body ruffles of tan and chocolate was gorgeous, but the real showstopper was Christian's final piece: a sumptuous two-toned feathered gown, complete with trailing train, impressionistic in its look, fluid, soft, and elegant. It signaled the arrival of a major new force to the fashion world and will likely be Christian's signature calling card.

It was no surprise then that a nervous Christian (who looked like he was either going to vomit or fall off the runway in fear) was the winner of Project Runway 4. Hell, even icy Victoria Beckham was gushing over his designs and told Christian that she wanted to wear one of his pieces, a major kudo in the age of well photographed celebrities. Me, I am happy that he managed to pull off a sophisticated, edgy, and ultimately runway-appropriate show that proved just how talented he is. I know that this isn't the last we'll be hearing of Christian Siriano and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Survivor: Micronesia--Fans Vs. Favorites (CBS); The Office (NBC); Smallville (CW); Lost (ABC); American Idol (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Celebrity Apprentice (NBC); Reaper (CW); Lost (ABC); New Amsterdam (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Lipstick Jungle (NBC); Eli Stone (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Lost.

Missed last week's episode of Lost ("The Constant")? Here's your chance to catch it again before this season's fourth episode at 9 pm!

8 pm: Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America.

On this week's installment ("La Parra de Burriana Revisited"), Gordon Ramsay returns to Spain's Costa del Sol to check in on La Parra de Burriana one year after receiving his help but discovers that the owner is still in dire need of a reality check. (A hint to those with some major DVR conflicts: the episode also airs at 5 pm and 10 pm PT AND at 11 pm ET.)

9 pm: Lost.

On tonight's episode ("The Other Woman"), it's a Juliet-centric episode (yay!).Juliet gets a visit from someone from her past and gets orders to prevent Charlotte and Faraday from completing their mission, while Ben offers Locke an enticing deal.

Rami and Chris Face Off for Finale Spot on "Project Runway"

I had more than an inkling as to how last night's penultimate episode of Project Runway would play out.

You couldn't have picked two more drastically different designers than Rami Kashou and Chris March and seeing them go head to head was a virtual lesson in aesthetics, unfettered creativity, and determination. After all, only one of them would get the opportunity to advance to the final round and show at New York Fashion Week. Or would do so AND remain in the competition. After all, both of them (along with Sweet P) put on shows. Reward or red herring? You decide.

In any event, Tim Gunn flew around the country to check in with the four remaining designers in the weeks leading up to Fashion Week, visiting the Manhattan-based teeny-tiny closet/sewing room/studio/bedroom Christian calls home (though why exactly didn't he meet any of Christian's friends or family?), checking in with Rami and his fantastic studio in Los Angeles, having dinner with Jillian's family on Long Island (after checking out her fabulous Manhattan flat's view), and critiquing Chris' designs before entering the surreal baroque funhouse belonging to one of Chris' friends.

I always find these episodes to be pretty interesting; it gives Tim (and us) an opportunity to see the designers outside of Parsons and in their regular lives and allows the audience a preview of their collections to come. I thought that, as always, Tim's advice was spot on: edit, edit, edit. All of them were guilty of having a little too much "look" and each seemed open to taking on board Tim's advice as long as it gelled with their own unique vision.

I am in utter awe of Christian's stuff. It's very avant garde, very runway-appropriate, and very Dior. How this 21-year-old kid can construct these garments and have his singular of a vision at such a young age is astounding to me. Jillian also had some really strong pieces. That jacket, inspired by paintings of 15th century armor, was absolutely breathtaking in its detailing and construction; it was strong but feminine, hard-edged and yet soft at the same time.

But while it was nice to catch up with our four remaining designers, what this episode was really about was the final showdown between Rami and Chris for that spot in the final three. So what did they end up showing? Let's discuss.

Chris: I was really shocked and more than a little horrified by his inclusion of human hair on the trim of many of his garments. Was it unexpected and completely original? Absolutely. It also showcased the fact that he was willing to take risks and step outside his comfort zone in order to provoke a reaction. (But was activating Tim's gag reflex too much of a reaction?) The three pieces he selected to show the judges were all a little somber, in my opinion. I understand that he wanted to keep the pieces in the same color palette but I wanted to see something a little brighter as well. Still, I thought the dress with the safety-pins was brilliant, as was the floor-length gown; there was a dark energy to his work and I definitely saw the dark, gothic influence Chris was speaking of but didn't really feel that there was a story or cohesion to his work.

Rami: I was blown away by Rami's selections, which showed a complete departure from his obsession with draping. Rami specifically selected three pieces to showcase different techniques and feels and together they all complemented one another beautifully. The black and white pointillistic dress was gorgeous, a fantastic reveal after the model removed her beautifully tailored jacket. The blue coat was a little too much look for me but displayed amazing construction and wasn't at all that loose, draped effect Rami loves so much. And his final piece, a floor-length tiered black gown, was simply stunning.

Ultimately, I do understand why the judges had a hard time narrowing down the competition in this round. Both of them definitely challenged themselves to do something different than we've seen thus far in the season but ultimately I do have to agree with the judges' decision to keep Rami in the competition, as much as I adore Chris and his out-there designs.

So there you have it, the final three: Christian, Jillian, and Chris. Who do you think will win the season's top prize? Whose collection are you dying to see on the runway? And who will throw a tantrum moments before the show begins? Find out next week.

Next week on the season finale of Project Runway, the final three designers show off their brand new collections, encounter some well-edited and demanding pitfalls before the big shows, and face the judges--along with guest adjudicator Victoria Beckham--one last time before one is crowned the winner of Project Runway 4.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Survivor: Micronesia--Fans Vs. Favorites (CBS); My Name is Earl (NBC); Smallville (CW); Lost (ABC); American Idol (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Celebrity Apprentice (NBC); Reaper (CW); Lost (ABC); Don't Forget the Lyrics (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Lipstick Jungle (NBC); Eli Stone (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Lost.

