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'Project Runway' Hits New Levels Of Fabulousness With Gay Dinosaurs, Hidden 'Candy'

Posted 8/21/08 1:01 pm EST by in Project Runway


RuPaulBy Rya Backer

Last night's show was, in a word, fabulous. When the episode came to an untimely end, I felt both exhilarated (all those sequins!) and dowdy (will I ever invest that much time in looking glamorous?). In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the show was my favorite of the season thus far — it was fun, lively, irreverent, and involved a cameo by Chris March in Viking gear. In the words of Ms. Hedda Lettuce, "What I'm saying is out of love — unconditional and pure." So let's talk ins and outs!

IN 

Stella Zotis: She's even a vision to behold first thing in the morning! STELLA. CALL ME. I WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND AND BIOGRAPHER. IT'LL BE SLICK. Read More...

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'Project Runway': Real Businesswomen Are Out, Brooke Shields Is In

Posted 8/14/08 12:18 pm EST by in Project Runway


Project RunwayBy Rya Backer

Was it just me, or was last night's episode of "Project Runway" a little ... bland? Just me? All right, agree to disagree. Anyway, without further ado, here are the Ins and Outs.

IN: 
Stella: I don't even know where to begin, because my obsession with her has reached the point that she could split a pair of chopsticks, and I'd consider it to be sacred, high art. That said, shame on Brooke Shields for thinking that Stella's proposed outfit wasn't "work appropriate." What's wrong with sporting a leather bustier around the cubicle farm?
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'Project Runway' Suffers From Olympic Fever

Posted 8/7/08 11:44 am EST by in olympics, Project Runway


By Rya BackerProject Runway

Guys, do you feel that? That very palpable, very electric energy that is the buildup to the most important event that takes place every four years (that doesn't involve us electing a president)? Yes, I'm talking about the Summer Olympics! The competition, to paraphrase my goddess, Stella Barbarella Zotis, was all about who could best represent the country "in a bad-ass way" by creating an outfit for the opening ceremony. I just returned from my trip to the Republic of Cocktail-land, so let's get to what was in and what was out.

IN
Stella Zotis: Listen, she's a "cave girl." Which is likely why she reacted so threateningly to Tim when he innocently inquired if she was using black fabric. I can't, however, fault her for her desire to win, as such a victory grants immunity, and "immunity's very important, because you have the chance to f--- up and not get fired for it."

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'Project Runway' Episode Three: Designers Who Don't Listen To Tim Deserve What They Get

Posted 7/31/08 11:48 am EST by in Project Runway



By Rya Backer

Hey guys! Hold on, I need to inhale and exhale deeply and maybe smooth on a face mask (what's up, Jerell?) because last night's episode was amazing. OK, no time to waste — the fashion show is going to start any minute! Here's another installment of the ins and outs of "Project Runway"!

IN
Stella Zotis: Naturally. I'd offer you her best quotes of the evening here (OK, fine, just ONE: "I'm rock and roll, so I'm gonna DIE being rock and roll” — please don't do this any time soon, Stella Barbarella), but my Lady in Leather raised an important question last night. Stella thought that the evening's activity would involve going to one of Tim's favorite places in the city, and this got me thinking: Apart from driving his Saturn Sky Roadster to the Cloisters, where does Tim Gunn spend his time in this magical city? Thoughts, anyone?

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'Project Runway' Episode Two: How Did Eddie Van Halen's Guitar Win A Challenge?

Posted 7/24/08 11:45 am EST by in Project Runway


By Rya Backer

Oh, hello again! This week's challenge was to make a "green" cocktail dress for the designers' models, with the twist that the models were the ones to pick the eco-friendly fabric for their outfits. Let's discuss the episode's ins and outs, because as Heidi and I always say, "In fashion, one day you're in ... "

IN:
· Stella Zotis: For the second week in a row, this razor-sharp fashionista dramatically improved my viewing experience/life. This week, she said such jewels as:

"I do, like, slick."

"I just wanna stick to my leather."

"The look is elegant and classy."

Where was this woman when I needed a bat mitzvah dress? And can I have one of those freshly cut grass drinks?

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'Project Runway' Goes The Way Of San Francisco's Dodos

Posted 7/23/08 3:39 pm EST by in Festivals, Project Runway, the-dodos


By Rya Backer

There's only thing I like more than talking to people whose bodies of work I respect: pizza. However, finding out that said people are fans of something else that I'm a fan of is pretty exciting too.

Which is why when I spoke with San Francisco's Dodos at last weekend's Siren Music Festival in Brooklyn, after wading through about seven minutes of relevant sound bytes, I asked the kind of hard-hitting question that made journalism school pay for itself: "So, what do you guys think of 'Project Runway'?"

Hey, I thought it'd be a welcome break from the same questions they'd been asked all day. And guess what? Frontman Meric Long divulged that "Project Runway" is of his "favorite shows of all time." He was introduced to it by an old girlfriend and turned watching it into a sort of religious experience.


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'Project Runway': Which Stars Would Wear It Best?

