Project Runway alert

From EW.com:

According to a source close to Project Runway, the Emmy-nominated reality show will split its sixth season (expected to premiere on Lifetime in November) between Los Angeles and New York to accommodate host Heidi Klum’s (pictured) schedule and home life. For season 7, the show will be back in New York, where it has been since its inception, and the upcoming fifth season, which debuts on Bravo in July, will also be set in the Big Apple. -- Additional reporting by Lynette Rice

Is it the end of the world? (revisted)

Tonight I was sitting in the couture collection at Neiman-Marcus rubbing elbows with the fashionistas and glitterati of Houston's high society. It was quite an evening and all for a good cause. Proceeds from the evening will go to Legacy Community Health Services.

I was sitting at a table with some high powered attorneys and their friends and somehow the topic of discussion switched to Top Chef and Project Runway. Being that we were in the couture collection it was appropriate that we discuss Project Runway.

So then I break the news that Nina Garcia has been auf'd by ELLE Magazine and there was a collective gasp from the other guests; something I didn't expect.

I just checked Reality Blurred and here is some additional about Nina's departure:

Project Runway judge Nina Garcia is out from her job as fashion director at Elle magazine, leaving her future as a judge on the show’s sixth season in question. It hasn’t yet been confirmed whether she was fired or left on her own.

“Speculation about Garcia’s departure has swirled for months, especially after the arrival of Joe Zee at the beginning of 2007 as creative director,” according to Women’s Wear Daily, which first reported her departure.

A commenter on New York Magazine’s post about her departure said “her office was entirely boxed, packed, and waiting in the hallways addressed to her home on the upper east by 5pm yesterday. Plus, the gaggle of crying assistants dragging deflated cardboard down the hall for assembly, in addition to Nina’s demonstrative speaking behind closed doors (made visible by a glass partition) also prompts one to believe that she was not leaving of her own accord.”

It was sort of a reality tv kind of night what with excellent food from Tony's (imagine the Top Chef contestants having to cater a high quality meal for 300 guests), sitting in the fancy dress department (make it work Project Runway contestants) and the entertainment for the evening was ballroom dancing (at one point when the music started I said, "They're going to dance the paso doble."...thank you Dancing With The Stars). I must say that somedays I feel like I'm on Survivor.

Is it the end of the world?

I've mentioned this before and it is so funny I'll repeat it but then I need to get serious.

On the corner of W. Gray and Shepherd (here in Houston) there are two Starbucks. The first one is on the southeast corner of the intersection. When construction started on the free standing building on the northeast corner the plan was to shut down the small one in the strip center.

As it turns out, it never happened and both are still open. I know part of it has to do with traffic flow. Plus, the free standing Starbucks has a drive-thru. This is very important in Houston because everyone has a car and public transportation isn't what it could be.

I digress.

So one night on Comedy Central they actually show a photograph of the two Starbucks and the headline is: The End of the World.

Well that was several years ago and the world has not ended but I think we are on the brink of destruction. Here is some REALLY bad news on such a beautiful day in H-town.

I'm sitting here relaxing and trying rest up before I put on my tux and head downtown for the HRC Gala. I haven't been a good Dust Bunny so I decided to check David Dust's blog.

I get hit with the news that Nina Garcia has been given her walking papers from ELLE Magazine!!!!! WTF? It is the end of the world. First it is announced that Project Runway is moving to Lifetime and now we find out that Nina has been auf'd. I must ask once again, "WTF?"

To read more, go here.

After reading the news I thought to myself, "I bet Santino is just cackling." (Remember when he and Nina Garcia got into it during the lingerie challenge?)

Stay tuned because something tells me that the Project Runway drama isn't over!

One day you're in and one day you're out

BravoTV has been auf'd by Project Runway!


