Project Runway
News (Page 5)

Project Runway is moving. The Bravo sensation will become property of Lifetime for its sixth season.

Series producer The Weinstein Co. signed a five-year deal to switch networks; in return, Bravo owner NBC has filed a lawsuit against the Weinstein Co. However, in a statement, the Weinsteins thanked NBC and Bravo for helping the show get to where it is today.

"[But] having Lifetime's unique cable reach will ensure that the show will continue to grow and expand in the years to come. Lifetime is one of the strongest cable networks in the industry, with great leadership and a true commitment to original programming," The Weinstein Co. said.

"We are very excited for the many new opportunities that will now be provided to Project Runway and its fans and look forward to premiering the sixth season in November 2008."

The sixth season of Project Runway will premiere on Lifetime in November.

The Chicago Tribune recently spoke with Tim Gunn about the victory of Christian Siriano on this season of Project Runway.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

Q: Every time I saw Christian's age next to his name on the screen, I'd remember, "He's only 21!" It's just astounding.
Tim Gunn: "It is astounding. When we had the auditions in New York, it was the last stop on the audition train. We'd already found a ton of great people with maturity and experience. When I saw Christian's paperwork, I turned to the producers and said, ‘Why are we seeing this kid?' And they said the people doing the prescreening saw something in him. And I said, ‘OK.'"

He came in and he had been in the room about 10 seconds, and I said to my fellow judges, ‘This is an old soul. This is not a 21-year-old kid.' The work blew me away. I've spent my life working with young people, working with students. The closest I've ever come to a real prodigy is the Proenza Schouler boys, Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez. But Christian just blows me away."

Q: His work has such vision for someone so young. It has that couture vision.
Gunn: "It's staggering. But that collection on the runway â€" it was wearable. You wouldn't be a shy wallflower, but it was wearable."

Read the full interview now.

Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of the production company Magical Elves have worked on reality TV shows such as Project Greenlight, Top Chef, and Bands on the Run. Below, they share what eight years in the biz has taught them...

1. Making reality TV is like fishing.
We started saying this on Project Greenlight, when we shot 3,000 hours of footage to make 12 half-hour episodes. There is always a lot of waiting around with lines in the water, hoping for a bite, and just when it seems like nothing is happening...something always does. And that continues to this day.

Just when we think the designers on Project Runway are just going to sit around and sew, something will happen â€" like Laura will accuse Jeffrey of cheating, and we're off to the races (if you'll excuse the mixed metaphor).

2. Not being in control is part of the fun.
That's the point of reality TV â€" you don't get to write scripts in advance, and you don't know what people are going to do. You just have to trust fate and casting. And you know as a producer that when you can't wait to see what happens next, the audience will probably feel the same way.

Read all the reality TV rules now.

Christian Siriano became the youngest - and most fierce - winner in Project Runway history last night.

When it was announced that the 21-year old had conquered Jillian Lewis and Rami Kashou, Siriano was left speechless for once in his life.

"Oh my god," the diminutive designer sobbed after Heidi Klum announced the results.

"I'm such a fan. You are so talented, and I would be honored to wear any piece of your clothing," guest judge Victoria Beckham said.

Following the announcement, Siriano said he needed a vacation - sorry, a "vay-cay" - but also assured viewers:

"This won't be the last of Christian Siriano. I mean, people need to see more of the fierceness."

Here's a review of last night's reality TV, which featured one mainstay in the genre and a pair of shows that focus on a washed up singer and wannabe singers, respectively...

Flavor of Love: Now that Ice and Rayna are gone, the Things turn their vicious ness towards Bee-Ex and Seezinz for no discernible reasons. Hotlanta tells Prancer to stop acting like a ho, but the feisty reindeer ignores her because Hotlanta used to be a stripper. -- Buddy TV

Project Runway: We're caught up on everything we already know: Five designers are going to fashion week, but only three of them will be on TV. Rami has to beat Chris' butt one more time before he is given the chance to loosely pin fabric on a skin covered skeleton. -- TVGasm

Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious: Two of the Pussycat Dolls pop up in the oddly cut video to introduce this week's lesson of Charisma - something that can "turn fans into fanatics." -- Zap2It

What a night it was for reality TV! And we're not even counting the performance of Brooke White on last night's American Idol. Just check out the recaps for these heavyweights in the genre...