Missed last week's episode of Lost ("Eggtown")? Here's your chance to catch it again before this season's fourth episode at 9 pm!

8 pm: Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America.

Season Four of the original UK Kitchen Nightmares begins tonight. On this week's installment ("The Granary"), Gordon Ramsay heads to rural Hampshire, where an upscale restaurant--which intimidates locals with its exclusive reputation--is losing $8000 a week and is danger of closing. Can Gordon save the restaurant? Find out tonight. (A hint to those with some major DVR conflicts: the episode also airs at 5 pm and 10 pm PT AND at 11 pm ET.)

9 pm: Lost.

On tonight's episode ("The Constant"), Desmond and Sayid experience some severe turbulence during a stormy flight to the freighter, but that pales in comparison with Desmond's strange side-effects. Lost time, anyone?

Sneak Peek: Season Finale of "Project Runway"

I don't know about you but I am hooked on Bravo's reality series Project Runway and cannot wait for tonight's season finale. While I'm rooting for wunderkind Christian to win this competition, I know that there are quite a few Jillian fans out there as well; we're all winners at the end of the day with talent like these two in the finals.

With only a few more hours to go before the season finale, I thought we could take a sneak peek at what's in store for our finalists on tonight's penultimate episode and that eleventh hour showdown between Rami and Chris. Which one will go on to New York Fashion Week (well, both, but you know what I mean) and which will fall by the wayside? Find out tonight.



Project Runway's season finale kicks off tonight with Part One at 10 pm ET/PT on Bravo.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Big Brother 9 (CBS); Deal or No Deal (NBC); America's Next Top Model (CW); Wife Swap (ABC); American Idol (FOX; 8-9:30 pm)

9 pm: Criminal Minds (CBS); Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC); Pussycat Dolls Present Girlicious (CW); Supernanny (ABC); Back to You (FOX; 9:30-10 pm)

10 pm: CSI: New York (CBS); Law & Order (NBC); Men in Trees (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: America's Next Top Model.

Cycle 1o officially begins tonight, following last week's casting episode, with a brand-new episode ("New York City, Here We Come"), as the 14 finalists move into their new digs in Manhattan and get critiqued by new judge Paulina Porizkova. (You can read my advance review of the first two episodes here.)

10 pm: Project Runway on Bravo.

On Part One of the two-part season finale, the finalists return to New York to finish their collections and then head to the runways, where their solo collections will determine who will be crowned the winner of Project Runway 4. Come on, Christian!

Reunited and It Feels So Good: The "Project Runway" Reunion

I have to say that I really quite enjoyed last night's reunion episode of Project Runway. While I am not usually a fan of the overly packaged clip-laden specials that Bravo typically airs (especially when irritating Andy Cohen presides over them), Runway usually does offer a classier affair and last night's installment was no exception.

It was fantastic to see the entire 15-member cast come together again one final time though I had to refresh my memory in order to remember some of them. (Simone, we hardly knew ye!) Still, it was a reunion filled with some interesting and hysterical asides (Michael Kors' uncharacteristic laughing jag during the WWE Diva challenge), predicable filler (a clip package featuring Ricky crying the entire time), and a collection of Christian's best "fierce" moments.

Worst Reunion Moment: Carmen telling Heidi Klum (Heidi Effing Klum!) that she had enough already from her when she made a comment about the menswear challenge, in which Carmen sent her model down the runway without a shirt. Oh, get some perspective, Carmen, and don't blame Heidi for your failure in that challenge and subsequent challenge, especially as all of the judges agreed it was the most difficult to date.

Best Reunion Moment: a toss up between Michael Kors' laughing fit, the clip package of the designers in their wrestler alter egos, and Chris March's maniacal laughter.

Designer Who I Would Have Liked to Hear More From: Kit, who seemed strangely quiet throughout the whole special. I think she's got enormous talent and I thought it was cool that she had inspired many young girls to become designers.

Designer Most in Need of Lightening Up: Victorya. What the hell was up with her somber attitude throughout the special? It was abundantly clear that she didn't want to be there, had pulled together her own runway show during Fashion Week, and seemed to resent several of the other contestants, the judges, and quite possibly the cameramen too.

Surprise Winner of the Fan Favorite: Christian. I thought for sure it was going to be Chris March, but I was completely wrong on that account. Tim says that Christian won by a landslide. Don't get me wrong: I'm rooting for the cubist-hairstyled wunderkind to win this thing but wasn't sure his sometimes abrasive personality would catch on with the audience at large. But the boy is fierce.

Most Missed Designer: Jack. I would have loved to have seen what he would have done in the final challenge and in his own runway show but it was good to see that he was okay after the terrifying health scare that forced him to pull out of the competition.

Best Wha Huh? Moment: A tie between Michael Knight (no, not that Michael Knight) handing Christian the giant check and then saying that he was releasing his first fragrance (where was the footage of his most recent fashion work?) and finding out that Jack Black watches Project Runway and apparently prefers Sweet P.

The ET Phone Home Award: Without a doubt it goes to the spit-marking, backwards-journaling, energy-imbuing Elisa. But you knew I was going to say that.

Best Lost in Translation Moment: Heidi's "who will eat the sausage?" exchange that was so blatantly hysterical. Her German-to-English expressions are just absolutely priceless.

All in all, a fun diversion before the main event: next week's season finale which features the final sartorial showdown between the remaining designers. Still, I am a little confused by the emphasis on whether Rami or Chris will get to show their work during Fashion Week, as we know that all four designers (plus also-ran Sweet P) got their own runway shows.

Next week on the season finale of Project Runway, the finalists return to New York to finish their collections and then head to the runways, where their solo collections will determine who will be crowned the winner of Project Runway 4. Come on, Christian!

The Art of Fashion and the Fashion of Art on "Project Runway"

I had a feeling, even after Heidi made a point of saying that two designers would be auf'd this week, that there would be four contestants making it to the final rounds. And, before you ask, yes, I've managed to avoid all spoilers about the season finale, New York Fashion Week, or anything else relating to this addictive series.

