For all of us who thought this season of Project Runway was a four-way battle among Nick, Chloe, Daniel V., and, yes, Santino (because reality producers love to keep a good villain around as long as possible), the show’s last two episodes have got me wondering otherwise. Indeed, the Swan Lake-inspired figure-skating costume Zulema (left) concocted last night was both sexier and more unique than Nick’s forgettable beige design, and a great deal more elegant than Daniel’s burgundy lingerie.
In fact, only Chloe’s turquoise layer cake trumped Zulema’s dress, even if U.S. champ Sasha Cohen thought otherwise. Still, coupled with her impressive, last-minute rescue in the Banana Republic challenge last week, the hard-driving Zulema has now pulled even with the show’s frontrunners, just as everyone seems to be sharpening their claws to make the final three.
Indeed, there was at least one catty comment every few minutes last night, from Santino’s hilarious impersonation of Michael Kors (”She looks like a baboon’s ass exploded on her backside!”) to Daniel V.’s diss of Kara’s dreary garment (”It was so basic, but not in a Calvin Klein way; it was basic in a J.C. Penney way.”)
I’m all for upping the evil quotient, but there’s three things I never, ever want to see again on this show: Andrae’s terrifying tangerine short-shorts; Santino clad in nothing but a towel; and those infuriating ”Coming up on Project Runaway” teasers that tell you what you’re going to see three minutes after coming back from commercial. Come on, Bravo, stop catering to the 1 percent of your audience with limited attention spans, and instead, show a little respect for Runway addicts who don’t enjoy mid-episode spoilers. To paraphrase guest judge Anne Slowey, Elle magazine’s fashion news director: ”There’s entirely too much tootie being exposed.”
What did you think of last night’s episode?
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Am I the only one who was underwhelmed by most of garments the designers created? The only one I really liked was Chloe’s; I couldn’t believe she didn’t win. Personally, I thought Zulema’s was boring, and there was something weird going on around the hips.
I’m not surprised Emmett got cut, but I think it’s only because his outfit was boring. It wasn’t catastrophically bad (a phoenix? Santino, are you kidding me?), but it looked like something an 11 year-old would wear. And I definitely didn’t think it was vulgar.
I think that, unless Santino turns both his designs and his attitude around very quickly, he’ll be gone quite soon. OH! Did anyone else get the impression from the clips from next week that Tim hears Santino mocking him? I. CANNOT. WAIT.
One of the top moments from last night had to be watching Tim Gunn attempt to ice skate. HILARIOUS!
By the way, if you’re not listening to his podcasts, do start. For this episode, he shared that before they went to the ice rink, they stopped at a prison, and he told the contestants they were going to have to perform in their costumes for the prisoners. Haha.
Sasha Cohen seems very sweet and intelligent. I was impressed she knew what “ruching” was (I didn’t know there was a word for that).
And I’m just guessing about next week, but from the preview, it looks like Zulema’s gonna steal Nick’s model. I wonder….
I’m jumping the gun here since I didn’t catch last night’s episode (11 pm MST is just too late for this 9-5er), but I love Daniel V. so it really pains me to know he has lowered himself to Santino’s level and bad-mouthed another designer. Especially since he gave her lovin’ last week!
The poster below is absolutely right about Tim’s podcasts – they are a must-hear for any Runway-phile! For me, judging solely from bravotv.com’s pictures, my favorite was Chloe’s design, followed by Andrea’s (though I might be in the minority with that choice).
No Robin, I agree with you. None of the stylists ice skating outfits were that great (though Chloe’s came the closest). I loved the color chosen by Daniel V, but, the outfit wasn’t as nice and, frankly, Zulema’s was a little bizarre looking and not particularly sexy.
Poor Emmett, his was dull, but, not the worst (how about Andre’s?). But when I saw it was him or Santino, I knew they wouldn’t be letting Santino go just yet (even though he should).
And, was it me or did anyone notice that when they were doing the train/conga line on ice and Santino was behind Emmett, his lost his grip and grabbed Emmett in the a$$? And Emmett promptly brushed Santino’s hands away like he was so not interested?
I thought it looked like Santino was about to pants Emmett. Wouldn’t have been too bad since they were all wearing unitards, but oh my!
Is it time to give up on the hopes of a TV Watch for Project Runway?
Yeah, I was underwhelmed by the designs (and bland Sasha Cohen), but the catty factor is going up. Santino is too evil to let go this early, and poor Emmett only showed personlity when he was declared “out” and hilariously asked it is was the shirt.
As for the designs, I liked Chloe’s and Daniel’s the best. I can’t understand how Zulema won with that strange whote concoction with the funny hips and the way-too-much frontal cut-out.
