All you need for tonight's Project Runway finale

September 27, 2006 3:32 AM

It's down to the wire for Project Runway: Tonight the final four designers' climactic collections are judged at New York's fashion week. Re-live the season by rating the runway. Enjoy resident guru Tim Gunn's podcasts, particularly his anti-Vincent and -Angela rants in the "couture" and "tiny dog" challenges. The best episode recaps are at FourFour. For backstage gossip, it's Project Rungay. For fashion fiends, here's an illustration-rich look at the history behind Laura's winning '20s dress and a deconstruction of just what's wrong with Vincent.
posted by Tuffy (73 comments total)

Tonight the final four designers' climactic collections are judged at New York's fashion week.

Actually, that's not tonight, that's Oct. 18th. Tonight, one gets eliminated.
posted by drezdn at 5:57 AM on September 27, 2006

OMG I am so obsessed with this show. I only came across it for the first time last week too.
posted by gomichild at 6:01 AM on September 27, 2006

Michael should totally win. Like OMG he is way the best.
posted by billysumday at 6:07 AM on September 27, 2006

OMG I just realized that I typed OMG and gomichild typed OMG and my OMG wasn't a dig or anything, I sincerely mean that OMG Michael's designs are so way the best and I hope he wins.
posted by billysumday at 6:09 AM on September 27, 2006

OMG Michael totally has to win! He actually recognizes when he's stuffed up and doesn't bitch at everyone. He actually OMG *gasp* focuses on the creative process and designing clothes!
posted by gomichild at 6:11 AM on September 27, 2006

I honestly think that Michael and Laura are the only genuinely talented and capable designers on the show. Jeffrey is this season's Santino, bringing in the ratings-rich drama — he'd have been kicked off the first week, otherwise.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:12 AM on September 27, 2006

Are they still doing that thing where the final four do runway shows but only the final three "count"?

That is so weird.
posted by smackfu at 6:13 AM on September 27, 2006

Michael is the best designer in the group, and as far as personality, he's not a total ass like some of the others -- but those shots of his final collection are pretty discouraging.

I wish there was a true Santino this season: Jeffrey may think of himself as an artist, but his designs are not that cool -- that rockstar outfit was ridiculous.
posted by rottytooth at 6:31 AM on September 27, 2006

Secret: Look at the Getty images of Fashion Week to see who won.
posted by four panels at 6:34 AM on September 27, 2006

"The judges considered both the scores and input from the producers and Bravo in reaching their elimination decisions."

Does it really make a difference who wins, since the competition's openly rigged?
posted by SteveInMaine at 6:37 AM on September 27, 2006

I can't wait for the reunion show - I hope they bring in Keith so they an all rag on him.

I am disappointed that this year there wasn't (as DanielV would say) 'a muthafuckin' walk-off!'
posted by ao4047 at 6:37 AM on September 27, 2006

Does it really make a difference who wins, since the competition's openly rigged?

Case and point: How did Vincent ever survive so long in the competition? How did that ridiculous black dress with the over sized, tan lapels actually win a challenge? Why do I care so much?

Talk about a man who cannot let go of the past - SHOULDER PADS - are you kidding?
posted by imposster at 6:42 AM on September 27, 2006

This is the one show on television that makes me want to develop an overwrought personality, complete with faux speech mannerisms and outfits to match, just to make a fool of myself/become famous.
posted by bobobox at 6:43 AM on September 27, 2006

ROT 13 Spolier: Vgfzvpunryxavtug
posted by four panels at 6:44 AM on September 27, 2006

I lost track of the show mid-season, so it's something of a surprise to see that Jeffrey is still in the running. Why the hell hasn't he been auf'd yet? Guess I'll have to spend some catch-up time over at TWOP.
posted by Iridic at 6:44 AM on September 27, 2006

I'm not kidding either. This thread sounds pretty snarky, but these have been some sincere OMGs.
posted by bobobox at 6:45 AM on September 27, 2006

I watch this show. It's entertaining.
posted by ob at 6:51 AM on September 27, 2006

Why do I care so much?