On this week's episode of Project Runway ("The Art of Fashion"), the series' producers made up for their "quirky" challenges involving product placement, trash, or chocolate and gave the designers creative carte blanche when tasked with using a piece of art from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (easily one of my favorite places in the world) as the inspiration for a garment. It was a dynamic challenge and one that I hoped would invigorate these designs and spur their designers to greater heights than we've seen so far.

Christian won this challenge hands down. There wasn't a shadow of a doubt in my mind that the wunderkind wouldn't walk away with the top spot (even though Roberto Cavalli seemed to be gushing over Chris' garment): it was impeccably made, had multiple elements, and could be translated from the runway into ready-to-wear. Using a European painting of a military commander, Christian used this masculine design to create a look that was perfectly suited for the catwalk: loud, memorable, stylish, and filled to the brim with visionary verve. And somehow, in the amount of time it took Sweet P to make that ghastly dress, Christian managed to knock out no less than five impeccably tailored pieces. This was his piece de resistance and completely proved why he not only ought to be at New York Fashion Week but why he HAD to be there. Bravo.

Jillian turned in a stylish and eye-catching garment directly influenced by the Master of the Argonauts that never once seemed costume-like or over-the-top in the least. This designer can work a jacket like no one else, completing a gorgeous jacket with multiple design elements, from the gold thread on the back of the garment to the peek-a-boo little holes at the base. Coupled with a stunning gold dress (which complemented the interior of the coat), it was a sight to be seen. If she could just work more on her time-management skills (which at least she'll have plenty of time to prep her designs), she could be the one to beat in New York Fashion Week... if Christian doesn't turn up with half a million garments for his runway show.

I just knew that Rami would take something from the Greco-Roman sculpture room and utilize his amazing--if wholly overexposed--draping skills. I've said it week after week after week: show us something new and different. It's clear Rami has oodles of talent and his construction is always amazing but I can't wrap my mind around the fact that in the FINAL challenge, he decided once again to play it safe and do more draping. We get it. The judges get it. You love draping, it inspires you, and it looks amazing. His plum-colored Grecian dress was absolutely stunning. But it looked like any of a dozen of his other designs. I'm glad that he's getting a shot at Fashion Week (though he and Chris will have to each present three designs in a fashion showdown in order to secure a spot in the final three) but I hope he takes the opportunity to reflect on what's happened and where he wants to take his line in the future. It can't all be about precise draping. Sigh.

I really, really like Chris' design, a European painting-influenced couture dress with a pewter reinforced collar that was a logical progression from the painting of the noblewoman's dress, even if it did seem deeply reminiscent of the gorgeous dress Chris and Christian designed together a few weeks ago. Still, it was stunning and definitely looked couture... I just wish he had chosen to embody the painting's grey wrap in another form other than an over-tall collar. But, like Rami, I am happy that he at least gets a shot at Fashion Week, especially because I am completely impressed with how far he's gotten after getting eliminated early on. I can't help but secretly root for Chris and it was clear that Roberto Cavalli was dead impressed with him and his design.

Oh, Sweet P. Where can I begin? I really think her bubbly, infectious personality has carried her throughout a lot of this competition because I don't think her designs have been anywhere near as creative or polished as those of her competitors. Last night's design--a peacock-painting influenced dress--wasn't exciting or innovative. It wasn't even particularly flattering. Like most of her designs, it was pretty flat and nothing that I could get excited about; hell, it didn't even seem particularly peacock-inspired, except for maybe the feathers in the model's hair. At this stage of the competition, it stuck out like a sore thumb.

I wasn't surprised in the least that Sweet P got auf'd this week. I just had a hard time imagining the judges granting her a spot at Fashion Week over, say, Chris or Rami. A wise decision. As for those two, I really am curious to see what they come up with to show the judges. Will Rami break away from his draping addiction and turn in something novel and different? Will Chris be able to keep his couture dreams realized without resorting to costume designs? Find out in two weeks!

Next week on Project Runway ("Reunion"), it's time for the pre-finale reunion special as Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum gather together the designers from Project Runway's fourth season for a little look back at the season's highs and lows. Just what has Jack been up to since he withdrew from the competition? Why was Ricky always crying all the damn time? Answers are on the way.

Designers and Divas on "Project Runway"

There is justice--albeit massively delayed--in the world.

Any fears that I had that Ricky would somehow squeak by elimination yet again on this week's episode of Project Runway ("Raw Talent") evaporated as soon as I saw the hideous orange swimsuit and gold lame tunic he designed for his client, one of the ladies of the WWE.

In yet another "quirky" challenge, the six remaining designers were tasked with creating new outfits for those female wrestlers of the WWE that fit their personalities and would work inside the ring. Working only with a $100 budget and severe limitations as to what would work and what wouldn't (along with some pretty, er, intense clients), the challenge was definitely not as simple as it seemed.

And, yet, if anyone should have had a leg up on the competition, it should have been teary lingerie designer Ricky, whose skills in designing sexy and provocative undergarments should have shone in this fashion faceoff. Instead, his design was just flat out strange: a flashy orange swimsuit (belted, no less) with fishnets and mini-boots and a strange diaphanous tunic that had no logic or connection to the other piece whatsoever. It also made his model Layla look as big as a house, no mean feet considering how in shape she is.

Sweet P's design was also a disaster but she's had so many near-flops in this competition, that I knew that she and Ricky would end up in the bottom two this week but I hoped that she would at least manage to stay in longer than he would. Her garment--meant to embody model Candice Michelle's trademark disrobe and reveal "move"--looked instead like a Vegas stripper's sleepwear, comprised of white short shorts, a halter bra, and a slinky robe that failed to meet the client's expectations, thought it was festooned with rhinestones and feathers. But it lacked the royal monarchial robes that the client had hoped for. It was pretty boring and lacked any drama whatsoever. Early on in the competition, I could see this sort of disconnect with the challenge and the design, but now? It's time for Sweet P to be auf'd.