Santino escaped once again. Its a goodthing the public doesn’t vote for elimination.
I was SO THRILLED when Heidi said she wanted to get rif od Santino – my I wish they would have! He is such a jerk. Plus, his dress was beyond heinous and the top/front looked just like everything else he has designed. He has no concept of designing for anyone other than himself. I was so disappointed with my little dish Nick – I thought he would have pulled out every trick in his little bag and designed something TRULY amazing for Sasha, but I wasn’t feeling his design at all. I liked Chloe’s, but it was a bit too poofy. I thought Zulema’s was just ok, but maybe it was better in person – hard to say.
Seeing the designers do the choo-choo on the ice has to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Yes, I caught Santino almost pants-ing Emmett while trying to keep his balance. Tim’s self-depracating comments on the pod cast about him being like a statue on the ice made me laught so hard, my sides hurt.
After seeing tonight’s repeat, I definitely preferred Chloe’s design over Zulema’s. Kors made a good comment about, which one do you choose: the one who doesn’t push himself enough, or the one who goes overboard all the time? Santino’s time is drawing to a close unless he can do a 180 and really start designing for his *customer*.
I liked the tangerine short-shorts.
I thought this was a bad episode. I was annoyed that their main problem was that no one could use the machines. The show is better when it’s about the actual competition, instead of them fumbling around not knowing what to do.
None of the outfits were all that great, but Santino’s was the worst. It looked like a turkey exploded. But Noooooooo, they had to keep evil Santino and get rid of Emmett. Poor guy.
Anyone looking foward to Zulema’s “model walk-off” next week?
My favorite part was when the guys saw Emmett in his skating outfit and Nick said he looked – “g-g-g-g-gay”. I love Nick – he is a riot!
I liked Chloe’s the best – Zulema’s was a little too ballerina for me and the swirls looked like frosting. They have to get rid of Santino although his Michale Kors impersonation was damn funny….
wednesday night’s episode was excellent. and (don’t shoot me), i found myself liking santino quite a bit when he noted the bonding that happened on the ice and the relief from competition. he’s obviously a very high-strung, all-or-nothing perfectionist. i relate. however, i’m also rather shy and quiet. it was pitch-perfect that his concept was a phoenix rising. he was looking for redemption on the runway. unfortunately, ice skaters can’t molt and spin at the same time.
Aw Charlotte, I thought Sasha was a great guest, she was really into it and sweet, unlike Nicky Hilton, who was boring and obviously didn’t care about being there, she didn’t even brush her hair before coming on tv.
I love this show, BUT i had some issues;
first: the ice skating challenge is crap! tyher is not much creativity that can go into a ice skating costume, it has to be funtional and the silohuettes are pretty much the same. thats why all of the designs were pretty bad.
second: was i the only one who thought the whole 10-15 minutes spent on the designers wearing the costumes and trying to skate was lame?
third: i love chloe, but she uses the SAME color every week!!! i thought she had the best design, but if she uses blue one more time, she should be cut! i can’t belive no one called her on it
last: zulema’s wasn’t bad, but she is not good enough to nmake it to the final 3.
Why does Andrea speak with a British accent? Is it for dramatic effect? Isn’t he, like, a latino?
I wasn’t all that impressed with anyone, but I loved Santino’s impression of Michael Kors. Santino rubs me the wrong way most of the time, but that was straight up funny! Nick’s reaction just made me laugh harder. Zulema’s design probably sparkled more in person, but I thought the bust was droopy. I liked Chloe’s the most, if I had to choose. I so thought Santino was gone when HEIDI, Queen Bee, said she thought he should go. Oh well. I think it is just a matter of time.
To Karen – “ice skaters can’t molt and spin at the same time” – so hilarious!! thanks for the laugh.
It was about high time that Emmet was gone! The man barely had a pulse and managed to create the most boring clothes.
Nick cannot win this competition because he simply cannot stop talking about Santino! His asymetric designs are also becoming predictable. I actually liked the front of Santino’s dress. He knew they weren’t gonna like the back but he did it anyways. He just doesn’t like being told what to do. Most overly creative people are that way. Kara and Andrea can no chance win this. Zulema is limited. Daniel V. makes neat clothes, but that’s pretty much it. It’s gonna come down to Santino and Chloe, i think.
Glad Emmett’s gone. I think my wall had more personality. Loved the look on his face, though, when Robert from last season asked him, “You don’t recognize me, do you?”. And Emmett had that blank look on his face (like usual). And another thing about Emmett…if he’s a menswear designer (as he stated at least 2 times per episode), why was he on a show that dresses women?
