Welcome back, Tim Gunn! 'Runway' returns
Posted: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 11:05 AM by Paige Newman
Filed Under:
TV
Wow, have I ever been missing “Project Runway.” Heck, I even watched Bravo’s pale imitation, “The Fashion Show,” which mostly just made me realize how much Tim Gunn adds to “Runway.” Kelly Rowland, you’re no Gunn.
AP file |
Tim Gunn, it's been way, way too long since you've told a contestant to "make it work."
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In any case, “Runway” returns Thursday at 10 p.m. on its new home on Lifetime. I’m hoping the change of address doesn’t change this nearly perfect show.
We start with an
all-star challenge that features
Daniel Vosovic (season 2),
Santino Rice (season 2),
Jeffrey Sebelia (winner, season 3),
Uli Herzner (season 3),
Mychael Knight (season 3),
Chris March (season 4),
Sweet P (season 4) and
Korto Momolu (season 5).
I hate an all-star challenge (“Survivor,” this means you), but dang, if “Runway’s” going to do one, they should at least include all the winners:
Jay McCarroll (season 1),
Chloe Dao (season 2),
Leanne Marshall (season 5), and most especially, my personal favorite and the designer who’s arguably gone on to the most fame, season 4’s “fierce”
Christian Siriano. Maybe they were asked and refused? Hard to believe that Jay and Leanne were that busy. TV editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper still raves about McCarroll’s one-episode Bravo show, “Project Jay.”
Heck, I’m such a “Runway” fan, I even watched
Kayne Gillaspie’s “Gown Crazy” special on TLC, and loved every minute of it. This man knows his pageant dresses. And what about including the fabulous
Austin Scarlett of season one, who I last saw on an episode of
“Say Yes to the Dress”? Or mother-of-six, yet super-sophisticated
Laura Bennett? Or even the completely bitchy
Kenley Collins, whose dresses I adored, even if her personality wasn’t exactly winning? I’m also missing
Kara Saun (season 1),
Nick Verreos (season 2),
Malan Breton (season 3) and the cut-far-too-soon
Terri Stevens (season 5).
But moving on to the new cast. The only things we know about them come from Lifetime’s Web site. So far I’m intrigued by the vintage style of Louise Black, self-proclaimed king of feathers Nicolas Putvinski and “I Love Lucy” fan Shirin Askari, who hates Crocs and Uggs as much as I do.
Personality-wise, it’s hard to resist Qristyl Frazier, who described her bedroom as “I should call it a love nest, but…”; Christopher Straub, who actually owns one of the My Scene Barbie’s that Nick created for a challenge; and Malvin Vien, who picked himself as his favorite designer, and thinks everyone should own a big comfortable sweater. Amen, brother!
If I had to pick a winner, simply going off the Web site info, I would go with Gordana Gelhausen. First of all, if her clothes are half as well- designed as her house, she should do well. She also showed the judges in the casting session some really chic dresses. Could she be this season’s winner? Stay tuned, look at the Web site, and share your thoughts below.