Because the producers were good at their job, knew you would care so much, and left him on.
posted by rxrfrx at 6:54 AM on September 27, 2006

Secret: Look at the Getty images of Fashion Week to see who won.

four panels: I must be missing something. Because I might be able to figure out who wins the last challenge going into the show based upon who has (or does not have) which model, and I could venture a decent guess about who is the decoy were I to venture into the "who doesn't have a swimsuit in their collection" theory, but I couldn't really deduce the winner from those.

On preview, I hope you're right. But I still couldn't quite figure that out from the pics.

[Also, Richard Simmons warning in the link above at about page 11 or so]
posted by Dr. Zira at 6:56 AM on September 27, 2006

As a huge fan of Project Runway, I'm so glad to see this thread not filled with snark.
posted by piratebowling at 7:10 AM on September 27, 2006

As a huge fan of Project Runway, I'm so glad to see this thread not filled with snark.

Is this something I would have to be gay to know about? Because I am not gay.
posted by jonson at 7:12 AM on September 27, 2006

I got hooked this season as well, and went back to see season 2 and last night I started on the season 1 DVD. I like it way too much, because I think it actually showcases designers designing, not like most reality shows where your looks and freakish personality are your only assets.

Anyway, I think Michael totally needs to win. Uli needs to be auf'd tonight (how many times can you remake the same miami party dress?) so the three finalists need to be Michael, Jeffrey (he showed promise early on, like Santino, though he's no Santino), and Laura.
posted by mathowie at 7:33 AM on September 27, 2006

I do love this show. Been watching it from season one and it is really terrific to watch talented clever people show what they can do.

And it's fun too.
posted by beccaj at 7:34 AM on September 27, 2006

needs to be auf'd tonight (how many times can you remake the same miami party dress?)

I never knew you were so with it, Matt.
posted by four panels at 7:40 AM on September 27, 2006

As a huge fan of Project Runway, I'm so glad to see this thread not filled with snark.

Project Runway? Has MetaFilter always been populated with nitwit teenage girls?
posted by xmutex at 7:41 AM on September 27, 2006

My two cents:

Uli is adorable and very talented, but yeah ... every single dress is another free-flowin' South Beach special. Laura designs for herself, resulting in rather respectable and boring clothes for cruiseline victims. Jeffrey is painfully edgy with his designs, but plays the psychological game of Runway better than anyone. For my money, Michael remains my favorite, and not just because he's representing Atlanta so damned well.

(One more thing: Uli & Jeffrey. You know they're hookin' up.)
posted by grabbingsand at 7:50 AM on September 27, 2006

I still can't believe Santino lost last season. He was robbed!
posted by fandango_matt at 8:05 AM on September 27, 2006

Jeffrey is one of those guys who's so concerned with being cool that it makes him profoundly uncool.

Plus, he looks like Chris Parnell with a neck tattoo.
posted by jrossi4r at 8:06 AM on September 27, 2006

The producers have been way too involved in the decision making process this time. Sometimes you've got to let your "stand out characters" go when they've produced their third concecutive shitty result, no matter how whacky they are, or it just loses all plausibility.
posted by Artw at 8:08 AM on September 27, 2006

OK, well whilst we're all discussing this, I'd like Michael to win too. I agree with everyone's comments about Uli and Jeffrey but I have to say that I can't stand Laura. If she makes one more dress with a high waist I'm going to scream. I'm into elegance but there seems to be no real inspiration behind what she's doing. It's very four-square and safe -she puts technique over everything which, in many ways, makes her the polar opposite of Jeffrey. Michael seems to have the best of both worlds which, in my mind, makes him the strongest.
posted by ob at 8:12 AM on September 27, 2006

Regardless of what the judges say tonight or in two weeks, Laura has already won, simply because she's at least twice as fabulous as anyone else in the competition.
posted by anapestic at 8:12 AM on September 27, 2006 [1 favorite]

All of Michael's clothes look the same & are ugly. I vote for Jeffery: he's the only one with clothes I'd wear. Then again, this is based only on the images linked. Maybe the producers are giving you some subliminal whatever.
posted by dame at 8:12 AM on September 27, 2006

The thing is, it's not a design competition -- it's a reality show wearing a design competition costume.
posted by JanetLand at 8:15 AM on September 27, 2006

Spoiler Alert!
posted by ericb at 8:17 AM on September 27, 2006

Are they still doing that thing where the final four do runway shows but only the final three "count"?