Oh, Rami. What was with that hideous pink that you put on Torrie? The design was pretty blah and certainly nothing exceptional or dramatic. But the color of the garment--a half-sleeved bra/skirt combo was rendered entirely unpalatable by the garish choice of color, the likes of which have never before been seen on Project Runway. I know Rami was trying to stay away from his normal fashion choices and make the client happy (she liked bright colors) but still, this was a mess from start to finish. I do agree with one of the Heatherette judges who said that pink and white gingham gone crazy would have worked much better with Torrie's good girl next door persona.

And then there were the highlights. I thought Jillian's sporty royal blue design, modeled by Michelle, absolutely fit the brief. It was sexy, sporty, and completely showed off her, er, assets while being incredible durable, perfect for the ring, and in keeping with her client's personality. I liked the racing stripes on the top and the little boxer-style laces on the micro-shorts, not to mention the knee-sock/high-heels combo. Well done, Jillian.

Still, I knew that the winner would have to be either Christian or Chris, who blew me away with their out-there designs in this challenge. Both were completely different and yet sexy, versatile, and looked incredibly expensive. Christian's S&M-influenced garment was a mix of lace and leather, exactly what Kristal had requested, and he deconstructed some typical leatherwear by injecting black lace throughout the entire garment. Plus, his ruched jacket was absolutely divine and just as fierce as Kristal herself. (Did you see how she rocked that thing on the runway?)

Meanwhile, Chris' design for Maria was a cross between Lara Croft, Rogue, and a wild leopard who escaped a futuristic zoo. It was incredibly well-constructed to boot, with an ornate top comprised of a criss-cross pattern of fabric strips, micro-shorts, a thigh-belt, knee-high boots, and a long-sleeved hoodie in the leopard print that had been lined in shimmering black fabric. In the end, I knew that this challenge had Chris written all over it but he never made it too drag-queenish or costume-like. Bravo, Chris!

And I was certainly not sad to see Ricky go for once. After his umpteeth placement at the bottom two (and last week's surprise victory), it was definitely time for him to pack his things and get the hell out of Parsons, but I was incredibly amazed that he didn't cry once upon hearing the news. At least on-camera, anyway. Sayonara, weepy!

Next week on Project Runway ("The Art of Fashion"), it's time for one last field trip, where the designers get to use their own unique artistic visions to create a design, before leaving to go and design their own lines. Looks like there will be four runway shows after all this year!

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Survivor: Micronesia--Fans Vs. Favorites (CBS); Deal or No Deal (NBC); Smallville (CW); Lost (ABC); Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Celebrity Apprentice (NBC); Supernatural (CW); Lost (ABC); Don't Forget the Lyrics (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Lipstick Jungle (NBC); Eli Stone (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Lost.

Missed last week's fourth season premiere ("The Beginning of the End")? Here's your chance to catch it again before this season's second episode at 9 pm!

8 pm: Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America.

Season Four of the original UK Kitchen Nightmares begins tonight. On this week's installment ("The Priory"), Gordon Ramsay tries to save a buffet restaurant--based in a 19th-century chapel--from closing, but he has to contend with lazy staffers, steep discounts, and, well, awful food. (A hint to those with some major DVR conflicts: the episode also airs at 5 pm and 10 pm PT AND at 11 pm ET.)

9 pm: Lost.

On tonight's episode ("Confirmed Dead"), four strangers arrive on the island, but the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 are left to ponder Charlie's final message and whether these newcomers are there to help them or to kill them.

9 pm: Last Restaurant Standing on BBC America.

It's a sneak peek at new Brit reality series Last Restaurant Standing, in which nine couples have a week to open their own restaurants, with one lucky couple getting the chance to own a restaurant with famed restaurateur Raymond Blanc.

Who's In and Who's Out: Stacking the Odds on "Project Runway"

I don't know about you but I've totally been going through Project Runway withdrawal since the most recent episode aired nearly two weeks ago.

Fortunately, Bravo will air a new installment this week (huzzah!), but in the meantime, I thought I'd take this opportunity to take a look at the contestants still in the sartorial showdown and who I'd like to see head up their own runway show during New York's Fashion Week.

Chris
Already eliminated once, it's simply amazing that Chris is still in this competition but he's added a level of humor and wackadoo designs that had been missing in the wake of his departure. His designs tend to just slightly but consistently miss the mark but his collaboration with Christian marks a high point for both designers--and the entire season-long competition--as it was just so drop-dead gorgeous that it almost made me wish these diametrically opposite designers would work together all the time. Still, it's only a matter of time before Chris fails to make the cut... again.

Christian
It's rare that I fail to be impressed by the impish and, well, bitchy Christian, whose holier-than-thou attitude towards the challenges can grate at times (we get it: you're a serious designer), but who consistently manages to turn in ensembles that are thoughtful, elegant, well-constructed, and often visionary. While he's got the raw talent, Christian definitely needs some maturity and humility. Still, I can't imagine a season of Project Runway where he wouldn't get the chance to have his own show, so to me it's a foregone conclusion that he'll make it all the way to Bryant Park. (And rightfully so.)

Jillian
Oh, Jillian. I really wish I liked her, but there's something about her that just totally irks me in ways I can't articulate. Maybe it's the icy glare, the overly stressed-out panic attacks, or the fact that she wore those overalls in that one episode. Whatever the reason, I do feel as though she's hanging on for dear life and really can't handle the stress of this competition. Her survival really will depend on how poorly her compatriots do, if she hopes to make it to the final three. Still, that apocalypse-inspired trench from a few episodes ago was a major coup for her.

Rami
I like Rami. I think his designs are sophisticated, elegant, and, yes, well-draped. But he definitely needs to move beyond the little jersey-strewn pigeonhole he's created for himself and wow the judges with something different and extraordinary, something unlike the elegantly draped dresses he's given us all season long. I do think he shows exceptional talent and skill but he hasn't given us that commitment to reinventing his own aesthetic (while also remaining true to his own sense of style) that Project Runway demands from its participants. Still, I'd love to see him put on his own runway show, so I say, send him to Bryant Park.