From EW.com:
'Project Runway' jumps from Bravo to Lifetime
Apr 7, 2008, 03:40 PM by Lynette Rice

Lifetime announced today that it has picked up the hit Bravo series Project Runway and will begin airing the series' sixth cycle, which debuts in November. In a statement, The Weinstein Co., which produces the show with executive producers Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves, announced that it entered a five-year deal for the show with Lifetime — a development that prompted legal action by NBC/Universal. In the same statement, the Weinstein Co. acknowledged that NBC filed a lawsuit today in New York Supreme Court in an attempt to block the series from moving to Lifetime. "We believe that this lawsuit is without merit. While good for the market for lawyers, it is always unfortunate when parties try to win in court what they have lost in the marketplace," said David Boies, counsel to The Weinstein Co.

The NBC/Universal lawsuit asserts that the company had been negotiating with The Weinstein Co. for a year to obtain additional installments of Runway but the production company "never intended to negotiate in good faith." It goes on to say, "Instead, The Weinstein Co. threatened to take future cycles of the program to a competing TV network unless [NBC] agreed to pay many millions of additional dollars to Weinstein to acquire a 'package' that included TV rights to second-tier Weinstein films unrelated to Runway." The Weinstein Co. was contractually obligated to give the NBC-owned Bravo the right of first refusal when it got the offer from Lifetime, says the suit.

The Weinstein Co. has already begun pre-production of Runway's fifth season for Bravo, which is scheduled to air in June.

NBC released this statement today: "NBC Universal has continuing legal rights related to Project Runway, including a right of first refusal to future cycles of the series, which The Weinstein Company unfortunately has refused to honor. NBC Universal regrettably had no alternative but to bring legal action to enforce its rights to this program, including the right to decide whether it is in the best interest of the company to continue to air the show under the proposed financial terms."

One source familiar with the negotiations argues that Bravo was damaging the Runway brand by airing too many repeats of the show and surrounding it with copycat series like Top Design, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, and Make Me A Supermodel. "It's a phenomenon that needs to be protected," the source says. "Lifetime provided a substantial offer. NBC chose not to provide a competitive bid." That rerun marathon strategy, however, is what made Runway a hit in its first season. When Bravo began to heavily repeat the show, the fourth episode of the first season broke the 1 million mark — and the series has continually grown from there. In fact, the show's fourth season finale last month — in which the "fierce" Christian Siriano earned the top prize — attracted a whopping 5.2 million total viewers, down slightly from the 5.4 million viewers who watched the season 3 finale. (Additional reporting by Missy Schwartz)

In case you missed the Project Runway spoof

like I did.

Project Runway recap

I haven't said anything about the Project Runway 4 finale because everyone else has said it (Project Rungay and Blogging Project Runway do it the best).

My initial thought about Season 4 is that I wish they would contestants in there who don't have professional experience. Jillian worked Ralph Lauren. Christian worked for McQueen and whole list of others. And I can't remember if Rami worked for a designer at some point but my assumption is yes, he did. Give us Wendy Pepper again!

I thought the final three were good and any of them could have won. They each had some stand outs and they each had not-so-good designs.

I think the judges are a bit two-faced and I think if Heidi Klum thought she had a chance of turning Rami straight, she would. So back to the judges. The most blaring contradiction is that they told Chris he is too costume-y and auf'd him but yet Christian wins the prize.

Now, while I know very little about what women will wear, I'd like to see the woman who would wear Christian's over the top ruffle blouse and I do mean over the top ruffle. Oh wait. I do know of a woman...Victoria Beckam who is a size 0.

So that's all I'm going to say. I picked up some info from Reality Blurred that I thought was interesting and then I found out that Victorya posted a reply on Blogging Project Runway to Tim Gunn's statement. I don't feel like putting the links out there so...uh...you can look them up yourself. :-)

Bravo pre-planned the showdown between Rami and Chris, Tim is “in flux” past season 5
The pre-Fashion Week showdown between Chris and Rami during Project Runway 4’s penultimate episode wasn’t a spontaneous decision by the judges, but instead a pre-planned part of the competition that was supposed to be introduced during season three.

