This Week in TV--One Week On

It was sad to get home this evening and realize there was no Project Runway awaiting me. (This moment was especially poignant when I realized we have no idea when PR will return. Or where. [Please, don't let it be on Lifetime. I'll have to get over serious issues to watch it on Lifetime.]) Then I remembered we hadn't yet discussed the finale, so I could at least blog about it here.

Okay, so first and foremost...the editing? Nightmarish. It seemed as if Kenley had a chance of winning the whole thing, even though you and I watched the whole season (along with Michael, Nina, and Tim) and knew, just knew, she would be third. And, of course, she came in third. Come on, people, we're not stupid!

Leanne? Total winner. This was my favorite dress in her collection (to the right). Gorgeous, unique, and new. (Those of you who know my book tastes know that risk-taking is always rewarded.)

And, her win proved to me that Project Runway, over five seasons, has mostly gotten it right. Let's break it down:

• Season One: Jay? Yes, even though Kara Saun was a close second. An awesome season overall.
  
• Season Two: All of them failed in my opinion. Daniel's collection was awful, Chloe's was weird, and Santino's poorly crafted. I would have picked Santino for the win (I did like his California Golden Girl dresses best), but understood why the judges chose Chloe. She had a collection. It just happened to be ugly.
• Season Three: Okay, this was the season that upset me most. I was 100% behind "Bad Mommy" (Laura) from day one. I liked her clothes, I liked her attitude, I liked her snark. Jeffrey's Gothic Lolita look (which won) seriously got me down. Oh, and Mychael Knight? Nice Guy, horrible final collection.
  
• Season Four: Three great people in the top three--Rami, Christian, and Jillian. Christian totally deserved the win, however.


• Season Five brings us back to Korto...the best second-placer ever.
  

I'm sorry, but this is one gorgeous dress. (Even though the ProjectRungay guys accuse it of titscrepancy.) Everything in Korto's collection was beautiful, the colors were brilliant, and normal women could wear her clothes. But she just didn't reach the same level of innovation as our sweet nerd girl Leanne did.

That being said, I'd buy clothes from Korto. (Especially this particular dress.)

What say you...about Project Runway Season Five? About Project Runway in general? About the end of Project Runway on Bravo? (Tim doesn't want to move to Los Angeles. I think we should support Tim, because he's the best thing about Project Runway, hands down.)

This Week in TV: What Can You Do?

Well, that was one sad Project Runway episode for me. Jerrell was a designer whose clothes I never really liked, but I enjoyed him as a person. I'll be sad to see him go. Seriously, though, his dress was fug. There it is to the right. It looks like it's smoldering. Not a good sign for a wedding, wouldn't you say?

Complicating matters from an emotional point of view for this Project Runway viewer was that my favorite remaining designer--Korto--turned in what I thought was a much worse dress than Jerrell's. They kept her, I think, because her final collection is very good and over the course of the season she's done extremely well.

But, still--take a look to your lower left. Korto made a skinny girl look heavy. On her wedding day. In taupe. TAUPE. What was she thinking? I get the whole non-traditional approach to a wedding. But go with red, then, or pink--not brown!

I know what I'm thinking: There's no way Leanne isn't going to run away with Season Five. Her dresses were great and she's the only contestant who doesn't falter with gigantic misses like these two entries. She has a unique point of view and is steady. No surprises here.

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ETA: The good in this episode? The always marvelous Tim Gunn. Talking to the designers and tearing up. All teachers know that feeling. You have a great group of students and you're sad to say goodbye, but proud of them at the same time. And Tim on a tandem bike with Leanne in Portland? A moment to cherish.

This week's TV note: Noooooo!

Okay. Project Runway 5 is now officially the lamest season ever. They had to pull a Season 4? I mean, really. During Season 4, there were four good designers left standing. (Christian, Rami, Jillian, and Chris March.) I understand why they wanted to give Chris one more chance last year. But, why, oh, why are they giving Kenley another chance? Is it because she's good TV? 'Cause she's cute? Take a look at this horrible number to your left. You could be imprisoned for a dress like that.

And, frankly, I take issue with Michael Kors's statement that Kenley has done "interesting things" throughout the season. The 50s dress may be cute (to some), but it is decidedly not new or interesting.

As for the rest of the clothing last night.? Dreadful. Korto's dress did look like a pageant dress. Leanne's hip ruffle was a crime against (wo)manity. And Jerrell's winning number?

Doesn't look so good in the light of day, does it? I'm still shaking this episode off and wondering if I should even care who wins Season Five.

Go, Korto! (I guess a spark still lives inside me.)

This week's TV note

I'm still here. Sort of. Mostly, though, I'm struggling to put together Cybils panels with Anne this week. It's been busy!

But...I still made time for Project Runway. Did you?

At the beginning of this season I was excited because this set of designers seemed inexperienced and, therefore, more experimental than the designers in Seasons Three and Four. Because of this, there wasn't a clear top three in the first few weeks, like there was last season. (In Season Four, Rami, Christian, and Jillian stood out from the very beginning.)