Ricky
Good God, what can I say about Ricky that I haven't already said ad infinitum throughout this competition? I'll be blunt: I don't think the crybaby lingerie designer should be there. I think Ricky should have gotten auf'd way early into this season and I find it baffling that he's managed to fall into the bottom three time and time again but still escape by the skin of his teeth. What voodoo powers does this tear-prone designer have over the judges? At least there's less than a slim chance of him making it to the final round.

Sweet P
Sweet P is another designer that has somehow made it extremely far in the competition solely on the basis of one or two reasonably thought-out designs. I am never all that impressed by the quality of her work, which often is rushed and unfinished (don't get me started on the menswear challenge) but she has at times turned in some ensembles that aren't half-bad. Still, I think she's definitely at the weaker end of the talent pool right now, so I would be mighty surprised if she made it as far as Bryant Park.

So my pick for the final three: Christian, Rami, and Jillian. Who do you think will make it into the final round? And who should walk away the winner of Project Runway 4?

Denim Convention: The Designers Wrangle Levi's on "Project Runway"

Is it just me or are you just flat out confused as to why tear-prone Ricky is still in this competition... and how he managed to walk away with the top spot on last night's episode of Project Runway ("Even Designers Get the Blues")?

Grr.

I had a feeling that last night's editing was setting up a win for the former lingerie designer. Call it "The One with the Waterworks," if you will. It must have been a record for Ricky, who broke into tears on three separate occasions last night during a challenge in which the designers were tasked with creating an iconic piece out of Levi's brand jeans.

Was Ricky's lingerie-inspired dress good-looking? Yes, for a change; it was also well-constructed, which was also a bit of a departure for Ricky. But I thought the dress, essentially a ruffled piece of lingerie in denim, paled in comparison to Christian's iconic design, which reinterpreted the classic jean jacket and, well, jeans in a fashion-forward and unexpected way and he gets major points for (A) being the only designer to attempt to create a brand-new pair of jeans and (B) using jacket sleeves in order to do so. It was modern, hip, and definitely iconic. So why didn't it win?

Ricky's design definitely fit his model--styled up to look like Amy Winehouse--like a glove, but I didn't think there was anything particularly iconic about the design. It worked, it looked good, but it was yet another corset (albeit with buttons!) from a designer who has given us a lot of corsets this season. Im fact, it looked rather like a Guess dress from the '90s.

As much as I loved Christian's design this week, the designer himself was driving me up the wall with his continually catty comments and air of self-entitlement. While I normally find his attitude amusing, it turned caustic last night as he could not keep his mouth shut about anyone or anything, least of all "deconstruction" which he claimed to have mastered in "the first grade." He's become a cartoon with a Cubist hairstyle.

But at least when Christian doesn't approve of the challenge (remember the prom dress incident and the Hershey's challenge?), he still rises to the occasion to nail an ensemble. Even when he feels himself above a particular task, he still managed to create a memorable look... unlike Victorya who fades into the background. So it was no surprise that V. would do just that with this challenge, turning in a trenchcoat that was staid, boring, and unimaginative... and, yes, did look like a jean jacket with a skirt glued on for good measure. Ick. It was no surprise that she would be up for elimination but I had no idea that the bottom two would wind up being Jillian and Victorya!

Jillian--who also presented a trenchcoat (surprise!)--once again bit off more than she could chew, struggling against the time constraints and creating a garment that she was doomed to fail in just the ten hours allotted. The finished product was confused and just... odd, a pale blue, ruffled trench with an oversized collar that did not flatter her model in the least.

I was, however, really impressed with Rami's design, which was a major departure from his draped jersey aesthetic. He turned in a sleek, sophisticated dress that incorporated the jeans' zippers in unexpected ways and was definitely fashion-forward and inventive. Rami, you've redeemed yourself in my eyes after last week's debacle.

As for Sweet P, I do not understand why the judges were heaping so much praise on her design, which started off as a denim wedding dress (!) and then evolved into a shorter, less "hippie dippy" patchwork dress. While the judges oohed and ahhed over the garment, I was baffled: here was a dress that looked off-the-rack from Target that could not have been "dressed up or down" (as Nina alleged); to me, it looked cheap and not at all iconic. (Wasn't that the entire point of the assignment?)

Sigh. Poor Chris. It was a good idea to try to reinterpret the little black dress into a denim icon, but the little black dress exists for a reason: it can be worn by anyone, anywhere, at any time. It's fluid and flexible, flattering and fierce, all in one timeless package. Chris' design definitely seemed dated and failed to capture any of the iconic quality of the original or to use the denim in some unexpected way. Plus, I agree with the judges about the fraying. It was either too much or too little, but as it was, it was all wrong.

In two weeks on Project Runway, the designers get a clue about a mysterious field trip behind a closed door, Sweet P and Christian arm-wrestle, Chris looks baffled, and Michael Kors "feels like the Pope at a sex club." No idea what the challenge is, but I can't wait!

Designers Get in Touch with Their Inner Avante-Garde on "Project Runway"

Oh. My. God.

Can I just tell you how much I loved last night's episode of Project Runway? Putting aside Jillian's hysterics at the sewing machine (which seem to come to a head next week) and Ricky's continued teariness at the drop of the hat, this week's installment brought the goods in the form of a elaborate challenge that was unlike anything we've seen to date on Project Runway this season.

The task? To work together as teams of two to create an avant-garde look based around their model's hairstyle. And just when the teams thought they were on track for a last-minute finish for their designs, Tim Gunn threw a bit of a spanner into the works, telling them that they'd have to create another look--based on their avant-garde designs--for a ready-to-wear ensemble. Both would have to go down the runway and (the best part) the designers would receive no time credit.

It was, to say the least, a daunting challenge. Yet some of the designers rose to the occasion, turning in outfits that were daring, groundbreaking, and in two cases, jaw-droppingly gorgeous. This was not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination and yet the challenge allowed the designers to think outside their usual boundaries to create a piece of runway art that didn't even need to be all that wearable. So why didn't some of the designers understand what avant-garde meant then? And what were some of them thinking?