“I know Bravo wanted there to be an elimination in every episode,” mentor Tim Gunn told The Chicago Tribune’s Maureen Ryan. “It’s actually a holdover from Season 3. But there was so much drama, with Laura accusing Jeffrey [of having help with his work] that we didn’t do it. … Part of it was a concern — I never have it, but I absolutely understand the producers’ concern about it — it’s the thought, ‘What’s going happen? They’re just going to sit around, do their work, have their model fittings?’ And my thought is, ‘And your problem with that is what?’”

Meanwhile, Tim says he’s only signed “through season 5 at this point. Then we’ll take it from there. I’ll tell you that things are in flux and I don’t know beyond Season 5. I’m just thrilled to have a Season 5. People ask me, ‘Aren’t you tired of this?’ How could I possibly be tired of this? It’s invigorating and inspiring. I am the luckiest guy in the world.”

Regarding this past season, says that season designer Victorya Hong “was sourpuss, a crabby apple as I keep saying, throughout almost all the show, other than Days 1, 2 and 3. She became this sour pill. Rich Bye, one of the executive producers, and I had two off camera interventions with her. I said to her, ‘You know what makes me beside myself is the fact that there are thousands of designers who would love to be in your place. What’ s the matter with you?’”

He says that Victorya was unprepared, and “said, ‘I never dreamed the experience of being on the show would be like this. … I never dreamed we’d only have a day for challenges, that we wouldn’t have any breaks.’ ‘But you said you saw the show.’ She said, ‘I assumed it was cheated.’ I said, ‘Then you only have your own delusions to blame.’ She was really angry and bitter.” Tim also reveals that Victorya demanded Tim count the designers’ cash at Mood because she thought some people were getting more than others, and got angry at other things. “She actually said about Jack’s departure that we had engineered him leaving because he wasn’t a pretty face anymore,” Tim says.

In other Project Runway 4 news, Christian told People that he will “be seeing [Victoria Beckham] next week, so I made her a few dresses. Hopefully she likes them, so we’ll see how it goes.” His plans for the $100,000 include “buying a bed” and “working very hard. I’m going to show next season at [Fashion Week] in the tents again. I have some sponsors … I really want to go more of a high fashion route. I want to be in high-end stores,” he said. “Who knows? Maybe Victoria Beckham will ask me to work for her new label. You never know.”

Project Runway alert

Don't forget! Tonight is Part 1 of the of the 2-Part Season Finale. Contestants prepare for Fashion Week. The big question is: Who gets selected to join Christian and Jillian? Is it Rami or Chris?

I'll be watching with The Calvinator.

Project Runway Reunion

Quick recap from last night's show:

Here are the contestants.

I forgot about her. Her name is Simone and I can't remember what she did to get auf'd. She didn't have much to say.
I barely remember him. His name is Marion. He didn't have much to say either and I can't remember what he did to get auf'd.

Just Jack wouldn't say if he'd be back.
Believe it or not, he didn't cry (although they had enough footage of him crying). Am I the only one who is irritated by his hats? She cried.

She said people stop and ask her why she is so mean. She said someone gave her the nickname of Nina Garzilla. EDIT: It is Meana Garzilla (thanx David Dust).

They were a bit cozy last night. Who knew that Rami was a bear chaser?He was voted fan favorite even though I think Chris should have won.

***The End***

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Project Runway alert

Tonight will not be the showing of designs during Fashion Week. It is a reunion show and the contestants dish on each other.

It appears that Kevin confirms (once again) that he is straight.

Heidi calls Victorya uptight. (Tell us something new Heidi.)

Jack is back!

And I'm sure Ricky will cry.

I had a dream

Before I go into details about a dream last night (or was it two dreams), I need to tell you what I did last night which might explain part of my dream.

