After a few false starts, I'm finally digging the new season of "Project Runway" after the second consecutive entertaining episode.It was so good, that I'm willing to overlook the way the judges completely botched almost every single decision they made last night.
I'm looking past that because last night was educational. We learned it's not a good idea to piss off a black woman (at least Suede and Joe did) and that the show will always favor a big personality over a deserving designer. Oh wait, we already knew both those things.
The episode didn't get off to a promising start with Blayne bringing back –licious (Team Dramalicious) following a much appreciated one-week hiatus. Soon, the designers learned this week's challenge would be to design an outfit for a high-powered woman, leading to some more spectacularly wrong guesses (though a Hilary Clinton episode would be a sight to behold).
I'm not quite sure why they tried to make the appearance of this week's guest judge — Brooke Shields (pictured, left, with Nina Garcia) — a surprise, since anyone who's had a TV tuned to Bravo in the past week knew it would be her.
The designers would be creating an outfit for her character — Wendy Somethingorother (I don't care) — to wear on Shields' show, "Lipstick Jungle". If Bravo was going to pimp another NBC show, couldn't they have picked a good one. And what's with Tim Gunn repeatedly emphasizing the magnitude of this week's prize (having one of their looks worn on TV)? Did I miss something? Aren't all of these peoples' looks shown on TV every week already?
Anyway, Tim also announced that this would be a two-person team challenge about 20 seconds after I turned to my girl Erica and said "you know, they haven't had any team challenges this year?" The 12 designers presented their sketches to Brooke, who seemed kind and knowledgeable and mostly did a good job of hiding her disgust toward Blayne's and Stella's designs. Shields picked six designers who would serve as team captains/scapegoats (if their team performed poorly).
The teams were Keith and Kenley, Blayne and Leann, Korto and Joe, Terri and Suede, Kelli and Daniel, and Jerrell and Stella. In the least surprising development of the evening Stella was picked last (or not picked at all, technically). I'm also convinced the producers nudged Shields to select Blayne as a captain to stir things up and you can't change my mind.
Surprisingly, Jerrell (showing a bit of maturity and humility this week ) and Stella were the only drama-free duo.
Daniel wasn't thrilled to be working on Kelli's cheetah-licious (damn you, Blayne!!!) outfit because it wasn't "high-fashion" enough. Meanwhile, Korto got a nice view from under the bus after Joe agreed with Tim Gunn's "giant sweet potato" assessment of her jacket, but never bothered to tell her his feelings.
Terri and Suede had the most entertaining exchange of the day after Suede seemingly botched the couple's top. Suede seemed legitimately terrified of Terri who wondered if he was "packing balls or a vajayjay" (we're all wondering that) and said she wouldn't work with any babies. Actually, what she really said was "ain't nobody sucking on my titties", but I'm still a little shocked she actually said that. Awesome!
Keith and Kenley didn't even wait to get to the workroom to fight as they clashed over fabric at Mood (Tim Gunn stepped in and helped them before they incorporated a truly hideous-looking piece of fabric). At first I thought Kenley was coming off as kind of a bitch (especially when she was talking about her lack of faith in Keith's work behind his back). However, when she expressed those concerns to him in person, I realized she just has a strong personality and is really opinionated. (I hate when people talk trash behind someone's back and then smile in their face). Most importantly, she earned MAJOR brownie points when she openly laughed at Daniel after he claimed (once again) that his taste was impeccable. This guy is giving Blayne a major run for the title of "biggest space cadet."
The judges selected Keith/Kenley and Jerrell/Stella as their top two, while putting Kelli/Daniel, Blayne/Leann in the bottom two. Personally, I would've substituted Korto's outfit (looking more fitted and a lot less like a sweet potato) for Keith and Kenley's, but it was close.
What wasn't close, in my opinion, was that Jerrell and Stella deserved to win. Shields didn't seemed too thrilled with the zebra belt (which could easily come off), but the rest of the judges swooned over Jerrella's outfits, which seemed like a true collaboration between the two. Oh well. I can't really blame Shields for picking the prettier (and slightly more conventional) design by Keith, who looked completely stressed out this week after working with Kenley and looked like he needed the prize.
Meanwhile, Keith's workout buddy Daniel inexplicably skated elimination. He had botched the skirt and embarrassed himself in front of the judges with his "my taste is impeccable" bit, but didn't even land in the bottom two.
When it came down to Kelli and Blayne, there was no doubt in my mind Kelli was going home. Nevermind the fact that she won the first challenge and hadn't been anywhere near the bottom since and that Blayne has been in the bottom TWO twice and hasn't really designed anything that's any good (including this week's WAY too casual shorts outfit). Either Blayne or (especially) Daniel should've gotten the boot.
Oh well, I present Kelli with the "Allison Kelly" award for "Project Runway" contestant sent home WAY before their time in favor of a loonier personality (Kit Pistol won last year).
So what'd you think of this episode? Why is the winner of the "Allison Kelly" award always a blonde white girl? Is there anyone more boring than Leann? Who's weirder Blayne or Daniel? Did the judges get ANYTHING right last night? Finally, how excited are you about the return of Chris March next week? (Me? VERY)
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