I was quite amazed at how well odd couple Chris and Christian managed to work together, creating a garment that even astonished hard-to-please Nina, who gushed that it was cover-ready for a couture shoot. The dress was absolutely amazing, in my opinion, especially given the time crunch they were working under: a sleeveless dress comprised of layer upon layer of circular champagne-colored fabric (45 yards in all) with an elaborate three-foot tall collar and train that continued the ruffled theme. This was, quite frankly, the most beautiful garment that has been constructed so far this season (or last) and was not only cover-ready but runway-ready for New York Fashion Week. If Christian can keep this up (especially after his near-breakdown last week), he could walk away with the top prize. In any event, it signaled that Chris was auf'd ahead of his time and that he and Christian should work together every challenge...

Their ready-to-wear piece was also a triumph, even if the skirt was a bit of a throwaway. The ruffled top ingenuously mimicked the over-the-top ruffled dress but managed to reign in the excess for something that was chic, elegant, and wearable. Paired with a belt and skirt, it was the natural embodiment of their original design. Well done, guys!

Also jaw-dropping was the design created by Victorya and Jillian, described as a post-apocalyptic trenchcoat: a black satin trench-dress that was lined on the inside with a striking pink plaid that contrasted severely against the starkness of the black exterior. It was a thing of beauty and joined with a gorgeous white blouse with black details and a pair of equestrian pants. It was striking, fashion-forward, and I swear that the female judges were practically drooling with desire.

I thought that putting together Jillian and Victorya--both passive-aggressive type A's--would combust but once they figured out who was leading their little group, they got back on task and delivered two amazing outfits, including their last-minute take on a shift dress, which continued the black-and-pink-plaid theme with a sleek off-the-shoulder dress with a small pink ruffle.

While the first two teams impressed me with their vision, construction, and imagination, the second two teams disappointed me immensely. Both seemed confused by the point of the challenge and didn't seem able to wrap their minds around the concept of avant-garde. Rami and Sweet P proved that they could not get along long enough to really come up with a unified vision for this task or a joined theory on what avant-garde really meant. Rami designed a corseted dress that once again utilized his impeccable draping skills, but there was nothing fashion-forward or avant-garde about it; it looked like a ready-to-wear dress that could have come out of any one of their previous challenges, even though he paired it with a bizarre pair of black trousers. (Sorry, but trousers plus a dress doesn't get you into the avant-garde party.) Sweet P worked on the ready-to-wear portion of the challenge and did manage to create a rather cute silvery grey dress that was pseudo-Grecian and continued the theme. But it was obvious that these two would end up in the bottom two... even before Sweet P admitted that she wanted their design to have "an explosion from the rear." Ahem.

Meanwhile, Kit got saddled with Ricky, who is somehow still in this competition despite the fact that he's nearly always in the bottom two and has yet to impress me with a single one of his designs. Their joint effort, a sort of Scarlett O'Hara cooking in the kitchen look was based around the idea of aprons, which would cascade around the model as though they were forming a fabric nest. I liked the nesting idea but they went in completely the wrong direction, selected the wrong fabrics, and didn't give the judges anything remotely resembling avant-garde. Their hoop dress was tired, a fashion throwback, and poorly made. Their ready-to-wear dress, constructed by Ricky, was a wisp of an idea, a nothingness brought to life by a tired piece of fabric.

I was of course hoping that Ricky would be the one to get booted this week, but so such luck for some reason. Kit was called to task for her vision as team leader and her inability to follow through on the challenge's parameters. And, while I love Kit and do feel that the concept was innately flawed, I was praying that somehow Ricky would finally be sent home. Sigh.

Next week on Project Runway ("Even Designers Get the Blues"), the remaining designers are tasked with creating an original denim design out of jeans and jackets of various hues and textures; Jillian reaches her breaking point; Ricky turns on the waterworks once more.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); My Name is Earl/The Office (NBC); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Celebrity Apprentice (NBC); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); Don't Forget the Lyrics (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); ER (NBC); Big Shots (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Ugly Betty.

On tonight's first-run episode ("Odor in the Court"), Betty's new fragrance--created by Fey Sommers--has some unintended effects on both her and Henry, while Claire Meade's murder trial begins.

What a Girl Wants: Prom Time on "Project Runway"

Unlike Christian, who seemed en route to a nervous breakdown last night, I quite enjoyed the prom dress challenge presented on this week's episode of sartorial showdown Project Runway ("What a Girl Wants"). Perhaps its the sadist in me, but I like seeing the designers pushed to the brink of despair at the parameters of their latest task and how they manage to pull it all together. Or, in some cases, don't.

First off, I am still amazed that Ricky is still in this competition when far superior designers have been auf'd. Once again, he proved that he can't make it through an episode without turning on the waterworks. I was really hoping that the amount of time the cameras spent with teary Ricky this week would point towards his dismissal, especially since he made such a point of saying how, unlike the other designers, he selected a "subtle" shade of fabric for his client's prom dress. A fact that later worked against him as his client looked "washed out," especially when the other girls' dressed popped with color. Sigh.

I was actually quite impressed by Sweet P's Grecian-inspired gown, which managed to capture her client's brief and some unexpected red carpet glamour. And unlike her previous designs, which proved to suffer from some shoddy craftsmanship, this gown was exquisitely constructed. She also made the right decision to shy away from ivory, white, and black, instead selecting a champagne color that looked amazing on her client.

Victorya also showed some range as a designer, moving away from the color palette and severity of some of her designs (no wonder she was the last designer chosen by the girls) to create a fun, electric blue prom dress that was embellished by shimmering rhinestones that caught the light as her client walked down the runway. Clearly moving outside her comfort zone, Victorya successfully managed to create a dress that was age-appropriate, shimmering, and fun. Kudos to her for winning this crucial challenge.