Last night The Empire of the Royal Sovereign, and Imperial Court of the Single Star Incorporated (E.R.S.I.C.S.S.) held Investures at E.J.'s. I had never been to this event so I might incorrectly describe it. The new Emperor & Empress were introduced and they presented their court. The outgoing Emperor & Empress and Board of Directors presented a check to Legacy in the amount of $41,000. This is money they had raised over the past year. THAT folks is a BUNCH of money to be raised in one year...and we're talking one dollar at a time. And a BIG THANK YOU goes out E.R.S.I.C.S.S.!

So...there were many former monarchs in attendance and visiting monarchs from out of town and out of state. As well as Board members and staff members from Legacy. I didn't read the invitation in detail so I was dressed on the casual side while many in attendance were in black-tie, formal attire or cocktail attire. And with all of the royalty in attendance there were crowns, tiaras, jewels, rhinestones, etc.

Here's the dream:

I'm at Mood in New York City. (Until Project Runway I had NEVER heard of Mood.) Tim Gunn is there. Katy Caldwell (Exec. Director of Legacy) is there and she needs a dress to wear because she is getting married. She doesn't want to wear a traditional wedding dress so the challenge is to design something that Katy likes. I am pulling bolts of material (blues, reds, browns, black) and draping (thanx Rami) material before it is cut. Katy was a tough client to please and I don't know that we ever decided on anything. We were also pulling out rhinestones and bracelets and necklaces trying to make it work.

I finally had to take a break and when I do I realize that Mood is actually part of a store that I shopped at (for real) in Sydney. (So am I in NYC or SYD?)

I go for a walk and next thing I know I am at a trade conference with former business associates. My responsibility is to take photos of them while they are riding in hot air balloons. To do this and to get the closeups, I have to be at the same level. So I am in a gigantic cherry picker that is moving as the same speed as the hot air balloons and I'm getting some good pics.

Well...we are on ground level on a Houston freeway and I realize that the balloon is going to run into an overpass. They're having too good of a time to hear me yelling at them and...

...they slam into an overpass and the balloon deflates. This in turn halts all traffic and brings the conference to an end. No one was hurt.

***end of dream***

I think I have commented before that I have always had vivid dreams. I was often ridiculed by my own blood relatives (i.e. immediate family) because I could remember in detail my dreams. Oh...and I do dream in color.

So if you're wondering what that clip is about, it is Everything's Coming Up Roses from Gypsy. Mama Rose sings, "I had a dream..."

Project Runway final challenge

What with Valentines Day and all and sitting by the mailbox waiting for cards and chocolates to arrive and sitting on the couch waiting for flowers to be delivered (uh...my mom and dad were the ONLY ones who sent me something...candy and rawhides), and a VD Party to go to, I have been a bit slow in posting about Wednesday's episode of Project Runway.

Lucky for me, David Dust did an OUTSTANDING job of reviewing the episode. However, I do have a comment or two.

First of all the judges were a bit miffed with Rami and Chris. It wasn't anything new from either of them.

Well, I guess I could say the same about Fierce Christian. When I saw his outfit I thought I had seen it somewhere...and then I remembered...

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters!

I did like Jillian's design even though haven't we seen enough coats already?

And poor Sweet P. She just couldn't do the challenge and was auf'd.

In an odd twist, there were only two confirmed as finalists. The judges were deadlocked on Rami and Chris so each of them have (had) to do a collection and based on three designs, the judges would then decide who is (was) the third finalist.

Project Runway idea gone bad?

This was forwarded to me from a friend. If I remember correctly the subject header was something, like: Dad Designs Prom Dress.

Project Runway designer review

Feb 8, 3:51 PM EST
'Project Runway' Contestants Bring Feathers, Ruffles, Emotion to the Real Runway
By LISA TOLINAssociated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- For Victoria Beckham, there was a clear winner at the "Project Runway" show Friday at New York Fashion Week. But she wasn't telling who.

Beckham is a guest judge for the two-part finale, which airs Feb. 27 and March 5.

"That one person really made me smile," Beckham said. "Everything I saw, I would wear myself."