Posted 7/17/08 3:05 pm EST by in Project Runway


By Sabrina Rojas Weiss

Unlike season-five designer Korto, most celebrities do not know a supermarket when they see one (then again, the tabs always seem to be catching them with a cart full of groceries, but whatever). But the kind of nutty fashions that come out of "Project Runway" challenges are pretty much suited only for people in the entertainment biz, not for those of us who actually shop at Gristedes. (Read a review of the season premiere here.)

As sad as early MTV News favorite Stella Zotis' garbage bag gown was, I immediately pictured one woman who could easily pull it off, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O, who rocked similar shredded-plastic looks on tour last summer. Stella said the trash bags ripped really easily, though, so Karen might want to don some more durable undergarments onstage.



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'Project Runway' Premiere: In Our Book, Stella Zotis Is In Forever, Edible Fashion Is Out

Posted 7/17/08 12:09 pm EST by in Project Runway


Sorry, "Project Runway In 60 Seconds" fans, Jim Cantiello is being pulled in a million different directions this summer, so you'll have to settle for the critical eyes of other MTV News staffers — and with the number of "PR" fans in this office, the competition for who gets to write about the show is (dare we say it?) fierce.

First up, Ms. Rya Backer:

When new episodes of "Gossip Girl" aren't improving the general quality of my life, I find it in my heart to continue living and watching other shows. If you didn't catch the season premiere, or one of its 938 squillion reruns, don't come crying to me about how I spoiled it for you. With that said, grab your favorite patterned tablecloth, and let's get to talking about the Ins and Outs of season five so far (because, in fashion one day you're in, and the next day ... oh, you know).

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The Bell Tolls For 'Project Runway' -- And Jim Is :(

Posted 5/5/08 2:53 pm EST by in Project Runway, Television


ProjectRunwayOver

MTV News producer and resident "Project Runway" expert Jim Cantiello took 23 seconds away from the "American Idol" beat to send us this urgent(!!!) email about "PR"'s future, subject line "DEVELOPING!!!!!!!!" (Oh, the things that pass as Cantiello emergencies.)

We all knew things were looking bad. But now it appears that Magical Elves, the clever little production company that gave the show its je ne sais quoi -- and, you know, made "fierce" and "hot tranny mess" staples of the English language -- is leaving "PR" after the next season (the last with Bravo) to work exclusively with NBC/Universal. Says Jim:

This all but confirms it. Lifetime TV is going to RUIN ProjRun. The one saving grace was that ME would still be producing it. But now? It'll probably be the same team responsible for "Your Mama Don't Dance.":(

So is "Runway" truly over? Is Lifetime going to put the "feh" in fashion? Or is Magical Elves set to come up with a network fashion competition that will blow Gunn & Co. out of the water? Tell us what you think.

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"Project Runway" Heads to Lifetime, Jim Not Amused

Posted 4/8/08 3:22 pm EST by in Fashion, Project Runway


runway.jpg

What, haven't you heard? "Project Runway" is defecting from Bravo to Lifetime. That's right: The most awesomest ode to the meaning of fashion ever (with the exception of "ANTM," obvs) is moving, by choice, from the gay channel to...the soccer-mom channel. And boy was our "PR" expert Jim Cantiello not entirely pleased about the news. From Jim:

My thoughts?

Weird. Obviously Lifetime is hoping to add some cache to their network. (I guess they finally grew tired of showing old TV movies where Melissa Joan Hart got beat up by Fred Savage. [Ed: Oh, snaaap!]) But instead of "Runway" elevating Lifetime's hip factor, it looks like Lifetime is bringing "Runway" down to their level. [Ed: Oh no, you diiiidn't!] The same (awesome) production company, Magical Elves, is going to deliver the show, so I can't imagine the network switch affecting how the show will look, feel, etc., but it will definitely be a weird dynamic to see ads for "Mother May I Sleep With Danger" during commercial breaks, instead of the usual glitzy Bravo promos for "Top Something or Other" or "Fame-Hungry Rich Middle-Aged Disasters."

But who knows? If Martha Stewart can make a K-Mart line work, maybe Lifetime can make "Runway" ferosh. (For an especially hilarious Lifetime/"Runway" prediction, check out Opalescent's take on the story.)

The other scary news that was released is that Bravo is kicking off the NEXT "Ruwnay" season in July. And then Lifetime will begin airing the FOLLOWING season in November. That means by the end of 2008, we will have had three different seasons of "Project Runway" on the air. As Tim Gunn would say, "That's a lot of look." Part of the genius of "Project Runway" (and "American Idol") is that they haven't over saturated the market, "Deal Or No Deal"-style. By the time it debuts on Lifetime in November, will we be ready for a new cast? Unlikely.

But then there's the opposite extreme. With the show now hung up in legal hell, that could mean a very, very long "Runway" hiatus. Eek!

My friends at Blogging Project Runway had a poll, and 45% of "Runway" fans said the Lifetime switch is a "Tranny Hot Mess." I'm bummed to say that I agree.

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