They do this because by the time Fashion Week happens, viewers don't know who the final three are, so having only three designers doing shows would be a 2 or 3 week spoiler on the airing schedule. (Why they can't accelerate the process has a lot to do with the semester schedules at Parsons. They went into production for this season something like two days after all of the students left, so it really couldn't have been sped up in any way.)

There's also a consolation prize element to it; if you survive to the final 4, you get to do a show free of all of the pressure and the constraints of the final 3. Last year, Kara Janx was the consolation show and frankly, her line was better than Daniel Vosovic's and Chloe Dao's put together. She got a lot of buzz from the collection and her design house is getting off the ground now, largely as a result.
posted by Dreama at 8:44 AM on September 27, 2006

Also: Forget who wins or loses. Tim Gunn for President, 2008.
posted by Dreama at 8:44 AM on September 27, 2006

The thing is, it's not a design competition -- it's a reality show wearing a design competition costume.

But it's only actually interesting when it's at least pretending to be a design competition.
posted by Artw at 8:48 AM on September 27, 2006

Could I just say that Laura bears a striking resemblance to Gina McKee?
posted by of strange foe at 9:00 AM on September 27, 2006

I miss Malan. And I love Laura, even moreso after having read the article linked above. Her son didn't have a name for 3 months! That's strangely awesome.
posted by bayliss at 9:09 AM on September 27, 2006

Uli needs to be auf'd tonight (how many times can you remake the same miami party dress?)

So friggin' true. So. Friggin'. True.
posted by contessa at 9:11 AM on September 27, 2006

It would be a dream job would be coming up with all the challenges for these designers. And I wish I could have Tim Gunn follow me around 24/7, being brutally honest, yet still encouraging.

Make it work.

Thanks for all the links, Tuffy. Now here--on myspace: Jeffrey, Malan, Alison, Kayne, and more if you start clicking through their friend lists. Also, Entertainment Weekly coverage, in which I read Jeffrey and Santino are "friends" from LA. hmm. Also, Cosa Nostra, Inc. Jeffrey's company, and Dahl Clothes, Alison's line. I could go on and on.
posted by whatnot at 9:26 AM on September 27, 2006

All contestants' websites are linked here.
posted by JanetLand at 9:46 AM on September 27, 2006

I want more Vera Wang. I love when she hates something. She just barely hides her derision. I even shout at the TV The Wang don't like it!
posted by ao4047 at 9:57 AM on September 27, 2006

Laura and Michael need to collaborate on a line.
posted by TorontoSandy at 10:31 AM on September 27, 2006

I guess everyone has a dirty little secret when it comes to TV.

Mine this year was Rockstar: Supernova, even though by halfway it was obvious it was clearly rigged.

Regardless of that, there were some great performances I got to see on primetime network TV, and that's something that is easy for me to get behind.
posted by Ynoxas at 11:02 AM on September 27, 2006

Saddest moment this season: seeing Alison get the boot and knowing we'd have no more "morning moments". Rowr!

Going WAY the hell back, has anyone seen anything WRT Jay's declining the big prize? Wikipedia has it as an undisclosed reason. Seems weird, especially when he then got his own special. Also, why's Bravo polishing up Daniel V when homeboy was an uninteresting second on the show?
posted by Ogre Lawless at 11:41 AM on September 27, 2006

Yawn.
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:59 AM on September 27, 2006

I somehow got hooked on this the first season, in spite of having never watched an entire episode of reality TV before. I noticed the "input from the producers" clause as well, but near as I can tell, the judging is legitimate. They do seem to take into account all of their past pieces. Heidi is an executive producer.

It seemed that there were some strings attached to the $100,000, and Daniel was the fan favorite. He or Santino were really poised to win the thing, if they hadn't dropped the ball on their collections. Chloe seemed to win by default, with a well-constructed but IMO hideous line.

Top Chef follows a similar format, and is also quite entertaining.
posted by Manjusri at 12:24 PM on September 27, 2006

-Here's the ultimate fabulous Laura moment.