Five remaining contestants presented collections Friday to a celebrity-studded audience at the Bryant Park tents. There was some reality show synergy in the front row with Tyson Beckford and Nikki Taylor of "Make Me a Supermodel," Padma Lakshmi and Ted Allen from "Top Chef," and a few former competitors from "America's Next Top Model" on the runway.

Several "Project Runway" contestants choked up at the sight of the overflowing audience. Only three collections will be televised on Bravo, but producers want to avoid giving a hint of who the finalists are.

Christian Siriano, the contestant fans love to hate, was a tent favorite with an avant-garde collection playing with feathers, oversized ruffles and curvy blazers with wide shoulders and flared hips.

Rami Kashou focused on beautiful dresses, using softly layered draping, ruffles and a checkerboard weave. Models were styled as goddesses for the collection he said "celebrates women."

Jillian Lewis showed standout coats - one with a wide collar in metallic herringbone, and another with cut-outs in the elbows and a ruffled hem showing a peek of red.

Chris March, the costume designer and fan favorite, went for high drama with velvet, beading and brocade. He also showed his sense of humor with his use of a hair-like fringe and a flowing halter dress embossed with the image of the Mona Lisa.

Kathleen "Sweet P" Vaughn had a very wearable collection, playing with trends seen elsewhere this Fashion Week of mustard yellow, purple and exposed zippers. A green-gold tiered dress and long coat were standouts.

"It's going to be very, very hard for us to judge them today," said host Heidi Klum.

The last contestant to be "aufed" by Klum, Ricky Lizalde, said he was rooting for Jillian and Rami. "I think both of their crafts were up to par," he said. He didn't comment on Christian, a vocal critic of his.

Lizalde, who is probably best known for his frequent crying, said he felt good about how he was portrayed.

"I wasn't a jerk. It was a little tough watching myself cry every week, but once I got over that and realized I wear my heart on my sleeve, I was OK with it," he said.

The winner of "Project Runway" gets $100,000, a car, an editorial feature in ELLE magazine and the opportunity to sell a line on Bluefly.com. An extra challenge, "Sew Not Over," will be judged by fans online and shown on Feb. 21 through March 6.

Outside the tents, a fan approached the show's fashion guru, Tim Gunn, with his own signature line: "Did they make it work?"

He smiled and answered, "Yes."

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Project Runway rehab no, no, no

As mentioned in the previous post, my allergies have been bothering me so I've been napping most of the day and catching up on Project Runway news.

David Dust and Running My Mass Off both posted about a follow-up show to Project Runway. Get this. The name is Sew Not Over.

I also caught up with all of Fashion Week news by reading Project Rungay and Blogging Project Runway.

This all comes on the heels of watching Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency and getting caught up in all of her drama. I just that train wreck!

And on Thursday night, the models on Make Me A Supermodel appeared in fashion shows during fashion week. All of this is making me want to pull out the dvd Unzipped and continue on the overdose of all things fashion related.

In the midst of all this, David Dust sends me an email and says: I actually walked past Bryant Park today (on my way to the dollar store), and I saw some chick on the street carring a shopping bag from...wait for it...The Spandex House! I laughed my ass off, right in the middle of 6th Avenue!

Oh to be in NYC this past week!

Speaking of Spandex House...I'm actually blogging and watching a repeat of Wednesday night's Project Runway episode. Chris cracks me up! He knew exactly what he wanted at Spandex House. He knew where to find it. He was in his element.

I wonder if the foot traffic and hits to website have increased for Spandex House. I think on my next trip to NYC I may have to drop in.

Based on these designs, it appears that they have quite the selection of spandex and lycra.

I like Rami's shirt. Hate the wrestler's costume.

Prior to watching the PR WWE episode, I watched the denim episode. I forgot about Nina Garcia's comment about Sweet P's dress. She said, "Any of us girls, with the exception of Michael, would wear that dress." Michael Kors says, "with the right shoes..." LOL

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 9.1

Party Etiquette
The party season is over (Christmas, New Year, Super Bowl, Mardi Gras). Recently, I have had several discussions with friends about party guests who bring a bus load of guests with them.