However, a few weeks ago it became clear: Leanne and Korto are so much better than the rest of the designers in their group. I'll be thrilled if there turns out to be a Final Two this season--instead of a Final Three or Four. Even still...even with Korto and Leanne, there are problems. Leanne phoned it in this week. And, to the right you can see Korto's entry. I love the jacket and the dress. But I do not like them together. Korto came in second, I think, because the jacket + dress combo does not work. That being said...I'd buy that jacket if it were on the market now.

Jerell won this challenge. Okay, I don't dispute that his look was okay. But, seriously...take a gander (to your left)...his design is really "okay." I'd wear this outfit (with an extra inch on the skirt). But...is 40-ish prof the desired Project Runway demographic? I know it's not the desired designer demographic. Still...I like Jerrell, because he seems like a nice guy. He's having fun with the competition and that's better than winning.

Final comments: Suede? Is Suede-of-the-third-person-singular still here? Kenley? Do I have to endure her antics one more week? I do think she's a better designer than Suede, but her spoiled-brat behavior (and her voice) is driving me mad.

Bring on Fashion Week! (Yes, I've cheated and viewed the collections online.) I am ready for this season to be over. Korto or Leanne? If you don't come in first and second, I'm swearing off Project Runway for good.

This week's TV note

Okay, so first Project Runway!

Let me just say I agree with the auf-ings. (And I'm trying to write this post without major spoilage.) In the first and most obvious choice, that outfit was awful. Yes, the designer is sweet and I will miss him. But..."pooping fabric" was right on the mark. (See exhibit right.)

Re: Designer #2. Boy, I wanted to see 50s-aesthetic-girl-with-the-appalling-voice go home. She was combative, annoying, and, let's face it, redundant. Every generation has a "designer" who embraces vintage and goes back to the 1950s.* I saw this in the 1980s and 1990s. Going back to the nuclear age is not news and not new.

But...

I do agree that people who can't work in teams can't make it to the final. Life is teamwork. That's the way the cookie crumbles, designer-whose-clothes-are-the-only-ones-I'd-actually-wear-in-real-life. I'll miss you! (P.S. Where can I order your clothes?)

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Second TV note of the week: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, how could you do this to me? I needed you today and you're on rerun? Seriously?

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* And, finally, why do women want to go back to the 50s? Boring fashion, boring hair, good lipstick. Is lipstick enough? I don't think so. I think we've learned this week that lipstick can be problematic.

This week's Project Runway note

Briefly: Stella? Noooooo....! Okay, I don't really like her style at all. But I like her as a person and will miss her on the show. And, Joe's design? Blech.

Link, Link, Linkety-Link

Whew, what a week. With the Cybils, the start of teaching, and a crisis at home, I've fallen behind. But...I'm ticking through tasks and finally making progress. While I'm busy answering e-mails from all you lovely Cybils volunteers, here are a few links of interest:

• A wire report on healthy lunch books for kids. I always have trouble packing lunches, so I hope I'll learn something from one of these books.
• Holly Newton has books you'll need to help a child transition back to school (Columbia Tribune).
• Michael Rosen prefers books to the SATs. (Independent)
  

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This week's Project Runway note: Goodbye, Keith! You seem like a nice guy, even if you get a little stressed out. (I'm with you there!) But...I don't really appreciate your shredded aesthetic, so I was not surprised to see you auf'd. I'm now waiting for an all-female finale, starring Korto, Leann, and Terri/Stella.

OT: Project Runway fans, what say you?

I'll admit it: Project Runway is my favorite show on television*. It's the only show I'll make time for and try to watch in real time. And, while I realize this may not be a popular opinion, can I just say I'm loving this season? And here's why: I have no idea who will win. In season four, the top three were obvious from episode 1: Rami, Jillian, and Christian were, simply, more skilled than the rest of the designers on the show. And, while I have my favorites of season five (Terri, Korto), there's no real guarantee they'll be in the top three.

Are any of you watching? What do you think of Season Five? Who are your favorites?
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*Needless to say, I am distressed by the move to Lifetime. Bravo has a nice, clean Target-like aesthetic. Lifetime? Cluttered, fussy, floral.

Totally OT: Rami, Christian, or Jillian?

Okay, I've admitted on this children's lit blog once or twice before that I am a huge Project Runway fan. I just can't help it. I chalk my obsession up to a fascination with the creative process more than with fashion per se (as anyone who knows me IRL understands).

So, at the end of this season, what do you think? In many ways, this has been the least surprising season ever. I think it was clear from Episode 1 that Rami, Christian, and Jillian would be in the top three. (Don't get me wrong: I get the love for Chris. But, frankly, I think he's just too mature and worldly-wise to go in for the antics necessary to win. Pull an all-nighter? Chris is simply beyond that.) In that sense, this season has been a bit of a disappointment. No surprises.

Still, now that we're headed into the finale...I'm wondering if there will be a surprise. My money is on Christian at the moment, with Rami getting the first auf. Who do you think will walk away with "the chance of a lifetime"?