-With refs to Star Trek and Lord of the Rings, the show is actually pretty geeky.

-whatnot: Thanks for the link to DahlClothes. I've seen that site before and it convinced me that they were right to kick Allison off. Her stuff is surprisingly amateurish. Not that she should have gone before Vincent or Angela, of course...
posted by Tuffy at 12:47 PM on September 27, 2006

Top Chef is frustrating because I can't taste the results.
posted by whatnot at 12:48 PM on September 27, 2006

I've been watching since season one, and I'm not sure how much I buy the producer's cherry-picking who gets the boot. The judges seem to have been pretty consistent with thinking it's a far bigger sin to be boring than to be crazy. I think that the cardinal rules on the show are to never make it look like you're designing for anyone over 30, never make anyone look like they might be over a size 0, and never be boring.

Tim's podcast is deliciously dishy, and full of surprising behind-the-scenes info (including lots of detail on Keith's disqualification and Katherine's elimination). I'm so in love with him that I'm considering going to see him speak at the Corcoran next month, just to be in the same room with him.
posted by amarynth at 1:06 PM on September 27, 2006

Going WAY the hell back, has anyone seen anything WRT Jay's declining the big prize

He didn't want to be tied to one company (Banana Republic) and the other restrictions that would come along with that with regard to his creativity and how it could be exercised.

I don't think that forfeiting that prize hurt him nearly as much as Heidi's last minute (and fairly ridiculous) refusal to wear the gown he went to such lengths to create for her for the Emmy Awards.
posted by Dreama at 1:31 PM on September 27, 2006

and I'm not sure how much I buy the producer's cherry-picking who gets the boot

The producers definitely have input. Vincent was a train wreck from the get go. Angela did her Holly Hobby schtick in virtually every challenge. They have to think ratings and demographics more than who is the best at winning challenges because, when it comes down to it, ratings is the key to advertising dollars. Project Runway is not an inexpensive reality show like some. Therfore it has to care about higher costs and bringing in more advertising revenue. That said, for industry players looking to net TV viewers, Project Runway is about as targeted an audience as you can get on cable today.

I think that the cardinal rules on the show are to never make it look like you're designing for anyone over 30

That doesn't explain Laura, Uli, or the mothers and sisters challenge. Not that there aren't younger women who'd wear clothing by Laura or Uli, but their target audience is predominantly over thirty. In general, I agree with you. The goal of the show is innovation and mass appeal. Though the boomer generation is bigger and wealthier than the the younger generations, they are not prime demographics for the show or television in general^*.

I don't think that forfeiting that prize hurt him nearly as much as Heidi's last minute (and fairly ridiculous) refusal to wear the gown he went to such lengths to create for her for the Emmy Awards.

Perhaps this is just rumor, but I've heard that Heidi wore a Kara Saun that night, Dreama. Talk about devestating. Either way, you're analysis is right on. Add in a touch of a falling out after Heidi's runway choice, and I think whatever part of Jay felt any obligation to the show disappeared.

Okay, so that's not entirely true. With cable, there are target markets that are predominantly over fifty and advertisers trying to reach them, but they are dwarfed by the number of people advertising to the 18 to 30 crowd.
posted by sequential at 1:38 PM on September 27, 2006

Two great interviews I found today in web travels: Tim Gunn and Laura.
posted by mathowie at 2:06 PM on September 27, 2006

I wonder how much cotton could be produced for the show after shearing all the sheep who fucking watch it.
posted by dopamine at 2:39 PM on September 27, 2006

Did I say cotton? I meant wool. Christ. And I was so pleased with my cynical wit. Have at it.
posted by dopamine at 2:42 PM on September 27, 2006

Jeffrey ... looks like Chris Parnell with a neck tattoo.

OMG, jrossi4r -- you are SO RIGHT!

OMG, I just typed OMG for the first time in my life. OMG! (Project Runway'll do that to you...)

I think my college German professors are either rolling in their graves or laughing their asses off at the word "auf'd," too.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 2:52 PM on September 27, 2006

Finally - something lower than furries who write slash fic about themselves.
posted by Sparx at 3:12 PM on September 27, 2006

Plus, he looks like Chris Parnell with a neck tattoo.