Project Runway: This was the first part of the Project Runway finale. Our final four designers decided to go dark, goth-glam this year. Keep in mind this is the winter Bryant Park show. -- TV Guide

Big Brother: We start this episode after the veto ceremony. In the diary room, Josh explains that Matt and Natalie and Alex and Amanda are both strong couples, and the powerful foursome needs to get broken up. Alex wants to stay, but he doesn't want to campaign against his friend. -- Reality News Online

America's Next Top Model: The girls made their way to New York and the pad they are living in is gorgeous. However, there's a catch. The sleeping arrangements are far from ideal. There's one room with two to three bunk beds and there's another room with a single ginormous bed where the girls who don't get a bunk are going to have to sleep -- TV Squad

Sweet P may not have made it to the finals of this year's Project Runway, but that doesn't mean she's entirely unqualified to judge the fashion choices of celebrities.

The reality TV star - and hopeful designer - blogged about last night's Oscars for MTV. Here's some of what she had to say:

- 6:15PM: Heidi Klum in a great-fitting RED Galliano gown. of course she is stunning but I do not like the big collar thing it looks as if Galliano was inspired by Christian & Chris' Avante Garde look. A bit too Cruella de Ville. She still looks gorgeous though. I do like that her dress will be auctioned off and benefit a charity.

- 6:30PM: Jason Bateman and George Clooney. I love both of theses men. So so handsome. I think they are wearing the same out fit. A black suit Or is this a Tux. ( I am not a men's Fashion Expert. ) White shirt and back bow-tie. They both have the perfect accessory. A clean-shaven handsome face.

6:45PM: Amy Ryan. Simple off-shoulder navy dress. Fit is perfect and the one shoulder is very NOW. Simply Elegant.

Read Sweet P's full blog now.

Last night, we were treated to the season premiere of America's Next Top Model. Here's a look at that show's summary, along with Project Runway and Big Brother:

America's Next Top Model: The girls arrived at Top Model Prep ready to impress. Upon taking their school ID photos in miniskirted uniforms, they moved on to their first and only class: Runway 101... -- Entertainment Weekly

Project Runway: This was the reunion show before the finale. Kit and Elisa ramble about how happy they are to inspire kids, but Sweet P's favorite part about being on Project Runway is being accosted by celebrities, even when Brad Pitt is around.. -- Cinema Blend

Big Brother: As viewers re-enter the house, it was a whirlwind on the way to what host Julie Chen previewed as the biggest fight in Big Brother history. The houseguests were frustrated with Amanda's gossip...  -- Reality TV Magazine

As the final four contestants on this season of Project Runway prepare to unveil their collec­tions on Bravo's two-part finale (starting Feb. 27 at 10 pm/ET), they talked to TV Guide about the season's best and worst, their biggest competition and why they'll win it all...

Christian Siriano
Least favorite challenge: Prom challenge. That was the worst. No lie.
Favorite design: The avant-garde â€" the piece that we created was the epitome of what I like to do.
Challenge you wish you'd had: I wish we could have dressed Sarah Jessica Parker. That was kind of what I was hoping for.

On roommates: Obviously, I don't really get along with Ricky â€" I don't really think anybody will, ever â€" but Rami is a good guy. A little arrogant, but really great. And Chris is funny. We all just sort of made fun of each other.
Strategy going into finals: I think I show a really strong point of view on the show any­way, but for my collection I just went all out. There are no filler pieces. Every look is a look. And it's very creative â€" I know the other designers are technically amazing, but I don't think that they have as much creativity as me.
Biggest competition: Jillian. She is technically amazing.
On the realities of reality television: Some episodes are dead-on, and some are a little weird for me. I don't think I was really that bitchy and sassy the whole time, but I don't care. It's fabulous.
Collection preview: Kind of dark, a little gothic, but romantic. And very edgy and very avant-garde.

Read TV Guide's full preview now.

A pair of the longest-running, most popular reality shows graced television screens last night. So, what happened on Project Runway and Big Brother? Let's find out!

Project Runway: The opening scene saw Sweet P not believing she had not been "auwted" by Heidi but was relieved to be staying for another challenge. Chris and Rami were both fairly calm as to the final challenge to determine which designer would do a runway show and Christian was relatively quiet, for once. -- Reality TV Magazine

Big Brother: Following the Power Couple competition, Parker compares himself and Jen to Brad and Angelina. What else do you expect from a paparazzo? Jen is glad to win, because this means Ryan is also safe, as is their secret. -- Reality News Online