Agree that Emmett was not the most animated person on this show, but the look on his face when he came to the hotel lobby, in his neon pink shiny shirt and that hat was priceless. I also tired of him mentioning his menswear background upteen times.
After some more thought, I think Kara is lucky she wasn’t OOOUT since her design was almost “ho-hum” as Emmett’s. The off-the-shoulder, single sleeve is so obvious.
PLEASE do a TV Watch–I LOVE this show. Santino is extremely gifted and they’re all right that he can’t rein himself in but people, do you really want him to? If he’s going to design for the runway, his excess is perfect. If he’s designing for the masses, then yes, he would need to tone it down. But that’s like comparing Cavalli or Versace with Armani or Calvin Klein–all great designers, all with very different perspectives. Viva Santino!
I can’t say it enought, I LOVE PROJECT RUNWAY!!! I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who comments because I know that i’m not alone in my obsession. You guys rock!!!
Josh, Andrae says in this interview (http://bravotv.com/Andys_Blog/060118.shtml) that he got his ridiculous accent from theater training at NYU. And he’s actually not Latino… he’s half Filipino, half white.
(I thought he was Latino myself, and being that I am Filipino, I was surprised ’cause I’m usually good at pointing out who’s at least part-Filipino.)
Aghh… i posted the link below wrong. Here it is:
http://bravotv.com/Andys_Blog/060118.shtml
Now my sentimental favorites are gone (Diana and Emmett) so it is up to Chloe to pull this one through. Emmett has a gentlemanly charm and great eye for clothes. If you go back and look, every design was wearable and stylish(Dangerous on a show that reward outlandishness as creativity). Everything he made was good. I especially loved the Nicki Hilton dress he made, the way the top layer bars contrasted with the pattern underneath (I forget if there is a good picture of it on the bravo website http://www.bravotv.com). Santino’s did not work for the challege, he should have been out. Nick’s design was good, but color was BAD! Kara was blah. Zulema’s on Sasha Coen would have made a good ice skating outfit, but looked slightly odd on the model. Chloe’s was good, though like she said vaguely Christmas tree like. I would have awarded Chloe the Win.
Final 3:
Nick
Chloe
Daniel V.
P.S. Go to the Project runway site on http://www.bravotv.com.
Honestly, I though that all of the dresses were not that good BUT the challenge it’s self was very limited. As an avid fan of figure skating, I do have to agree that Emmett’s outfit was horrible and way back in my warped mind, there was something intriguing about Santino’s outfit except when you durned it around. (Actually, I’ve seem some skaters have on outfits that were worse than Emmett’s and Santino’s)
I do have to say Santino, whom I definately love, needs to change his attitude and needs to stop over designing.
As for Zulema, I didn’t think her outfit was that great either.
I’m hoping that Santino get it together because he’s clearly a great designer.
Chloe’s confection definitly stole the show. I’m disappointed that Sasha did not pick it. I think the layers would have created a nice fluid look as she moved across the ice. I also didn’t understand Sasha’s objection to the color. It was bright and would have stood out on the ice. Zulema’s was all right, but overrated. It just didn’t have the class that Chloe’s had. I thought Emmett’s was ugly, but what I don’t understand is him getting cut over Santino. Emmett has created a decent (allbeit) not spectacular garmet each week. Whereas Santino has created two winning garmets and then several tasteless bad ones. Shouldn’t the consistent designer have prevailed. At least Emmett tried to create something wearable on the ice. Santino was not thinking about Sasha at all. Daniel V. also disappointed me. From a distance you couldn’t discern any detail and it the fabric puckered like it was badly sewn.
Thanks to all of you who suggested Tim’s podcasts! They’re fantastic. Santino was more tolerable this week, but his outfit wasn’t just wrong for the client, the back of it was completely unflattering and a little scary. Let’s face facts about this challenge, most ice skating outfits are horrible anyway. Zulema’s was almost nice, except the bust was horribly unflattering and whoever wears it in its current rendition will need one hell of a bikini wax. I’m sure it will be substantially modified when Sasha actually wears it. Ice skaters who push the fashion envelope run the risk of offending their very classically minded judges, even when they dress for exhibitions only. Nick may have recognized that. Kara’s wasn’t particularly creative, but I actually think it would have looked nice on the ice. What the hell happened to Daniel V this week? Really wrong. I did feel bad for Emmett, though, not that he got cut, but that he got cut in that terrible pink top that showed his lack of abdominal work at the gym. From what I saw of Emmett’s work, I would probably wear his stuff IRL.