Quick Take: Project Runway, "It's a Party"
Is the party over for Project Runway?
Review: Project Runway, "It's a Party"
(S0803) It is not the first time Project Runway has taken contestants to an unconventional store for a challenge. Don’t the contestants watch the show? Hardware stores and party stores should be expected.
Tim Gunn tells the contestants to avoid tablecloths and wrapping paper. The challenge for the viewer is a bit of “been here, seen that." I expect someone to ignore the advice, which Cassanova does. But despite feeling like I am watching a rerun of season's past, it is intriguing to see what each of the remaining 14 designers will create. The drama of the workroom is familiar. Gretchen has definitely cemented her place as the one with an opinion about everything and everyone. A.J. is a running monologue. The best workroom moment is Tim Gunn laughing uncontrollably over Kristin’s animal wooly balls and telling Peach, “It’s like you have coal up your rear end. Make it into a diamond and pull it out.”
Betsey Johnson is the guest judge for the runway show. She is perfect as her own designs epitomize fun and cutting edge. Overall the designs are successful. The lowest three and the best three are isolated on the runway. Gretchen was once again in the top three but failed to catch the top prize and the first immunity. Andy and his amazing black and silver all ribbon dress captured the top design. But he did need Peach and April to help him finish his dress on time, giving doubt for the future competition. But after Gretchen called his design “student work” it was great to see him succeed. Had Gretchen’s choice of footwear been better she may have captured the competition.
For the lowest three, Michael Kors reviewed Cassanova’s failure as a “transvestite flamenco dancer at a funeral.” A.J.’s design looked like a pure mess that didn’t go far enough. Sarah’s was deemed “sad” by Klum and Johnson. Sarah seemed more a victim of Gretchen. Throughout the footage, Gretchen is giving her advice on her design. Was the advice purposely bad? Is Gretchen purposely undermining the competition?
Post-show as the contestants are heading out of the door, Ivy passes out and is shown being cared for and loaded into an ambulance by EMTs. Hard to be worried as there is no mention of her leaving the show or her condition in the next episode trailer. This early in the competition it is difficult to feel a strong love or dislike of the designers. And, despite the repeat of a party store element and editing done to create the friction we all expect between contestants, the show still compels viewers to return.