IMO Jeff was always a doppelganger for Squiggy.
posted by brain cloud at 4:30 PM on September 27, 2006

I'm watching tonight's episode as I type this, and I can't get over how much I love Tim Gunn. I think I'm going to have to invest some time in the Tim Gunn podcasts this weekend.

This whole post was awesome (and hey, mathowie too? Who knew?)
posted by anjamu at 7:20 PM on September 27, 2006

Anyone who doesn't 'get' the fun of PR is a small little person, and constructed entirely from turds.
posted by fleacircus at 7:56 PM on September 27, 2006

available at the Project Runway store for $25
posted by pruner at 9:48 PM on September 27, 2006

I don't think it's necessarily mercenary to keep, say, Angela and dump, say, Katherine. In one of his podcasts Tim compared Angela to Santino in that her stuff was insane but at least it offered something to talk about. Katherine, Allison (and I would argue Vincent) were always vague and uninspired.
posted by Tuffy at 10:43 PM on September 27, 2006

Yeah, Tim Gunn is so awesome he makes me wish I was a 50 year old gay man in Manhattan so I could at least hit on him and have a chance.
posted by mathowie at 11:08 PM on September 27, 2006 [2 favorites]

that Tim Gunn interview is great mathowie... thanks for posting it.
posted by pruner at 11:48 PM on September 27, 2006

i think uli's been the best...it's not just the trademark selection of prints--it's what she's constructing with them...she has been the most consistently good at what she does...and she's pretty cool about not slinging crap about everybody else...and she totally shrugged off laura's whole mind-fuck 'ooh, now you have just one day to come up with something' and then followed it up gracefully by blowing her away...

...i wasn't as happy with this year's show because they've ramped up the trick stuff--two-day 'couture'...let's make something nice out of garbage...it would be cool to see a week when they have no limits and they can act like a real designer and walk in and throw a single-llne drawing and three adjectives to a group of sweatshop workers and sit back and wait for the masterpiece to appear...

...the tricks would be cooler if they did a series in which they got real established designers to compete with each other--get them to make 12-hour masterpieces out of a pile of crap!

...a strange thing about the show overall is that i don't see a lot of the designers complimenting each other on their work...is that just considered bad competition? is it something that happens but they do not show intentionally for some reason? would just be nice to hear somebody say 'yeah, mine didn't turn out as well as i would have liked, but yours totally deserved to win'...

...tim gunn seems to me less involved in the recent series...given his position, he seems underused...it would seem he could give the audience some more translation on design rules and unbreakable conventions...a lot of that stuff they discuss as if we all know what that stuff is...i'm gay, but gosh...

...and, of course, this season's lead mottos so far: i call them florshons and the ever-creepy i get off on it
posted by troybob at 12:21 AM on September 28, 2006

I <3 pr. i didn't really get into it until last season, when my friends at school would all cram into room, small>do illegal things involving a plant and watch the show together.
Now I either have to do illegal things with a computer or go to my brother's house and I've gotten him addicted to it too!


Team Michael, FTW (even though his final collection pictures sucked bawls.)
posted by sperose at 12:42 AM on September 28, 2006

Goddamnit, I thought I fixed that comment. That's what I get for not previewing.
posted by sperose at 12:46 AM on September 28, 2006

troybob - listen to Tim's podcasts for all the details you're missing.
posted by pruner at 1:05 AM on September 28, 2006

I even shout at the TV The Wang don't like it!

I do that too, but I've never seen this show.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:14 AM on September 28, 2006

I wish they just had transcripts of the podcasts... I don't have time to listen to the whole things...
posted by klangklangston at 5:21 AM on September 28, 2006

I even shout at the TV The Wang don't like it!

I do that too, but I've never seen this show.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 3:14 AM CST on September 28 [+] [!]

The winner.
posted by Ynoxas at 7:36 AM on September 28, 2006

First: Tim Gunn Bobble-Head? How cool is that?!
Second: The Wang don't like it! - My new way of saying "Honey, No."
posted by johnj at 12:23 PM on September 28, 2006