As for the rest of the designers, I do have to say that I didn't hate Rami and Christian's designs as much as the judges did. Rami's design was sophisticated, yes, but it was also exquisitely constructed and looked amazing on her; I didn't feel in any way that it was something that a 40-year-old woman would wear to dinner. These girls were looking for elegant and sophistication and Rami's complex and unique design showcased this to full effect. Plus, the color, I thought, looked amazing on his client.

As for Christian, he really was saddled with the most difficult client any of them had. Mindy was opinionated, self-absorbed, and hyper-critical... and suffered from a severe lack of taste. I instantly took a dislike to her when she claimed to have been a designer for two year and took the pencil from Christian's hands to begin drawing on his sketch paper. Grr. As for the end result, I didn't hate it nearly as much as the judges did (well, except Heidi, who seemed to like it). Yes, there was a lot going on, with the lace and the layering and the pleats, but that was what Mindy wanted and, yes, the back was a little messy. As a designer you do have to inject your own aesthetic into your designs but also be cognizant of what your client is asking for. I do feel that Christian did that... to some effect. He was stuck with a difficult client and did try to create something that worked for her.

What I do take issue with is the fact that Christian seemed so utterly defeated by this opinionated and vocal sixteen-year-old girl. Yes, part of the problem stemmed from his client's over-the-top requests, but he needed to better manage his client and create a design that was somewhere on equal footing between them. As difficult as that may have been (I do think Mindy was predisposed to hate everything he did), I think Christian could have pulled it off if he had had some more confidence in himself, a quality the self-possessed designer usually isn't lacking during this competition.

Still, I had a feeling the judges would keep him around, especially in the face of Kevin's gruesome Evita-meets-streetwalker ensemble, which was tacky, poorly constructed (hello, designers, finish your hems!), and just looked atrocious on his client... as did the hair and makeup he selected, which all created a sad, street-weary, aged effect on this young girl. Kevin has shown himself to have a lot of raw talent throughout this season but this was not his challenge.

And, oh, how great was it to see some prom pics from our favorite designers? Classic.

Next week on Project Runway ("On Garde!"), the designers have to put aside their preconceptions when they are tasked with creating a design based around a model's hairstyle, while Sweet P and Rami reach their breaking points during an argument.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: CSI: New York (CBS); My Name is Earl/30 Rock (NBC); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Celebrity Apprentice (NBC); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); Don't Forget the Lyrics (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); ER (NBC); Big Shots (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Ugly Betty.

On tonight's first-run episode ("Zero Worship"), Amanda turns to a psychic (guest star Annie Potts) to uncover her father's identity; Betty tries to get Daniel to use real women as models during Fashion Week; Wilhelmina gets some unexpected news and Justin and his classmates visit Mode.

8:30 pm: 30 Rock.

On tonight's first-run episode of 30 Rock, Jack tries his darnedest to close a deal with some German TV moguls as he attempts to keep his long-distance relationship with CC (Edie Falco) afloat; Liz buys into real estate. 30 Rock, I miss you terribly!

Designs as Sweet as Sugar on "Project Runway"

Okay, I can admit when I am wrong. It does happen after all as I am only human and prone to the snap judgments and biases of the species.

Case in point? Last night's episode of sartorial showdown Project Runway, which had the designers raiding the Hershey's store in Time Square for materials with which to construct an outfit.

Yawn, right? So I thought at first as Tim Gunn gave the contestants--some of whom shifted uncomfortably when they learned of their task--five minutes to grab as much Hershey-related swag and candy as humanly possible and then create a garment from this flotsam and jetsam in one day.

I harrumphed and shifted uncomfortably myself (one need only look at Christian and Victorya's reactions to see what I mean); after all, this challenge seemed on the surface to be something more at home in, say, The Apprentice than on Project Runway. This task was all about mass market branding and edible materials and less about careful restrictions and creative success amid odd boundaries (like last season's recycling challenge). For the love all things holy, it was about candy!

And yet, somehow, the designers managed to pull it together, putting aside the enormous bars of sugary chocolate that they unwrapped and instead diving into the challenge, using the paltry materials that they had acquired. Along the way, my interest piqued. Some of the designs were downright hideous, yes, but some of them were actually head-turners. There's a reason why guest judge Zac Posen was so taken with Rami's design, which was girly and fun. Pure effervescence in a halter dress, in fact. Despite being made of paper and vinyl, it looked substantial on the runway and perfectly captured the brief. After all, this wasn't time for "sad brown velvet dresses," but carefree, youthful energy that matched the fun and spirit of candy itself.

Kudos to Gillian for being the only one to use any edible elements in their designs. The risk was extremely high, especially given the fact that the dress was finished mere minutes before the runway show, but the effect was remarkable. Gillian's design was constructed almost entirely out of raspberry-red Twizzlers: a woven bustier, a fringed skirt, that combined looked like a piece of edible art: a bizarrely sweet flapper-inspired dress that looked effortlessly fun and chic.

I was also really impressed by Chris' design for a change. Instead of going over the top, parade float crazy, his stunning design was gorgeously understated: in his hands, the Hershey logo became nothing more than a pop art design, sleekly silver and brown. It was sexy, simple, and instantly wearable. This was Chris at his very best and a reminder why he was worthy of brining back to the series in the first place.

For the middle rung, I do have to say that I liked the designs created by Christian and Kevin, though they didn't quite stack up against the competition. Kevin's design was amazingly chic and put together, considering that it was assembled from the spare parts in a Hershey's store; he presented three pieces including a silvery buttoned bustier, a brown velvet shrug and a belted skirt with a decorative trim. All three were elegant, wearable, and perfect for the runway, but they didn't quite capture the playfulness that the judges were looking for. Same too for Christian, whose Reese's Peanut Butter Cup dress recalled Michael's coffee filter dress from Season Three. It was original and provocative and showed how well this kid can construct, but it wasn't fun or playful at all. If anything, it was a little too somber for a candy-coated challenge like this.