I always thought that if the invitation was addressed to me, it was for me only. If the invitation was addressed to me and guest, then that meant I could bring one guest. If the word guests is on the invitation, that sort of opens it up. (In these instances, I am referring to parties not fundraisers. For a fundraiser, I would want as many people as possible to show up AND contribute.)

I can understand the frustration of people who have put on a party and have ended up with extra guests. For one thing, you never want to run out of food and booze. Also, it is nice to know who is walking around your house.

There have been instances where I have thrown a party, invited someone and then received a phone call/e-mail asking if they can bring a guest. I am totally fine with that. At least they asked AND it gave me ample opportunity to plan for additional adult beverages.

There have also been some instances where friends brought extra guests (without telling me) but they also walked in with a full bottle of vodka. That was cool with me too and I was totally fine. Plus their guests were H-O-T, introduced themselves to me, and were polite. Even if they weren't hot, that would have been fine too as long as they displayed good public decorum and manners.

I guess one of the reasons I never bring an entourage with me (without asking or without them being invited) is because when a large group of my people show up it could be considered a gang. Yes, I know my people travel in large numbers to the grocery store, to the mall, to the hospital, etc. It's part of our culture but why perpetuate the stereotype by bringing mass amounts of people with me to a party.

So with all of this said, I found this in Miss Manners column this morning:
Dear Miss Manners:
My husband and I hosted a Super Bowl party and were absolutely appalled by the number of guests who brought several of their own friends, without acknowledging these people in their RSVP. What should have been a party of 24 turned into 35, and it was difficult to accommodate everyone in our small townhouse.

Some of the "extra guests" did not even introduce themselves to me or my husband and proceeded to place their feet (and shoes) on our furniture. I wanted to be a gracious host, but I admit I was steamed by this lack of respect for my home.

I would like to communicate to my friends who were invited and brought these people that I don't appreciate the casual nature of their behavior, but how do I do this and not offend the friend?

Gentle Reader:
By not inviting them to your next party. If they seem offended, you can say that this is just for your friends, and you know that they have other friends to entertain.

What puzzles Miss Manners is that you are characterizing them as "casual," in contrast to their friends, of whom you say they failed to respect your house. Casual is a word that many people mistakenly believe to mean (when applied to themselves) "charmingly unpretentious." It is at least as disrespectful to march other people into your party and even fail to introduce them (that was their job, not their friends') as to put feet on the furniture.

Project Runway
FINALLY! Ricky is gone!!!

Last night the challenge was to design an outfit for one of the divas from the WWE. Ricky designed a swimsuit and was auf'd. At least now we don't have to watch him cry every week. Hey Ricky...go get some cajones. If he had really thought about it, he could have relied on his lingerie design experience and come up with something HOT!...but he didn't.

Chris won the challenge with his green leopard outfit. I REALLY liked the black sequin lining that he used in the hoodie and he carried that through with the shorts and gloves.Christian could have won with his faux leather and lace outfit. Rami and Sweet P were almost derailed. In my mind the jury is still out on Jillian's outift. I think I would have liked it more if she had not used the thigh high white thingamugjigs.

Running, Spinning, Weights
You may have noticed that I have not been posting my fitness activities. Rather than bore you on a daily basis, I have decided to do a weekly recap. Details to follow.

Project Runway

OK all of you PRaddicts. A new episode of Project Runway premiers tonight and their challenge is to design outfits for women wrestlers. Should be interesting.

Will Ricky cry tonight?

Will Sweet P get behind and get frustrated but pull it out of her ass at the last minute and survive?

Will Rami drape?

Will Chris do a costumey costume?

Will Nina Garcia peer over her index cards and then scribble something?

Will Michael Kors make a face AND a snide comment?

Will Heidi Klum show us her wide stance and giggle like the Pillsbury Doughboy?

Tune in tonight and find out!