Update: Click here to read our ‘Project Runway’ finale recap!
There’s been a fair amount of blogchatter (some of it right here on PopWatch) about whether or not Bravo is trying to sabotage this season of Project Runway after losing the show to Lifetime. (NBC Universal, which owns Bravo, recently won an injunction that may prevent the show from moving). There was the lack of buildup buzz, the uninspired challenges, the mediocre talent level. But today brings another blow that adds even more weight to the theory that Bravo is throwing its onetime star show under the train: The finale is up against the Presidential debate.
We know, we know. The show had this time slot long before the debates were scheduled. But why is Part 2 of the finale coming right after Part 1? Where’s our reunion episode filled with laughs, tears, and gratuitous Kenley bashing?
A colleague of mine raised the point that much of PR’s core fan base cares a lot more about wedge heels than wedge issues. But even so, the debates are bound to take a huge bite out of PR’s live-viewing audience, leaving the show with record low numbers for its send-off from the channel that created it. (If only we could combine the two and have, say, Michael Kors moderate the debates while McCain and Obama try on the designers’ outfits. How can we know if our candidate can handle the American Empire until we see if he can handle an empire waist?)
Your turn, PopWatchers: Is this just a bad coincidence? Or is Bravo really sabotaging the show? And most importantly, which showdown will you watch tonight?
More on ‘Project Runway’:
Who should win ‘Project Runway’: Korto, Kenley, or Leanne?
13 ‘Project Runway’ All-Stars and Their Unforgettable Designs
‘Project Runway’: Nina Garcia, I love your ring!
Comments (1-30) of 58 Add your comment
In my opinion, PR made Bravo!
I will dvr the debate and watch PR live.
Oh, screw the debates. PR’s up against the Phillies (please, PLEASE?) winning a world series berth tonight. I’ve been a devoted fan, but I forgot it was even going to be on. GO PHILLIES!
I also am surprised there is no reunion show. I was looking forward to all the designers ganging up on Kenley and more quotable zingers from Terri. But mostly, I’m glad this season is almost over because it really has not been up to snuff.
Since I’m sure they won’t combine the two (darn!), I’ll have to catch the finale (and Michael Kors) later and watch the debate. I do agree with Jelana though- GO PHILLIES!
Well PR is on at 6pm here and the debate is live at 3pm and replayed at 7pm so its not a big deal for me. I just want my reunion show and to also see who the fan favorite is!!!!
I live in Washington state- the debate will be over at 8:00 and Project Runway starts at 9:00- we’re lucky!
i think bravo has been sabotaging the show, and i’m totally fine with it. harvey weinstein deserves it. project runway would have been cancelled on any other network after the first few episodes of season one flopped, but bravo was smart – they believed in the product and kept rerunning it until people were hooked. bravo made project runway. and the weinstein’s greed will be the death of it.
I’m diehard PR fan but I won’t be able afford by wedges, platforms, or ever flipflops if the economy doesn’t change so I am watching the debate. Also, it replys in NYC on at 11pm so I can watch both.
Also, the biggest loosers in the season of Project Runway is Kenley and Korto. These two women are at the caliber of any season of PR but will suffer because this year’s crop just sucks.
I’m not really interested in the debate – I’m flipping between PR and the Phillies – Go Phils!
If only SNL can make a Project Runway: Presidental edition.
Dude, Sle–I bat from the left just like you, and I’m paying attention to the NLCS. Beat LA!
I do think it’s suspicious the way that Bravo has been handling the show, especially with the absence of the reunion show (which really angered me, since I like it). Last night I watched Project Runway instead of the debates, since I have election fatigue.
Now that Leanne has won, maybe she can afford some shampoo and a haircut, and perhaps something nice to wear.
I will watch the finale in reruns. Last night’s debate was the best of the bunch!
It wasn’t an issue in Oregon. The debates started at 6 PM here. Finally, SOME advantage for being in the Pacific Time Zone!
Of course I watched the PR finale! I don’t need to watch the debates when I can spend most of today listening to the pundits and talking heads rehash every little word over and over? One network even has body language people included in the analyses! It definitely seemed like Bravo was not promoting the show with their usual gusto this year, which was kind of sad. That show was the trailblazer for all such competition shows and deserves much more respect. I’m really afraid that Lifetime will mess it up!
I watched them both, though neither live. Side note: can Leanne PLEASE go on Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style and get at least a color & cut?
I wonder why they left off the reunion show this year? They just did the “Fan Favorite Award” as a footnote during the show. As for who won the show…I have to say I am torn. Both Leanne and Korto had different points of view. I tend to gravitate to Korto’s designs more though.
I watched PR then tuned it to see the last 30 mins of the debate, which was fine since I got to see the candidates discuss two hot-button issues that mean a lot to me. I’d already made up my mind to watch PR rather than the debate. I’d be down for a Presidential Fashion Show any day!
I DVRed both Project Runway & the debate, waited until 9:15 to start viewing(thereby being able to fast-forward past all the commercials and watch PR without delays), and then went back to start watching the recorded debates at 10 pm. DVRs are SO worth it!
Best part of PR last night: Kenley’s face when they announced Tim Gunn was replacing J.Lo. Nothing better than an “Oh Sh*t” moment. O and did anyone notice that Leanne’s family looked nothing like you thought they would? And who was the chick w/ Kenley’s dad? His tugboat first mate?
All I know is that this season was lackluster as far as the designers and the challenges. Who chose these designers? Mediocre talent, at best. I don’t know if putting the finale against the debates was intentional, but it could have been avoidable with the usual reunion show. I’m hoping Bravo gets to keep the show, but if next season is like this one, I don’t know if I’ll be back, no matter what network has it.
I watched the debate….then watched P.R. when they replayed it at 11pm….
I watched PR. I already voted (mail in ballot) and so what the candidates had to say really didn’t matter to me. Besides, as previously mentioned, it’s not like I can’t read all about it today!
I miss the reunion show and realized that they weren’t having one when they showed a 2 second thing about Korto winning Fan Favorite. I like the reunion shows. Did anyone else notice though that in the promos the announcer said something like “As Bravo says goodbye to PR after 5 seasons” or something like that, as if acknowledging that PR is going to Lifetime. (Or was)
I hope that Lifetime gets to show their LA season. Would love to see it! And Tim Gunn should ALWAYS be a judge. Could there be a more sincere and true individual out there? I strive to be like him!
I thought they were really giving it the shaft, and thought, wait, Tim is the final judge? I am surpised there isn’t any uproar about that, not that he isn’t qualifyed, but he knows the contestants and gave them advice.
I don’t think Bravo was trying to sabotage PROJECT RUNWAY at all! 9/8pm Wednesday is its first run time. The fact that it came up against the debate is irrelevant. That’s why recording devices were invented. And it’s not news that the show repeats following TOP DESIGN, so anyone could watch both the debate and PROJECT RUNWAY. If anyone could be said to be sabotaging the show, I’d say it was the Weinsteins and whoever else is producing. They chose the designers. They chose the challenges. Show content was strictly up to them. Besides, this was a season that brought us arguably the best episode ever: The Great Drag Queen Designs. I personally hope PR stays on Bravo. Let Lifetime continue its Weepy Women themes.
Bravo definitely seemed to be sabatoging the show. Each week they revealed what the supposed big “surprise” for the next week was and the ads/teasers for the show were dreadful. Definitely a big difference from past seasons.
the debate was on?
Wow, all these comments and no political endorsements or angriness. Thanks for the civility, guys. I read political blogs all day long and even I watched PR. I agree though, Bravo is sabotaging the show. I was looking forward to a reunion show.