Aside: Ricky, please stop crying. I know that it's a motif that runs through every episode of this series, but at least try to pick your melancholy moments with a little more foresight. Tearing up during the model selection? A new low.

I'm glad that Elise got auf'd this week, though if it were up to me, I'd likely have sent both her and Sweet P packing. These two usually land consistently towards the bottom of the pack and I have yet to like a single one of their creations. Elise's design this week was a ghastly mess: a supposedly morbid Gretel-inspired creation that looked like a drowned rat in silver floaties. Quite possibly one of the biggest misses since... well, anything created by Season Three's Vincent.

As for Sweet P, she claims to love simplicity in her designs but her views of simple usually point to poor construction, little vision, and meager time management. She should have been booted during the menswear challenge but has managed to squeeze by time and time again. Unless she can step it up after her lousy and blah bustier-and-skirt combo, she'll be clearing out her station sooner rather than later.

Next week on Project Runway, the designers take a trip down memory lane in a challenge that has many at their wits' ends while Ricky once again turns on the waterworks.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Deal or No Deal (NBC); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Celebrity Apprentice (NBC); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); ER (NBC); Desperate Housewives (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Ugly Betty.

On tonight's repeat episode ("Grin and Bear It"), Alexis returns to work at Mode but her behavior is more like Alex's than Alexis', Daniel receives an ultimatum from a major advertiser (guest star James Van Der Beek), Amanda hunts for the identity of her father, and Betty begins her creative writing class by stealing someone else's story.

Unholy Trinities: The Gang Teams Up on Sinful Collections on "Project Runway"

Conflict, conflict, conflict.

That's the name of the game on Bravo's sartorial showdown Project Runway. After all, these are big personalities who typically can't agree to get along for the duration of an elevator ride, much less design an outfit or collection together.

So it was interesting then to see on last night's episode that several of the teams actually did work surprisingly well together. Their task: to select fashion faux-pas from previous decades and then, in teams of three, weave these heinous stylistic sins into a cohesive collection that reinvented the fashion no-nos into something modern. A Herculean task, to be fair.

Making matters all the more interesting was the fact that Tim allowed the teams to select themselves into groups and they'd have to nominate a de facto leader for each team. I always find these sort of social interactions exciting to watch as it typically forces people's true colors to come out. Would Ricky prove an effective leader of a group that has passive-aggressive perfectionist Victorya on it? Would Christian, Kit, and Jack--all larger-than-life personalities--be able to get along and create a singular vision?

The answer, strangely, was yes. (Well, except for Ricky being an effective leader, but we all knew that already.) I was really impressed with the two teams singled out for praise by the judges, which this week included legendary designer Donna Karan. I never thought that Rami, Jilian, and Kevin would be able to pull off combining all three of their fashion misses into each of the three ensembles on the runway, and yet they managed to do so quite elegantly while still retaining their own unique styles and sensibilities. While Jillian's overall pants getup was a little overwhelming, it was tempered by the fact that underneath was a sleek, modern, sheer sleeveless blouse with ruffles which transformed the whole look from plane mechanic to sophisticate. I thought Kevin's design: a sexy poodle-skirt denim dress was absolutely stunning, accented with contrast-stitching and a fabric belt which showed off the model's waist. And Rami's design was equally stunning: a halter-ish top paired with denim hot pants that was sexy and fashion-savvy. All very creative and provocative, not to mention well-constructed. It's no wonder that they walked away with the top spot this week.

Elsewhere, Christian's team also worked really effectively together, bringing forth a collection that was fashion-forward, fierce, and runway-appropriate. Kit's design: a pin-striped vest with contrasting black and white dress and a long, hanging necktie perfectly matched the brief. Jack's babydoll-sack dress with black and white pockets and plether neckline and leggings was a perfect companion. Likewise, Christian presented a sophisticated design of pinstriped pencil skirt, three-quarter sleeved jacket, and what appeared to be a plether-tipped mock turtleneck. This team managed to cram all three fashion sins into each ensemble and kept the same palette and feel for each of their ensembles. Well done, "Team Star"!

And then there were the dregs... Though I do have to say that I agree with Donna Karan that Sweet P's dress was really chic: a taupe tunic-like sweater dress with ethnic belt over a black turtleneck body stocking which offered an elegant silhouette and looked like something Karan herself might design. (Sweet P was, expectedly, in tears after the compliment.) As for the rest of her team, lead by Chris, I really wasn't all that pleased with what was on offer. Steven's garment didn't capture the "dancewear" label at all, instead it seemed more kimono-inspired than anything else. It also seemed far too bland for the runway and more suited for off-the-rack. Not sure really what he was going for but he missed the mark on this one. So too did Chris, whose outfit was garishly costume-like with an oversized bolero jacket with massive shoulder pads that seemed dated and tired. Chris, the challenge was to reinvent these fashion disasters, not recycle them!

Ricky's team was even more of a disaster as Chris' team at least seemed to be getting along. Ricky selected duchesse satin for his team's overall material, one of the most difficult fabrics to work with, period. (So says Michael Kors.) He also failed to rein in Victorya's independent spirit as she made decisions about her own ensemble that directly impacted the overall vision without consulting her team or her alleged leader. (I still think that they would have been more successful had Victorya been the leader from the start.) Victorya's design was okay. I wasn't happy about the team's use of color-blocking, which seemed more Barnum & Bailey's than high fashion, but Victorya's was at least more simplistic, offering a subtle T of satin color on the bodice and a short skirt. Elisa's design, I thought, was dreadful... a black sack of a dress with some little triangles of color. And Ricky's design was, as usual, a mess: a poorly-constructed, oddly shaped dress with a peek-a-boo panel top, neon yellow (yes, I know this was part of their task), and nothing fashion-forward about it.

I was really hoping that Ricky would get the axe this week as I am sick to death of his moaning, crying, and shoddy work. But sadly there's no place for bolero jackets in this modern world and Chris was auf'd this week. Sniffle. I'm gonna miss the big lug.